Revisiting Paul Kingsnorth's 2025 essay, 'California Son'
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| Hieromonk Seraphim Rose aat Platina, Bright Week 1981 |
Over at my still relatively new Substack, I have been posting more frequently about the Glorification process for Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim Rose.
Today I felt it would be helpful to share an April 2025 essay by author Paul Kingsnorth, who, as a recent convert to Orthodoxy, brings a fresh and even bold perspective on Father Seraphim.
Years of anticipation lead to the announcement from the ROCOR Synod. What's next?
Christ is Risen!
So much speculation since we learned in April that the ROCOR Synod of Bishops would be considering the work of the Commission on the Glorification of Father Seraphim Rose, shared by Bishop James of Sonora, at their recent Spring meeting.
Then, on Monday this week the Union of Orthodox Journalists ran a story announcing the canonization of Father Seraphim. This set off volleys of social media celebrations and criticism, as well as private emails and text messaging, as an official statement from the Synod had not yet been released. The Synod did indeed confirm the pre-announcement by the UOJ on Tuesday, March 5, and another wave of celebrations (and more subdued criticisms) ensued.
I know within our parish circles there were still questions as to what the wording of the Synod’s letter meant, and what would happen next. Before sharing my own thoughts, I would strongly recommend reading the Synod’s Epistle, which is signed by all the bishops present.
Secondly, I would just as strongly recommend reading this excellent interview with His Grace, Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, who was present at the Synod’s gathering, and who sets forth the process going forward. This excerpt gives a sense of how His Grace approaches the glorification:
I can say that I rejoice in my heart that we have been able so to state — that the Council of Bishops recognises even now, at this point in the process, the righteous way of life of Fr Seraphim. That is to say, the task of preparing for his glorification is not being undertaken as if we do not already concretely feel his holiness and recognise it, not only amongst ourselves, but in a way we feel a desire to share with others. We look forward to ecclesially proclaiming it more fully, should God so bless us — and we have blessed the continuation of the work towards this.
This is no small thing! The holiness is tangible! We do not hide this, or pretend otherwise. We now seek to do all that is right and proper so that what we already taste might become the source of spiritual nourishment for so many…
Plus new book, proposed film project, also add to groundswell of anticipation over Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim's entry into the calendar of saints.
There have been so many recent news stories and announcements regarding Father Seraphim Rose that it seemed best in this post to provide an overview, with links for further reading.
Included below:
1. Great Lenten Retreat Dedicated to Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose); (ROCOR Western American Diocese, March 24, 2026) — This extensive report on the retreat, by Timothy Honeycutt, features highly edifying summaries and quotes from the speakers, plus an extensive photo gallery of the event. Believe me, the excerpts below, lengthy as they may seem, are just the tip of the iceberg:
The XV Annual Lenten Retreat at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, California, was held on Sunday, March 22, 2026. This year’s retreat was titled: “Hieromonk Seraphim Rose of Platina: His Life, Teachings & Legacy”. Over 100 people were in attendance, many of whom attended the English-language Divine Liturgy in the morning. They came to hear from Bishop James of Sonora and Archpriest Martin Person, Rector of the St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Sunnyvale, California. Both clerics knew Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) personally during the last few years of his earthly life, which ended in 1982.
The first talk, titled “Biography of a Man Transformed in Christ,” was given by Fr. Martin. He provided a detailed overview of Fr. Seraphim’s life, adding throughout stories of his personal experiences with Hieromonk Seraphim. Father Martin was a student at UC Santa Cruz when Hieromonk Seraphim was invited to the university to give two talks. For Bishop James and other friends of theirs, encountering Father Seraphim struck something deep in their hearts, changing the entire course of their lives. Many of these young men became bishops, priests, and monks...
ONE DAY ONLY - SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY BISHOP JAMES OF SONOMA
The announcement plus full schedule, online registration, and extensive photo gallery was recently posted on the website of the ROCOR Western Diocese, and includes the following:
We are pleased to announce that our XV Annual Lenten Retreat at Holy Virgin Cathedral will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2026, – it will be a very special one. At the 2025 December session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia it was resolved to establish a commission to study the life, legacy and veneration of the ever-memorable Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina: ascetic, theologian, priest, missionary, translator, profound Orthodox thinker, apologist, spiritual writer, and one time chanter-reader at Holy Virgin Cathedral.
