www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Glorification of Metropolitan Philaret

Dear Friends in Christ,

I just learned that the Holy Orthodox Church of North America will glorify Metropolitan Philaret of Jordanville a saint on May 20th of this year.

As a lover of hagiography, I was wondering if anyone knew any further details about this.

Also, which Churches or group of Churches will immediately recognize this Glorification? Is it the Old Calendarist group? Will the ROCOR also be involved as this is their Hierarch?

Thank you,

Alex

My girlfriend five years ago had Metropolitan Philaret as a spiritual father and of course sees him as a saint, as do many in ROCOR. His tomb was opened � what, two years ago? � and he was basically intact. I have an article quoting his disapproval of allowing Copts to serve in the crypt chapel at Jordanville (apparently it happened once), so one can imagine what he might have thought of our little coffee klatsch here. (�Convert!�) Of course saints are fallible.

It took me a minute to remember that the Holy Orthodox Church of North America is HOCNA. I don�t know if they�re in communion with anybody but the Greek Old Calendarists are a good guess. I can�t see any canonical Orthodox Churches recognizing the declaration. If/when ROCOR does canonize him, then the Orthodox world will accept it. When ROCOR glorified St John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the OCA recognized that and now has a church named after him, as you see through the link on the thread about him here on the forum.

Serge

<a href="http://oldworldrus.com">Old World Rus�</a>

[This message has been edited by Rusnak (edited 04-11-2001).]

Would it hurt if ALL Orthodox were Christ-centered enough to embrace the dedicated, loyal, and saintly man? (Of course, it certainly wouldn't be fair to expect the same of the Catholics.)


Vasili

Polcoj v vsi


Nov Svetloba Star Vernik od Nov Smyrna
(New Light Old Believers of New Smyrna)

Metropolitan Philaret was the Primate of ROCOR when HOCNA was a part of it. The only time that I ever saw him was at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline (which was founded from Sviati Panteleimon on Mt. Athos).

He was a very small man in stature and a very monastic bishop. Critical of Patriarch Athenagoras regarding the lifting of 1054 for reasons including developments in Roman Catholic dogma since that tragic incident (which is a defensible position whether or not one agrees with it). Therefore, he assumed the position that it was not merely the restoring of relations between too sees that had quarraled but had both retaining without alteration the Holy Orthodox Faith. An example used is the Bulgarians not being Communion with Constatinople from the Exarchate to 1945 when full Communion was restored (and subsequently the Patriarchate of Sofia recognized in the 60's). There was no question of either side's Orthodoxy of doctrine. The dispute was jurisdictional.

However, personal holiness, humility and the most thriving monasticism in North America are among the things that people found most attractive about Metropolitan Philaret. Although his positions were considered extremely conservative by many SCOBA Orthodox (if they shall be known by their fruits is the objective criterion established Scripturally) even those Orthodox who ROCOR is no longer in Eucharistic Communion with feel spiritually refreshed after a trip to Jordanville.

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Pascha!

Three Cents

Dear Vasili,

Could you tell me more about the Old Believer Church you belong to?

Do you have Old Believer Saints and their Icons? Lestovkas and belts?

I would love to know! Please feel free to e-mail me privately, if you wish.

A blessed Pascha, Servant of Christ!

Alex

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for sharing this information.

I have long venerated the memory of St. Philaret and am happy that the public recognition of his sanctity is proceeding along.

A blessed Pascha,

Alex

I am having difficulty understanding the followers of an all-mercifal and forgiving God objecting to the lifting of the excommunication on Cardinal Humbert because of developments long after his lifetime.

K.

Typical comment one should not make during Holy Week (or anytime). Vasili, you know better.

anastasios

Dear Anastasios,

Actually, I was introduced to the Saints of the ROCOR by Eastern Catholics while my Orthodox friends tried to get me to remove them from my icon corner!

A blessed Pascha!

Alex

Anastasios,

Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend, but it only seemed logical to me that Catholics might find some of his convictions offensive. I was actually trying to defend Catholics, not offend them. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I strike out again!


Roman:


Elder,

We are bespopovtsy. We (as a group) baptised and anointed ourselves on the banks of the beautiful Indian River on Palm Sunday. With then held a simple communion service, using our own version of the Divine Liturgy. We have retained the Byzantine discipline of prayer and the use of icons. We retain our great devotion to the saints, including our own: Father Avvakum, Maxim, Evdokiia, Maria,etc. More later.

In peace, let us pray to the Lord....


Vasili

"Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend, but it only seemed logical to me that Catholics might find some of his convictions offensive. I was actually trying to defend Catholics, not offend them. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I strike out again!"

Oops, then it'e me that must beg for forgiveness.

What Vasili apparently meant to say was that at least the Orthodox should accept Metr. Philaret's glorification -- but that it would be unfair to expect the Catholics to do so, given the present separation. Not a dig at Catholics at all, really.

Yet another reminder of the limitations of this medium. I honestly read that phrase the same way that Dustin did. Yet another reminder that we should be careful when we read (and when we write here), because it's very easy for misunderstandings to arise when the only reference points are these few words.

Brendan

Dear Brendan,

You are right. It's a good thing I'm always careful . . . NOT!

Vasili,

This is fascinating. Could I purchase any icons of the Old Believer saints your community would have or liturgical services to the same?

God bless,

Alex

Dear Three Cents,

As I understand it, the Holy Hierarch Philaret was very ascetical and daily performed the Rule of the "12 Psalms."

Could you let me know more about this devotion, how one performs it and where it got started?

That's my "two cents'" worth!

A blessed Pascha,

Alex

Wait a minute here. Vasili was a Greek Old Calendarist. Now he is an Old Believer? Previously wasn't he a Messianic Jew? What is going on here?

anastasios

A nice site for the explanation of the Hours (3 Psalms 4 Times Per Day)is www.uocofusa.org [uocofusa.org] and go to to the Georgia parish. Subdeacon gives a thorough yet very understandable explanation of the Hours. For further information about Metropolitan Philaret, go to www.rocor.org [rocor.org] and www.hocna.org. [hocna.org.] Father Felser at the HOCNA site was a priest under Metropolitan Philaret, as indeed was Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline.

Christos Anesti! Christ Is Risen!
Alithos Anesti! Truly He Is Risen!
Alithos A Kyrios! Truly He Is Lord!

Three Cents