Church of All Russian Saints Newsletter Volume 1 Number 6 November/December, 2013
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CHURCH OF ALL RUSSIAN SAINTS NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 NUMBER 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 2013 CHURCH OF ALL RUSSIAN SAINTS Burlingame, CA celebrates the 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY MESSAGE FROM FATHER STEFAN “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in possible to eat properly, but if none are available, choose much” Luke 16:10 the least non-Lenten dishes on the table (menia skorom- niye bliuda). his year the wonderful American holiday, Thanksgiv- Ting, falls on Thursday, November 28th (Nov. 15th on While the first day of any fasting period is always stricter Julian Calendar) which is the first day of the Nativity Fast. than the following days, it is possible to have a pleasant The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad does not issue a Lenten meal on November 28th in deference to this God- dispensation to break the Nativity Fast on this day, but we pleasing legal holiday of our adopted country. If missing can still celebrate the holiday by attending the Thanksgiv- a turkey dinner is just too difficult, I suggest planning a ing Te Deum (moleben) that is always served on this day traditional feast on one of the non-fasting days before the at our Church and many others. beginning of the Nativity Fast. Our Sisterhood makes a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving dinner after Divine Russian Orthodox Christians are taught to always thank Liturgy on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Then that God for the many blessings that we receive by His mercy. evening or possibly Monday or Tuesday, enjoy a feast with The fact that we all live in this country of material abun- your family. dance, general safety and the freedom to attend Church services of our own faith, is indeed reason to praise and Keeping our Orthodox Christian fasting rules is important thank God. It is not a reason to abandon or break our to our spiritual life and the preservation of our religious Church Rules and customs. I call all our faithful to attend identity in the face of growing secularization and anti- church on Thanksgiving Day and with love and piety religious sentiments. As Orthodox Christians we should begin the Nativity Fasting season on this day. not be ashamed or afraid of witnessing our faith to the surrounding community. Remember the words of Our It’s understandable and acceptable that families who have Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “Whosoever therefore shall non-Orthodox members would make accommodation to confess me before men, him will I confess also before attend the home of non-Orthodox in the spirit of hospi- my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32. Also, tality. However, be careful not to offend your non-Or- “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in thodox friends and relatives while fasting. The traditional much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in Thanksgiving dinner has many side dishes that make it much.” Luke 16:10 continued... 1 At the present time, many innocent THE BURLINGAME YEARS OF ARCHIMANDRITE Christians around the world are ROMAN KRASSOVSKY being tested for their faith. If we - Ludmilla Bobroff are not able to witness our faith in the simple matter of keeping our appointed Church Fasts, how can we expect to have the courage and strength to witness our faith if it is truly put to the test by anti-Chris- tian fanatics? I wish everyone a pleasant Thanks- giving. May we all enter the Nativ- ity Fast with joy and thanksgiving as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. CHurcH OF All RUSSIan SAINTS A Parish of the Western American Dio- cese of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad 744 El Camino Real, Burlingame, CA http://www.allrussiansaintsburlingame.org/ Rector: Mitred Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko Larissa Krassovsky with her son Archamandrite Roman Cell: (650) 430-9805 n the first Sunday of September, Vladyka Ioann. The future St. John Parish Newsletter Staff Misha Krassovsky, now known of Shanghai and San Francisco blessed Editor - Ludmilla Bobroff O as Archimandrite Roman, returned to their marriage in Tubabao and was a Art Designer - Xenia Maximow the Burlingame Church to serve Divine frequent guest at their house in Burlin- We welcome your suggestions on the Liturgy with Father Stefan. This time, game. type of articles you would like to see in however, he served not as an altar boy, the Parish Newsletter. Send your ideas not as a seminary student, not simply As the four brothers were growing up, to Ludmilla Bobroff at Ludmillaa@aol. as a monk, but as the Chief of the they marveled at the energy and dedi- com or telephone (408) 257-6918. Please Russian Ecclesiastical Mission of the cation their parents exhibited toward write