Helpful !
Was the former Renovationist "bishop" a convert to the MP, then ?
That is shocking indeed. I never felt comfortable with either of these two touted 'elders' - this is why !
About Elder Sebastian of Optina, I would give him a pass myself. He was different
Now, I didn't know that he had been a catacomb Priest at Karaganda !
That's VERY interesting !
It's probably why there is so much vagueness in his biography.
Some things were never explained.
Suddenly in the book, the future Met Pitirim is Elder Sebastian's spiritual son, almost out of nowhere. The connection WAS explained but it was never specified WHY Elder Sebastian was cooperating with the MP.
WHO said something threatening to him, for example ??
Archimandrite Sebastian [for he was raised to that rank by the MP] was also visited a number of times by the MP Met. Joseph [Chernov] of Alma Ata [Vernensky], who was close with him.