Real Life example where false forgiveness did not occur
Letter from St. Philaret NY to Bp. Gregory Grabbe
August 17/30, 1976
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...
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
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
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