St Herman Brotherhood

[Loretta]

As some of you probably know, our Father Averky is seriously ill. Father has not been able to join us over the past few weeks. Please offer your prayers and petitions for Father.

Loretta

[Johanna]

O Christ, who alone art our Defender, speedily from on high visit thy suffering servant, Father Averky, delivering him from sickness and bitter pains; raise him up that he may sing to thee and praise thee without ceasing by the prayers of the Mother of God, St. John of San Francisco and of all the saints, have mercy upon your servant, Father Averky.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Loretta, thank you so much for this information.

He has been continuously in my thoughts for the last couple of weeks, so much so that I even thought of asking about him. I didn't because I didn't want to intrude on his privacy.

I shall also pray for this good person who helped me so many times with his wise advice.

I don't have e-mail anymore so I can't send him a personal e-mail message.

If anyone else does, would they be kind enough to mention that I am also thinking of him and praying for him?

Effie

[dianne marie debs]

May the Lord grant him a speedy recovery.
Father Averky has so many times helped all of us, in many ways.
I will pray for him.
Thank you Father for your love and kindness.
a humble servant,
Dianne

[Jurretta J. Heckscher]

I am so sorry to hear this news. His voice has been silent recently so I had begun to worry about him. May God bless and heal him, and may he know that he is in our thoughts and prayers!

--Jurretta

[Fr Averky]

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

By the holy prayers of all of you and many others, I am feeling much better! Ever since Labor Day weekend when I had rushed to make much needed improvements around our grounds, I had been very ill.

For some unknown reason, I kep filling up with fluid, making my legs very swollen and also making it very hard to breathe. One day, it seemed like I might be suffering from congestive heart failure, from which I almost died in 1996.

Lorretta in her kindness wrote me a message, asking after my health, so I told her and asked for prayers. I must tell you that within twelve hours or so, I began to feel better, and all seems back to "normal," that is to say, my usual bad state of health.

From my heart, thank all of you for remembering my unworthiness in your good prayers.

Fr. A.

[Johanna]

Dearest Father Averky,

Glory to God for His healing touch. My heart rejoices to hear that you are feeling better. You are such a vital part of this community and have been missed greatly. You remain in my feeble prayers.

In Christ,
Johanna

[Daniel Jeandet]

Glory to God for all things!

I am happy you have posted here Father.

[Catholic]

Father, Bless! I'm sure I speak for many when I say I'm delighted you're feeling better and that I too as a 'lurker' here had concern and was praying for you. I am sure we 'lurkers in Christ' will continue to keep you in prayer. May Our Lord continue His healing work in you!

[dianne marie debs]

Father,

We are all happy you are back.
Thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His power of healing.
I pray you stay well.

Missed you.
Rejoicing,
Dianne

[Photini]

Dear Father Averky,
I am delighted to be reading your posts again.
You remain always in my humble prayers.

In Christ,
photini (a.k.a. chicken little)

[Fr Averky]

Beloved Sisters,

Thanks to your prayers, I am feeling better. I do have a concern, so I ask your continued prayers. Dialysis patients have problems with high levels of phosphates in their systems. If these levels stay high too long, a person develops a bone disease which causes bones to shatter and not heal should the person have a mishap. My levels have ben much too high for the last several months, and my physician told me that if the levels cannot be brought down in the next two months, I face surgery on my neck to remove all four parathyroid glands. I humbly beg your continued prayers.

With love and devotion in Christ,

Fr.A.

[Fr Averky]

Dear Daniel,

How good it was to see your name! Thank you so very much for your concern; it means a lot to me, as do the prayers and concern from all who have shown me such love. You are always in my prayers.

Fr.
A.

[Fr Averky]

Dear Catholic,

God bless you!

I was very touched by your gracious words of encouragement. As you might have noticed on the thread about Grace, I attempted to make it clear as to my feelings concerning the sanctity of holy people who are not Orthodox. In all cases, God knows who His own might be.

