The Transfiguration of Our Lord Church Photo

Photographer’s Note

It is a Holy Week now by Russian Orthodox calendar. I decided to show you some Russian Orthodox churches on Alaska.

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We’ve found this charming rustic village with Russian-style log homes, a fleet of the fishing boats with Russian names and old Orthodox church during our trip from Anchorage to Homer.

Ninilchik (population 597) lies on the west coast of the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway, 38 miles southwest of the City of Kenai. It lies at approximately 60° 03' N latitude and 151° 40' W longitude on the shore opposite an active volcano Mt. Redoubt (3,120 m) well seen 40 miles across Cook Inlet (the best place for viewing is a bar at the seafront).

In 1847, the first settlers , Grigorii and Mavra Kvasnikoff moved their large family from Kodiak to Ninilchik. Grigorii was a Russian Orthodox missionary from Moscow, and Mavra was a Russian-Sugpiaq from Kodiak.

By 1880, the U.S. Census found 53 "Creoles" (Russian-Sugpiaqs) living in Ninilchik. They subsisted on hunting, fur trapping, fishing, gardening and gold panning. All nine original Native founding families of Ninilchik are descendants of the Kvasnikoffs.

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church is the most photographed building in Ninilchik. It was constructed and services began in 1846 with the arrival of lay missionary Grigorii Kvasnikoff one year before the permanent settlement. This present building was designed by local architect Aleksei Oskolkoff and dedicated in 1901.

delaufer, danyy, jhm, singuanti, capthaddock, jrj has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danyy (68492) 2005-05-01 5:23

Bonjour Nicolay,
Sous un ciel agréable , rempli à 1/2 de nuages, se dresse cette église. Sans prétentions, simple, pourquoi faire du tape à l'oeil ? L'église après tout n'est qu'un endroit de cérémonies.
Magnifiquement vu.
Daniel.

jhm (82201) 2005-05-01 13:15

Hi Nikolay,
I like these lovely construction style, also the colours its soft and excellent composition, the silhouette of the tower against the sky give a lovely and attractive for looking.
Regards,
John.

singuanti (15240) 2005-05-03 23:28

Hi Nikolay. Hi I'm back from my mini-vacation to NYC. At any rate this is indeed a charming little church. I do like the architecture but what really makes this shot so good is the white picket fence and the superb sky and the contrast. Nice one Nikolay.

capthaddock (28640) 2005-05-20 9:58

Hi Nikolay - the church looks charming under this interesting sky. It probably rained the next day. I also have a few shots of this church, with autumn vegetation, one day I will post to add to your theme.

jrj (34779) 2005-06-29 7:00

Interesting notes and a very good shot to go with it. I like the afternoon setting with the good light, a fine choice to have for this church. Good contrast by the background clouded sky.