Innocent of Alaska was a 19th-century Russian Orthodox prelate, missionary, and linguist who served as the first archbishop in the Americas before becoming the Metropolitan of Moscow. Born Ivan Veniaminov in 1797, he dedicated much of his life to serving indigenous populations in Alaska and the Russian Far East. He is highly regarded for his scholarly contributions, including the creation of writing systems and the translation of religious texts into native dialects. His leadership spanned various roles, from a missionary priest to a high-ranking member of the Holy Governing Synod.