St. John Maximovitch
St. John (Maximovitch)
of Shanghai and San Francisco
A sermon in Varna
by Bishop Fotii of Triditsa
July 06 (June 23 O.S.) 2010
Delivered in the Church of “St. Xenia of Petersburg”, Varna
2014/02/03 RE-POST
Bishop Fotii [Photios]
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Today, beloved, you and I commemorate St. John Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker. Many Orthodox outside the Russian local Church also venerate sacred the memory of the St. John and assiduously revere him. A sad fact is, however, that some dare to employ the saint’s name deviously! For ‘ecclesiastical and would-be-politician’ purposes – no matter how ridiculous this last phrase may sound. The year is 2005. Negotiations are underway between Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad with its then Primate – Archbishop Laurus, and the Moscow Patriarchate – an MP Commission, with the aim to achieve unification. Two ROCOR priests refer to places of texts by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker: one – [refers to] his decree [ukaz] of September 1945 and the other – to his address to the congregation of July 1946 – in order to prove that the Shanghai Saint participated in a unifying process of the ROCOR Diocese in China with the Moscow Patriarchate then – in the postwar years – a process similar to the modern one. I feel a particular sense of severity when someone or some [more] employ the authority or the memory of a God’s pleaser, of a holy man in order to defend their own ‘ecclesiastical and would-be-politician’ purposes.
Today, beloved, you and I commemorate St. John Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker. Many Orthodox outside the Russian local Church also venerate sacred the memory of the St. John and assiduously revere him. A sad fact is, however, that some dare to employ the saint’s name deviously! For ‘ecclesiastical and would-be-politician’ purposes – no matter how ridiculous this last phrase may sound. The year is 2005. Negotiations are underway between Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad with its then Primate – Archbishop Laurus, and the Moscow Patriarchate – an MP Commission, with the aim to achieve unification. Two ROCOR priests refer to places of texts by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker: one – [refers to] his decree [ukaz] of September 1945 and the other – to his address to the congregation of July 1946 – in order to prove that the Shanghai Saint participated in a unifying process of the ROCOR Diocese in China with the Moscow Patriarchate then – in the postwar years – a process similar to the modern one. I feel a particular sense of severity when someone or some [more] employ the authority or the memory of a God’s pleaser, of a holy man in order to defend their own ‘ecclesiastical and would-be-politician’ purposes.
Let's examine this case – just briefly – what was happening in postwar China, what was in fact happening with the ROCOR dioceses there? Yes, the political situation in China just after the end of World War II was extremely complicated and grave. The attitude of the then Russian émigrés there towards church matters was ambiguous. But to use the difficulty, the complexity of a situation in which the hierarchs, clergymen and the ROCOR parishioners proved to be then – in order to derive from that difficulty some ‘ecclesiastical and would-be-politician’ benefit is – to say the least – most mildly put – unethical.
And so – it is true that the situation was very grave – [this is] one. Two – it is true that the then ROCOR hierarchs in China had no connection whatever with the ROCOR Synod, which then was located – at that time – in Germany. It is true that the Soviet propaganda among Russian émigrés in China was very strong, because that propaganda was backed by the Soviet soldiers’ bayonets. And not only [by that]! The propaganda was – for truth’s sake – led skillfully! It is true that all the ROCOR hierarchs in China, exception for St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker, did eventually join the Moscow Patriarchate. It is true that the quoted by priest Alexander (Lebedev) ukaz [decree] of St. John Maximovitch of September 1945 speaks of – mentions the Moscow Patriarch Maxim, since the Saint had absolutely no connection with the ROCOR Synod.
And what if we stopped here?? If we stop here, we would have uttered but a part of the truth. And parts of the truth – [i.e.] half-truth [that is] stuck-up, [additionally] shaped with non-truths – who do you think is serving with?? Can church people use such? - (like St. John!)
