The 1944-1945 Diary of Archimandrite Seraphim (Ivanov). Highlighting the Relationship Between the St. Job of Pochaev Brotherhood and the Russian Liberation Army

Introduction

The diaries of Archimandrite Seraphim (Ivanov) [1] later Archbishop of Chicago, Detroit and Middle America (1897-1987). contain abundant information that can further a better understanding of the history of the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev. This Brotherhood was established in 1923 by the Russian monastic missionary priest, Archimandrite Vitaly (Maximenko), [2] later Archbishop of Eastern America and Jersey City, Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary (1873-1960). as a mission to inhabitants of the Carpathian Mountains. The Brotherhood went on to print religious literature for the entire Russian diaspora and even for Russia itself. With only about 30 members of the Brotherhood this small monastery had a disproportionately large influence on the Russian Church in the diaspora. Many future bishops and prominent clergymen started there, and the printing and clergy education work of the monks aided the Church throughout the emigration and even within the Soviet Union. Between 1934 and 1946 Archimandrite Seraphim acted as locum tenens for Father Vitaly after the latter was consecrated a bishop and sent to North America. Father Seraphim then