Alas, most likely through my fault, I was misunderstood, and the discussion went nowhere. I beg you not to be offended, for I have always been very conservative, and that is why I could not exist in the post Vatican II Catholic Church. Yet, it was the rich traditions of the old Catholic Church that formed me, and I can appreciate what it gave me, even though in conscience I chose another direction in which to struggle for salvation.

May God bless and keep you.

In Christ our God,

hieromonk Averky

[Effie Ganatsios]

Dear Father Averky,

I am so glad that you are feeling better..

I will continue to keep praying for you.

I was reading Elder Germanos' thoughts on divine providence last night and he has this to say about illness :

"If you understand the love and care, which your parents have for you, think that the love and Providence of God for you are incomparably greater. Have this in your mind and never despair................. See your trial as the "narrow gate and grievous path" (see Matt. 7:14), which leads to eternal life.

Glorify God, who with the Providence of His love allowed this temporal hardship, to open the path of eternity up to you."

Effie

[Fr Averky]

Beloved in the Lord Effie,

Thank you for all of your concern and your prayers. You are like a sister to me, and I am always filled with joy when I see your name and read your words.

I believe that it was you who directed us to "Inner Light Productions." I subscribed, and it turns out that its founder and Moderator is a friend of mine with whom I had lost contact. By your kind suggestion, I have been united with someone about whom I had been thinking alot about for the last month or so. So you see, God, through you, allowed me to find my friend. God bless you, Effie.

In Christ,
Fr. A.

[Justin]

We (my wife and I) shall continue to pray for you, Fr. Averky http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif

[Fr Averky]

My beloved friends and well-wishers,

Even though my crisis seems to have passed, I continue to be very weak and am not functioning very well. On Saturday and Sunday, I felt so weak that I did not get out of my bed until after three in the afternoon.

I have found it has been too stressful to return to posting on Monachos, and I do not know if I ever will, but I do ask you to continue to contact me either by Private Message on Monachos which I will check, or by e-mail. It is important for me to keep in contact with all of you, but I do not want to be involved in issues. So many of us for some time have enjoyed private conversations which have been far more edifying than those on the chat board. I want very much to continue that contact with those of you with whom I have shared much. There seems to be a plethora of Church experts and theologians on line, far more knowledgable than I, so I give preference to them. Somehow, we seem to be turning into Congregationalists...

At the moment, I do not want to offend anyone, nor do I wish to be misunderstood. My mother used to declare that "English seems to be failing as a language for communication, for it seems more and more that people cannot comprehend anything one says to them." This was about thirty five or forty years ago! With ill will towards no one, and with love, gratitude and prayers for all of you,

I remain faithfully yours in Christ,

Fr. A.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Father Averky, I no longer have access to e-mail through my computer because I'm using a telephone card. If you would like to give me your e-mail address I could contact you from an outside e-mail connection.

I did have your e-mail address but when my computer crashed a few months ago I lost all my contacts.

Thank you Father.

Effie

[Jurretta J. Heckscher]

Dear Father Averky:

I rejoice to hear that your health has improved, but I will continue to keep you in my prayers for continued recovery. (And thank you for inviting us to contact you personally; I will do so.)

Your loving concern for others and love for Orthodoxy have contributed much to the discussions on this board. Thank you! We will miss you here, and hope that it may be God's will for you to rejoin us someday soon.

With love in Christ,

--Jurretta

[Daniel Jeandet]

Father Averky, I hope you read this.

I have emailed you a couple of times, and I have been checking my mail about five times a day to see if you have replied. I decided to post here out of desparation. Im a bit worried about my stupid, mindless actions having unseen, unintended consequences for our friendship.

Please forgive me Father, and I hope all the other members of this place can forgive me also, for any way in which I have sinned against them, voluntarily or involuntarily.

[Matthew Panchisin]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Dear Father Averky,

In the thread about grace regarding your perception of responses misunderstood, much has not been misunderstood. As written in the Orthodox "Study" Bible footnotes

(The knowledge of Christ is a matter of the heart. When our hearts are illumined by by God, they become the seat of divine presence, GRACE and knowledge. In all the ascetic writings of the ORTHODOX CHURCH, the heart is known as the seat of knowledge.)

