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ACTIVITIES
Sport Fishing
Wildlife Viewing
Photography
Sea
Kayaking
Remote Beachcombing
Backwoods Hiking
Trips to the Monastery
Wooden Dory Rides
Ecology Packages
Remote Workshops/Retreats
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WILDLIFE VIEWING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Kodiak Brown Bear
Sitka Blacktail Deer
Red Fox, Silver Fox,
Cross fox
Beaver
Sea Otter
Harbor Seal
Stellar Sea Lions
Humpback Whale
Harbor Porpoise’
Fin Whale
Killer Whale
Bald Eagle
Ptarmigan
Harlequin Duck
Puffin
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Monk's Lagoon
On the east end of
Spruce Island lies the sacred ground of Monk’s Lagoon—
the home of Saint Herman of Alaska. Father Herman settled on Spruce
Island
in the early 1800’s, living a life of prayer and solitude. Soon, the
native villagers
began sending him their orphans and a community
formed around the elder monk.
After living a life of manifest sanctity and working numerous
miracles after his death,
Fr. Herman was officially canonized by the Orthodox
Church in 1970. Each year on
August 9, pilgrims travel from around the world
to honor the Saint and gather in Kodiak
and Spruce Island for St. Herman’s Day.
There also exist two small monastic
communities nearby on Spruce Island
and the adjacent Nelson Island. Today,
Monk’s Lagoon remains open to the
respectful visitor and it is possible to see the
many chapels there (the oldest
dating to 1894) and to soak in the hallowed
atmosphere of these sacred
grounds. |
