ania wrote:<<sigh>> . Remember, that it was 25 years after the death of Vl. John that he was canonized, and people thought him a living saint, which wasn't really the case with Met. Philaret (though everyone agreed that he was a good & pious monk).
Just wanted to say that, for what it is worth, my family considered Metropolitan Philaret a living saint when he was alive and I know not a few others that did as well. I never felt such holyness in meeting any other person in my life. My sister (who isn't what one would call religious) remembers not being able to hold back tears of joy when in the beauty of his holy presence.
I hope a good biography comes out about his life in English one day soon. The one that ROAC has put together ( I think someone put a link to it on this thread) has some good information but it is too packed with that typical... well how do you put it... agenda promoting. I wish they would have left that out.
As too your other points, I agree and will wait until Blessed Philaret is canonized by our synod (ROCOR) before officially calling him a saint but it is obvious to me that he is already gloified in heaven judging from his acsetic way of life, peaceful, loving and saintly nature, stand against Ecumenism and of course, incorrupt relics. There have been miracles too!
in Christ,
Nicholas (Savva)