Saint Innocent was born as John Popov on August 26, 1797 in Aginsk, a small village near Irkutsk, Siberia. His family was deeply involved in the life of the Church, and by the age of six John was reading in his parish, although he had no formal education at that age.

When he was nine, he entered the Irkutsk Theological Seminary, where he studied for eleven years. He distinguished himself as the school's most brilliant pupil, excelling in everything he pursued. By the age of seventeen, his outstanding achievements were recognized as his surname was changed to Veniaminov in honor of the newly reposed Bishop Benjamin of Irkutsk.

John Popov Veniaminov chose to marry the daughter of a priest instead of going on to the Moscow Theological Academy. He was ordained to the diaconate and later, in 1821 into the priesthood. He was assigned to a parish where he instituted religious classes for faithful of all ages.

Saint Innocent of Alaska first arrived in America in 1823. Priest Ioann (John) Veniaminov, as he was known then, and his wife Elizabeth and son Innocent, and his Father John's brother, had made a tremendous 2,200 mile journey from their home in Siberia. They lived the next ten years in the frontier of Unalaska Island.

Fr. John Veniaminov built or supervised the building of everything the village needed including a church, housing and a school. Father John was a carpenter, stone mason, clock maker, navigator, meteorologist, naturalist, translator as well as an excellent pastor. The Aleuts maintained an oral tradition and didn't have an alphabet. Fr. John carefully studied their language and (with the help of a Creole named John Pankov) and in time, created a written form of the Aleut tongue. After mastering the Aleut language, he taught the native Alaska people in his care to read. In time, he translated numerous works, including portions of the Scriptures into the Aleut language. The major pastoral work of Saint Innocent Indication of the Pathway into the Kingdom of Heaven was written completely in Aleut. He made ethnological and other scientific observations with still form the basis for the scholarly studies of that region of Alaska.

Saint Innocent was the first Orthodox bishop of North America and the Church was fruitful durring his episcopacy. He sailed from New Archangel (Sitka) to visit parishes in the out lying areas - even as far south as Fort Ross in California. On that amazing trip he met with the Roman Catholic padres in the missions around the San Francisco bay area.

Later, he returned to Russia and became the Metropolitan of Moscow and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. But he didn't forget about his beloved missions in America. He supervised and guided the establishment of an American see and located it in San Francisco. In 1870, while living in Russia, he formed the Orthodox Missionary Society. Here is an excerpt of his speach which opened the Society's first annual meeting:

"The Missionary Society has as its goal to assist Orthodox missionaries in their work both of converting to the Orthodox Faith non-Christians living in our country and of confirming those previously converted in the truths of the Faith and in the rules of Christian living. The number of our fellow citizens who have yet to be illumined by the light of the True Faith and confirmed in it is in the millions and millions. Compared with their numbers our missions are very few, and those already organized need funds in order to grow and broaden their activities.

The holiness of this work and its tremendous importance to the Orthodox Church and our nation are self-evident, and the prime sources of funding for its development ought to be the assistance and zeal of all Orthodox Christians. The Missionary Society is open to all - rich and poor alike. The comfort which comes from serving this great project is for each of us according to his desire and ability. By my duty as your pastor, and my responsibilities as President of this Society - I ask and pray you, O Christ-loving Moscow - her flock and the clergy - not to remove from me your sympathy and assistance..."

Saint Innocent wrote of the need for English to be used in the parishes and for Americans to be ordained to the priesthood. His ideology of the Church having a mission to bring the Truth of Christ to all the peoples of America formed the cornerstone for the Orthodox Church in America. He wrote that the American Church should evolve into an English speaking body, train English speaking clergy, translate the service books into the language of the country, and come to grips with the problems and dynamics of the new society.

Saint Innocent's favorite quote from the scriptures...

"A man's steps are made firm by the way of the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he stumbles, he shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds him by the hand." Psalm 37

"Holy Father Innocent, in obedience to the will of God, you accepted dangers and tribulations, to bring many people the knowledge of Truth, you showed us the path, and now by your prayers help lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven" - Troparion to St. Innocent in the 4th tone