Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Chapter 23

by John Feoktist Dudikoff

CHAPTER XXIII.

His Eminence Leads Me a Chase

Finally, about six weeks later, I made up my mind to go to Petrograd where, as I learned, Platon had proceded me. There, I was received by Platon in the Kiev Hostelry. He pleaded fatigue, and asked me to call the next day. As I was leaving, I met Angelina at the door. She must have come to Petrograd together with Platon. The next day, I called on Platon at the Hostelry. This was in June, 1917. He received me and gave me for the time being 5,600 rubles in 500-ruble notes, for which I gave him a receipt. He promised, after having made inqiries, to pay me in dollars because the rate of Russian paper money was so low that one could purchase nothing for it. I demanded to be paid in gold, and Bishop Platon asked me to wait. I waited, but by the time I called at the Kiev Hostelry, I learned that Platon had left for Moscow. I went to Moscow and at the Church Conclave submitted a petition to the Holy Patriarch. He stated that the matter was personal and not under his jurisdiction, but that he would nevertheless try to help me meet Platon in order to settle the affair amicably. He gave me Platon's address, and I located him.

Platon ordered his servant to have me arrested, but the latter knowing of my claim against his Master, refused to do so. I, as an honest and law-abiding citizen, who was seeking the return of his own money, did not fear arrest and continued to fight. Bishop

A Convention of Metrooplitans and Bishops in September, 1917.

Platon has promised me a number of times, in the presence of witnesses, to refund my $7,800.00 in full, at 6% interest, in American dollars. He had merely returned 5,600 rubles, which at the rate of 42 rubles to the dollar, amounted to very little. Into the bargain he avoided meeting me and threatened me with arrest. I determined to settle the affair and I asked Metropolitan Benjamin of Petrograd to come with me to the Swiato-Chudlovsky Monastery. After a long search, we found Platon hiding in the catacombs of the monastery, in the very room in which Patriarch Hermoneges had been stoned. I was a captain in the Army, and as such was fully armed, but it never occurred to me to resort to-arms. I grabbed

The Most Holy Patriarch Tickhon.

Platon by the collar, and pulled him out of hiding. Metropolitan Benjamin, fearing a brawl, implored me to release Platon, who was screaming at the top of his voice. Fifteen of the monks heard his cries, ran in and wanted to arrest me, but when I showed them my credentials, and they saw that it was I who had the power to arrest them, they quieted down. Platon then told me in everybody's presence that it was absolutely impossible for him to procure the money in dollars, but that he was expecting the arrival of a certain person, who was bringing him dollars, and that as soon as he received them, he would repay me all he owed plus the interest. I took his word and released him, particularly because his promise was given not only to me personally, but also to Metropolitan Benjamin.

A few days later my wife and I called on the Patriarch. Platon was also there and told me in the Patriarch's presence that he would give me the money not later than the next day, and asked me to call for it "to-morrow." The Patriarch was very well satisfied that the matter was about to be settled peaceably, but when I told him that I had heard this "to-morrow" a number of times before, Platon replied that he had sworn in the Holy Patriarch's presence. I reminded him that in September, 1917, I had asked him for my money in the presence of Metropolitan Benjamin, Archbishops Constantine, Mitrophan and many others, he had also sworn to return it but never did. To this he replied: "Come to-morrow and you will get all that's owed you."

 

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