So it seems to me that the language of the heart is sometimes expressed in words and known through love and prayer. Love of God, HIS creation and the fullness of HIS truth in HIS Holy church, the Orthodox Church.

It seems to me that the mind can be surreptitiously and cunningly manipulated. As an Orthodox hieromonk in a monestary you will often be misunderstood in this forum.

Despite your serious physical condition and other spiritual responsibilities as a hieromonk you have shared your love of Christ and defended HIS Holy Orthodox Church. You will remain in my thoughts when I try to pray.

In Christ,

Matthew

[Xenia]

Fathers bless and greetings to everyone.

I think this is my first post on this forum, but I read it often and I'm very edified by the things that I read here. I am a new convert to Orthodoxy and I have much to learn so I am thankful for this good Orthodox forum.

Fr. Averky, I am praying for you.

Your sister in Christ, Xenia

[Silvia]

Dear Father,
My prayers are with you,too.I take the words of "Catholic" as they express my feelings.I am a traditional Catholic and a devotee of St John Maximovith.May Our Lady take care of you,
Silvia

[Fr Averky]

Dear Solvia,

Thank your for your kind words and prayers. I was raisd in a Spanish Roman catholic family, and my beloved mother taught me from early childhood to love the Most Pure Mother of God I am happy for you that you know Vladika John, as we still lovingly call him, and may his prayers bring you many blessings!

One little word: unfortunately, Fr. Herman and his ( now former) brotherhood developed the improper habit of calling saints and bishops and monastic by their last name. If a monk does use his last name at all, and that is rarely, it is put in parentheses. For example Archbishop John (Maximovitch).

Thus St. John should properly called "St. John of Shangai and Francisco, or St. John of San Francisco. Few Orthodox saints have been called by their last names -one for example is St. Gregory Palamas. People like people at St. Herman's press do a great diservice by such presumptions as calling people "saint," and designating a day of commemoration for them on the Church calendar when they in fact have not yet been canonized. St. Herman's group also came to love to use the word "mystic," and I have never heard an Orthodox saint called a mystic-St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross are Roman catholic mystics, but for them, that is the appelation of their Church. It is the Church's place to define who is to be revered as a saint, not self-willed monks!

I give this information to all.

I will pray for you and yours.

Fr.
a.

[Silvia]

Dear Father Averky,

I do accept your corrections and I would like to ask you to tell me what else is not proper is St Herman. I ask this because I have been reading their articles for many years. They have being my sole contact with Orthodox Tradition.(I found this website,Monoachos.net, a month ago).

Could I ask you where is your Spanish family from? They are so proud of their catholic culture. Everywhere there is a beutiful Marian shrine.

Thank you for your prayers and explanation,
Silvia

[Fr Averky]

Dear Silvia,

God bless you.

I will try to go back in Monachos' archives, because at some point I gave a lengthy (as always) answer concerning Platina. In gerneral, their publications concerning actual Orthodox saints, and not their manufactured "elders,""prophet," and "mystics" are fine if you avoid any of their prefaces or forwards. Not much of "Orthodox Word," especailly after the early 80" is very valuable, becase it presents a very gushy, romantic, and inaccurate presentation of monastic and Church life.

Such notions as "Independent Orthodox Workers" is actually in opposition to real life in the Church, because we do not act "independently," but in obedience to our hierarchs, Monk Het obeyed because they are too "worldly," one of Fr. Seraphim's favorite nonsense words. This lack of obedience led to the writing of services, Akathists, lives, and setting calendar dates for people, who while having inded lived very holy lives, have not been canonized by the Universal Church, but by Monk Herman in a state of prideful delusion. In the end he was defrocked and later was cast out, and forbidden to set foot on St Herman Monastery soil. What a sad end for a promising man-he was destroyed by his own pride. Even on the 20th anniversry of Fr. Seraphim's death, he was not permitted to attend the memorial service served for him.

Over time. I and others will suggest sound publications for you to read.

Love in christ,
Fr.A.

