Author: Hieromonk Serafim Rose (“St. Herman” Monastery, Platina, Alaska)
Keywords: Orthodox Church, apologetics, America, Roman Schism, Middle-Ages, Seraphim Rose, monasticism
Abstract:
The Orthodox Survival Course represent a transcription from a recording made by some pilgrims or disciples of Father Seraphim Rose in Platina, in the summer of 1975. According to his well-known Life and Works, written by Father Damascene Christensen, in order to offer a strong foundation of faith for the Orthodox and the non-orthodox people who came to the skete, the monks ran a three weeks course, in the called The Theological Academy the New Valaam, after the settlement established by Saint Herman of Alaska. Mainly the course was followed by four students, converts to Orthodoxy. Fr. Herman spoke about pastoral theology and literature and Fr. Seraphim a series of extensive lectures on the evolution of the Western thinking from the Great Schism until present. In the words of Fr. Damascene, from his famous Life and Works (St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2010): “Fr. Seraphim’s lectures were recorded, which resulted in over seventeen hours of tapes. For all the talks, Fr. Seraphim wrote extensive outlines, organizing the vast historical and philosophical research he had done for The Kingdom of Man and the Kingdom of God. This was the ripened fruit, not only of that early research, but also of his rich store of experience as an Orthodox Christian. He was now much better equipped than before to present his knowledge in a way that would have a practical application to the lives of contemporary people”.
(English translation by Ștefan Voronca)
Pages: 128-170