Michael James Oleksa (March 16, 1947 – November 29, 2023) was an American missionary priest of the Orthodox Church in America, who spent 35 years travelling, speaking and writing about culture and race in Alaska.
Michael James Oleksa was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on March 16, 1947. In 1970, after studying at St. Vladimir's Seminary in New York, he moved to Alaska, accepting an invitation from the Alutiiq village of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island.[1] His experiences while there motivated him to continue speaking in Alaska, and did multiple presentations over the next three decades, while also serving as a Russian Orthodox priest in these relatively small communities.[2] In 1972, he moved to Kwethluk, where he met his wife and continued his work as a missionary priest in various small communities along the Kuskokwim River.[1]
In 1988, Oleksa graduated with his doctoral degree from the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Presov, Slovakia. He made a point to graduate with an emphasis on Native Alaskan history during the Alaskan Russian period, which occurred from 1741 to 1867.[3] He then continued to speak to at least twelve separate villages across Alaska on the issue of race and culture in education. After this, he lived in Anchorage, Alaska, with his wife, his daughter, and one of his three grandsons.
Oleksa suffered a stroke and died during the early hours of November 29, 2023, in Anchorage, at the age of 76.[1]
Careeredit
Oleksa was versed in the field of linguistics and has written books, articles, and publications focusing on numerous Alaska Native cultures.[2] He created a four-part video series, which aired on PBS, called "Communicating Across Cultures".[4] His influential work made its way into some of JSD's (Juneau School District) senior high curriculum, and all three of the UA (University of Alaska) campuses.[2] He is also a dedicated public speaker, and has travelled through multiple Alaskan villages speaking about various linguistical topics of interest. Michael Oleksa has accumulated a host of titles along his travels, proving his authenticity as a missionary, and a linguist. He is recognized as an "Elder" by the Alaska Federation of Natives, has been honored by the Alaska State Legislature and the National Governors Association, and is acknowledged as a "distinguished public servant" by the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska.[2]
Oleksa was educating teachers across Alaska on the importance of cross-cultural education and the boundaries of race and culture. The most prominent of his texts that focus on this topic is his collaboration with the Association of Alaska School Boards, which explores the unique cultural fabric of Alaska's educational environment.[5] His most recent work available to the public is from 2006.[5] Prior to his death, he initiated the process to have Olga Michael recognized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church.[1]
Selected publicationsedit
Alaskan Missionary Spirituality. 1987. Paulist Press, Mahway, New Jersey. 3-35.[5]
Another Culture / Another World. 2005. Association of Alaska School Boards. Juneau, Alaska.[5]
“Civilizing” Native Alaska: Federal Support of Mission Schools, 1885–1906. January, 1991. Prepared for the National Education Association. Washington, D.C.[5]
Evangelism and Culture. 1995. International Review of Mission. Authentic Witness Within Each Culture. Section 1; Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 1996). LXXXIV No. 335, October 1995. The World Council of Churches. 387–393.[5]
Father John Veniaminov and Father Jacob Netsvetov. July, 1975. Digital Typography. www.asna.ca.[5]
I Didn't Even Need a Passport! February 2006. Lit Site, Alaska Traditions.[5]
Icons and the Cosmos: The Missionary Significance. 1983. International Review of Mission. Issue 1 – Witnessing. Vol. LXXII No. 285, January 1983. The World Council of Churches. 42–123.[5]
Giving and Receiving. Fall, 2005, AGAIN, The Ancient Christian Faith Today, Vol. 27, No. 3, Page 34.[5]
Orthodox Alaska: A Theology of Mission. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood, New York 10707. 1998[5]
Orthodox Missiological Education for the Twenty-First Century. 1996. The Book, the Circle, and the Sandals.Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York. 83–90.[5]
Orthodoxy in Alaska: The Spiritual History of the Kodiak Aleut People. 1981. St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly. Volume 25, Number 1.[5]
