 Joasaph and his companions, Hieromonk Makary and Hierodeacon Stephan, perished as their ship "Phoenix" met with a serious storm and sank near the Alaskan coast during May 21 to 24, 1799.The ship was also carrying an important cargo of both people and supplies for the Kodiak colony.Thus, its loss seriously set back both the Orthodox mission in Alaska and the colony.