Metr. Agafangel comment about Fr. Seraphim Rose

# RE: Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose): Letter to Alexander Kalomiros (1975) - Metropolitan Agafangel 06/07/2021 18:51

Representatives of the MP are now presenting Fr. Seraphim as a "liberal" and "conciliator," and not an opponent of the MP.  But many of his statements, like these words: "It would be better if the Moscow Patriarchate" excluded "us, and all" world Orthodoxy "would separate from us; then some of our people would fall into apostasy, but the rest would become stronger " – puts him in the ranks of the most extreme opponents of the MP, and at the same time, also extremely opposed to "world Orthodoxy."   And thank God!

http://internetsobor.org/index.php/istoriya/rptsz/arkhiv-rptsz/1975

Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose): Letter to Alexander Kalomiros (1975)

Monday sv. Thomas. [April 29] 1975

Dear Dr. Kalomiros!

Please forgive us for our long delay in responding to your last letter, which we read with great interest. Yes, these are very dangerous times for all of us, and no "jurisdiction" can consider that it is "safe" from the many temptations that the devil is preparing for us. In the last issue of the "Orthodox Word" (November-December) you will see what new temptation has come to our Russian Church Abroad. Some of our bishops, under the influence of Solzhenitsyn (who says a lot of good things, but, of course, does not understand church affairs), suddenly fired up the idea of uniting with two schismatic groups in America and Paris. Some bishops themselves told us that the message sent to these groups was very careless and hastily composed, it did not even mention the need for unification in Truth. As a result, the American Metropolitanate seized upon the opportunity to weaken us by means of an alliance with them, and we were really afraid (at that time we were writing an article about the Catacomb Church and Metropolitan Theodosius) that some hasty "alliance" might arise that would become destructive for the cause. true Orthodoxy and would cause a split, even if only a few would dare to secede from this "union". Now, thanks to God, our Metropolitan Filaret made a tough statement that union is impossible, but the Metropolitanate, of course, won the propaganda battle in Russian newspapers, showing how much we lack "love" since we refuse to reunite with them - as if we hate Christ Himself! Ordinary Russian people are not well versed, so as not to fall under the influence of such propaganda, but, alas, all this is the fault of our well-meaning, but ignorant church leaders who are strongly influenced by the intellectual fashion. Our other bishops, however, know the essence of the matter, and there was even a case when one bishop, who advocated an alliance with the Metropolitanate, was not allowed to serve in the diocese of another bishop.

We ourselves are very painful to see such a misunderstanding of what is happening in the world and in the Church. Indeed, it would be better for us if the Moscow Patriarchate would “exclude” us, and all “world Orthodoxy” would separate from us; then some of our people would fall into apostasy, but the rest would become stronger.

We are sending you separately our new publication "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future". We hope to finish another book soon, and God willing, we will do more in these times of crisis. We ask you to pray for us and look forward to your letter about evolution.

With love in Christ,
monk Seraphim.