Seraphim Rose
Seraphim Rose, born
Eugene Dennis Rose (
August 13,
1934-
September 2,
1982), was a
hieromonk or
priest-
monk of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the
United States, whose writings have helped spread Orthodox Christianity throughout modern America and the West. Although not formally
canonized, he is venerated by some
Orthodox Christians as a
saint in
iconography,
liturgy, and
prayer.
Born to Frank and Esther Rose in
San Diego, Eugene was raised in
California, where he would remain for most of his life. He was baptized in the
Methodist faith when he was fourteen years old, but later became an
atheist, losing all belief in
God. Rated at
genius level in formal
IQ testing, Eugene attended
Pomona College where he studied
Chinese philosophy. Having spent much time in
San Francisco, he entered a
beatnik phase in his life and practiced
Buddhism.
While studying under
Alan Watts at the
American Academy of Asian Studies after graduating from Pomona College in
1956, Eugene discovered the writings of
René Guénon. Through Guénon's writings, Eugene was inspired to seek out an authentic, grounded spiritual faith tradition. Gregerson, a practicing Russian Orthodox at the time, introduced his friend to Orthodoxy. As Gregerson was choosing to abandon his Orthodoxy, Eugene, instead, was inspired to learn more about the faith. This culminated in Eugene's decision to enter the Church through
chrismation in
1962.
Eugene opened an Orthodox book store next store to the San Francisco Russian Orthodox Church. It eventually became a community of Orthodox booksellers and publishers who called themselves Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. The community eventually decided to flee urban modernity into the wilderness of northern California to become monks in
1968. Eugene's parents put the down payment on the Platina mountaintop, where a monastery was eventually built beside a printing press shed where he published "The Orthodox Word." At his
tonsure in
1970, Eugene took the name "Seraphim", and studied for the priesthood during his first years in his rustic cell.
Following his ordination as
hieromonk, Father Seraphim began writing several books, including
God's Revelation to the Human Heart,
Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future, and
The Soul After Death. He also founded the magazine
The Orthodox Word, still published today by the Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Father Seraphim's published writings quickly proliferated throughout America upon Father Seraphim's death and later in
Russia and
Eastern Europe after the fall of atheist
Communism.
After feeling acute pains for several days while working in his cell in
1982, Father Seraphim was taken by his fellow monks to a
hospital for treatment. When he reluctantly arrived at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, 45 minutes from the town of Platina, he was declared in critical condition and fell into semi-consciousness. After exploratory surgery was completed, it was discovered that a
blood clot had blocked a vein supplying blood to Father Seraphim's
intestines, which had become a mass of non-functioning dead tissue. Father Seraphim slipped into a
coma after a second surgery. Hundreds of people came to visit the hospital and celebrated the liturgy regularly in the chapel, praying for a miracle to save their beloved Father's life. Reaction from throughout the world was great, with thousands of prayers said for the ailing hieromonk. He died on
September 2,
1982.
After being dead for several days and while lying in repose in a pauper's
coffin at his wilderness monastery, visitors claimed that Father Seraphim did not succumb to decay and
rigor mortis. His body remained supple while several claimed he smelled of
roses. A cause for canonization was begun after Father Seraphim's burial. He eventually attained the title of Blessed after several miracles were attributed to him and now he awaits canonization into sainthood by an Orthodox
synod.
*
Biographical article from Pomona College Magazine*
Death to the World - A Compendium of Fr. Seraphim Rose's writings on-line.*
Articles and pictures of Fr. Seraphim Rose*
Fr Seraphim (Rose) Biography and Online Bookshop*
Various online writings and conferences of Fr. Seraphim Rose*
OrthodoxWiki article about Fr. Seraphim Rose
Not of This World: the Life and Teaching of Fr Seraphim Rose ISBN 0938635522 An extensive and very comprehensive biography written by monk Damascene Christensen - now out of print.
Father Seraphim: His Life and Work ISBN 1887904077 Revised and expanded version of the above.
Letters from Father Seraphim ISBN 1879066084 Correspondence with Fr. Alexey (now Hieromonk Ambrose) Young
Seraphim Rose: The True Story and Private Letters ISBN 1928653014 An biography of his life, his letters and his works, compiled by Cathy Scott.
* ''Genesis, Creation and Early Man (posthumously published by Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, Platina, CA, 2000); see
review.
*
Genesis and Early Man: The Orthodox Patristic Understanding 
