Minneapolis, June 30, 2014
One of the most controversial figures in American Orthodoxy today, Fr. Herman was loved by many, but disregarded by others for his violation of Church canons and remaining in disobedience to his ecclesiastical superiors in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). He was defrocked by ROCOR in 1988. Fr. Herman’s missionary work continued, in fact bringing many people into the Orthodox faith.
Fr. Herman, born Gleb Dimitrievich Podmoshensky in Riga, Latvia, lost his father to the Communist camps. When the German army occupied Latvia during World War II, he fled with his mother and sister to Germany and the misery of being displaced persons. At age fourteen, he and his family went to the United States to be united with his grandmother, an accomplished ballet dancer, who had earlier immigrated to New York City. Gleb returned to the Orthodox faith of his ancestors as a young adult in America, and graduated from seminary at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.
Having met Eugene Rose—the future Fr. Seraphim—in San Francisco, the two began publishing an English language periodical called The Orthodox Word, and opened a small Orthodox bookstore near the Holy Virgin Cathedral in that city. Living under the guidance of St. John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco, they resolved after his repose to settle in the wilderness and live the monastic life. After searching for a suitable place, they decided to purchase a parcel of land in northern California, Shasta County. Eventually they would be tonsured monks and ordained priests of ROCOR. Fr. Seraphim reposed in 1982, and Fr. Herman took a turn for the worse not long afterward, leading the monastery brotherhood away from its canonical bishop and finally stepping down from the abbacy in 2000.
The St. Herman of Alaska Monastery now continues its monastic life under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The brotherhood currently numbers about twelve. A women’s monastic skete not far from the monastery was also largely his creation, as were two more communities on Spruce Island in Alaska, one for men and the other for women. All three of these communities are now also in the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Besides founding the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery and starting The Orthodox Word, which is still published by the monastery, Fr. Herman renewed the pre-revolutionary Russian language journal entitled Russky Palomnik, or “Russian Pilgrim”. The journal’s launch coincided with the perestroika era in Russia, and it was sent to that country of its origin were Orthodox literature had become scarce, enjoying there immense popularity. Possessing extensive archives of émigré literature and manuscripts, Fr. Herman continued compiling issues of the Russky Palomnik to his final days. The St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood has also published a substantial number of books using material collected by Fr. Herman, notably a series on the Optina Elders.
The venue and date of Fr. Herman’s funeral is still being decided. His wish was to be buried in the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, California. Those who were with him in his final days ask all to pray for his soul’s repose.
Memory Eternal!
He was OH SO Loved in Minneapolis, MN! The Panikhida held for Fr. Herman @ Kozlak-Radulevich, sponsored by BOTH the Skete of the Resurrection of Christ, AND St. Ponteleimon, with ALL 4 Living Priests, and the Skete Choir w/Master John of the St. Mary's OCA Russ. Orthodox Cathedral, it was so beautiful and so amazing! I went to a real Russian Orthodox Funeral for my cousin's Grandfather in the 60's but didn't remember much from it. It was AMAZING to me to witness ALL persons Venrating Fr. Herman in His coffin, the same way that we Venerate Isus Chrystos and Bogarodzica/Theotokos. I've been blessed to become FAMILY in both of these Congregations, and in "MY," estivation, Minenapolis, PravoSlavie, SENT OFF Fr. Herman in a very BLESSED Orthodox way, to N. California, to give him the Final Blessings before going to his ultimate repose.
As someone whose spiritual and close family was deeply and tragically affected by his actions and some of his followers, I am opposed to the very mention of this abusers name in public. I am appalled that this website published this piece, although i think, within the limits of your knowledge you were trying to be fair, but you failed. You see, there are many victims.
I do recognize that there are many people whose passions are stirred up and who feel differently than I do. But, I met Podmoshensky and can attest to his cult like personality attractive to the uninformed. Interesting, that all these personalities attract loyal obedience, but when it comes to their obedience to Church authority, they conveniently find a way out and are able to rationalize their actions to their own followers. Cult, plain and simple. He was a false and fallen teacher. People of balance character were and would not be attracted to such a personality. He led many people astray into the vagantist false jurisdiction of the self ordained Metropolitan Pangratios who is himself a convicted sex abuser.
Sex abuse and disobedience is the legacy he leaves behind. I feel for those that loved him, I also had respect for him a long time ago, but call a spade a spade, and to my family he has brought terror, misery and the death of faith.
See:
http://www.pokrov.org/wp-content/uploads/GerasimtoJovan20011226.pdf
http://sthermanorphans.livejournal.com/
Thank you for your unmeasurable love, and please forgive us...
May his memory be eternal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-LRU5wJapA
May God rest his soul in peace!
Fr. Herman's special gift from God was to write and to teach. It couldn't have been better for him than to be with Fr. Seraphim Rose during the first several years of his monastic life.
May the Lord grant him rest, for He is full of compassion and boundless mercy for all of us who struggle.
"7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
Hebrews , chapter 8.
Transmitter of Holy Orthodoxy to thousands of souls, may his memory be eternal, and may those among us who are without sin, cast the first stone. ICXC
Seraphima
Thank you for your labors for the Church. May God grant you eternal rest, and may the rest of us see the powers of darkness that attack a true laborer of Christ.
Father Herman, pray for us!
May his Memory be Eternal