Let us push further on. It is true that immediately after the feast of the Cross of 1946 St. John of Shanghai received a radio-gram by Bishop Anastasius of Germany that the ROCOR Synod continued to exist and to perform its obligations, he – the saint, immediately ceased to mention the then Moscow Patriarch Alexiy. It is true that the former chief – spiritually – of Bishop John of Shanghai – Archbishop Victor, who transferred to MP received a Soviet passport - obtained Soviet citizenship – naturally! - and also received a Stalin[-era] medal! – began to seal the churches so that Bishop John would be unable to serve in them, because he categorically refused to continue mentioning the then Moscow Patriarch. And St. John of Shanghai began to serve on the sidewalk in front of the church gates. It is true that the same Archbishop Victor, where there was a holiday in the church – in the presence of St. John, in the presence of many church-goers, read the MP ukaz [decree] that Bishop John of Shanghai was prohibited to perform any liturgy – the saint stood up and said: “I am being banned from liturgizing – why? Because I remain - faithful to my bishop's vow to obey the ecclesiastical chiefs in the face of the ROCOR Synod! I do remain loyal to that same vow, which Archbishop Victor gave as well” – that one who was then reading the MP ukaz [decree] to prohibit St. John Maximovitch. “This is why they are banning me!” And following these words – in full bishop’s vestment he celebrated Holy Liturgy. It is true that the Soviet authorities – according to the very interesting testimony of one – aide of the then Chinese services – the Chinese national government, not the communist one! – the Soviet authorities were preparing kidnapping of St. John of Shanghai by Soviet people and bringing him into Russia; they were even preparing his murder! It is true that ultimately St. John of Shanghai did manage to withdraw – out of the already communist China! - more than 6,000 Russian émigrés – Orthodox people – to the then free world.
Here is the truth in its completeness! From this point on - let everyone think as one wishes to! Suffice it only one’s reasoning is honest, fair, and unbiased.
Issue four of the [Bulgarian] “Church Journal” [‘Tsarkoven Vestnik’] – the official organ of the Bulgarian Patriarchate – of 1999, published a sermon by St. John of Shanghai on Orthodox Sunday, publishing also his icon – I stress – an icon! – as well as part of his life. The next issue 5 of the “Church Journal” carried an article that pointed out: “Yes! We did publish a sermon by Bishop John of Shanghai; we also published an icon – he is venerated as a saint; miracles do happen through prayers to him – but he has not been canonized a saint!” Why [so]? Because he is canonized by ROCOR – let me remind that the then ROCOR - part of it - the bigger part! - had not united with MP. And the author of the article continues: “ROCOR is a schism! Anyone who separates from the Church body is not Orthodox!” Further on she underlines: “Schismatic organizations are not valid for the canonical church!” And what turns out then?? St. John of Shanghai is not only not canonized a saint, but he is also not Orthodox – I speak for that author – because he belonged to ROCOR, which was then called by MP a “Karlovatski schism” – just as the Bulgarian [Church] did – by 2007. So [it comes out] he was not Orthodox, he was not a bishop, either – he was a “pseudo-bishop”, while at the same time the author acknowledges that he was a righteous – holy – not officially – but through his righteous life and his prayers happened through his prayers! – You see to what unfortunate situation leads a lie its author: to speak in one and the same brief publication of mutually exclusive things, to talk gibberish!
