Which religion was preaching to Alaska natives?

• A. Catholic
• B. Islam
• C. Russian Orthodox
• D. Buddhism

Answer: (C)

The spread of Christianity among Alaska Natives in the early contact period came primarily through the Russian Orthodox Church, brought by Russian explorers and fur traders in the 18th century. Missionaries established churches and schools along the coast, with notable efforts among the Aleut and later other Alaska Native groups, helping to adopt Orthodoxy as a central part of village life. Saint Herman of Alaska stands out as a celebrated early missionary who worked among the Alaska Natives near Kodiak, symbolizing the deep roots of Orthodoxy in the region. This tradition continued and grew under the Russian-American Company’s influence, shaping religious practice in many communities that persists today. While other faiths appeared later in some areas, they did not have the same widespread, long-standing missionary presence among Alaska Natives as Russian Orthodoxy.