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

How about we pray for them and all the others who have had similar experience that God may enlighten them and do his soverign will with them, A deacon i once knew changed faith as he was doing things that were not according to orthodox traditions, without being specific, it was a pity and Thank God i was missing them (the other who went with him)and met someone on the way home who knew them, it did not seem coincidental but more God willed as we were both Christian and we spoke about God and the people we knew and our churches, i feel it would be nice if we could beseech and ask God for through that partial contact with my former friends we try and ask God for his help to work with him in regaining their contact with orthodoxy.

God bless
With love in Christ
Charalambos

[Fr Averky]

Dear Charalambos.

I am and I have been praying for the many people whose lives were negatively effected by Fr. Herman's pride and instability.

I would like to mention that in Orthodoxy we do not ever use a term like "His soverign will;" that is an entirely Protestant concept, and is not in keeping with our view of our relationship with God. I believe that it might have been Martin Luther who coined the term, indicating a somewhat fearsome God the Father. You might ask Richard Leigh-I am sure he could tell you.

At any rate, please do not use the term.

In Christ,


Fr. A.

[Silvia]

Dear Father,

Thank you for your answer.

I was quite surprised to know that Monk Herman was defroked.(I understood he is the one who founded the St H. of A. Brotherhood, isn´t he?) I just receive Orthodox Word and read it regulary. I will try to find other texts about this sad situation. We get perplexed every time we hear about someone who seemed so talented taking the wrong road.

Silvia

[Fr Averky]

Dear Silvia,

I knew Frs. Herman and Seraphim while they were still laymen, and I know what I am talking about.

If you chose not to believe my words, please ask someone else, because I will answer no more of your questions. You don't need to know every ugly detail, and one good reason is because you are not even Orthodox.

Forgive my sharpness, but you live in South America-I lived in San Francisco, and knew Frs. Herman and Seraphim when they were still had their bookstore next to the cathedral.. As a matter of fact, they did the chanting and singing for my baptism!

While I appreciated their good efforts, I never agreed with their views of monasticism or their world-view of Orthodoxy, particularly in regards their attitudes toward Orthodoxy in America.

I attended the same seminary Fr. Herman did, I visited Platina several times and when he got in trouble, his Archbishop asked me to fly out from my parish in the Midwest and speak to him. When he heard I had arrived, he fled into the woods. In the end, the monastery in Platina proved to be an idealistic fantasy, for neither of those men ever spent time living in a real monastery, but relied on old books, and made things up as they went along. In time, they were overcome by their pride.

Please, read what you wish, and believe what you wish, but I have no intention of speaking to you about Fr. Herman's misfortune. Just accept that he was indeed defrocked after Archbishop Anthony had done everything he could to reconcile him to the Church. Knowing all the details will only sadden you, and it is not spiritually to your benefit.

And no, Silvia, I have not made a mistake-Fr. Herman and Fr. Seraphim did found the St. Herman Brotherhood, but it was doomed from the start. I am sure if you use a search engine like "Google," you will find all the information you want., but no more from me, I am sorry to say.

Fr. A.

[R.J.G.]

That's sad. But the general consensus in ROCOR is that Fr. Seraphim's writings are spiritually sound, no? I've heard his books recommended by a variety of ROCOR clergy without reservation.

[Richard Leigh]

Dear Father A. and company,

I don't believe Luther coined the term "sovereign will" regarding God. Thinking about God from the direction of his sovereignty is a Reformed (= Calvinist} approach. It is more likely that Calvin, if anyone, coined the term.

Our point of departure in this is God's grace, which is not to say that we don't know that God is sovereign.

Richard

[Richard Leigh]

Dear Father A.,

I would like to second new mamber R.J.G.'s question regarding Fr. Seraphim's writings.

