Making a Pligrimage to Platina Monastery.

[Moros]

Here's a site about him:
http://www.sisqtel.net/~williams/

Note the bottom.
The Blessed Seraphim Hermitage
The Orthodox Church of Saints Bogolep, Adrian, Natalie and Blessed Seraphim

http://ortodox.webconnect.no/kirkenslære/Fr. Seraphim Rose Speaks.htm

http://holyorthodoxy.tripod.com/fatherseraphim.html

http://www.roca.org/OA/Books/Letters.htm

http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Various/Fr._Seraphim_Rose/

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Here's a site about him:
http://www.sisqtel.net/~williams/

Note the bottom.
The Blessed Seraphim Hermitage
The Orthodox Church of Saints Bogolep, Adrian, Natalie and Blessed Seraphim

http://ortodox.webconnect.no/kirkensl%C3%A6re/Fr.%20Seraphim%20Rose%20Speaks.htm

http://holyorthodoxy.tripod.com/fatherseraphim.html

http://www.roca.org/OA/Books/Letters.htm

http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Various/Fr._Seraphim_Rose/

Thanks a lot! I appreciate it.

 

[Suzannah]

Dear Osel,
I will be very much interested to hear about your pilgrimage! This monastery is "connected" to the church where I will be attending catechumen classes and services under the Serbian Orthodox Western Diocese. (I am attending St. John the Baptist Mission in Reno.) One of the monks from the Platina monastery was in the service at church yesterday and I met him briefly. He was very very kind. I did sort of hear something at the church that some years ago (a few, alot, I don't know!) there was some sort of trouble in that the monastery, as well as the church I am going to, was under a "lone wolf Bishop" and that there was a problem with cannonical Orthodoxy. That is all I really heard, other than that, they "didn't know" they weren't cannoniacal and really wanted to be, and that the Serbian Diocese accepted them in and pastored them into cannoniacal Orthodoxy. I have no idea what that is all about and if anyone could share more information, I would greatly appreciate it. Being very new to Orthodoxy, I am naturally curious as to what all of that means! I am confident that the church I am attending is a "cannoniacal" church, but I am interested to know "what happened???"

Thanks!
Enjoy your pilgrimage!

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Osel,
I will be very much interested to hear about your pilgrimage! This monastery is "connected" to the church where I will be attending catechumen classes and services under the Serbian Orthodox Western Diocese. (I am attending St. John the Baptist Mission in Reno.) One of the monks from the Platina monastery was in the service at church yesterday and I met him briefly. He was very very kind. I did sort of hear something at the church that some years ago (a few, alot, I don't know!) there was some sort of trouble in that the monastery, as well as the church I am going to, was under a "lone wolf Bishop" and that there was a problem with cannonical Orthodoxy. That is all I really heard, other than that, they "didn't know" they weren't cannoniacal and really wanted to be, and that the Serbian Diocese accepted them in and pastored them into cannoniacal Orthodoxy. I have no idea what that is all about and if anyone could share more information, I would greatly appreciate it. Being very new to Orthodoxy, I am naturally curious as to what all of that means! I am confident that the church I am attending is a "cannoniacal" church, but I am interested to know "what happened???"

Thanks!
Enjoy your pilgrimage!

Dear Suzannah:

Sometimes people are misguided, especially those with their head in the clouds, then they are corrected and realize their errors. It's better to leave things alone rather than go digging into the past. In fact, monastics are urged to forget the past and leave it in Christ's hands, lest it lead them into temptation and anger.

Your church is now canonical -- and you are being guided by a truly wonderful priest. That is all that is needful. If you go digging you may offend your humble priest who cares for your salvation.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[Moros]

Alright, I'm going. I'll start to make official plans this Thursday and leave sometime the next week.

Thanks, all.

 

[Suzannah]

Elizabeth! As usual, you are most wise! I agree to leave the past in the past. I simply feel that I do have a right to know what church I am joining and its actual history. I don't mean to offend. And I would never for the life of me, bring this up in the church, for fear of offending. That's why I felt it safer to ask on the board for the "facts" . I don't want to ask the church or the priest about this. I agree that the past is past. But I also believe that "blind" faith leads people into error, as I was in Protestantism!