Our talks will be presented by Bishop James of Sonora, Chairman of the new Commission, and Archpriest Martin Person, Dean of the Western American Diocese San Francisco Deanery – two clergymen who personally knew Fr. Seraphim, and for whom he played a significant role in their conversion to Orthodoxy. Besides the talks there will be beautiful fellowship, a Q&A period, and wonderful lenten meals.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
7:30 – 9:45 Divine Liturgy (in English)
10:00–10:45 Breakfast
10:45 – 12:15 THE BIOGRAPHY OF A MAN TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST - Archpriest Martin Person
Can one speak of holiness in our age? How does the transformation of an atheist to Orthodox Christian take place? Our first speaker, a convert to Orthodoxy himself, with many years of service to the Church, – Fr. Martin – will delve into the life of Hieromonk Seraphim and reveal the "mystery" of this holy man.
12:15 – 1:30 Lunch Break
1:30 – 3:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS: REFLECTIONS ON FR. SERAPHIM’s THEOLOGICAL, PASTORAL & PROPHETIC LEGACY – Bishop James of Sonora
Vladika James is an excellent and engaging speaker, with exceptional spiritual insight and a special way of connecting with people and helping them discover the concept of Orthodox phronema – the Orthodox mindset, or outlook. His reflections will certainly open to us the meaning and place of Fr. Seraphim in the XX and XXI centuries.
3:00 – 4:00 CLERGY ROUND TABLE Q&A
4:00 — End of Retreat
Much more info, with links to register, on the website of the ROCOR Western Diocese.
See this special article on the retreat by the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
This marks the first definitive action taken by the ROCOR Synod of Bishops towards considering the possible glorification of Fr Seraphim Rose.
His Grace, Bishop James (Corazza) converted to Orthodoxy during the same period in the late 1970s and early 80s at UC Santa Cruz which also saw the conversions of several other key figures of Orthodoxy in North America, including Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), Bishop Gerasim (Eliel), Abbot Damascene (Christensen) of Platina, and others who were all positively influenced by the life and work of Father Seraphim. Bishop Gerasim and Abbot Damascene of course began their monastic lives under Fr Seraphim.
During this period, James Paffhausen, the future Abbot and Metropolitan Jonah, formed an Orthodox fellowship, drawing many to the Orthodox Church:
“In the St. Seraphim of Sarov Fellowship, the conversions had a domino effect, with converts bringing other young seekers to their new-found faith.
"The students in the fellowship loved the books published by the St. Herman Brotherhood, including those by Fr. Seraphim. One student, James N. Corazza [now Bishop James of Sonora] recalls: 'I shall never forget the evening — after a year and a half of difficult searching — when I finished Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future and everything fell joyously into place, and I knew beyond all doubt and vacillation that my future was to be in Christ’s Church'.” [1]
In short, Bishop James is warm to the task, and is the ideal figure to lead this process. May it be blessed!
Much more to say about this soon, God willing, but for now, let us say ‘Amen!’, and rejoice today on the feast (New Calendar) of St Herman of Alaska, and pray for the imminent glorification of Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim of Platina.
For more reports on this news, and the official statement from the ROCOR Synod, see these links:
[1] Excerpt From Chapter 95 - Santa Cruz, Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works, Hieromonk Damascene, Ebook Edition, St. Herman Brotherhood, Platina CA, 2010.
On the Patron Saint of Lost Western People
Back in May of this year, Paul Kingsnorth published this article to his Substack, noting that, "It’s about the life of a pioneering American Orthodox figure whose journey has both intrigued and inspired me."
It's a fresh approach and appraisal of Father Seraphim Rose, by one of the most important thinkers and writers, Orthodox or otherwise, of our time, which makes it doubly unique and important, as Fr Seraphim is, in my estimation, one of it not the most important Orthodox thinker and writer of the last sixty years.
On the Patron Saint of Lost Western People
by Paul Kingsnorth, The Abbey of Misrule, April 27, 2025
Last year I was invited to give a talk about Christianity and nature at Canisius University in Buffalo, New York. After the talk, I took some questions from the audience. One of the questions, asked in sweet innocence, was a deadly honeytrap for a visiting Englishman:
“What do you think of America?”
