Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness – Jeremiah 12:10
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Fr. Seraphim Rose writes concerning Princess Natalia Urusova (†1963):
“…in her book, she offers a first-hand account of how Metropolitan Sergius personally, without pressure from the authorities, suggested which churches should be closed or blown up, and which clergy should be arrested. Hence it is not strange that her book has never been published.”
And again Fr. Seraphim writes concerning Nun Veronica Kotlarevsky (†1952):
“…her testimony of how [the future] Patriarch Alexis had direct responsibility for the outcome of Holy Night*, was omitted due to the spirit of Sergianism in the free world…”
*Concerning this ‘Holy Night’: The date was February 18, 1932 (new style). It is a radiant and yet a terrible date, the Passion Friday of Russian monasticism – ignored by all and almost unknown to the whole world – when all of Russian monasticism in a single night disappeared into the concentration camps. It was all done in the dead of night and with the full knowledge of Metropolitan Alexis (who later became Patriarch) – about which there is sufficient evidence.”
We should remember that Fr Seraphim was well connected to the Russian Church during her dark times and, indeed, he published a great deal of material passed to him by his many contacts. He spoke the truth and he inspired faith, holiness and resistance at a vital time.