How are we to venerate the memory of St. John of Shanghai?? All the more since here – with God's help! – there will be placed a throne in his honor and in this sense today - and not only today but also last year and in the years to come – until the throne is placed! - we are celebrating, if I may say so, a 'betrothal' wake! And in fullness we will celebrate when – God grant it! – we have the throne! So, how are we to venerate the memory of the Saint?? – Are we to boast?? That – here – St. John of Shanghai was with ROCOR and with the Truth, and so on... If we go down this path, we can very easily become like our opponents – only with a reversed sign. Yes! He did abide in the fullness of ecclesiastical truth! And the conclusion from this is that we must strive and abide in this fullness – in Spirit and Truth! This is a especial, sacred, spiritual, and virtuous state of the mind and the heart! A not - talking, endless talking; disputes – ugly and sometimes tragically ridiculous! People from our community – unfortunately! – have this trend – to persuade, to wave a finger, to argue in a manner unacceptable to Orthodox Christians! Let St. John of Shanghai be a joy to us – 16 years have passed since his repose! – but let us be happy with that joy in an intimate, modest, quiet manner, and not in a silly, ostentatious way! If we do the latter, it means that we are not experiencing [in our lives] this joy, in a worthy, genuine, full-blooded, healthy manner! Besides, when we read the life of St. John of Shanghai we usually remain stunned – and rightly so! – with the many miracles the saint has performed, and as if our attention remains focused mostly there! And how many of us – just so – have a living memory to have left a lasting trace in their hearts?? The way the St. cared for his parishioners – he visited the poor, visited the sick! What huge efforts he made to bring these more than 6 000 people out of the shackles of the communist regime! And do we cherish – at least a spark, at least some trace of this – in us?? What is our attitude towards our neighbor, towards our fellow men? What are our relations? Between ourselves, who know each other? Usually when we meet [we say]: “Anything new in the church? So-o-o – has something happened?” - Nice! It is good to be informed! However, how do we perceive this information – with open hearts, with good-heartedness, with openness, well-intentioned, with willingness to help – or first we have to – just so... –judge everything, in order to see – lest I prove to be also within the chain that makes me do something that others do not – etc. With such a calculating attitude – so we would ‘preserve’ ourselves, so if possible let someone else do something, not we! How [come]! If we do the latter, [then] our tribute to the memory of St. John – to himself! – will be some – in the best case – half-empty, if not absolutely empty [tribute] – you see! Here, these are the valuable things that you and I – we should strive after. Today you heard in the apostolic reading – the words of St. Ap. Paul, that ... – [you heard] his promise that we treat each other gently and with brotherly love - Kindness? Amidst us? – I do not know – it might be [amidst us]! However, sometimes is such a tactless manner, rudely we inquire people for this or that and third [thing] ... We inquire: “Who are you confessing to? Well, did you take communion? Why did you not take communion this time? And you – why did you take communion 3 – 4 times this lent? A this-o-that-man – did he take communion? A-ah, he has not yet taken communion!” Out of the most sacred [thing] – of the most cherished thing – the meeting with the Lord! – to make a subject of one – so lightweight conversation – just so, to learn a bit there in the temple – who, what and [how]! What does this have in common with the spirit of St. John of Shanghai?? – Nothing! It is just the opposite, it is the contrary! If we do so, [then] we would start looking like our opponents – like those who defame us. Sometimes they do so – i.e. [to say] a defamation is never grounded, but regrettably we – through our bad and sometimes ugly events, or tactless, inappropriate manifestations - give grounds to this! (...) The Apostle teaches us to do charity – with glad heart – to donate simple-heartedly – you heard these words of his today! How much we miss this (... average?)... If you and I have – not something big – but a simple – not cunning! – common living as Christians and parishes, then this will be the strongest – I dare say the most beautiful – testimony to those external! Then we may say to the external: “Come and see [for yourselves]! – What Orthodoxy is! What an Orthodox parish is!” Yes – we are infirm and sinful – here, such we are – just what we are! But at least among us there are no things that rudely hurt a man, things that offend people, or that can eventually repel people – [repel] not from our personalities, but from the church and Christ the Savior! And so – let's learn each and every day to honor the memory of the saints by putting into our hearts at least something, at least a spark of what they have done – and then you and I will become spiritually rich! Even if we put one single spark of what they have done – in our heart! Whether they have strived [exploited] hard against this or that passion! Whether they have shed blood for the Lord – it means fidelity to Christ! Whether they did good like St. John of Shanghai, like St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker! From every life – one spark [each] into our hearts! And – God grant! - may our church consciousness grow up as Orthodox Christians, so we may at least set foot on this path, which we are called to by St. Ap. Paul: “Let all our things be done with [love] {charity}!” [1 Corinth. 16:14]. Amen!
And what if we stopped here?? If we stop here, we would have uttered but a part of the truth. And parts of the truth – [i.e.] half-truth [that is] stuck-up, [additionally] shaped with non-truths – who do you think is serving with?? Can church people use such? - (like St. John!)
