Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Chapter 8

by John Feoktist Dudikoff

CHAPTER VIII.

The "Holy Fathers" Celebrate

The next day was Sunday. In accordance with the order of Archbishop Platon, conveyed to me by Father Slunin, I had to officiate as Assistant Deacon at Platon's services. After the liturgy, I went home to the apartment of Gorokhov's and the singers of the Cathedral Choir. At about three o'clock guests came to Gorokhov: Bishop Alexander Nemolovsky, Archpresbyter Slunin, Father Sergius Snegirev with his wife, Catherine Vassilyevna, and a captain of the Russian navy whose name I don't know.

I vividly recollect it all, as though it were happening now—the guests took their places at the table, set with the choicest viands and even more choice beverages. Bishop Alexander Nemolovsky sat down in the large arm-chair, Madam Snegirev at his right, Father Slunin at his left, the Captain next to him. I was assigned a seat next to Madam Snegirev and told to wait on the Bishop. Near me sat Gorokhov, and near him stood a chair on which at first sat a girl called Pasha. They did not eat much, but drank in excess. They first drank

Gives Expression to His Feelings

the Czar's health, then the Czarina's, after that the Dowager Empress' and finally the heir-at-law's. They drank "separately and jointly" the health of each of the Czar's four daughters, and then drank the health of the entire Imperial family. Nor did they neglect the three Metropolitans—those of Petrograd, Moscow and Kiev, respectively; first separately and then jointly; nor did they forget the Procurator of the Holy Synod and his Assistant. Besides, as I learned at the table, since a few fellow Academy students of Bishop Alexander were now members of the Holy Synod, they too, were remembered. To make the Captain feel at home, they drank the health of the Army and Navy. After the roster of the living was exhausted, they began to drink to the memory of the dead. Goblets were filled, both for "Long Life" and for "Eternal Memory." In other words, the ancient custom was carried out in every detail.

Less than an hour after the beginning of the party, the telephone rang. I was about to answer it, when Bishop Alexander told me to fetch another bottle of rum and said, addressing Father Snegirev: "That must be for you, Sergius." Father Snegirev went to the telephone, hung up and declared sadly: "Pardon me, but I must go.

Violent Jealousy

Darling," he added, turning to his wife, "you stay here for a little while. Archbishop Platon wishes to see me." Bishop Alexander then whispered into Madam Snegirev's ear in Ukrainian: "See, I told you so." I heard those words clearly, but their real meaning was a puzzle to me then.

Father Snegirev left. Father Slunin started a conversation on a political subject and such loud arguments ensued that Bishop Alexander could say whatever he pleased to Madam Snegirev. Nobody but myself listened to him. Father Slunin, whether on purpose or unintentinoally, declared that we were on the eve of war, that the Germans had concluded a secret treaty with Russia and that war would soon be declared on England and Japan. Gorokhov argued that the treaty had been concluded with Austria and not with Germany. The captain contradicted at first, but soon, apologizing for going, also left. Alexander Nemolovsky winked his eye and said to me: "See whether the captain snapped the lock on the door. Also see to it that you don't open the door for anyone. Don't receive any more visitors." He then added in a louder voice: "What ill-bred, insolent fellows our clergy are! They even disturb our Holidays and Sundays. As soon as his wife is to be a mother the provincial priest immediately comes to New York, asks for an increase or promotion to a better position in order to be able to support the infant that is to be born, and every one of them strives to become Rector of the New York Cathedral."

 

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