ROCOR Bishop Visits Platina Monastery

Bishop George (Schaefer) of Mayfield, auxiliary of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), has visited the Monastery of St. Herman of Alaska in Platina, California, in what may be the first such hierarchical visit since the Platina Monastery's schism from the ROCOR in the 1980s. During his visit to the Monastery Bishop George was given a tour of the property, including the former cell and the grave of Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina. Bishop George also visited Hieromonk Herman (Podmoshensky), the ailing former abbot of the Platina Monastery who led it into schism following St. Seraphim's death. More here.

Pictured are Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), former abbot of the Monastery, Bishop George, and Hieromonk Hilarion, current abbot at Platina.

Fr. Gerasim Leads Chicago Lenten Seminar

Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), former abbot of St. Herman's Monastery in Platina, California, led a Lenten seminar at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection in Libertyville, Illinois, earlier this week. Fr. Gerasim, currently a student at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, is widely expected to be the next Bishop of Sitka. More here.