Thank you for you consideration and time,

Richard

P.s., I have particular interest in his Genesis, Creation and Early Man, which seems mainly to be a compilation of Patristic referrences to the subject. ---R

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

Thank you Father, a second question would be if that term should not be used how can i or others pray for something pleasing to him? u might already know what i meant maybe not, i just know that what i might want may not be hat God wants and because God IS, and loves all then He would know what is best, so in the end its not our will but his will, but father u know better than i so given this how should we say/pray what i said, not just for the brotherhood but for all the world and those thought by society to be "evil" should we say prayers of kind of like the our Father and Jesus prayer, with Love in Christ
Charalambos

[Fr Averky]

Dear In Christ R.J.G. and Richard,

In regards to Fr. Seraphim's writings, I myself do not read them, but I am aware that his works have been helpful to many, and I do not discourage reading his works, but they should be read with awareness of their limitations.

Before the publication of Fr. Seraphim's letters to Fr. Alexey Young, and the newest book about him "Fr. Seraphim Rose; his life and works," I felt comfortable with most of what he wrote. However, having read more carefully about many of his attitudes, I would say while he is indeed helpful, his negative views concerning the struggle of Orthodoxy world-wide, and especially in America colors his writing.

The more I have read, the more I have been disturbrd by a constant "doom and gloom" view, which gives little hope to either those who are struggling as monastics or as laypeople. As all of you who are new converts, or even "old timers," we need to have a positive and patient attitude towards us.

When reading ancient Fathers, and even more recent ones, they are not devoid of hope, but express much love, concern and patience. While they speak of repentance and fear pf God, they reach out over the centuries, bringin spiritual knwledge and comfort.

Part of my feelings come the negative attitude towards Holy Trinity Monastery. Both of the Fathers, Herman and Seraphim, never came here to know our lives or our efforts. At one point, Fr. Seraphim declares that they will no longer send young men to Jordanville because one person complained that the seminarians there only talk about their "worldy" parish life, and never speak of spiritual or missionary worked. I have lived here for a long time, and I can tell you, it is touching to see 40 masculine young men singinging so tenderly to the Mother of God, reading on kliros, or serving in the altar. They are good, pure, and devoted to Christ and His Church. Contrary to Fr. Seraphim"s opinion, they are not "careerists."

I mentioned recently, that for almost 75 years, our monastery has printed thousands of copies of spiritual books at a time when such a thing was not possible in Russia.

Starting in the 1950's, this monastery began to print "Orthodox Life" in English, at a time when there must have been 50 non-Russians in the entire Church! Once they came to America, the Fathers felt very strongly that they needed to print something which would help English speaking Orthodox Christians Metr. Laurus once told us how they would send out articles to be printed in English to peope all over the world to translate. Also, many a small parish, with little money, was actively supported by our monastery.

On Labour Day, 400 people attended a formal banquet at a loal resort hotel to celebrate our Beloved Metropolitan's name's day. He entered the monastery when he was 11 years old, and in his life is an exempladry Christina. Speaker after speaker rose to speak a few minutes how our monastery and seminary had prepared them to be the successful and devoted priests they have become. One can easily see that when Fr. Seraphim did go to Jordaville to speak, he alreqdy had is misconceptions, and thus his attitude against the monastery set in his mind.

"Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future," while having very good points, rather falls apart in Fr. Seraphim's ideas concerning UFO's. At the time of publication"The Soul After Death," Fr. Seraphim wasw involved in a struggle with A Greek monastery in Bostaon and its followers,conceerniong the "Toll Hoises," which are to be seen as an "image," not necessarily a real place. One person "Lev Puhalo," had written a cery sharp attack against the Platina Fathers, and Fr.Seraphim's response to a critic, is most unbecoming, for monks need not mind slanders and lies against them.

In time, one sees that in all of his writings, there is at times a rather tedious repetetion of certain ideas and concerns, after while giving the impression that his experience was in fact, rather limited.

I mention these things, not because of personal offense from Fr. Seraphim, for I quite loved and respected him personally. However, having lived in a monastery whose traditions go back to Pochaev monastery, I had an opportunity to received a more balanced view of what monastic realities are. St. Herman's is always talking about "living links," but in the end those were really affectations. Throughout history, each monastery has developed to serve its particular mission: teaching, missionary, publishing, and so on. Platina resented us because we did not loudly praise them.

