[Prospero]

This is an intra-church quarrel over who holds certain peaceable use and other property rights to tracts of land on a very small island south of Admiralty Island in the Alaskan panhandle.

A cursory glance at any potential lawsuit over the chain of title - as essential a concept in our civilization as any other natural right - doesn't seem to have much future in any American court.

The larger property right holder is probably the Department of Interior through the Tongass National Forest.

Is there a viable Russian Orthodox congregation on Spruce?

[cizinec]

The chapel itself belongs to the Orthodox Church in America, which was (controversially) granted autocephaly by Moscow in 1970. IOW, the MP gave up all claims to the land in 1970.

The number who attend service there does not affect the question of ownership.