I had just been talking about the dangers to the soul of the technological culture of Silicon Valley, and the impact of its machine-like ways of thinking on the world, so I said the first thing that came into my head. This is rarely a good idea, especially in public.
“America is Babylon,” I said. Then, remembering I was speaking to an audience of Americans, I quickly added a qualification.
“It’s Babylon,” I said, “but it might also be the place that counters Babylon. It’s as if one force somehow begets the other. After all, California is home to Silicon Valley, but it’s also home to the monastery of Seraphim Rose.”
Somebody else in the audience put their hand up.
“Who’s Seraphim Rose?” they asked.
It was a fair question. The strange name I had conjured is hardly widely known. It is the name of a man who in many ways embodied the twentieth-century West’s aching search for meaning. A man who pushed himself out of the desert of modern materialism, through a banquet of “alternative spiritualities,” and into an ascetic, monastic life in the oldest and most traditional stream of Christianity: the Eastern Orthodox Church. Seraphim Rose is the unofficial patron saint of lost Western people, and only America could have made him.
Today, with the Orthodox Church in the U.S. growing faster than it ever has, and with young people flooding many of its parishes, interest in his life and work has reached new heights. Sales of his books continue to grow, his grave has become a place of pilgrimage, and there are more and more persistent calls for him to be recognized as a saint of the Church. Slowly and quietly, he may be helping to remake America...
Read the full post here, and consider subscribing to Paul Kingsnorth's Abbey of Misrule.
The YouTube Channel 'Roots of Orthodoxy' presents a one-hour interview with Fr John Valadez, priest at St Timothy Orthodox Church (Antiochian Archdiocese) in Lompoc, California, speaking about Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim Rose.
Of the many recent videos about Father Seraphim done by a variety of channels, this is one of the most significant and helpful interviews yet presented, as Fr John is the "second generation" editor and publisher of the Death To The World 'zine, and has been deeply impacted by Fr Seraphim's life and "leaven." He relates aspects of Fr Seraphim's life, teachings, and pastoral approach clearly and with appreciation, sharing the impact of Fr Seraphim on his own life and his conversion to Orthodoxy.
Perhaps because of his punk background and the remarkable intervention of Father Seraphim during his conversion, Fr John Valadez "keeps it real," and always draws the listener back to Fr Seraphim's pastoral heart, to the "one thing needful," to the "Royal Path," and "God's Revelation to the Human Heart."
Fr Peter Heers: On the Veneration of Saintly People Not Officially Glorified
Orthodox Ethos, Nov 4, 2024 — Excerpted from Lesson 25: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle & Evangelist John the Theologian, Rev. 20:11 (Series 4), by Fr. Peter Heers
Fr Peter answers a viewer's question about "praying to" righteous departed Orthodox who have not been formally glorified by the Church. Of course, he discusses Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim:
Link to full episode: https://youtube.com/live/hc5dqG7mzk4
Remembering Hieromonk Seraphim Rose on the feast (July 2) of his mentor and spiritual father, St John (Maximovitch), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco
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| Fresco of St John Maximovitch, Brother José Munoz & Fr Seraphim Rose, Holy Dormition Church in northern Moscow, Russia. |
In a new article advocating for the glorification of Blessed Father Seraphim (which I intend to cover more in a future post), I came across this important affirmation:
Another theme we see with saints, often times they come in pairs. St. Gregory of Nyssa was a disciple under his brother St. Basil the Great. St. Augustine was the disciple of St. Ambrose of Milan. St. Justin Popovich was the disciple of St. Nikolai Velimirovich. St. Sophrony was the disciple of St. Silouan the Athonite. St. Ephraim was the disciple of St. Joseph the Hesychast. There’s countless more examples.
Who was Fr. Seraphim Rose a disciple of? St. John Maximovitch.
