FOCA Makes 2026 Gifts of Love Donation to OCA Diocese of Alaska for New St Matushka Olga Shrine

Most Rev ALEXEI 

Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska Anchorage, AK 

RE. FOCA 2026 Gifts of Love 

Dear Vladyka Alexei: 

Christ is in our midst! Master bless. 

Each year the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America holds a special fund drive entitled Gifts of Love for a worthy charity or project. This year — with your blessing in conversations with our outgoing national president Basil Kochan chose to support the development of a shrine to house the relics of the recently canonized St. Matushka Olga of Kwethluk and Alaska, a much needed and most worthy project. Many of us were inspired by participating in our annual national convention held last year in Phoenix in conjunction with the All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America during which the final series of canonization services were celebrated and at which we sponsored a showing of the award- winning documentary "Sacred Alaska." 

At our recent 99th national convention at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, Metropolitan Tikhon — our spiritual leader blessed a fund drive during the banquet on Sunday afternoon after the Divine Liturgy. Coordinated by Melissa Tesar, Ohio District governor and Cleveland "R" Club member, the sum of $2,361 was raised. Together with funds previously contributed, we are pleased to send you and the diocese the enclosed check for the total amount of $6,000. May St. Matushka Olga pray unto God for us! 

Beseeching your archpastoral blessings, I am, Respectfully yours in Christ, 

Nicholas Ressetar 

National FOCA President