June 30, 1882 - Bishop Nestor Drowns

Before Alaska was purchased by the United States in 1867, the land belonged to Russia. Because of this, there was a substantial Russian Orthodox Community there. One prominent leader in this community was Bishop Nestor, and he is credited for translating much of the Bible into the native Eskimo language. The diocese (or headquarters) of the church was in San Francisco, California, and Bishop Nestor spent months traveling between California and Alaska when he fell from his ship and drowned on June 30, 1882.