What is Forgiveness? #3

.Real Life example where false forgiveness did not occur

This (what I'm calling) "false forgiveness" apparently runs very deep in all modern Christians, just as much in us as in the heterodox.  I wonder if it has something to do with the modern philosophy that says unconditional love is the most perfect love.
  
True Story told to me by Reader Daniel Everiss  (†Sept 23, 2023 — Rdr Daniel was a victim of Fr. Herman sex predator.  What Daniel told me can be supported/verified by other witnesses:

 —  Fr. Herman was accused of being a homo-pervert-predator around the time of Fr. Seraphim's death.  I guess I'll tell this story chronologically .  .  .

  1.  I don't know exactly when Fr. Seraphim found out about Fr. Herman's sex crime escapades, whether it was before or after he was taken to the hospital.  But it was very close to or at that time.  It seems Fr. Seraphim may not have had a chance to confront Fr. Herman before he went to the hospital.  As I recall from NOTW, 1st edition, Fr. Seraphim had kept to his cell for a day or more before he was found in a medical crisis.  Maybe he knew about Fr. Herman before he retreated to his cell to deal with his pain, but maybe he did not find out until he was being taken to the hospital or just after his operation.  Whatever, it is clear he knew it when he was in the hospital recovery room.

  2.  While Fr. Seraphim was on his death bed in the hospital, Fr. Herman was desperately begging Fr. Seraphim to forgive him.  Fr. Herman kept repeatedly coming into his room each time tearfully begging, in a state of panic.   Different people at different times had gathered in Fr. Seraphim's room, at first still hoping for his full recovery — these people observed Fr. Herman and were witnesses.  Fr. Seraphim denied each of Fr. Herman's pleas one after another in front of whoever was there at the time over the course of the 2 days before he died. 

  One time Fr. Herman begged, Fr. Seraphim responded as best he could, since he could hardly speak:  "I'm through with you."  Fr. Herman would go away wailing and then return again later to try again.

  Another time Fr. Seraphim responded, with eyes closed, barely able to speak: "I hate you.  I hate you.  I hate you."

  3.  Then very soon after Fr. Seraphim died, I imagine maybe days or a week, Bp. Anthony (Medvedev) did an investigation into the accusations against Fr. Herman for his sex crimes.  Several of Fr. Herman's victims and witnesses were gathered to testify.  Among those summoned was Rdr. Daniel Everiss, a victim, and it is from him only that I have any knowledge of what took place.  

 

    As of today, 2026, I know of one victim still alive for sure, in the GOC.  And another victim, who, if he is still alive,  I think he would welcome being questioned.  There is a witness who is maybe still alive in the ROCOR-MP.   Bp. Anthony charged everyone to never say anything to anyone about what was said during this investigation.  I would reveal the names I know to Vladyka Agafangel only, because he could undo the gag order of a ROCOR bishop. 

  At that investigation, Bp. Anthony did not want to believe the accusations.  He said it was not possible for an archimandrite to do such things.  But the testimony was indisputable.  To help support the accusations, one who had been present at Fr. Seraphim's death bed testified that Fr. Seraphim knew Fr. Herman was guilty.  And Fr. Herman all but admitted it by begging Fr. Seraphim to forgive him... 

  Bp. Anthony hearing that, then changed the subject, and asked, "Did Fr. Seraphim forgive him?"

  The witness answered, "No."

  Then Bp. Anthony said, as a comment on the side, "Well, then, he can't be a saint." 

[This shows that very soon after Fr. Seraphim's death even the bishops already were wondering if Fr. Seraphim is a saint.]

  But, the bishop was wrong.  Fr. Seraphim is a saint.

 

God chose to take Fr. Seraphim from us at that time.  And God also arranged that Fr. Seraphim be separated from Fr. Herman before his departure from earthly life.    We know Fr. Seraphim was a hard core lover of truth, and he loved the desert fathers as well.  If any of us think that Fr. Seraphim should have "forgiven" Fr. Herman, we should think again.  It would have been a false forgiveness.  It would have been a betrayal of truth.  This was not a matter of forgiveness.  This was a matter of separating the blessed man from the ungodly man.