Let us push further on. It is true that immediately after the feast of the Cross of 1946 St. John of Shanghai received a radio-gram by Bishop Anastasius of Germany that the ROCOR Synod continued to exist and to perform its obligations, he – the saint, immediately ceased to mention the then Moscow Patriarch Alexiy. It is true that the former chief – spiritually – of Bishop John of Shanghai – Archbishop Victor, who transferred to MP received a Soviet passport - obtained Soviet citizenship – naturally! - and also received a Stalin[-era] medal! – began to seal the churches so that Bishop John would be unable to serve in them, because he categorically refused to continue mentioning the then Moscow Patriarch. And St. John of Shanghai began to serve on the sidewalk in front of the church gates. It is true that the same Archbishop Victor, where there was a holiday in the church – in the presence of St. John, in the presence of many church-goers, read the MP ukaz [decree] that Bishop John of Shanghai was prohibited to perform any liturgy – the saint stood up and said: “I am being banned from liturgizing – why? Because I remain - faithful to my bishop's vow to obey the ecclesiastical chiefs in the face of the ROCOR Synod! I do remain loyal to that same vow, which Archbishop Victor gave as well” – that one who was then reading the MP ukaz [decree] to prohibit St. John Maximovitch. “This is why they are banning me!” And following these words – in full bishop’s vestment he celebrated Holy Liturgy. It is true that the Soviet authorities – according to the very interesting testimony of one – aide of the then Chinese services – the Chinese national government, not the communist one! – the Soviet authorities were preparing kidnapping of St. John of Shanghai by Soviet people and bringing him into Russia; they were even preparing his murder! It is true that ultimately St. John of Shanghai did manage to withdraw – out of the already communist China! - more than 6,000 Russian émigrés – Orthodox people – to the then free world.
Here is the truth in its completeness! From this point on - let everyone think as one wishes to! Suffice it only one’s reasoning is honest, fair, and unbiased.
Issue four of the [Bulgarian] “Church Journal” [‘Tsarkoven Vestnik’] – the official organ of the Bulgarian Patriarchate – of 1999, published a sermon by St. John of Shanghai on Orthodox Sunday, publishing also his icon – I stress – an icon! – as well as part of his life. The next issue 5 of the “Church Journal” carried an article that pointed out: “Yes! We did publish a sermon by Bishop John of Shanghai; we also published an icon – he is venerated as a saint; miracles do happen through prayers to him – but he has not been canonized a saint!” Why [so]? Because he is canonized by ROCOR – let me remind that the then ROCOR - part of it - the bigger part! - had not united with MP. And the author of the article continues: “ROCOR is a schism! Anyone who separates from the Church body is not Orthodox!” Further on she underlines: “Schismatic organizations are not valid for the canonical church!” And what turns out then?? St. John of Shanghai is not only not canonized a saint, but he is also not Orthodox – I speak for that author – because he belonged to ROCOR, which was then called by MP a “Karlovatski schism” – just as the Bulgarian [Church] did – by 2007. So [it comes out] he was not Orthodox, he was not a bishop, either – he was a “pseudo-bishop”, while at the same time the author acknowledges that he was a righteous – holy – not officially – but through his righteous life and his prayers happened through his prayers! – You see to what unfortunate situation leads a lie its author: to speak in one and the same brief publication of mutually exclusive things, to talk gibberish!