Overwhelmed by Joy. 1983. International Review of Mission. Conversion. Vol. LXXII No. 287, July 1983. The World Council of Churches. 415–420.[5]
Six Alaskan Native Women Leaders: Pre-Statehood. 1991. Alaska Department of Education, Juneau, Alaska[5]
The Creoles and Their Contributions to the Development of Alaska. 1990. In Smith, Barbara Sweetland and Redmond J. Barnett (eds.) Russian America: The Forgotten Frontier. Tacoma, WA: Washington State Historical Society. 185–195.[5]
The Death of Hieromonk Juvenally. 1990. Russia in North America: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Russian America, Sitka, Alaska. August 19–22, 1987. Limestone Press, Fairbanks, Alaska. 322–357.[5]
The Legacy of St. Vladimir: Byzantium, Russia, America. 1988. Papers presented at a Symposium commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York. 243–258.[5]
The Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christian Mission From an Alaskan Perspective. 2001. International Review of Mission. Ecclesiology and Mission (I). Volume XC No. 358, July 2001. The World[5]
Chilkat Valley News, Feb. 16, 2006, Haines, Alaska. "Priest Brings Multicultural Message" by Christa Sadler[5]
Conflicting Landscapes American Schooling/Alaska Natives. Co-authored with Clifton Bates. The Kuskokwim Corporation 2008. Distributed by Univ. Alaska Press and University Press of Colorado.
Referencesedit
^ abcdErickson, Evan (November 29, 2023). "Russian Orthodox Archpriest Michael James Oleksa has died at 76". KYUK News. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^"Russians settle Alaska". HISTORY. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
^"Father Michael Oleksa - Video Series". fatheroleksa.org. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst"Father Michael Oleksa - Publications (Print)". fatheroleksa.org. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
External linksedit
Catalog of his available publications
December 20, 2023
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guideline for biographies Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Michael Oleksa news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Michael James Oleksa March 16 1947 November 29 2023 was an American missionary priest of the Orthodox Church in America who spent 35 years travelling speaking and writing about culture and race in Alaska Michael OleksaOleksa speaking at a conference in 2014Born 1947 03 16 March 16 1947Allentown Pennsylvania U S DiedNovember 29 2023 2023 11 29 aged 76 Anchorage Alaska U S Occupation s Russian Orthodox missionary linguistKnown forLinguistical work throughout rural AlaskaSpouseXenia OleksaChildrenThree Contents 1 Life 2 Career 3 Selected publications 4 References 5 External linksLife editMichael James Oleksa was born in Allentown Pennsylvania on March 16 1947 In 1970 after studying at St Vladimir s Seminary in New York he moved to Alaska accepting an invitation from the Alutiiq village of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island 1 His experiences while there motivated him to continue speaking in Alaska and did multiple presentations over the next three decades while also serving as a Russian Orthodox priest in these relatively small communities 2 In 1972 he moved to Kwethluk where he met his wife and continued his work as a missionary priest in various small communities along the Kuskokwim River 1 In 1988 Oleksa graduated with his doctoral degree from the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Presov Slovakia He made a point to graduate with an emphasis on Native Alaskan history during the Alaskan Russian period which occurred from 1741 to 1867 3 He then continued to speak to at least twelve separate villages across Alaska on the issue of race and culture in education After this he lived in Anchorage Alaska with his wife his daughter and one of his three grandsons Oleksa suffered a stroke and died during the early hours of November 29 2023 in Anchorage at the age of 76 1 Career editOleksa was versed in the field of linguistics and has written books articles and publications focusing on numerous Alaska Native cultures 2 He created a four part video series which aired on PBS called Communicating Across Cultures 4 His influential work made its way into some of JSD s Juneau School District senior high curriculum and all three of the UA University of Alaska campuses 2 He is also a