The connections between St John and Fr Seraphim began early in then Eugene's life in the Orthodox Church:
“Gleb, as we have seen, had been much more privileged than Eugene in having known a whole host of great “living links” with Orthodox tradition. In December of 1962, however, Eugene met the greatest of them all: the future Saint, Archbishop John Maximovitch. Interestingly, Archbishop John arrived in San Francisco one year to the day after Eugene had first met Gleb: the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple.” [1]
After Archbishop John's arrival in San Francisco, “Eugene was immediately aware of the change." As Hieromonk Damascene describes it in his epic biography of Father Seraphim:
When he attended services in the Cathedral, he saw the new bishop wholeheartedly taking part, sometimes pulling out services to relatively unknown saints, especially those of Western European lands. There was something unearthly in this tiny, bent-over old man, who by worldly standards seemed hardly “respectable.” Archbishop John’s hair was unkempt, his lower lip protruded, and he had a speech impediment that made him barely intelligible. He sometimes went about barefoot, for which he was severely criticized. Instead of the glittering, jeweled mitre worn by other bishops, he wore a collapsible hat pasted with icons embroidered by his orphans. His manner was at times stern, but a playful gleam could often be seen in his eyes, especially when he was with children. Despite his speech problem, he had a tremendous rapport with children, who were absolutely devoted to him... [2]
The ranks of the Saints of North America could grow even more over the coming years, if their popular veneration and the sharing of their lives and intercessions continues to take root and spread.
“People were painting icons of her, as if she were already a saint,” said The Most Reverend Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest, who was the chair of the canonization committee.
In 2023, the Orthodox Church in America’s national leadership voted to make Matushka Olga a saint. To Alaskans, especially, the decision to formally recognize Olga as a saint was a foregone conclusion, Archbishop Daniel said.
“The question I got was, well, what took you so long? ... It was a grassroots veneration that began in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region and spread," he said.
The St Herman Monastery Brotherhood announced recently their decision to change their publishing model for The Orthodox Word from subscription-based to individual annual issues.
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| The First Issue, Jan-Feb 1965 |
The Orthodox Word was, of course, founded in 1965 by Eugene Rose and Gleb Podmoshensky — the future Fr Seraphim and Abbot Herman, and was one of the first Orthodox Christian periodicals in the English language. These excerpts from the announcement on the St Herman Press website provide the essential information (emphasis added):
With more than a little regret, we have decided to discontinue The Orthodox Word as a subscriber-based periodical at the end of the current volume (no. 59). Our last issue will be no. 353...
The good news is that we will continue publishing one double-sized issue of The Orthodox Word per year, which can be purchased individually, rather than by subscription. As before, these issues will be made available in both print and digital editions.
Among our future plans is the publication, in book form, of compilations of past articles from The Orthodox Word, so that this material will be available to a wider readership and have greater permanency.
You can read the full announcement here for further details and the Brotherhood's reasoning behind this change, but the main point I wished to convey here is that The Orthodox Word is, God willing, not going away, it is merely changing in frequency of publication and purchase model.
May it last for many years, until the Lord's Parousia, if I may be so bold as to say!
Dramatic improvements over the previous edition in numerous ways: Hardcover, elegantly redesigned full-color interior printing on high quality, soft-gloss coated paper, updated text. As might be expected, the response has been overwhelming.
Description, sample page spreads, and links to order below:
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| Order from St Herman Press |
From St Herman of Alaska Press:
NEW THIRD EDITION (2024/released 2025). For this new edition, we have updated many of the citations and have expanded the “Suggested Resources” section to include materials published since 2011.
In Part I (Fr. Seraphim’s commentary on Genesis) we have noted more differences between the Septuagint and Masoretic texts; in Appendix One (“Created in Incorruption”) we have provided a broader treatment of the Orthodox theology of redemption; and under “Suggested Resources” we have added a subsection on the Septuagint and its Genesis chronologies. This edition also contains many new illustrations.
1212 pages, hardcover, illustrated in full color. $45 from St Herman of Alaska Press.
Fr. Seraphim Rose leads a group of students in singing 'Christ is Risen!' Recorded at UC Santa Cruz, May 1981, immediately prior to his talk, "Signs of the End of the World."
Listen to the talk:
This much welcomed venture is, by its very existence, another example of the global veneration of Blessed Father Seraphim, and we wish the publisher and his team good strength and great success in advancing the cause of the glorification of this beloved, righteous ascetic struggler.
Convert, writer, publisher, monastery founder and spiritual father, Hieromonk Seraphim of Platina shines like a burning light for our dark and troubled times, his words and example bursting with prophetic insights, counsel and significance.
There is much to explore in this new website, and several unique features. Basic introductory texts are provided below.
