On this date in history:

The very first Divine Liturgy in what is now American territory (northern latitude 58 degrees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was celebrated on July 20, 1741 - the Feast of the Prophet Elijah. The service was celebrated in the chapel aboard the ship "Peter" under the command of Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Trusov and the priest Ignatius Kozierevsky concelebrated this service together on that occasion.

Fr. John