1,264
edits
Changes
→Returning to the Church
===Returning to the Church===
*1999 September: Hmk Gerasim visited St Paisius Monastery and was informed about problems concerning Abbot Herman, including the schism resulting from Abbot Herman being a fugitive from church accountability. This small group made it their goal to bring St Herman's Monastery (and all associated entities) back into the Church.
*1999 Autumn: Hmk Gerasim travelled with a group of priests in order to influence a decision to receive them into the [[Jerusalem Patriarchate]]. He then travelled to Georgia to seek further counsel. In a meeting with the Patriarch, he was told that, as a petition had already been made to the Church of Jerusalem, the Church of Georgia could not act on any request. Patr. Ilia gave much good advice to the group.
*2000 Holy Week: Hmk Gerasim travelled to Spruce Island to deliver the request of his monastics and priests that he step down as abbot, stop serving, and return to California to live a repentant, reclusive life. He moved to a cell in Wildwood, California. He also sent a registered letter to Metr. Pangratios informing him that he was ceasing to serve.
*2000 July: Hmk Gerasim and the group met with Bp bushop Jovan (Mladenović) of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Jackson, California. Hmks Gerasim and Damascene met with Bp bishop Jovan and Metr metropolitan [[Amfilohije (Radović) of Montenegro and Litoral|Amfilohije of Montenegro]] in October, asking to be received into the Serbian Orthodox Church.*2000 Nov 27-28: St Herman of Alaska Monastery was received into the Serbian Orthodox Church; Hmk Gerasim was elected abbot on 28 November. The missions, previously looked after by the Monastery, were gradually stabilised into the life of the Diocese.
*2001: Abbot Gerasim began making regular six-monthly pastoral visits to Spruce Island.
*2001 early: Abbot Gerasim was invited to help stabilise [[Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco (Manton, California)|St John of Shanghai & San Francisco Monastery]], which allowed the renewal of a relationship between him and Hmk [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah (Paffhausen)]].
*2009 February: Abbot Gerasim made a pilgrimage to Serbia.
*2009 Feb 14: Hdcn [[Hilarion (Waas)]], having been transferred to the monastery by Bp Jovan, was ordained to the priesthood. When Hmk Gerasim left the monastery, he appointed Hmk Hilarion to be his successor, and was elevated by Bp Maxim.
===OCA===
*2009 August: Abbot Gerasim began studies at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St Vladimir's Seminary]] and was considered an episcopal candidate for the vacant [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)]]. He was asked by the Holy Synod to study at a seminary for a year. However, once there, he decided to remain for three years and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree - as the 2012 class valedictorian. .
