A Unique Spiritual Experience

The Church is located within the Eklutna Historical Park and is a component of an enduring exhibition. The town of Eklutna traditionally celebrates Russian Christmas twelve days after December 25th.The Church is recognized for its blue, onion-shaped globe of Russian design that sits atop the small wooden structure. The Church was built in the 1830's in an area where it is thought that Athabascan presence could date back more than 1000 years. Within the Church, visitors will find many of the original icons, although religious services are no longer conducted within the old structure. A new church was built next door in the 1960's.Tourists taking the opportunity to visit the little Russian Orthodox Church and cemetery at Eagle River, only a short drive from Anchorage will be glad they took the time to visit this unique setting. Each gravesite of the deceased in the cemetery is covered by brilliantly painted spirit house and bright colored blanket as a mingling of the native Inuit tradition with the Russian Orthodox burial rites. In the 18th century missionaries encouraged the native Athabascan Indians to begin burying their dead in cemeteries rather than cremating them. Today over 90 spirit houses sit within the confines of this distinctive cemetery.