Russian Christmas at Alaska Native Medical Center brings joy, nostalgia

Starring, or the Russian Orthodox version of Christmas caroling, is a fondly remembered tradition for many from Alaska Native villages.

By Jenna Kunze
Updated: 17 hours ago Published: 17 hours ago

The choir from Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral sang hymns during a starring in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center on the Alaska Native Health Campus Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 7, 2025. The Russian Christmas celebration and starring continued across the street at the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital before ending in Patient Housing. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Dozens gathered in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center in Anchorage on Tuesday to celebrate Russian Christmas. At the far end of the lobby, the St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral choir and clergy sang hymns beside a 30-foot Christmas tree. In front of them, four people spun handmade stars on wooden poles, each with a religious icon at its center, in a continuous motion meant to represent blessings.

The tradition of Slaaviq, or starring, has likely been celebrated across Alaska since the missionaries first arrived in the late 1700s, said V. Rev. Peter Chris, who has led the ANMC ceremony for more than two decades.

Father Peter Chris, center, led the choir from Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral as stars were spun in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center at the Alaska Native Health Campus. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Before that, Chris said he looked forward to the tradition each year as a kid in his native village of Nunapitchuk, 30 miles outside of Bethel.

“It’s the same melodies from when I grew up,” Chris said of Tuesday’s hymns. “It just makes me like a little kid again.”

The Russian Orthodox Church has a unique relationship with Alaska Natives because, unlike other missionary groups, they were banned from forcing their religion on Native people, said Alaska Native Heritage Center Indigenous scholar Benjamin Jacuk.

The choir from Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral sang hymns during a starring in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center on the Alaska Native Health Campus. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Visitors on Tuesday said it was common in their villages for local clergy and people to go from house to house to sing and offer blessings with starring every Jan. 7. In its Anchorage adaptation, clergy and parishioners traveled to different floors of the hospital and patient housing to mimic the same tradition.

“I just like to watch it,” said a spectator, Simeon Petla, who came to the hospital specifically for the starring event. Petla, who wore a camouflage coat and carried a cane, said he grew up with the tradition in Dillingham, and is reminded of his childhood when he sees the spinning stars.

Nicholas Maxie, who move to Anchorage from Napaskiak about three years ago, holds his daughter Serena, 4, while attending the Russian Christmas celebration. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The choir from Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral sang hymns during the starring in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center on Tuesday afternoon. The Russian Christmas celebration and starring continued across the street at the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital before ending in Patient Housing. (Bill Roth / ADN)

As the procession moved on to the patient housing area of the hospital, a nephew pushed his aunt in a wheelchair down the sterile hallway in search of the starring procession. They were in town from the village of Kipnuk for medical treatment and they, too, were in pursuit of something familiar and festive.

At the end of the event’s initial prayers, visitors were invited to drink tea and eat powdery Russian tea cakes. Children passed plastic plates back and forth, and elders greeted one another.

Choir members Jaydean Kelila and her younger sister Delila stood socializing and eating cookies. They had moved to Anchorage from the village of Aniak three years ago, they said.

They hadn’t seen a starring event in a few years back home, because their local church lacked a priest.

Sisters Delila and Jaydean Kelila, who grew up in Aniak, sang in the choir from Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral during the Russian Christmas celebration in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Though Jaydean said she had never previously identified as religious, she and her sister joined the St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral church and choir for community. She feels lighter participating in the traditions of her youth.

“Spiritually lighter,” Delila agreed.

“We always look forward to Russian Christmas,” Jaydean Kelila added. “It’s just a joyous time.”

[Correction: This story has been updated to correct that the celebration took place in the lobby of the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center, not the Alaska Native Medical Center.]

Jenna Kunze

Jenna Kunze covers Anchorage communities and general assignments. She was previously a staff reporter at Native News Online, wrote for The Arctic Sounder and was a reporter at the Chilkat Valley News in Haines.