 

[MariaRegina]

Elizabeth! As usual, you are most wise! I agree to leave the past in the past. I simply feel that I do have a right to know what church I am joining and its actual history. I don't mean to offend. And I would never for the life of me, bring this up in the church, for fear of offending. That's why I felt it safer to ask on the board for the "facts" . I don't want to ask the church or the priest about this. I agree that the past is past. But I also believe that "blind" faith leads people into error, as I was in Protestantism!

Dear Suzannah:

You can be sure that the Bishop has made sure that the people were properly catechized before they were brought into Orthodoxy. I talked with the priest in Los Angeles who just recently came over (in 2001) from the Platina group. He and his parishioners had to spend over six months intensely studying the faith and then each person had to make a full life confession. The Bishop had priests instructing and guiding them.

Be not afraid!

Your sister in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[Suzannah]

Ok! I accept that! PS: please pray for me: my husband is totally hostile as of this evening and due to his LDS background is siding with his LDS sister who is trying to get him to leave me and go with an LDS woman...it's very sad. If he leaves, I understand it for what it is. But it makes me sad nonetheless. I have not attempted a response to any of it.

 

[MariaRegina]

BTW: This priest was so wonderful and devout. Some of my friends now go to confession to him as he is simply the best spiritual father they have ever had. I would love to visit your parish when and if I ever get to Reno again. I grew up there and attended Our Lady of The Snows Parish School.

 

[MariaRegina]

When I was a catechumen, my husband was hostile to the idea of me converting. So he went to talk with the priest, and the priest won him over. Now our whole family is Orthodox.

 

[MariaRegina]

Pray to St. Seraphim of Sarov. Many souls have been converted through his prayers.

 

[Suzannah]

Chanter: What I am posting is the pain of every non-Orthodox. How to pray to anyone who can help???? What to say ??? To whom???

It is so painful that I am sitting here trying to figure out whether to find an apartment or ???????
I know tha that Jesus said we are not to divorce except for adultry. but what about the rest of us>?>>>>

 

[MariaRegina]

Chanter: What I am posting is the pain of every non-Orthodox. How to pray to anyone who can help???? What to say ??? To whom???

It is so painful that I am sitting here trying to figure out whether to find an apartment or ???????
I know tha that Jesus said we are not to divorce except for adultry. but what about the rest of us>?>>>>

Dear Suzannah:

Don't forget to pray to St. Nicholas. You are a sailor and sailors have a high rate of divorce. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of mariners. He knows your struggles and is a great intercessor for us.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of St. Nicholas the wonderworker, have mercy on Suzannah granting her peace and joy. Protect her loved ones and grant her family and her husband health and salvation.

Trust in God and talk to your priest. There are exceptions for unbelieving spouses.

 

[Suzannah]

I know the Lady of Snows parish!!! My best friend, Katie, goes there! And she has been wonderful in helping me to convert. She is RCC. (I know that's offensive to some but that is how she describes herself.) She has been completely loving and forthcoming with honest information,. If anyone, I have her to thank for my "conversion" to Orthodox.

 

[MariaRegina]

Could your best friend, Katie, help you out in your current difficulty?

 

[Matrona]

Chanter: What I am posting is the pain of every non-Orthodox. How to pray to anyone who can help???? What to say ??? To whom???

Hi Suzannah:

If you want to ask a saint for his intercessions, what I usually say is, "Saint Seraphim (or whatever the saint's name is), please pray for me that..."

From what you have posted here, I feel strongly that you're meant to be here. A lot of converts have problems with family issues, and I think you and your husband should try to talk to a priest together. If he won't come, go alone. Just remember, whatever happens, God loves you and He will take care of you. Even though sometimes it's hard for us to see, everything is in His hands, always.

I will remember you and your family in my prayers, and if you don't mind, I'll ask my friends (earthly and otherwise! ) to pray for you as well. I will pray for you as Suzannah since that's the name I know you by, unless there is a different name you would like me to use.

 

[Moros]

Back on topic, here is a photo of Platina.