 

Matt 24:40   Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left . . . 

 

What is Forgiveness? #2

Real Life example where false forgiveness did not occur

Letter from St. Philaret NY to Bp. Gregory Grabbe
August 17/30, 1976

Dear Father George,

You probably already know that Fr. George Larin sent a "sorrowful message" to all the bishops stating that Fr. Nikita, after receiving an order form him to make a cross out of pure gold and receiving money for it,  presented him with a cross that, according to a jeweler's analysis, turned out not to be gold at all but copper, perhaps with the addition of a cheap alloy...  I received this news recently, Fr. G. includes documents clearly exposing Fr. Nikita's fraud.

I am afraid that this disgraceful and vile act by Fr. Nikita has put an end to his "church career" — if not forever, then at least for a long time.  Now, there can  no longer be any question of him remaining with me or at Synod.

But this is not all.  You know that the majority of bishops is opposed to him.  The canons require defrocking in cases where a cleric is convicted of theft.  And here — not only theft but disgraceful deception and fraud.  If the bishops demand that he be defrocked, I will have no arguments to defend my cell attendant.

As I have already written, Fr. N. must leave me and Synod.  But I still wish to save him from the ultimate disgrace — defrocking.  Therefore, I plan to immediately — before the Synod meeting — forbid him to serve and send him to Fr. Panteleimon's monastery for repentance (Jordanvile is not an option; they do not like him there and would persecute and mock him).  Therefore, please call Fr. Panteleimon immediately upon receiving this letter and inform him of my decision — I hope he will not object.  Fr. N. must remain in complete submission and obedience to him in his monastery.  In six months, we will see what Fr. Panteleimon's assessment of him is.  However, even in the case of a favorable review, Fr. N. will not return to Synod or to serving me.

Now comes the question of my new cell attendant.  Could Fr. Adrian take on this role, what do you think?  First, this would give him a chance to redeem his unfortunate past through good service at Synod and with me.  Second, he could fully replace Fr. Nikita as a permanent deacon — he serves wonderfully, has a good voice, and knows the order of the services.  But it is important for me to know your opinion; you know Fr. Adrian better than I do.  Of course, Fr. Nikita was valuable to me as an excellent driver and someone knowledgeable in medicine; I do not know if Fr. Adrian can drive or if he has any medical knowledge.  But of course, one cannot expect a person to be perfect in everything.

One more thought regarding saving Fr. Nikta from the disgrace of defrocking — I hope that when the bishops learn that I removed him from serving me and the Synod, suspended him from priestly ministry, and sent him to a monastery, they will relent and not insist on "the highest measure of punishment."

How many times did I warn Fr. Nikita!  I kept telling him: abandon your "planetary ambitions" and focus on your basic duties — intoning [as deacon] "Again and again..." and paying attention to driving.  I told him that he was balancing on a tightrope over an abyss and sooner or later would fall...  Alas — he did not listen.  And he fell.

Of course, I myself feel very uncomfortable.  This nasty affair casts a bad shadow on me as well and gives enemies and slanderers the broadest opportunities.  But I realize that, to some extent, I deserve this trial and unpleasantness — I should have been stricter and not "advised" but categorically ordered.  But now it is too late...

_____________________
from the book:  In Their Own Words — The Private Letters of St. Philaret of New York & Bishop Gregory Grabbe,  Orthodox Traditionalist Publications, ISBN: 979-829-448-2275  1st edition, pp 216–217
https://sjmshop.org/products/in-their-own-words
  
   Folks, there are a number of valuable things to note in this example — practical applications of "desert" spirituality:  things worth pondering, helpful insights into how we can mold our own thinking so that we, too, may think like the saints. 
  There is a happy ending to this story.  In the book it is revealed a few pages later that Fr. Nikita was not so guilty as it seemed.  But for the purpose of studying "forgiveness," let us not jump ahead so fast that we miss this valuable lesson.  ~jh