To remind those who like ROCOR History from older times, there are now a large selection of Michael Woerl's Lives of Bishops available.
I looked at Archbishop Hieronim of Flint [prior designation of the Detroit part of ROCOR's Mid-West Diocese] for example today, and found fascinating new information. If one has studied Russian Church history it's quite interesting that he was tonsured in 1912 by the New Martyr Feodor who, though not mentioned in the writeup, was to become the last Archimandrite of the Danilov Monastery before its suppression by the Bolsheviks and his own martyrdom.
It happens to be St Danil of Moscow's Day today, so everything fits together....
Later in Archbishop Hieronim's life is a thrilling adventure.
It was never all that clearly related in general writeups on the Old ROCOR website how the Kursk Icon got out of Russia, but the then-Archimandrite Hieronim and a superior, Archbishop Theofan, smuggled it all the way to Belgrade, Yugoslavia safely.
In the middle of the Civil War between White Russians and Red Soviet groups, that they managed through all this turmoil is clearly due to the Mother of God's protection of them and Her Icon. I feel few have even considered what a hair-raising journey that must have been for them.
Wish they had kept diaries of the entire trip through great centers of civilization and many villages probably too. I would like to know how they hid the Icon, for example, and what obstacles crossed their path, if any.
There are many more ROCOR Bishops' stories to explore. I recommend reading them through one or two or a few at a time.
They lift one up one from the heavy thoughts of the present day, like reading a good historical novel does. These are of the most constructive nature however, especially for those who enjoy making connections between general history and the spiritual history of ROCOR. That last has still much to be unearthed!
I think many of us can appreciate this monumental effort of Mr Woerl in researching and writing up the series, as well as offer encouragement that more of these incredible lives be released.
One wishes ALL of these hierarchs had kept journals of their lives. Then we could learn more about their inner lives and reactions to the outer events summed up here.
A tip: If one goes to the Rocor Studies website, he or she can select the option for "Lives of Bishops" across the top, and go directly to the biographies rather than searching through academic papers in various languages.
Photos of the Bishops which probably required a fair amount of research to dig up, are supplied to illustrate each life. These bring to life the Bishop and add color to the accounts.
I recommend reading through whatever lives interest one.There are many diverse ones from which to choose. I'm looking forward to Bishop John of Urmieh next!