Valley Cinemas hosting special screening of 'Sacred Alaska' documentary

On Friday, the Valley Cinemas is hosting a special screening event for the documentary, “Sacred Alaska,” a documentary that takes a look at Native Alaskan peoples and Orthodox Christianity, exploring the stories and lives of some of the first Russian monks who came from the island monasteries in Valaam, Russia, to the Aleutian Islands, Spruce Island, and into the Alaskan interior.

The screening at the Valley Cinemas is hosted by Keala Smith, and while she won’t be able to attend herself, she is excited about the interest people are taking in the film, so much so that screening had to be moved into a bigger theater.

“The reception has been so good the theater just moved us to a bigger theater room! We were in a 153 capacity room and I think now we’re in 250 person capacity room,” said Smith.

“I am most excited that the film is coming from a Native perspective and looks very beautiful. The moment ‘Sacred Alaska’ announced they were getting ready for screenings and accepting volunteers to host in their own towns I jumped on it right away.”

Smith says she became interested in the project after she’d been following the film on social media and for several years and saw the production was filming in Alaska, which began in the fall of 2020, as filmmakers Silas Karbo, the producer and editor, and director Simon Scionka filmed on Spruce Island near Kodiak, at the chapel over the grave of Saint Herman.

Over 200 years ago, the first Russian Orthodox monastery in North America was founded in Kodiak, in the modern-day city of Kodiak. The head of the monastery at the time, Herman of Valaam — known today as St. Herman — renounced his position and took on the life of a hermit on Spruce Island, later taking in orphans, especially during the 1819 flu epidemic.

“Many people, especially Orthodox Christians have been anticipating of its release. For me is also because the trailer was so moving and it is the history and the spirituality of Native Alaskan ancestors that not everyone knows about.”

The movie also focuses on Bishop Innocent, whose secular name was Father John Veniaminov, a Russian Orthodox missionary priest who would go on to be the first Orthodox bishop and archbishop in the Americas

He served the island of Unalaska, but also the neighboring Fox Islands and Pribilof Islands, and later his missionary service on the islands of Unalaska and Sitka during the 1800s.

Also featured in the film is Father Yakov (Jacob), an Aleut and the first Native Alaskan to be ordained to the priesthood; and Matushka Olga, a Native Alaskan of Yup’ik origin, who was a midwife serving and aiding those suffering from poverty and abuse.

“The story is not merely a historical look back but also explores what we can learn from Alaskan Orthodoxy alive today. It instructs us on being present, on becoming fully human, and on how we should care for the land, the animals, and one another,” says Smith.

The film had its "World Premiere" event at the film festival Byzanfest in Australia last year November 23, While the movie has already been screened in Atlanta, Tacoma, Portland and other parts of the lower 48, the Friday screening is the first opportunity that viewers will have to see the movie for themselves. Currently the film is not yet for sale or rent, but only available through these live events.

“I want every Alaskan to get to watch it even to just be aware of the history, but it is about so much more. Yup’ik means “a real person” and this film explains what it means to be a real person.”

The screening of ‘Sacred Alaska’ will be held Friday at 7 p.m., at Valley Cinemas, followed by a Q & A after.

For more information about the movie, please visit: www.sacredalaskafilm.com

To view the trailer, visit the Sacred Alaska Facebook page.