How are we to venerate the memory of St. John of Shanghai?? All the more since here – with God's help! – there will be placed a throne in his honor and in this sense today - and not only today but also last year and in the years to come – until the throne is placed! - we are celebrating, if I may say so, a 'betrothal' wake! And in fullness we will celebrate when – God grant it! – we have the throne! So, how are we to venerate the memory of the Saint?? – Are we to boast?? That – here – St. John of Shanghai was with ROCOR and with the Truth, and so on... If we go down this path, we can very easily become like our opponents – only with a reversed sign. Yes! He did abide in the fullness of ecclesiastical truth! And the conclusion from this is that we must strive and abide in this fullness – in Spirit and Truth! This is a especial, sacred, spiritual, and virtuous state of the mind and the heart! A not - talking, endless talking; disputes – ugly and sometimes tragically ridiculous! People from our community – unfortunately! – have this trend – to persuade, to wave a finger, to argue in a manner unacceptable to Orthodox Christians! Let St. John of Shanghai be a joy to us – 16 years have passed since his repose! – but let us be happy with that joy in an intimate, modest, quiet manner, and not in a silly, ostentatious way! If we do the latter, it means that we are not experiencing [in our lives] this joy, in a worthy, genuine, full-blooded, healthy manner! Besides, when we read the life of St. John of Shanghai we usually remain stunned – and rightly so! – with the many miracles the saint has performed, and as if our attention remains focused mostly there! And how many of us – just so – have a living memory to have left a lasting trace in their hearts?? The way the St. cared for his parishioners – he visited the poor, visited the sick! What huge efforts he made to bring these more than 6 000 people out of the shackles of the communist regime! And do we cherish – at least a spark, at least some trace of this – in us?? What is our attitude towards our neighbor, towards our fellow men? What are our relations? Between ourselves, who know each other? Usually when we meet [we say]: “Anything new in the church? So-o-o – has something happened?” - Nice! It is good to be informed! However, how do we perceive this information – with open hearts, with good-heartedness, with openness, well-intentioned, with willingness to help – or first we have to – just so... –judge everything, in order to see – lest I prove to be also within the chain that makes me do something that others do not – etc. With such a calculating attitude – so we would ‘preserve’ ourselves, so if possible let someone else do something, not we! How [come]! If we do the latter, [then] our tribute to the memory of St. John – to himself! – will be some – in the best case – half-empty, if not absolutely empty [tribute] – you see! Here, these are the valuable things that you and I – we should strive after. Today you heard in the apostolic reading – the words of St. Ap. Paul, that ... – [you heard] his promise that we treat each other gently and with brotherly love - Kindness? Amidst us? – I do not know – it might be [amidst us]! However, sometimes is such a tactless manner, rudely we inquire people for this or that and third [thing] ... We inquire: “Who are you confessing to? Well, did you take communion? Why did you not take communion this time? And you – why did you take communion 3 – 4 times this lent? A this-o-that-man – did he take communion? A-ah, he has not yet taken communion!” Out of the most sacred [thing] – of the most cherished thing – the meeting with the Lord! – to make a subject of one – so lightweight conversation – just so, to learn a bit there in the temple – who, what and [how]! What does this have in common with the spirit of St. John of Shanghai?? – Nothing! It is just the opposite, it is the contrary! If we do so, [then] we would start looking like our opponents – like those who defame us. Sometimes they do so – i.e. [to say] a defamation is never grounded, but regrettably we – through our bad and sometimes ugly events, or tactless, inappropriate manifestations - give grounds to this! (...) The Apostle teaches us to do charity – with glad heart – to donate simple-heartedly – you heard these words of his today! How much we miss this (... average?)... If you and I have – not something big – but a simple – not cunning! – common living as Christians and parishes, then this will be the strongest – I dare say the most beautiful – testimony to those external! Then we may say to the external: “Come and see [for yourselves]! – What Orthodoxy is! What an Orthodox parish is!” Yes – we are infirm and sinful – here, such we are – just what we are! But at least among us there are no things that rudely hurt a man, things that offend people, or that can eventually repel people – [repel] not from our personalities, but from the church and Christ the Savior! And so – let's learn each and every day to honor the memory of the saints by putting into our hearts at least something, at least a spark of what they have done – and then you and I will become spiritually rich! Even if we put one single spark of what they have done – in our heart! Whether they have strived [exploited] hard against this or that passion! Whether they have shed blood for the Lord – it means fidelity to Christ! Whether they did good like St. John of Shanghai, like St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker! From every life – one spark [each] into our hearts! And – God grant! - may our church consciousness grow up as Orthodox Christians, so we may at least set foot on this path, which we are called to by St. Ap. Paul: “Let all our things be done with [love] {charity}!” [1 Corinth. 16:14]. Amen!
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