Sitka’s Treasured Icon: The Miraculous Mother of God of Alaska
Gift from Russian laborers in 1850 continues to inspire awe and devotion at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
JULY 8, 2025 — At the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska, resides one of North America’s most venerated Orthodox icons – the “Our Lady of Sitka” Icon of the Mother of God.
Commemorated on July 8, it is believed to be the work of renowned Russian iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1758-1826). According to the OCA’s information about the icon, Borovikovsky was “a protege of the Empress Catherine II who was instructed at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, Russia.” The iconographer also wrote many of the icons for the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon in Saint Petersburg.
Donated in 1850 by laborers of the Russian American Company – despite their modest means – the icon has since been revered for its spiritual power. Numerous miracles have been attributed to it, with the serene gaze of the Theotokos believed to bring healing to those who pray before it.
Described as a “pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art,” the icon’s unmatched beauty and tranquility have captivated generations. Originally part of the cathedral’s main iconostasis, it now occupies a special place of honor on the far left side of the icon screen, continuing its legacy as a sacred treasure of Orthodox Christian heritage in North America.
