St. Philaret Voznezsenky

​Incorruptibility is a usually a sign of sainthood. We see this today in so many of the orthodox saints around the world.  Also, we see in so many of the saints that persecution forges the best of us. It is during these times that great men and women are thrust to the forefront of society to draw us back to the Creator.  One such man is the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, St. Philaret Voznesenky. St. Philaret like many of the saints that came before him was born to a pious priest and his wife in rural Russia, where he was raised before the family moved from Russia to Manchuria. After his mother died, his father became a monk as per tradition of the church and his father was eventually ordained a bishop. Philaret or George as he was known at this point attended college and received a degree in electromechanical engineering before attending pastoral theology school and being himself tonsured a monk in 1930. While he was there in Manchuria, Soviet and Communist Chinese forces seized control of the land and Philaret became an outspoken critic of the communist teachings and the state. It is at this point that the communists began to heavily persecute him. The communists set fire to his monastic cell trying in earnest to burn him alive. He was miraculously saved from the fire but suffered severe burns. He was able to flee to Brisbane in Australia where most of his flock was then living and became Vicar of Australia and Bishop of Brisbane. In 1961 a meeting of the Bishops of ROCOR, he was elected the first hierarch of the church and appointed as such. After his death in 1985 ROCOR procured his relics and buried them underneath the altar in Jordanville New York. Where his relics were discovered incorrupt. 

Not much more can be said about this man. He lead his flock with dignity and grace. He called people to reject the heresies of communism. He secured the prosperity and the faith of the Russian people outside of Russia when at the time inside of Russia the church was going through its darkest days. Let us humbly ask St. Philaret for his prayers that we might be found worthy of Jesus Christ. 

Amen.