Is this true??!!

[Dorothea]

I am somewhere in the 800s (page wise) in the book on Fr. Seraphim Rose. I was curious about Gleb (Fr. Herman) who was very close to Fr. Seraphim, like a brother (brother also in monastic terms) to him, and I liked him from what I read in the book on Fr. Seraphim. So I decided to google him and see what happened in his life (I haven't finished Fr. Seraphim's book, and I don't know if anything is in there about Fr. Herman's life after Fr. Seraphim's death). I found this online, and it upset me:

POKROV.ORG :: A RESOURCE FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES

After the death of Rose in 1982, Podmoshensky was accused of serious moral offenses, which Pokrov.org has heard from quite a few different sources was sexual misconduct with young men, some of whom were below the age of majority. He was suspended from the priesthood in 1984 pending the outcome of ROCOR's investigation into these allegations.

 

[gzt]

Yes.

 

[Damaris]

Yes, that's all true. Gleb Podmoshensky was eventually defrocked for his failure to obey that suspension.

Unfortunately, the demons of sexual misconduct and abuse have overtaken some of our monastics and even whole monasteries. Fr. Seraphim (Rose) was able to fight and defeat the demons that had once made him succumb to sexual immorality, although he never strayed into abuse of any kind. Sadly, not all who are tempted will win the battle.

 

[Dorothea]

 

[jckstraw72]

unfortunately Fr. Herman did not accept his suspension and defrocking and took the monastery into schism. The monastery later entered the Serbian Western American Diocese in 2000 with Fr. Gerasim as abbot while Fr. Herman remained in schism. However, thanks be to God, he has recently re-entered into communion within the Serbian Church. A Serbian priest that I know has recently taken communion to him. May God have mercy on him and the victims!

 

[Dorothea]

unfortunately Fr. Herman did not accept his suspension and defrocking and took the monastery into schism. The monastery later entered the Serbian Western American Diocese in 2000 with Fr. Gerasim as abbot while Fr. Herman remained in schism. However, thanks be to God, he has recently re-entered into communion within the Serbian Church. A Serbian priest that I know has recently taken communion to him. May God have mercy on him and the victims!

I read that on the site. But it said the Serbian Orthodox Church denies taking him in. I hope that he has or will repent(ed). Lord, have mercy, yes, on he and the poor boys/men who have been abused.

 

[Damaris]

I read that on the site. But it said the Serbian Orthodox Church denies taking him in. I hope that he has or will repent(ed). Lord, have mercy, yes, on he and the poor boys/men who have been abused.

It looks like the Pokrov article is referring to the possibility that Monk Gleb was received with the other Platina monks in 2000. jckstraw's comment appears to suggest that he was actually received fairly recently.

Whatever the case, I hope he has sincerely repented and been restored to communion with Christ.

Be very careful with Pokrov articles, as they don't always tell the whole story.

 

[Dorothea]

It looks like the Pokrov article is referring to the possibility that Monk Gleb was received with the other Platina monks in 2000. jckstraw's comment appears to suggest that he was actually received fairly recently.

Whatever the case, I hope he has sincerely repented and been restored to communion with Christ.

Be very careful with Pokrov articles, as they don't always tell the whole story.

I hadn't read any other articles. I will look at others. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[jckstraw72]

yes, im guessing that Pokrov article is referring to 2000. I was at Platina in 2007 and at that time Fr. Herman was still schismatic, so he has become canonical again sometime since then. the nuns at St. Xenia's Skete had been under obedience that when they took food to Fr. Herman they were to knock on his door and call out "are you ready to repent yet?" well, i dont know precisely when it happened, but thank God, it seems he has repented. My Serbian priest friend would definitely not take him Communion if he was still schismatic. Also, he has been quite ill for some time, so he could really use our prayers!

 

[ProScribe]

{From what I understand - pedophilia or sexual misconduct can happen with certain priests who lack normal physical contact and have never had emotional & sexual experience such as normal pyschology would allow - God knows.}

 

[Dorothea]

yes, im guessing that Pokrov article is referring to 2000. I was at Platina in 2007 and at that time Fr. Herman was still schismatic, so he has become canonical again sometime since then. the nuns at St. Xenia's Skete had been under obedience that when they took food to Fr. Herman they were to knock on his door and call out "are you ready to repent yet?" well, i dont know precisely when it happened, but thank God, it seems he has repented. My Serbian priest friend would definitely not take him Communion if he was still schismatic. Also, he has been quite ill for some time, so he could really use our prayers!

Thank God. Yes, I will pray for him. Thank you for so much for this info, jck.

 

[ArmyMatt]

yeah, I saw on a friend's page on facebook when he went to Platina that Fr Herman was there. he looked old and frail, but there was a joy in his face, so I am glad he is back.

 

[Damaris]

Also in the way of "where are they now", Father Gerasim is now in the OCA. I believe they sent him to seminary in hopes that he could become a bishop.

 

[E.C.]

Be very careful with Pokrov articles, as they don't always tell the whole story.

That's very true.

For example: one of the "accused" on that site was actually exonerated of all charges like five years ago, yet Pokrov still has him up there.

 

[Dorothea]

That's very true.

For example: one of the "accused" on that site was actually exonerated of all charges like five years ago, yet Pokrov still has him up there.

Thanks. That's good to be aware of.

Incidentally, i randomly went to that site as it was one of the first to come up when I googled Gleb/Fr. Herman's name.

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

Also in the way of "where are they now", Father Gerasim is now in the OCA. I believe they sent him to seminary in hopes that he could become a bishop.

That is correct, the hope is to make him a bishop in Alaska. My parish has a very close relationship with the monastery and Fr. Herman (he brought them into Orthodoxy.) Fr Gerasim has hiked all over Alaska last summer winning the hearts of many locals there, despite many local priest and Bishops concerns that he was not a local Alaskan and would have some difficulty connecting with the natives there.
Please pray for Fr. Herman, his health is failing.

 

[Dorothea]

That is correct, the hope is to make him a bishop in Alaska. My parish has a very close relationship with the monastery and Fr. Herman (he brought them into Orthodoxy.) Fr Gerasim has hiked all over Alaska last summer winning the hearts of many locals there, despite many local priest and Bishops concerns that he was not a local Alaskan and would have some difficulty connecting with the natives there.
Please pray for Fr. Herman, his health is failing.

Thanks for sharing this, littlefisherman. Is Fr. Gerasim the priest Fr. Seraphim and Fr. Herman met in AK that is mentioned in the book? I will pray for Fr. Herman.

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

Forgive me, Abbot Gerasim was the recent Abbot of monastery, he is much younger than Fr. Herman and Fr. Seraphim, I do not know him at all really.

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

Fr Seraphim Rose Prayer And Orthodox Spirituality - The Illumined Heart - Ancient Faith Radio

 

[Dorothea]

Thanks, littlefisherman.