On the Glorification of Fr Seraphim Rose: An interview with Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe after the Bishops’ Council of the ROCOR.

The following interview was granted by His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe to an editor of the Diocesan website on 6 May 2026, after the conclusion of the recent Council of Bishops of the ROCOR, on the question of the glorification of Fr Seraphim (Rose).

Dear Vladyka, Thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions after your participation in the Council of Bishops of our Church over the past week. If you will bless, I will get right to the ‘question of the hour’: Did the recent Council of Bishops canonise Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina?

No, it did not. And I am glad that you asked the question so directly, here at the beginning, so that I can answer equally as directly. And so that I can also say the question — which I realise so many are asking — is quite strange. Very few people have a mature understanding of how the Church lives out her calling, and I am afraid the flurry of strange reports circulating after the issuance of our Conciliar Epistle is evidence of this. A saint’s glorification isn’t pronounced as some administrative decision from a session of a council — this is not how our Church Abroad functions! Nor is a canonisation something that happens in an afternoon, to be announced as a ‘fait accompli’ the next day. It is a prayerful process of recognising the sanctity of an individual, and taking the sober, careful steps necessary to lift him up for the universal veneration of the faithful.

This is the very process we are undertaking in the Church Abroad. And I pray we will continue to take the steps ahead with that sobriety of spirit and faithful care that the children of the Church should expect of us.

So, the Council didn’t canonise Fr Seraphim, but it did discuss his canonisation, yes?

Indeed, at length. And more than this: it affirmed and shared with the faithful, through our Epistle, that we are continuing the process of working towards his glorification, and doing so not as a vague wish or amorphous hope. We acknowledge that his glorification is, if I may use a popular phrase, ‘on the horizon’ of our ecclesial life, and we are actively working towards it.

But the Synod of the ROCOR was already doing this, wasn’t it, through a commission that was established before the Council?

Yes, and the Council was grateful to hear the thoughtful report of that commission, headed by His Grace Bishop James of Sonora, both with regards to work already undertaken, and to the steps ahead in its ongoing labours.

Some have reported on the internet that the commission has concluded its work. Or that its focus is no longer on studying Fr Seraphim’s life, but has switched to preparing hagiography and formal materials for the canonisation events. Is that correct?

Not at all. At the Council we expressly confirmed that the work of the commission should continue on its path, studying the life of Fr Seraphim, together with his writings; examining his legacy; collecting testimonies from those who knew him, or those who have experienced the grace of his intercessions, and so on. And the commission is also, of course, examining liturgical texts to Fr Seraphim that already exists, iconography, and so on, as well as considering what will be needed in future as we draw closer to the glorification. And since we want that glorification to take place, we entrust the commission to do this in earnest.

All of this is entirely normal when the Church approaches such a matter.

So, Vladyka, has anything actually changed then at the Council, with regards this matter? Social media made it sound like the entire canonisation had happened during the week — in one place it was even stated that an unnamed Bishop at the Council had confirmed this.

Well, I cannot speak for what is shared on social media — only to repeat my oft-made statements that it should generally be avoided. Certainly, none of those circulating such ‘information’ were actually participating in the Council or able accurately to convey its actions. And in Orthodoxy, neither in Canonical practice nor certainly in the communication of important Church matters, do we give any weight whatever to anonymously sourced information!

But I would say that something very important did in fact take place in our conciliar meetings, and this was shared with us in our own words, conveyed in the traditional way — via our epistle, with our names attached, signed by our own hands. And this was our stating clearly — and I can say that I rejoice in my heart that we have been able so to state — that the Council of Bishops recognises even now, at this point in the process, the righteous way of life of Fr Seraphim. That is to say, the task of preparing for his glorification is not being undertaken as if we do not already concretely feel his holiness and recognise it, not only amongst ourselves, but in a way we feel a desire to share with others. We look forward to ecclesially proclaiming it more fully, should God so bless us — and we have blessed the continuation of the work towards this.

This is no small thing! The holiness is tangible! We do not hide this, or pretend otherwise. We now seek to do all that is right and proper so that what we already taste might become the source of spiritual nourishment for so many.

So, what happens next?

We pray, and we entrust these important labours to those whom the Council has appointed to undertake them on our behalf! And I hope that all our faithful will feel encouraged — as certainly I can say I personally do — by our Council’s affirmation that already, here at this stage in what is importantly not a ‘shotgun’ or ramshackle process, but something orderly and dispassionate in its unfolding, that we acknowledge we are working towards the glorification of a man who lived a righteous life and pleased God. We feel his sanctity and acknowledge it. We pray others will, too. And we wish to continue along this path with the same kind of spiritual seriousness that Fr Serafim himself exemplifies, that such holiness might be ours also.

Thank you, Vladyka.

It is my pleasure. May God bless you. Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!