On Sunday, March 31, 2024, the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Sitka visited St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Glen Mills, PA, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America. An Akathist was celebrated, with the blessings of the diocesan hierarch, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, by their Graces Bishop Alexei of Stitka and Alaska, and Bishop Irinej of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Concelebrating with the two hierarchs were numerous priests and deacons from the Philadelphia area Pan-Orthodox Community (https://easterndiocese.org/news_240403_1). 

The host pastor, Archpriest John Perich, curator of the Metropolitan Museum of the Orthodox Church in America and guardian of many Ecclesiastical Treasures of the Church, presented Bishop Alexei several gifts to be returned to the faithful of Alaska, including the panagia of Bishop Amphilokhy (Vakulsky), former Bishop of Alaska who reposed in 1933. 

In like manner, Fr. John presented Bishop Irinej the original pectoral cross of the Venerable Sebastian (Dabovich), that may be once again in the custody of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It will be properly curated in the Episcopal Residence and Diocesan Center of Eastern America.

Archimandrite Sebastian was a unique man of many "firsts.'' He was known as the "first Serbian child," as he was considered to be the first-born male of Serbian ancestry in America, or at least in San Francisco, and the first American-born Orthodox priest. He was the uncle of Ella Dabovich, whom he married to Feodor Pashkovsky. Following her repose in 1917, Feodor would eventually become Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of the Russian Orthodox Metropolia in North America.

The cross was originally in the keep of Metropolitan Theophilus, who entrusted it to Protopresbyter Joseph Pishtey, his secretary and treasurer, and the first person to bear the title “Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America”. In turn, Fr Joseph entrusted it to his grandson, Fr. John Perich, to be its custodian. 

His Grace was responsible for erecting a fitting monument over the grave of Archimandrite Sebastian, prior to his canonization, at Zhicha Monastery. The epitaph on his tombstone most appropriately read: "The First American Serbian Orthodox Apostle."

Venerable Father Sebastian, pray for us!