The present book is the first complete Orthodox commentary on the Apocalypse {Revelation] to be published in the English language. Originally written in Russian by Archbishop Avery [†1976], it is now accessible to English-speaking readers through the efforts of Fr. Seraphim Rose [†1982]. Unlike Archbishop Averky, Fr. Seraphim was born into a culture and society devoid of the timeless Orthodox world view, outside of what he termed "the saving enclosure" of the Church. He converted to the Orthodox faith as a young man, but his conversion did not stop there. During the years that followed he continued to deepen his experience of the mystery of Christ's teaching. Penetrating into the wisdom of the Holy Fathers of the Church, trying to live, think and feel as they did, he grew to acquire their mind and became a genuine transmitter of Patristic spirituality to the modern world. He was successful in this not only because of his ability to distinguish the true from the false and the real from the artificial, but also because of his love and respect for those rare men and women of our times who have passed on the spirit and pathos of Orthodox sanctity. Realizing how the attitude of "knowing better" prevents people from fully entering into the spirit of Orthodoxy, he regarded his preceptors as a devoted son would regard his father, never exalting his own opinions over their living witness of Christian truth. As one such preceptor, Archbishop Averky, was being attacked and criticized by some younger clergy who, with a narrow and legalistic mentality, claimed that he was "not Orthodox enough," Fr. Seraphim championed him in print, defending what he knew to be a spiritual giant, one of the greatest Orthodox teachers of the century.
In Archbishop Averky, Fr. Seraphim saw an example of complete faithfulness to the Church of Christ; from his writngs he learned that Orthodoxy is more than just the "correct" set of beliefs --- it is a transforming power that can rejuvenate all those who truly seek Christ in these last days of apostasy. Both he and his preceptor devoted their lives to making this power known to a world that walks in darkness, to people who had never been exposed to the fullness of Christ's revelation. The present book is a fruit of their combined labors. It is appropriate that this work by a modern link with ancient Christian tradition, Archbishop Averky, should be presented to the English-speaking world through the hand of an American-born link with the Holy Fathers, Fr. Seraphim.
In a sense this book can be seen as a culmination of Fr. Seraphim's life work -- the first installment of it being published in The Orthodox Word only a few months before his repose. The subject of the Apocalypse was so important to him that he would have probably begun writing a Patristic commentary on it himself, had not such an excellent one already been written in Russian by Archbishop Averky. In providing his readers with this commentary; he was giving them a last bit of spiritual food by which they could strengthen themselves against the trials ahead.
Those who are familiar with Fr. Seraphim's many writings are aware that his essential message, like his era, was apocalyptic. Avoiding the sensationalism that is so commonly seen today, he did not endeavor to make superficial speculations and predictions about "doomsday." His understanding of the Apocalypse, of the apostasy and the coming of Antichrist which precedes it, was much more philosophical and penetrating. In fact, it was his discovery of the principle of Antichrist in the world that led to his discovery of the presence of Christ and to his eventual conversion. Emerging from a culture that had lost its traditional values and otherworldly ideals, he found timeless Truth in the image of Jesus Christ, which had been kept pure and undistorted in the Orthodox Church. Once he was reborn in Christ, he was able to more clearly the disastrous course that the world, having fallen away from God, was taking. Shortly before his death he wrote: "The times ahead, more perhaps than ever before in the Church's history, are a time of what St. Gregory the Theologian well called 'suffering Orthodoxy.' We truly live in apocalyptic times: atheism is conquering the public sphere of the whole world, false religion increases as never before and captures many of those who awaken from the sleep of unbelief, the ecumenical movement draws nearer its goal of a false church [the harlot of the Apocalypse], and the spirit of the coming Antichrist begins to place its seal everywhere. Those who would be faithful to Christ in these terrible times must be prepared for sufferings and trials which will truly test the faithfulness of our hearts to Him. And yet, greater than these sufferings and the prince of this world who will inflict them upon us is He Who has promised to be with us even to the end of the age [Matt. 28-2]."*
The Orthodox Word 1981
As the world apostatizes further and further from Christ it is all the more imperative for truth-seekers to find answers in the divine, God-revealed teaching of the ancient Fathers, especially with regard to the Apocalypse and the end times. It is indicative of the spiritual poverty of our age that many sincere Christians are not even aware that such teachings exist, but think that they have to interpret sacred texts for themselves, based on their fallible human reasoning. It is hoped that, with this book, more people will discover that the saints and visionaries of former ages have something to say about us and the events we witness around us.
Ignorance of Patristic writings and Church history has caused many to follow ancient heretical teachings about end times. Chiliasm, the second-century heresy that expects Christ's Kingdom to be this-worldly rather than otherworldly, is now accepted by an overwhelming number of religious groups. Both Averky and Fr. Seraphim were concerned that this heresy be exposed, since it can induce many well-intentioned Christians to succumb to Antichrist when he establishes his counterfeit kingdom of God on earth. In the face of such false teachings which threaten to "deceive the very elect" [Matt. 24:24], this book is intended to awaken souls with a desire for the true kingdom "not of this world' [John 18:36], and to win more citizens for the new Jerusalem which will be revealed at the end of time.
Br. John Damascene
October 1985
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