Father Rick
1st January 2005, 11:09 AM
Hey guys!
This is part of a post I just made over in STR. I honestly don't remember where I read this but I do remember it was presented as truth. After posting it over there, I got to thinking about it and decided I would check it out here just to make sure it's accurate.One of my favorite stories, however, is the preservation of the Russian Orthodox line of succession. (This is from memory, so bear with me if I get some of the details wrong-- I'll have to go back and look it up). When Stalin first took over Russia, the Church was being persecuted. The Orthodox bishops/priests were systematically being executed. It came about that the last 3 bishops were arrested and in jail waiting their execution. For some reason, a Russian American who was visiting Russia was arrested and thrown in the same cell as the 3 bishops (Can you see where this is going?) as they were being taken out to be killed. The bishops asked for a favor--that they could have a last half hour of prayer before their death. The guards agreed, left them alone, and came back in a half hour-- whereupon the 3 bishops were promptly executed. Not long after, the American was released and allowed to return to the United States.
Upon arriving in the US, the newly consecrated bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, a layperson consecrated to bishop in a jail cell by 3 bishops awaiting their death, immediately looked up some of those he knew in the Orthodox community and set about to consecrating some priests to bishops so that the line could continue. If anyone has additional knowledge about this occurrence (even if it's to tell me it's just a myth) I would certainly appreciate the info.
Thanks guys!
This is part of a post I just made over in STR. I honestly don't remember where I read this but I do remember it was presented as truth. After posting it over there, I got to thinking about it and decided I would check it out here just to make sure it's accurate.One of my favorite stories, however, is the preservation of the Russian Orthodox line of succession. (This is from memory, so bear with me if I get some of the details wrong-- I'll have to go back and look it up). When Stalin first took over Russia, the Church was being persecuted. The Orthodox bishops/priests were systematically being executed. It came about that the last 3 bishops were arrested and in jail waiting their execution. For some reason, a Russian American who was visiting Russia was arrested and thrown in the same cell as the 3 bishops (Can you see where this is going?) as they were being taken out to be killed. The bishops asked for a favor--that they could have a last half hour of prayer before their death. The guards agreed, left them alone, and came back in a half hour-- whereupon the 3 bishops were promptly executed. Not long after, the American was released and allowed to return to the United States.
Upon arriving in the US, the newly consecrated bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, a layperson consecrated to bishop in a jail cell by 3 bishops awaiting their death, immediately looked up some of those he knew in the Orthodox community and set about to consecrating some priests to bishops so that the line could continue. If anyone has additional knowledge about this occurrence (even if it's to tell me it's just a myth) I would certainly appreciate the info.
Thanks guys!