Jacob Netsvetov

Jacob Netsvetov (Russian: Яков (Иаков) Егорович Нецветов), Enlightener of Alaska, was an Alaskan Creole from the Aleutian Islands who became a priest of the Orthodox Church and continued the missionary work of Innocent for Alaska Natives. His feast day is celebrated on July 26, the day of his death.

Early life Netsvetov was born Jacob Netsvetov in 1802, on Atka Island, part of the Aleutian Island chain in Alaska. He was the eldest child of four children that survived infancy, born to Yegor Vasil'evich Netsvetov from Tobolsk, Russia, and Maria Alekscevna, an Aleut from Atka Island. His father was a manager for the Russian-American Company. His surviving siblings were, in order of age, Osip (Joseph), Elena, and Antony.

Education and ordination Netsvetov enrolled in the Irkutsk Theological Seminary at an early age. Osip and Antony were enrolled in the St. Petersburg Naval Academy and became a naval officer and a ship builder respectively. His sister Elena married a clerk from the Russian-American Company.

On October 1, 1825, Netsvetov was tonsured a sub-deacon. He married Anna Simeonovna, a Russian woman who may have been, like he was, of a Creole background, and in 1826 he graduated from the seminary with certificates in history and theology. Upon his graduation, he was ordained a deacon on October 31, 1826, and assigned to the Holy Trinity-St. Peter Church in Irkutsk. Archbishop Michael ordained Netsvetov to the priesthood on March 4, 1828, making Netsvetov the first native Alaskan to be ordained to the priesthood. At this time he made plans to return to his native Alaska to preach the Word of God.

With the completion of the church on Atka, Netsvetov turned to educating children, teaching them to read and write both Russian and Unangan Aleut. Initially the Russian-American Company helped support the school, but in 1841 the school was re-organized as a parish school. Many of his students would later become Aleut leaders. Netsvetov also helped in collecting and preparing fish and marine animal specimens for museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg. He corresponded with Innocent on linguistics and translation matters. He worked on an Unangan-Aleut alphabet, translations of the scriptures, and other church publications. In addition to praise from Innocent he began to receive awards for his services. In time he was elevated to archpriest and received the Order of St. Anna.

Netsvetov's wife Anna died in March 1836, and his home was destroyed in a fire in July of the same year. His father, Yegor, died the following year. After these events he petitioned his bishop in order to return to Irkutsk and enter a monastic life, a request that was approved a year later contingent on the arrival of his replacement. However, the church did not provide a replacement.

An assistant lodged charges against him in 1863. To settle the case, his Bishop Peter called him to Sitka where he was cleared of all the charges. As his health worsened, he remained in Sitka serving at the Tlingit chapel.

During his last missionary travels in the Kuskokwim/Yukon delta region he is remembered for baptizing 1,320 people and for distinguishing himself as the evangelist of the Yup'ik and Athabascan peoples.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4)

O righteous Father Jacob, Adornment of Atka and the Yukon Delta; You offered yourself as a living sacrifice To bring light to a searching people. Offspring of Russian America, Flower of brotherly unity, Healer of sickness and terror of demons: O Holy Father Jacob, Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 3) O Holy Father Jacob, Teacher of the knowledge of God, You revealed your love for your people, Taking up your cross and following Christ, Enduring hardships like the Apostle Paul. Pray on our behalf to Christ our God To grant us great mercy.

Death

Saint Jacob Netsvetov's death was from natural causes while he was serving as a priest at Saint Michael's Cathedral on July 26, 1864 at the age of 60 and was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, Sitka. His legacy still goes on as many Russian descendants living in Alaska have family names that spring from 1800-1875 and follow the teachings of Saint Jacob Netsvetov in their day-to-day life.