In Blessed Memory of Archpriest Alexei Mikrikov

On June 8 in Australia Archpriest Alexei Mikrikov reposed in the Lord at the age of 85. I, a sinner, was fortunate to spend a year and a half together with the Father Alexei – and I would like to share my memories of this true priest of the Russian Church Abroad.

For many in our church 2007 was a tragic year, a year of temptation and a year of great betrayal, when our former brothers turned their backs on pure Orthodoxy. But for me, by the grace of God, that year turned out to be the most peaceful and spiritually joyful in my life – solely thanks to Father Alexei (or “Batushka” – how priests are lovingly addressed in Russian).

Batushka served as the second priest in the Epiphany Parish of the Church Abroad in Boston at the time when the bishops signed the documents on unification with the Moscow Patriarchate. Father Alexei, of course, rejected this decision. “How can I accept three anathemas and two heresies?” he later said. For such disobedience, on the day of the signing, the Antimins was rudely taken away from him, and he was expelled from the church. Batushka tried to explain to people the reasons for his disagreement, but only a small group of parishioners followed him. It was shameful to look at his former admirers, only recently crying and sobbing at his confessions, and now proudly turning away from him, as they would from a heretic.

That is why Batushka had to return to his house in Jordanville, where he had a church attached to his house and where we, a small group of former parishioners of the Boston parish, often came to services. Fr. Alexei also came from time to time to serve in the small Greek church in Boston. It was such a wonderful time! After the Vespers there was a supper, at which Fr. Alexei told different stories from his life and time after time tried to understand – how could his beloved Church Abroad fall so low? For him the fall was a catastrophe on a truly universal scale, and this event greatly shook him. As far as I remember, Fr. Alexei defined the heresy of ecumenism as the equality of God and the devil, and the heresy of Sergianism as the equality of state power and church power. Of course, Batushka could not accept this new church order. To understand the worldview of Fr. Alexei and the essence of his stories, we need to say a little about his life.

Batushka grew up in the city of Harbin (China), where he was acquainted with many ascetics, including St. Metropolitan (then Abbot) Philaret. He saw holiness – and saw also the devastation and famine that the Soviet regime brought with it. In the following years Fr. Alexei (then a young man) managed to leave China with his parents for Australia, and subsequently move to America and study at the Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville – again under the omophorion of Metropolitan Philaret. After joining the priesthood, Fr. Alexei served in Australia (where he even preached on the radio), and later in the suburbs of New York.

Who were the subjects of Batushka’s stories? Many stories were about Harbin’s ascetics. First, about the Schemaabbot Ignatius – a well-known elder, who lived in the basement of the Harbin’s church “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. Fr. Alexei’s mother very often went to Elder Ignatius for advice – and Batushka witnessed many miracles that took place through the prayers of the clairvoyant elder. I especially remember a story, that quickly spread in Harbin, when Elder Ignatius suddenly mentioning that he was expecting guests at night. The elder was blind and everyone wondered what kind of guests he was expecting. And in the morning, it turned out that many icons were renewed in the church and looked freshly painted. The Soviet authorities were taken aback, not knowing how to explain such an obvious miracle. Batushka also spoke about a fool for Christ’s sake Antonina, who walked around Harbin wrapped in towels and helped many people to leave Soviet Harbin. Antonina had prophesied that Abbot Philaret would receive a white klobuk for “his long-suffering” – 10 years before Bishop (or “Vladyka”) Philaret was named a Metropolitan.

We heard stories about the miracles of St. John of Kronstadt, told to Father Alexei a long time ago by direct witnesses of these miracles. Batushka greatly revered our Holy Archbishop John of Shanghai; he knew Him personally, talked with him, prayed to Him, and once in a conversation mentioned that Archbishop John came to him when Batushka was half-asleep and noticeably eased the pain in his side, from which he suffered.

But most of all we heard stories about his spiritual father, Metropolitan Philaret. Fr. Alexei’s life was closely intertwined with Vladyka’s. To say that Father Alexei revered Vladyka does not give a complete picture. Batushka looked at Vladyka as an unattainable height, as a great Shepherd, ascetic, theologian, a man of prayer, and a writer on a par with the ancient Fathers of the Church. Father Alexei emphasized that despite his extraordinary talents and education, Vladyka Philaret always remained modest, tactful, and gentle – especially towards people who persecuted and humiliated him – and there were many of them – from Harbin to New York.

While still in Harbin, through the prayers of Abbot Philaret, Batushka’s father recovered from a serious illness – and a young man Alexei saw for the first time what a real prayer looked like. Young Fr. Alexey participated in Orthodox youth clubs, which Vladyka Philaret arranged in Harbin and in New York. Father Alexei told us about Vladyka’s wise approach to people, about his steadfastness, courage in the fight against Soviet authorities, about his patience when his fellow bishops often did not understand him … … One should have seen what joy and peace listening to newly released recordings of Vladyka’s conversations had brought to Father Alexei. It seemed to me that Vladyka Philaret forever remained the most spiritually close person to Batushka. In his house white candles were always lit in front of the portraits of Schemaabbot Ignatius and Metropolitan Philaret.

What did Batushka read? His most important book was the Holy Gospel, which he did not just read, but studied and tried to delve into every word. He often picked up the book “My Life in Christ” and marveled at the depth of thought and vision of Father John. Batushka revered Fr. Ambrose of Optina, and often re-read his letters. He also read all kinds of books, and there were many other books on his shelves, especially those written by the Church Abroad authors.

Talking to Father Alexei was very interesting. He always spoke with energy and passion, and our conversations lasted for hours. Batushka’s stories and observations were bright, original and in many ways comforting. I must say that his spiritual life was hidden from strangers, but I could see his prayerful mood during church services. I have witnessed miracles performed through his prayers and heard from others of his clairvoyance.

An image of smiling Batushka Alexei rises before my eyes – and I feel sad that the last ascetics of the Church Abroad are leaving this life. But let’s believe and hope that Father Alexei intercedes for all of us at God’s throne next to his beloved Vladyka – and that we will see him again, if we are worthy – in the next life. May the Lord bless.

Deacon Grigoriy