dedicated public speaker and has travelled through multiple Alaskan villages speaking about various linguistical topics of interest Michael Oleksa has accumulated a host of titles along his travels proving his authenticity as a missionary and a linguist He is recognized as an Elder by the Alaska Federation of Natives has been honored by the Alaska State Legislature and the National Governors Association and is acknowledged as a distinguished public servant by the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska 2 Oleksa was educating teachers across Alaska on the importance of cross cultural education and the boundaries of race and culture The most prominent of his texts that focus on this topic is his collaboration with the Association of Alaska School Boards which explores the unique cultural fabric of Alaska s educational environment 5 His most recent work available to the public is from 2006 5 Prior to his death he initiated the process to have Olga Michael recognized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church 1 Selected publications editAlaskan Missionary Spirituality 1987 Paulist Press Mahway New Jersey 3 35 5 Another Culture Another World 2005 Association of Alaska School Boards Juneau Alaska 5 Civilizing Native Alaska Federal Support of Mission Schools 1885 1906 January 1991 Prepared for the National Education Association Washington D C 5 Evangelism and Culture 1995 International Review of Mission Authentic Witness Within Each Culture Section 1 Conference on World Mission and Evangelism Salvador Bahia Brazil 1996 LXXXIV No 335 October 1995 The World Council of Churches 387 393 5 Father John Veniaminov and Father Jacob Netsvetov July 1975 Digital Typography www asna ca 5 I Didn t Even Need a Passport February 2006 Lit Site Alaska Traditions 5 Icons and the Cosmos The Missionary Significance 1983 International Review of Mission Issue 1 Witnessing Vol LXXII No 285 January 1983 The World Council of Churches 42 123 5 Giving and Receiving Fall 2005 AGAIN The Ancient Christian Faith Today Vol 27 No 3 Page 34 5 Orthodox Alaska A Theology of Mission St Vladimir s Seminary Press Crestwood New York 10707 1998 5 Orthodox Missiological Education for the Twenty First Century 1996 The Book the Circle and the Sandals Orbis Books Maryknoll New York 83 90 5 Orthodoxy in Alaska The Spiritual History of the Kodiak Aleut People 1981 St Vladimir s Theological Quarterly Volume 25 Number 1 5 Overwhelmed by Joy 1983 International Review of Mission Conversion Vol LXXII No 287 July 1983 The World Council of Churches 415 420 5 Six Alaskan Native Women Leaders Pre Statehood 1991 Alaska Department of Education Juneau Alaska 5 The Creoles and Their Contributions to the Development of Alaska 1990 In Smith Barbara Sweetland and Redmond J Barnett eds Russian America The Forgotten Frontier Tacoma WA Washington State Historical Society 185 195 5 The Death of Hieromonk Juvenally 1990 Russia in North America Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Russian America Sitka Alaska August 19 22 1987 Limestone Press Fairbanks Alaska 322 357 5 The Legacy of St Vladimir Byzantium Russia America 1988 Papers presented at a Symposium commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of St Vladimir s Orthodox Theological Seminary Crestwood New York 243 258 5 The Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christian Mission From an Alaskan Perspective 2001 International Review of Mission Ecclesiology and Mission I Volume XC No 358 July 2001 The World 5 Chilkat Valley News Feb 16 2006 Haines Alaska Priest Brings Multicultural Message by Christa Sadler 5 Conflicting Landscapes American Schooling Alaska Natives Co authored with Clifton Bates The Kuskokwim Corporation 2008 Distributed by Univ Alaska Press and University Press of Colorado References edit a b c d Erickson Evan November 29 2023 Russian Orthodox Archpriest Michael James Oleksa has died at 76 KYUK News Retrieved November 30 2023 a b c d Oleksa Michael Father Oleska s Bio PDF Retrieved 30 March 2021 Russians settle Alaska HISTORY Retrieved 2021 03 31 Father Michael Oleksa Video Series fatheroleksa org Retrieved 2021 03 31 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Father Michael Oleksa Publications Print fatheroleksa org Retrieved 2021 03 31 External links editCatalog of his available publications Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Oleksa amp oldid 1187913042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
