3 September 2012

Yesterday, served liturgy with HE Metropolitan HILARION, 1st Hierarch of ROCOR, Bishop Daniil of Bulgaria, Abbot Hilarion of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, CA, Abbot Luka of Dajbaba in Serbia, Archim. Nectary of Mexico (ROCOR), Abbot Sava of Georgia, Hieromonk James from Joy of all who Sorrow Cathedral in SF (ROCOR), Fr. Michael Oyer, Dormition Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Santa Rosa, CA, Hieromonks Damascene and Paisius of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, CA; and two deacons from ROCOR, with many in attendance for the 30th Repose of Fr. Seraphim Rose.

Then, we enjoyed wonderful smoked salmon meal. I sat next to Fr. Luka who

i had met in Montenegro. He is not only delightful, as we kept moving the bees from our food, but he is responsible frontwo monasteries in Montenegro. We also met Fr. Moses, a new African-american monk at Platina, who Fr. Hilarion blessed to come to the next Ancient Christianity and African American Conference in KC in October, 2013.

Then, we heard talks from those who knew Fr. Seraphim personally. I was especially touched by Metropolitan Hilarion sharing about his teenage discovery of OW, his blessing to go to Jordanville from Bishop Sava, his meetings with Fr Seraphim and Herman in Platina, his hearing Fr Seraphim when he visited Jordanville, and his ongoing correspondence with Fr Seraphim. He spoke with much live and respect for both of them. I knew he had visited Fr Herman the day before and Fr Herman spoke of him kindly and how he remembered once serving together at the funeral for Archbishop Averky when Vladika was an arch deacon.

Later, I enjoyed hearing from Mary Mansur and Solomonia and their personal stories and reflections. Also, Martinian Prince, son of Agafia, who shared humorous reflections as a 10 year old encountering and living with Fr Seraphim and Herman.

That evening I was able to go and share with the sisters of St. Xenia Skete, Mother Dorothea, Mother Olga, and Mother Stefania. Mother Nectaria, Dimitrios from Malibu (whose wife Linda i had gone to Albania with), Jennifer from Santa Barbara, and other pilgrims were also there.) shared photos from pilgrimage and shared a few things with them. They were very joyful and delightful to be with. They have enlarged the church, built new cells, remodeled the kitchen area, and added a winter chapel.

On the way back I saw Fr Herman briefly before I left. I had shown him the photos the day before and after his reflection on the trip and the events that had been blessed by God, he said with great joy, “Why would God give a non-Russian, all American, urban boy such obvious help on this pilgrimage. Many others have made this trip without such things happening (meeting elders, people showing such favor, doors opening)? A loan of grace….God has given you a loan … Of Grace! Now you must produce something from it! He reminded me of Meet John Doe (the Gary Cooper film). And he very much encouraged me about the village ideas for Kansas City.

Now I leave for San Francisco to venerate St. John before I return home.