A Brief Biography of Archimandrite Seraphim

Archimandrite Seraphim began his monastic life as a Roman Catholic Benedictine monk for nine years. Eventually he left the Roman Catholic monastery to become Orthodox, and in 1988 was baptized at the Church of St. John Chrysostom in House Springs, MO by the founder of Holy Cross, Hieromonk Kallistos (Pazalos). Fr. Seraphim was an active member of this parish for two years.

Fr. Seraphim entered Orthodox monastic life at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston in 1990 and completed the three years of the novitiate there.

In 1993 he left Holy Transfiguration because he wanted to return to the Russian Church Abroad and entered the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in House Springs, MO.  By that time the founder Fr. Kallistos had reposed and only one hierodeacon remained in the brotherhood.

Fr. Seraphim was tonsured as a rassophore-monk at Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago by Archbishop Alypy in December 1994, and was later tonsured into the small schema at the Holy Cross by Archbishop Laurus in December of 1997.

Fr. Seraphim was ordained a deacon at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY by Archbishop Laurus on Annunciation in 1998, and shortly thereafter was ordained a priesthood on Palm Sunday of the same year.

Fr. Seraphim was raised to the rank of Igumen and awarded the Gold Cross by Metropolitan Hilarion at the Holy Cross in October of 2008.

After the departure of Bishop George to Australia was announced, Fr. Seraphim was elected Abbot of Holy Cross Monastery on January 12, 2015, and was raised to the rank of Archimandrite and installed as Abbot by Bishop George with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion on Bright Monday, April 13, 2015.