Bishop Gerasim Interview on AFT: On Reading Fr. Seraphim Rose in Context (VIDEO)

This recent episode of Ancient Faith Today LIVE, with Fr. Thomas Soroka, was recorded Tuesday, October 24, and in addition to the interview, features His Grace's responses to numerous questions sent in during the show by viewers and listeners.

Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth: On Reading Fr. Seraphim Rose in Context (VIDEO)

From an article on the podcast at OrthoChristian.com:

His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth, Auxiliary Bishop of the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the South, joined Fr. Thomas Soroka on his Ancient Faith Today Live podcast yesterday to talk about Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), who is greatly beloved throughout the Orthodox world.

Bp. Gerasim personally knew Fr. Seraphim during the last two years of his life. He became a monastic under the influence of Fr. Seraphim and lived under his guidance as a novice.

In yesterday’s show, he spoke with Fr. Thomas about reading Fr. Seraphim in context. Bp. Gerasim addresses several issues, including the availability of Orthodox material and Divine services in English in Fr. Seraphim’s time, ROCOR’s and Fr. Seraphim’s view of the OCA, including Fr. Alexander Schmemann, the teaching of the toll houses, Fr. Seraphim’s popularity throughout Eastern Europe, and more.

My thoughts and response:

The format and time constraints of the podcast format did not allow Fr. Thomas and Bp. Gerasim to further explore some of the topics covered, so I would like to offer the following brief observations, in an effort to amplify just a bit what was an immensely helpful and authoritative "inside look" at the life and writings of Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim by one who was "right there" the last two years of Fr. Seraphim's life.

Bishop Gerasim to appear on Ancient Faith Today Live: Tue. Oct 24

Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth (OCA) to appear on Ancient Faith Today LIVE with Fr. Tom Soroka

This will be a major episode on Ancient Faith Today. His Grace Bishop Gerasim is just the sober, knowledgeable voice needed to help provide a grounded hagiographical context for Blessed Father Seraphim Rose, as we approach his hoped for glorification and his entry into the calendar of saints.

• Tuesday, October 24 at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT! 
• Watch live on YouTube
• Or listen live on Ancient Faith Radio

For some background, listen to this fascinating interview of then Abbot Gerasim at Platina in 2007, conducted by Kevin Allen for The Illumined Heart podcast.

This will be another major episode on Ancient Faith Today. His Grace, Bishop Gerasim (Eliel) is one of Blessed Father Seraphim's most significant spiritual children, having entered St Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, California, a little over a year before the repose of Father Seraphim. 

After Fr Seraphim's death, he remained at the monastery and was soon tonsured a monk, and became deeply involved in the St Herman Brotherhood's publishing ministry. He helped Abbot Herman re-establish Orthodox monasticism on Spruce Island, Alaska, in the mid 1980s, and would later help lead the monastery back into canonical Orthodoxy around the year 2000. 

After that pivotal event he served as abbot for a number of years before proceeding to St Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary where he graduated as valedictorian. He has served in a few key roles roles since then, including as Administrator of the OCA Diocese of the South, before being consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth and continuing as auxiliary bishop and administrator under Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin) of the OCA Diocese of the South.

Bishop Gerasim: 'The Ecclesiology of Fr Seraphim Rose' (VIDEO)

This talk by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim (Eliel) of Fort Worth, Texas, was delivered in person at the recent Luminaries Summit in Akhalkalaki, Georgia. 

The transcript is available for download in English, Russian and Georgian, on the Summit's Google Drive. For more info, videos and links to transcripts of the many presentations at the Luminaries Summit see my earlier post. 

The Ecclesiology of Fr Seraphim Rose: Praxis and Teaching