Herman of Alaska was an 18th-century Russian Orthodox monk and missionary who served the native populations of North America. Born in the Russian Empire, he trained at Valaam Monastery before traveling to the Alaskan territory as part of a mission sent by Catherine the Great. He became a prominent figure on Kodiak Island and later lived as a hermit on Spruce Island. Known for his advocacy for the indigenous people against the exploitative practices of colonial fur traders, he is recognized as the first saint of North America canonized by the Orthodox Church.