Don Icon of the Mother of God Cossack Cadet School
The First Cossack Cadet School in the United States
The Cossack Cadet School of the Don Icon of the Mother of God, based at Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church in Sacramento, is the first Cossack cadet school in the United States, opened in 2013. Classes meet on Saturdays during the school year for children ages 4 to 13 and include religious education, Russian language and literature, Russian and Cossack history, and traditional Cossack sport.
The school's program builds on the parish school that already existed at Holy Ascension Church and continues a Cossack tradition, more than a century old, of raising the next generation in faith, culture, and the history of their ancestors. Beyond regular Saturday classes, students take part in hikes, games, and summer and winter camps, and perform at parish and community events.
Students over 13 continue in a separate program suited to their age. The school operates under the auspices of Holy Ascension Church and the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.