Taken from a Euphrosynos Cafe forum post
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5708&sid=5b0daeac3e1a3a602016ac83a8f2e853#p30601
Remembering St. Philaret
by joasia » Mon 21 November 2005
http://www.orthodox.net/redeeming/redeeming.02.22.html
News and Announcements
Wondrous is God in His saints!
Metropolitan Philaret’s Relics are Incorrupt
October 30/Nov 12, 1998 Zenobios and Zenobia the martyrs
Brother Isaac from the Synod has just informed me that Archbishop Laurus of Holy Trinity Monastery has faxed the following information to the Synod in NYC: In the company of a few monastics, His Grace opened the coffin of Blessed Metropolitan Philaret (who reposed fourteen years ago) and found his body untouched by decomposition. Great is the Lord our God in His Saints! From Email sent from Fr George Larin
I am the parish priest at the Protection of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church in Rochester, NY USA. Each Tuesday I go and teach Pastoral Theology at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY. The inspection of the Relics of Metropolitan Philaret occurred this past Tuesday. By God's great mercy to terrible sinners, I was vouchsafed to be present at the opening. Also by God's great mercy to terrible sinners, I was present at the canonization inspection of the Relics of St. John of San Francisco (this was not the original opening of the relics, but the inspection a few days before the glorification). The condition of the Relics of Metropolitan Philaret are very much the same as St. John. Glory be to God!
I can confirm the E-mail sent by Fr. George Larin: In the company of Archimandrite Luke, Archimandrite Peter, Hieromonk Roman, Novice Peter (Jigalin) and this unworthy priest, His Grace Archbishop Laurus served a Panichida and then opened the coffin of Blessed Metropolitan Philaret (who reposed on the day of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers in 1985) and found his body untouched by decomposition.
The reason for the opening was the following:
The resting place of Metropolitan Philaret in the Chapel at the monastery cemetery was only temporary. His final resting place is to be the newly added sepulcher in the main Holy Trinity church of the monastery. The translation is to take place on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers next Saturday. The opening and inspection was in preparation for this translation. Truly Holy is our God, Who restest in the SAINTS!
by Liudmilla » Mon 21 November 2005
Joasia:
You are right it is good to remember this man on his day of passing. I knew Metropolitan Philaret, he often came to our parish for services. I remember him as a soft spoken person. You really had to listen when he spoke. He was always kind to all and especially to the altar boys.
I remember his absolute faith in God and how he often placed his hopes in God's help during trials and tribulations.
by joasia » Mon 21 November 2005
Mila,
It's wonderful to hear from people who actually met him. It's the only way I can know a little about these lights of Orthodoxy.
I was told that he knew exactly when he was going to fall asleep. He told it to his attendant...I believe his name was Nikitin.
Do you know about this?
In Christ,
Joanna
by Joseph » Tue 22 November 2005
On Sunday, May 7/20, 2001 at the Church of the Holy Resurrection, Worcester, Massachusetss, the Holy Synod of the Holy Orthodox Church of North America glorified our Father among the Saints, Philaret, Metropolitan of New York, the New Confessor. Thus, St. Philaret's singulare witness to the faith once for all delivered to the Saints (Jude 3) has been enshrined in the Church.
The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
Our Father among the Saints Philaret, Metropolitan of New York, the New Confessor
Our Father among the Saints Philaret, Metropolitan of New York, the New Confessor Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of New York, the New Confessor Whom the Holy Church Celebrates on October 28.
Saint Philaret, born George Nicholaevich Voznesensky, was born in Kursk, Russia on March 22, 1903. His mother, Lydia Vasilievna, reposed when he was eighteen, and his father subsequently became a monk receiving the name Dimitry, was consecrated a bishop, and then was repatriated (from Manchuria) to the U.S.S.R., where he died in 1947.
Elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, and refusing Soviet citizenship, Archimandrite Philaret became acquainted with an issue of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate in which Lenin’s name appeared in a list of the foremost benefactors of the human race. He expressed his indignation in a sermon which became widely known. His fearless denunciation of the godless Communists incited their determined rage, and they decided to burn Archimandrite Philaret alive, setting fire to his cell. But the Lord preserved His chosen one: although badly burned, he escaped from the fiery trap alive.
He protected his flock in every way possible, and, as he himself put it, “never defiled [his] lips or his prayer with prayer for the servants of Antichrist;” that is, he never commorated the Clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate in the services of the Church nor did he concelebrate with them.
Saint Philaret left Harbin in Manchuria for Brisbane, Australia in 1962. At the Council of Bishops in 1964, at which Metropolitan Anastassy retired, the new Bishop Philaret was elected First Hierarch, holding that position for twenty one years.