Parish Newsletter in the Subject Line. Russian Church Abroad in Jerusalem. the Church, the Parish Russian School, Deadline is one month Beaming with pride during Liturgy was and the Russian Scouts. With time, all prior to publication. his mother, Larissa Krassovsky, as well four were drawn into the organizations Next Newsletter - JANUARY 2014 as long-time parishioners who remem- themselves. Schedule of services can be found on the bered Father Roman as a little boy, try- Church website: ing hard to keep up with his three older “When I was six years old, Vladyka http://allrussiansaintsburlingame.org/ brothers. Ioann saw me standing with my mother NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES in church and invited me into the al- The Church of All Russian Saints News- Born in San Mateo in 1959, Misha tar,” remembers Archimandrite Roman. letter can now be found on the church’s was the youngest of four sons born to “He gave me a stihar to wear (altar boy website at http://www.allrussiansaintsburl- Larissa and Vadim Vladimirovich Krass- robe), and asked me to hold his staff. I ingame.org/newsletter/ ovsky. The boys were named Vladi- have been in the altar ever since. The website has the current issue, as well as mir, Eugene, Alexander and Michael all past issues. (Misha). The parents were close to “Our childhood revolved completely 2 around the Church and the Russian considered various careers. Nothing choir. On April 20, 2013, His Emi- community. There was never a ques- appealed to him. In 1979, he took nence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and tion of not attending services. We over his older brother’s position as choir Germany elevated Hieromonk Roman always prayed at home. Our father was conductor of the Sts. Cyril and Metho- to the dignity of Archimandrite during strict. He may have yelled at us, but dius Russian School at the Cathedral Divine Liturgy at Holy Ascension Con- I’m thankful for his reprimands. As for in San Francisco. The youth choir sang vent Cathedral on the Mount of Olives. school, I was more concerned about during early liturgies on Sundays. Then His new obedience was to administrate, bringing home good grades from Rus- in 1981 at age 22, he enrolled in Holy protect and oversee our clergy and sian School than from McKinley School Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New properties, guide the monastics and pil- or Burlingame High School. Because of York, graduating three years later. grims in Jerusalem, and work together Russian School, we didn’t participate in with Archimandrite Isidor, the Mission any sports programs.” “As a gift, my parents sent me on a Chief from the Moscow Patriarchate. pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” continues While a number of priests served the Archimandrite Roman. “Afterward, I Today, in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Burlingame Parish over the years, the spent three weeks at Mt. Athos. That’s Roman leads a completely different life . one who influenced Misha the most was when I decided to become a monk and “I deal with people of different mentali- Protopresbyter Father Nikolai Masich. remain at the seminary.” ties and nationalities,” he says. “It helps He was rector during the construction that I’m located in the Holy Land. The of the five domed parish edifice we For 30 years, Fr. Roman took on many spiritual life is energizing. I’m a short know today. Archimandrite Roman obediences - working in the seminary walk from the place of the Ascension of remembers Vladyka Ioann blessing the office, running the cemetery, teaching Our Lord and just fifteen minutes away domes and the crosses in 1963 when the classes, and conducting the monastery from the burial site of the Mother of church was completed. God. The prayers of Bishop St. John continue to sustain “The repose of Father Nikolai not only me but our whole Masich affected me greatly,” family” said Archimandrite Roman. “He was like a grandfather What happened to the other to me and played a big role brothers? Vladimir Krassovsky in my life. For several years is an iconographer and head afterwards, we had temporary choir director of the Holy priests who served only a short Virgin Cathedral in San Fran- time. Consequently, sixteen cisco. Evgeny Krassovsky is an dedicated altar boys took over ascetic monk in seclusion. Fr. various duties. We became a Alexander Krassovsky is the family, building the cathedra rector of Saints Peter and Paul which is brought out when Church in Santa Rosa. Their the bishop serves. We sewed father, Vadim Vladimirovich, the curtain behind the Royal reposed in November 1988 at Doors, built frames for icons the age of 76. Their mother, and made prosphora. We paid Larissa Krassovsky, is a volun- for these additions with dona- teer extraordinaire, working tions given to us by communi- with great enthusiasm not only cants.” in the Burlingame Church but in Santa Rosa and San Fran- After graduating from Burl- cisco as well.