This information resource (internet site) was created to collect and publish information about the life, miracles and worldwide veneration of the 20th century American Orthodox ascetic Hieromonk Seraphim of Platina (Rose). It includes:
- preparation of materials for his canonization (declaration as a saint) in accordance with the tradition of the Orthodox Church.
- popularization of his life and teachings as a modern example of righteousness and as a guidance for salvation.
Follow the menu bar links for Information and About to learn how to contribute to the site's ongoing development. The publisher of the site has indicated his desire "to attract believers and specialists on voluntary basis to further replenish its content."
Archpriest Paul Baba, of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, relates a powerful story of how a troubled youth was brought to repentance and hope through the miraculous intervention of Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim.
See below for more reflections on Bl Hieromonk Seraphim by Fr Paul Baba.
"Archbishop Gabriel [of Montreal and Canada] said that he personally sees no obstacle to glorifying Fr. Seraphim (Rose) in particular.
“ 'I met him when I was studying in seminary, a year before his death. There’s no doubt that he was a man of holy life,' he emphasized."
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Br. José holding the Montreal Icon, in between St. John of San Francisco and Fr. Seraphim (Rose). Fresco, Holy Dormition Church in northern Moscow |
ROCOR COULD CANONIZE METROPOLITAN PHILARET, FR. SERAPHIM (ROSE), AND BR. JOSE IN COMING YEARS, SAYS ARCHBISHOP OF CANADA
OrthoChristian.com | New York, October 4, 2024
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia could consider the canonization of three of its most venerated representatives in coming years, according to one hierarch.
“During the meetings of our Synod of Bishops, we have been discussing the possibility of new canonizations,” His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada said in a statement to Russian news.
“In particular, we’re talking about glorifying the First Hierarch of ROCOR Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) of blessed memory, the guardian of the myrrh-streaming Montreal Iveron Icon of the Mother of God Br. José Muñoz-Cortes, as well as Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose),” the Archbishop specified.
All three men are venerated throughout the Orthodox world, and Fr. Seraphim was locally canonized in the Akhalkalaki Diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church last year. The incorrupt relics of Met. Philaret lie in the Holy Trinity Cathedral crypt at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, while Br. José, whom many consider a martyr, lies in the monastery cemetery just up the road. Every year, there is a pilgrimage to his grave on the anniversary of his slaying (October 31, 1997).
At the same time, it’s already been seven years since His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the now reposed First Hierarch of ROCOR, reported that a commission had been created to draft and gather documents towards the glorification of Br. José.
And according to Abp. Gabriel, the matter of all three possible canonizations is “still in the initial stage of consideration.”
The hierarch said it would be premature to give any exact dating, only that something could happen “in the next few years.”
Abp. Gabriel said that he personally sees no obstacle to glorifying Fr. Seraphim (Rose) in particular.
“I met him when I was studying in seminary, a year before his death. There’s no doubt that he was a man of holy life,” he emphasized.
Monday, September 2, 2024, marked the 42nd anniversary of the repose in the Lord of Hieromonk Seraphim of Platina.
"Over one hundred pilgrims arrived at the hillside desert monastery of St. Herman of Alaska, co-founded by Fr. Seraphim (Rose). All wished to prayerfully commemorate the day of Fr. Seraphim’s repose in the Lord. Serving the Liturgy were Hieromonk Paisii of St. Herman Monastery, Priests Gregory Schultz, and Nectarios Rozadilla, and Deacon Benjamin." - From the photo essay at OrthoChristian.com, shared by the Platina Brotherhood.
To further honor the anniversary, a second interview (embedded below) with Archpriest Paul Baba sharing more of his recollections of Father Seraphim, has been posted on YouTube. His first interview from September 2023 was wonderful, and filled with insights from and about our beloved father among the saints, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose.
May we have his blessing!
Archpriest Paul Baba, a spiritual son of Fr. Seraphim Rose, shares his thoughts on the anticipated glorification (canonization) of Fr. Seraphim Rose and his significance for us today.
"What's the hesitation?...I believe it’s time to glorify this holy, righteous man!... There are many saints, but here is one right here for us. It’s time, and the people are longing for it.” - Fr. Paul Baba
Excerpt from the FULL INTERVIEW here:
Experiences with Fr. Seraphim Rose - from Archpriest Paul Baba
Originally posted on the Orthodox Wisdom YouTube Channel
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)
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.