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Vol. 51, No. 3 (302) May–June, 2015
This issue of The Orthodox Word features Part I of the reminiscences of attorney Arkady Kuznetsov about his spiritual father New Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) (+1937), a great Russian hierarch, confessor, clairvoyant ascetic, and luminary. During the time period covered in this article, the early 1920s, St. Thaddeus was the archbishop of Astrakhan. This was a perilous time for the Russian Orthodox Church, which was being attacked from without by the new Soviet authority and was being threatened from within by the “renovationist schism,” composed of church liberals intent on “modernizing” Orthodoxy. Being actively supported by the Soviets, the renovationists took over two-thirds of the Orthodox church buildings in Russia during the brief height of their power.
The author's insightful narrative contrasts the otherworldliness of St. Thaddeus with the worldly turmoil caused by the renovationists, and also grants us a revealing look at a difficult period in Russian Church history.
Vol. 51, No. 4 (303) July–August, 2015
Compiled by Abbot Damascene (Orlovsky)
This issue of The Orthodox Word features “New Hiero-confessor Sergius (Srebryansky), Spiritual Father of the Martha-Mary Convent,” an article compiled by Abbot Damascene (Orlovsky), well known for his extensive work in chronicling the hagiography of of Russia’s New Martyrs and Confessors. Fr. Sergius (1870-1948) spent the early years of his priesthood as a regimental priest of the Russian army, valiantly serving, even under fire, during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. He was noticed for his exemplary character and spiritual depth by the patroness of his regiment, New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who asked him to be the spiritual father of her newly formed Martha-Mary Convent in Moscow. He served in this capacity until the closure of the convent by the Bolsheviks, and then spent years in imprisonment and exile. After his release he served as a spiritual father in a village, reaching heights of holiness as a man of prayer and a consoler of human suffering. His remarkable life’s path can serve as an inspiration to Orthodox Christians in all walks of life, and in the most trying and troubled of circumstances.
This issue also contains Part II of “The Good Shepherd Giveth His Life: New Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) and the Church’s Struggle against the Renovationist Schism,” by attorney Arkady Kuznetsov.
Vol. 51, No. 5 (304) September–October, 2015
This issue of The Orthodox Word features an article on the liturgical glorification (canonization) of St. Sebastian (Dabovich) of San Francisco and Jackson, which took place at St. Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Alhambra, California, on September 5, 2015. Archimandrite Sebastian, known as “the father of Serbian Orthodoxy in America,” was the first native-born Orthodox priest and monk in the United States. A true apostle, he traveled tirelessly throughout the country, founding churches and ministering to Orthodox believers of all nationalities. The glorification was celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, with the participation of thrteen bishops, numerous priests and deacons from several jurisdictions, and a great many of the faithful.
This issue also contains Part III, the conclusion of “The Good Shepherd Giveth His Life: New Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) and the Church’s Struggle against the Renovationist Schism,” by Arkady Kuznetsov.
Vol. 51, No. 6 (305) November–December, 2015
By Abbot Damascene
This issue of The Orthodox Word features an article on the services and talks surrounding the thirty-third anniversary of the repose of Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), which was celebrated at the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, California, on September 2, 2015. Present for this event were representatives of the Georgian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as local clergy. This article is followed by “A Heavenly Visitation of Fr. Seraphim in Serbia,” by Abbess Stefanida of the St. Prohor Pčinjski Monastery in Serbia, in which is described an appearance of Fr. Seraphim to a novice of that monastery in January, 2015.
Also in this issue is an inspiring “Meditation on Pentecost” by St. Nikodemos of Mount Athos, translated by Fr. George Dokos, as well as a homily by New Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) on the day after Pentecost, the “Day of the Holy Spirit.” This is the first of four homilies which we will be presenting by St. Thaddeus, whose life as archpastor of Astrakhan was featured in the previous three issues of The Orthodox Word. Following these articles is The Orthodox Word index for the year 2015.
Vol. 51, Nos. 1–2 (300–301) January–April, 2015