As first Hierarch, he was instrumental in the glorification of the following Saints: St. John of Kronstadt, St. Herman of Alaska, St. Xenia of Petersburg, the Royal Martyrs and all the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
As a faithful shepherd of the flock of Christ, he denounced the growing apostasy when, in 1969, he wrote an Open Letter to Archbishop Iakovos, pointing out the canonical violations involved in the Archbishop’s joint prayers with the heterodox. The saint also wrote several Sorrowful Epistles to the Orthodox Hierarchy all over the world concerning concelebrations of the Church’s Mysteries with apostates and avowed atheists. Not one response did he receive from his fellow Hierarchs concerning these warnings about the clear and present danger of apostasy facing the Church of Christ.
On Sunday, October 14/27, 1983 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia issued the Anathema Against Ecumenism. This Anathema carries the signature of each of the Bishops in the Synod. The Holy Synod ordered that this Anathema be included in the Synodicon of Orthodoxy which is read each year on the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
On November 8/21, 1985, Saint Philaret reposed. His relics were temporarily buried in the sepulchre below the Dormition Church in the Cemetery of the Holy Trinity Monastery at Jordanville, New York.
Prior to the transfer of the Saint’s relics, on November 4/17, 1998, his coffin was opened. The wooden coffin was corrupted. The Saint’s body had dried but was incorrupt; the skin had taken on a bronze color. The vestments and the Gospel Book, including all its pages, were, except for the metal hinges on the book, which were corroded, completely preserved even though they had lain thirteen years in a very damp basement crypt. Later, the Saint was carried into the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in a new coffin that was covered with the Saint’s original blue mantia which itself was incorrupt. After the Liturgy on November 8/21, 1998 the Saint was lowered into a new, deeper grave that had been excavated to a depth of nine feet in the northwestern crypt located under the Cathedral’s altar. The grave was not filled, instead, only a small amount of soil was poured on top of the coffin.
The coffin was closed; the faithful were not allowed to venerate the relics of the Saint. It was said that the coffin was not open at that time because the people had, thirteen years ago, already paid their respects at the New Confessor Saint’s funeral, and it would take some time to gather evidence of his miracles.
In 2004, six years after the transfer of his relics, it now appears that no plans have been made for the veneration of Saint Philaret’s relics.
On Sunday, May 7/20, 2001 at the Church of the Holy Resurrection, Worcester, Massachusetts, the Holy Synod of the Holy Orthodox Church of North America glorified our Father among the Saints, Philaret, Metropolitan of New York, the New Confessor. Thus, St. Philaret’s singular witness to the faith once for all delivered to the Saints (Jude 3) has been enshrined in the Church.
Dismissal Hymn. Plagal of first Tone. Let us worship the Word Now the God-bearing Fathers, the very mind of Christ, * have clearly spoken anew in the God-inspired Philaret, * who, though living in the world was never of the world; * like David, meek and once unknown, * he was raised up by the Lord to shepherd His holy people.* Now crowned on high with the Fathers, he interceedeth that our souls be saved.
Kontakion. Fourth Tone. On this day Thou hast appeared Named for him renowned for alms * and boundless mercy, * thou didst show an equal love * in thy confession of the Faith, * rightly dividing the word of truth, * working salvation for many, O Philaret.
Liturgy: Megalynarion All the life and doctrine of Holy Church, * all her fasts and feast-days, * her confession of saving truth, * her heroic spirit * of sacrifice and struggle, * hast thou declared for all time, * God-bearing Philaret.
Text and Hymns: © The Holy Orthodox Church of North America, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131
Icon of St. Philaret © Andrij Maday Maday Studios P.O. Box 33315 Cleveland, Ohio 44133 a.maday@worldnet.att.net
Icon of the Ark of Salvation © Convent of the Annunciation Oinoussis, Chios Greece The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston 3
Email from Reader Vladimir Moss of the GOC
Hieroschemamonk Akakie, leader of the True Orthodox Church of Serbia under the omophorion of Archbishop Chrysostom (Kiousis) of Athens, yesterday told me of the following extraordinary miracle.
It took place on the day of the Protomartyr Stephen earlier this year in the women's monastery of New Stenik, which has just been built in a very remote part of Serbia in spite of threats to destroy it coming from the false patriarchate of Serbia (the nuns were expelled from Old Stenik a few years ago because of their opposition to the heresy of ecumenism).
Nun Ipomoni (which means "patience" in Greek) suffers from very severe asthma attacks. On this day, she had the most severe attack yet and suffocated. For 20 minutes she did not breathe and her body was without any sign of life. Now it should be noted that a few days before this, the 10 nuns in this monastery led by Schema-Abbess Euphrosyne had earnestly prayed to the Lord to give them the fear of God.
