Recently there was an article published on the internet stating that Fr. Seraphim Rose has been canonized in a diocese in the country of Georgia. The article references a video which was published on the YouTube channel Punks and Monks in which Metropolitan Nikoloz of the Georgian Orthodox Church makes the statement that Fr. Seraphim had been canonized in his diocese. As this news was being spread on social media, another post was made which claimed that this news was false, which left many people feeling disappointed and confused. In this video we will be breaking down this story and referencing the source material which form the basis of these claims which are being made. We will also talk about the general process which is usually followed when the Church decides to glorify a Saint.
The veneration of a Saint usually begins with popular veneration by the faithful. People who knew the person who is being considered for sainthood will testify to the sanctity of that person's life. There are various criteria which are usually used to verify a persons sanctity, among which are miracles which were performed through the Saint both before and after their death, as well as the general impact that a person's life and work had on the Church. Fr. Seraphim Rose's sanctity has been attested to by both miracles (some of which we will be discussing) and also through the broad impact of his writings. His books and articles have been read and published widely throughout the Orthodox world and have helped many people come to the faith.
After a person has begun to be venerated and prayed to by the faithful, the "Glorification" of the Saint must be given a stamp of approval from the hierarchs of the Church. This will usually involve a formal process with the participation of as many hierarch of the Church as possible, since it is a big deal to canonize a Saint. There will be a service held in which the Saint is prayed to and Magnified publicly in the Church, after which a service will be performed to the Saint. What is a bit odd about the claim that Fr. Seraphim has been canonized is that this process doesn't appear to have been followed, or if it was it was done quietly without any fanfare. Why was this? Tune in to find out.
