Gleb Podmoshensky

[Nick Moser]

Gleb Podmoshensky left a dark mark on Platina Monastery’s history. His crimes reportedly began after Fr. Seraphim’s repose in 1982, and it seems Seraphim was unaware of them,he would have repented such immoral urges, including those tied to homosexuality. When the allegations surfaced, ROCOR acted only to defrock Gleb for disobedience, taking no legal action and notifying no authorities; the monastery itself went into schism to avoid accountability.

Years later, a New Age group called the Holy Order of MANS encountered Platina. Drawn to its Orthodox practices, they gradually embraced Orthodoxy, eventually forming the Christ the Savior Brotherhood. Some communities joined the Bulgarians, others the Serbs or the OCA; Platina aligned with the Serbian Church. Part of this integration required that Gleb leave the monastery and be denied burial there. The Brotherhood’s delayed Orthodox embrace and distance from Platina were influenced by Podmoshensky’s crimes and the lack of justice, yet he still received a glowing obituary.

As a young man, my commitment to Orthodoxy over Catholicism reflects concern over New Age and sexual immorality infiltration, as well as the increasingly secular and liberal political and theological stances of the Catholic Church.


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[Lukaris]

While I believe you have valid concerns to be aware of, I don’t think much of this has had much of an impact on the average parish level. Things can change quickly of course or sometimes different problems, not directly related, can lead to splits like in a family.

I know my grandparents witnessed the disorganization caused by the likes of vagante bishop Aftimios Ofiesh in our parish. In a separate matter, there was some sort of split in our parish during WW 2 & my grandfather resigned from the parish council & pulled his family out of the Church. One thing leads to another it seems. My grandmother eventually returned to Orthodoxy & my grandfather supported her although he remained aloof & somewhat disillusioned. He had later considered conversion to 7th Day Adventist at one point or Baptist on another. Both Protestant groups said our family had to be baptized and my grandfather said they already were ( his Orthodox baptism held despite other problems) so he did not accept a different Christian faith from Orthodoxy in the end.

The story of Aftimios Ofiesh:

Aftimios Ofiesh - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[ArmyMatt]

I am pretty sure Fr Herman did repent and die at peace with the Church as a lay monk.

 

[Nick Moser]

Wow I'd like to read it all right I just don't want to have the same problem as a Catholic Church where there is a massive problem with creeps going inside the church and their crimes being covered up.