During the 20 minutes she was clinically dead Nun Ipomoni met several demons in a dark tunnel; they got hold of her and were trying to drag her to hell. It was a most terrifying experience. After 20 minutes, Matushka Euphrosyne anointed her dead body with oil from the lampada in front of the icon of St. Philaret of New York. At the moment when the oil touched her head, which felt like an electric shock, she revived and began to move. For some afterwards, she was still very weak and wept all the time. But the next day Fr. Akakie arrived at the monastery, served the liturgy for three days in a row, communed her and gave her the sacrament of Holy Unction. Now she has fully recovered. She feels well, walks and even prepares food.
This whole incident has had a very beneficial effect on all of the nuns. Their prayer to receive the fear of God was answered. And they ardently thank God and his great hierarch, St. Philaret of New York.
Vladimir Moss
by CorpusChristi » Thu 23 February 2006
These nuns are now with the synod of Chrysostomos II...
The Vitaly synod never allowed the proper for receiving them
by Priest Siluan » Thu 23 February 2006
Holy Metropolitan Philaret pray for us!
by 尼古拉前执事 » Sun 14 May 2006
The Miracle of St. Philaret the Confesor
My mother is about 80 years old, and out of a small lump on her right hand, she got big wound which started to aches her. There were no medicines that could help, not even did the doctors know what was the matter about. She was taking antibiotics, getting painkiller medicines, at the end she got 15 injections of penicillin too, but nothing helped; the wound was constantly taking progress so that even mum was pretty scared.
Mum is very pious, even in the hardest communist period she studied theology and also lived in a patriarchal Christian family, but it was no way clear to her how it was possible that the whole (Serbian) Church could have separated from God, and that only three or four hundred of us… could have stood in truth (I must admit that this was even strange to me, but unfortunately that is the way it is).
Since she brought me up in Orthodox spirit and I stayed without job, mum financially supported my visits to the Holy Liturgies in the genuine Orthodox monasteries as well, so that is how I used to mention her in my prayers too.
One of these services took place on the Day of St. Philaret the Confessor, which our gerontas Akakius traditionally celebrate by devout prayers and the Holy Liturgy. As a considerable support, there came the sisters of New Stjenik Monastery from the mountain of Mikulj led by their abbes, the Reverend Mother Euphrosyne. The church was full with people, and the event is only possible to experience, these-earthly words are insufficient to convey the impression, I think that not even the whole world technology would be able to convey at least a bit of the atmosphere before the Holy Chalice.
After the festal Agapes and reading about the life of St. Philaret Vosnesensky, mentioning known acts of miracleworking that took place due to prayers before the Saint, the Holy unction of St. Philaret or his incorrupt relics, we set off to our homes sustained by faith and the Grace of God who celebrated His Saint. By the effort of New Stjenik Monastery sisters, all the faithfull got Akathist to St. Philaret the Confessor, Mitropolitan of New York and East American, the Fierst Hierarch of Russian Church Abroad (the Akathist was written by one of the sisters and they usually pray to the Saint for support in confessing faith). Besides the Akathist, by the blessing of father Akakius, monk Joseph filled up for me a bottle of the Holy oil from the lampion of St. Philaret the Confessor.
Having arrived home I ascended my prayers to St. Philaret reading the Akathist and then anointing my mother’s wound with the Holy oil making the sign of a cross, and then enclosing the whole sore place. The pain momentally ceased, and in the morning the wound reduced twice already, while the puss started to come out. The condition of my mother before reading the Akathist was such that during the prayers she could not stand on her legs and had to sit down.
With glory and honour to Holy God-pleasing servant Philaret the Confessor, let the Lord by His Providence have mercy on all Serbian people and by the prayers of St. Philaret the Confessor let Him bring Serbians back to Christ and make bolsheviks ashamed and throw them into everlasting fire together with their master, satan. Glory be to God on heights by the prayers of St. Philaret the Confessor and all the True Orthodox Christians. Amen.
Milivoje Miljkovic,
Belgrade
Also see the updated Homb report on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150502363531004
and an aside: If you go to the original forum topic you will see the parts I did not include in this post. One comment I omitted came from that internet goon R M Malleev-Pokrovsky. This creep is either a.k.a Artyom [remember the website "Rocor Unity"? where is it now?] or he is buddy-buddy with Artyom.
If you look it up, note that this suggestion –unity for the sake of unity [or for any sake other than Truth]– came from a deranged agent of Moscow. The idea is a form of ecumenism.
