WARNING

NOT EVERYTHING THAT

CALLS ITSELF ORTHODOX IS

TRULY ORTHODOX


The above warning was given to me when I first met Orthodoxy in 1986. Today [2009] it is even more perilous, even more difficult to find the Royal Path. For one thing there is a far greater abundance of misinformation. And many materials are missing, and other materials are being rapidly rewritten. For another thing there are fewer than ever guides remaining on the Royal Path, especially who speak English. Hopefully this website will be a place where Newcomers to the Faith can keep at least one foot on solid ground, while they are "exploring."


blog owner: Joanna Higginbotham

joannahigginbotham@runbox.com

jurisdiction: ROCA under Vladyka Agafangel

who did not submit to the RocorMP union in 2007

DISCLAIMER



December 17, 2012

Is it ok to venerate icons of Fr. Seraphim?

Updated 10/13/14

 It is certainly ok to pray privately to uncanonized blessed ones.  Local veneration is how they are eventually canonized by the Church.  It would be ok to sing the magnification at the end of a pannikhida, already Bishop Nektary has done this.




Is it ok to venerate icons of Fr. Seraphim?  

It was forbidden by our synod –Fr. Seraphim's synod– to depict saints on icons with the halo painted in before their glorification.  Icon-style images are fine, and the halo can be added after the glorification.

The glorification will happen in God's time.  (It should be done by ROCA, since that is Fr. Seraphim's jurisdiction.)   It usually takes a good number of years.  For recent examples of how long it can take we have St. John Kronstadt, St. Xenia of Petersburg, St. Herman of Alaska, and St. John of S&SF.

The urge to venerate Fr. Seraphim can be expanded to include St. John S&SF.  Fr. Seraphim is truly one of St. John's miracles.  St. John took Fr. Seraphim under his wing and instructed him in an "academy" that he established just for Fr. Seraphim.  By St. John's prayers, Fr. Seraphim  became a miraculous American missionary.  And now, just as St. John is loved everywhere in the whole world, so is Fr. Seraphim.  Fr. Seraphim is an extension of St. John's universal ministry.  And it is obviously a miracle.

This connection between St. John and Fr. Seraphim has a practical application which bears pointing out.   Many folks don't realize that when somebody argues with Fr. Seraphim, [such as about the fall of the EP, or the toll houses or genesis and the age of the earth], then they are arguing with St. John, because Fr. Seraphim learned it directly from St. John.

Is it ok to venerate icons of Fr. Seraphim?  (I guess I can't answer this question.)

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