Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI.
I Meet The "Archangel"
When I came that evening to Archbishop Platon's apartment, I found there, besides the Vicarial Bishop Alexander Nemoloysky, another "gentleman" in frock coat, white vest and white tie. After Archbishop Platon, and Bishop Alexander had given me their blessing, Platon introduced to me the "gentleman" in the frock coat, saying: "This is our most beloved, loyal and worthy Inspector General and editor of our newspaper, Mr. Gabriel 'Archangel' Dobroff. And this," turning to the gentleman in the frock coat and white tie, "is Ivan Feoktistovitch Dudikoff, who is at present with us on probation and about whom, my dear Sir, I have already spoken to you. Make friends with him."
Both Archbishop Platon and Bishop Alexander were in very good humor, and asked me to make myself at home. Taking a good look at Dobroff, I recalled having seen him more than once at the "sessions", after which he often helped me to escort home on foot (if the "session" was held not far from the Consistory) or place intp closed cars and send home those who could not take care of themselves. … But neither Dobroff nor I made any sign of recognition. True, at the "session" there was a great difference in our relative positions: Dobroff, like the "Fathers" and their intimate friends, sat in an armchair, while I, standing in the doorway of the "meeting" room, entered only when summoned. I took orders which I conveyed to the waiter and having served whatever the latter brought, returned to my post at the door.
In spite of such a difference in position—Dobroff being an Inspector General to the two "saintly" Prelates, and I only on probation,—he shook my hand very warmly and said: "I am very, very glad and happy to meet a man after my own heart in a strange country." This was followed by jokes and hints thrown in apparently to make it impossible for me to understand everything, but I caught several of the innuendoes. Thus I understood, when Archbishop Platon told Dobroff that he envies Bishop Alexander, who had such a "gay time last night amongst young chickens," that Alexander had spent the night with prostitutes. Platon felt that he was entitled to a greater share of that type of entertainment than Bishop Alexander because of his higher rank—moreover he was growing older and could not waste any time.
A few minutes later Archbishop Platon said to me: "I appoint you Inspector General, under the supervision of Mr. Dobroff. You must take orders from him as you would from me. To begin with, see Archpresbyter Ivan Ivanovitch (Slunin). And now, my darling Feoktistich, I know you are tired, and besides, our old men's talk probably bores you. … Well, sleep peacefully."
This meant—"Betake yourself home." I took the hint, rose, received the Archbishop's blessing and went to Gorokhov's apartment at 1286 Lexington Avenue, where I made my home. It was too early to go to bed—I was not invited to the "conference" most probably on account of Friday’s Lent, and I spent the evening in my room thinking of my native land and my near and dear ones.