Since Fr. Herman and Seraphim had had no such experience, naturally their opinions and attitudes came from books and lives of saints. Those are good resources, but it would be like trying to study a foreign language with only a text book, and no one to teach you.

After all of this, I would say,feel free to read Fr. Seraphim's writings, keeping in mind to sift out his negative views, and be nourished by his many good ones.

Fr. A.

[Silvia]

Dear Father,

I am afraid you misunderstood my words. It is hard to believe, but this first impact is natural. Second, you said " I will try to go back in Monachos' archives, because at some point I gave a lengthy answer concerning Platina." These are the texts I tried to locate in this website. I found 2 or 3, but they didn´t addressed this issue. I won´t search in other place because the source should be a reliable one. I checked the name because there is the possibility of another monk there with the same first name and it would be my fault not to have confirmed it. I am sorry if I bothered you, it was not my intention.

Silvia

[Fr Averky]

Dear Silvia,

Forgive me, I have to admit that any prolongued discussion about the Platina monastery brings back a flood of very unpleasant memories. I keep making the mistake of posting an answer-next time I will try to remain silent.

It was a time of great confusion for recent converts, for there was a real "tug -0f- war" going on between Boston, Seattle, and Platina, and it became quite ugly.

Look back either to "monasticism," or "the Jesus Prayer-prayer of the heart." I do not recall where that discussion can be found. Hopefully someone else can find it and direct you to it.

In Christ,

Fr. A.

[Silvia]

Dear Father,

Thanks for your answer. All I wanted to know is in your answer to R.J.G. and Richard. You are sure, no need to give the details. By the way, I have already read your commentaries about "Philokalia" "the Jesus Prayer-prayer of the heart" and the need of a spiritual director. Thanks God I finally have one. Although I have to travel thirteen hours to meet him it is worth the effort. May God bless you all who does such a precious work.

Silvia

[R.J.G.]

Thank you, Father. I'm sorry if I've perpetuated an unpleasant discussion that has previously taken place.

I have read several of Fr. Seraphim's works, and I particularly liked "Genesis, Creation, and Early Man". It wasn't dependent on monastic experience, but upon extensive research and compilation of the writings of the holy fathers. I also liked "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future", and I imagine it would be particularly helpful for someone who is or is tempted to become involved in the New Age movement, although since it was written, things haven't deteriorated as much as Fr. Seraphim implied they would.

[Fr Averky]

Dear R.J.G,

Not being a strict Creationist, I have not read Fr.Seraphim's book.

If you feel or know that you might be perpetuating something that is unpleasant for another, what spiritual value is to be gained by such persistence? While in the end it does not bother me- however in the light of that which you are now seeking , you are*able to see here just a hint of what "self-will" is.

After all, this is a discussion group, and it is your right to discuss a matter if you so desire.

Bless you.

Fr. A.

[R.J.G.]

When I asked, I just wanted to know what the general consensus was on his writings; I wasn't trying to pry into anything personal or political about the author.

I am probably the most self-willed person in the world. Lots of noise in the background...better go.

[Rdr. John Simmons]

I am someone who was converted to Orthooxy as a result of Fr. Seraphim's writings. I am also a regular visitor to the St. Herman Monastery. I have not found any of Fr. Seraphim's limitations to be a problem. The main problem, I believe, was the period after Fr. Seraphim's death, when even Fr. Seraphim's own writings were presented with a certain slant, a long with several other distorted ideas. Those ideas went away with Fr. Herman from the Monastery as far as I can tell. It has always seemed to me that any Church writer - even any Holy Father should be read against the context and background of the rest of them.

Fr. Seraphim certainly had his own "bent", which is understandable from his experiences, however I also believe that he was careful to try to pass on what he received from his preceptors - St. John, Bishop Nectary, Ivan Konsevitch, etc. I never heard him disparage Jordanville, and all of my fondness for it, derives from reading about it from Fr. Seraphim (who did in fact visit there).

Fr. Seraphim seems to appeal particularly to those who have suffered through various philosophical or spiritual realms before discovering Orthodoxy. That was certainly the case for me, and I still feel that it was Fr. Seraphim who led me to the Church.

John