Section from book “Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics”,

by John Crowder. • See } http://ning.it/ed3zeh •

St. Herman of Alaska (1756 – 1837) was a Russian – born Orthodox

believer who pioneered missionary efforts to Alaska, which had just
been discovered by Russian fur traders. Among many miraculous
signs, Herman demonstrated authority over tidal waves that
threatened to engulf his island, stopping their advances. He also drew
a spiritual boundary against a large wildfire that threatened the
people, and the fire was unable to pass.

Herman’s apostolic work really began on Kodiak Island as a young

monk, where he settled and built a church with a handful of other
missionaries. Thousands of Aleut Natives were converted and baptized,
and the mission flourished. But Herman was eventually left alone to his
endeavor, after his fellow monks died or returned home. Herman spent
much time alone in deep prayer and manifested a number of
revelatory gifts of the Spirit. Herman also demonstrated great
compassion, using his gifts to counsel and intercede for the people. He
founded an orphanage after an epidemic killed many adults on Kodiak
Island. He was also greatly disturbed by the predatory fur traders who
enslaved many Natives. Herman was persecuted by some of the
profiteers because he protected the Natives. But it was the
demonstrations of God’s power that won many over.

Herman literally befriended a number of bears – Kodiak Island brown

bears are the largest in the world, by the way. And they would often
eat from his hands. Needless to say, traitors who witnessed Herman’s
interaction with these bears often left Herman and his Native friends
alone. One of the Russians won over to the faith was the colony
governor of Alaska who became Herman’s disciple and eventually
entered a Russian monastery. Other animals were drawn to Herman.
Wild ermine lived near his cell and did not seem to fear him.

We are not called to befriend bears, but we are all called to shake off
religious pretension. When we encounter God, nature and even people
are drawn to us. The anointing has an attractive element that all
substances – animate and inanimate – are compelled to worship! Even
the thieves, junkies, and prostitutes were drawn to Jesus, because they
perceived the fragrance of Heaven on Him. But people are repulsed by
religion. I have found that people can never be fully natural, until they
have also learned to be truly spiritual. The two go hand in hand.
Otherwise we are masquerading. One of the greatest naturally
supernatural men of recent history is Lonnie Frisbee.
Seraphim of Sarov (1759 – 1833) was born to a merchant family in
Kursk, Russia and had visitations by saints from an early age. He often
drew a way to pray and at age 18 he became a monk. His life was
almost continually in prayer, and he lived a contemplative life for 45
years. He received angelic visitations. He once saw Jesus Himself enter
the church where he was praying in the form of the Son of Man, and he
was struck mute for some time after seeing this vision.

Over time, Seraphim gradually withdrew to the lifestyle of a hermit,

and animals were often supernaturally drawn to him. He was once
approached by robbers, and although he was physically strong and
holding an axe at the time, he lay it down on the ground, gave himself
over to them and was beaten. For a period of time – nearly three years
– Seraphim lived on top of a rock in a extreme ascetic manner.
Seraphim worked a number of miracles and healed the sick. He was
quite prophetic, and could answer people’s questions before they had
time to ask them.

Despite his withdrawn lifestyle, he opened his cell to visitors the last
eight years of his life and thousands came to him for advice. Those
who visited him sometimes saw that his face was glowing bright “as
that of an angel”, yet he was filled with the peace and joy of Christ.
One of his disciples saw it glowing like the sun, his eyes flashing like
lightning. Seraphim felt that the very purpose of life was to be filled
with the Holy Spirit in such away.

One cannot consider the miracles of Easter Orthodoxy without

discussing the uncreated light at the annual Easter celebration in
Jerusalem. The Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is observed each year in
Jerusalem, as a priest enters the tomb where Christ is thought to have
been buried. Every year, a light flashes from within the tomb,
supernaturally and catches fire to candles or an olive oil lamp without
the use of matches or any human instrument. Many Orthodox believers
travel there each year for the service, and the flame is used to light
candles throughout the congregation. Many peoples candles ate
supernaturally ignited, and the flames are often seen dancing
throughout the air by the entire crowd, from one side of the church to
the other. Unlit candles and lamps in other chapels in the city also
catch fire at times on their own. Thousands witness this annual
miracle. When the flames first appear, they are a bluish and do not
burn. Some people touch the flames, but they cannot feel them. It is
often compared to what Moses’ burning bush experience may have
been like. Why would this happen on a regular, systematic basis? One
could ask the same thing about the angels that stirred the waters of
the Pool of Bethesda in John 5. It may seem bizarre, but it’s a
legitimate miracle if it brings glory to God.

I know this sound weird to some non – Orthodox Christians, but the fact
is, there’s a lot out there that we aren’t clued in on. Last time I
checked, He is God and we are not. God is up to a lot of strange things
in the world to which I am not yet privy. What I do know, is that the
Lord is about to open up the Eastern and Western church to one
another like never before, and we will have to be willing to receive one
another, within the proper bounds of discernment. The Lord is also
about to spark a mighty revival in Russia like the world has never seen,
and many of the young people in that revival will be looking back to
there Orthodox roots and reviving old wells of spiritual practice.

There are obviously doctrinal errors in every stream in the church you
obviously think your own stream is closest to perfect, or you wouldn’t
be swimming in it. But every denominational tributary in the Body of
Christ has strengths and weaknesses – strong points and errors. We
must stop viewing the church and her denominations as a tiered caste
system, ranked in priority of who has the best doctrine. The blood of
Christ puts us all on the same, level of playing field. We need to see
the church more as a river. Every time a new tributary comes into the
main stream, there are eddies and turbulence, but unless new waters
flow in, the river risks drying up and becoming dead and stagnant. And
those splashing in the latest tributary cannot think that they are alone
in the river.

In the same way, we must acknowledge those streams with which we

are least familiar. We often tend to criticize those things we don’t
understand. With much humility, we have a great deal to learn from
the various Christian communities throughout the world. There are a
number in the Middle East, for instance, that Westerners do not even
acknowledge exist. There are very many strong believers in the Coptic
Orthodox church of Egypt, as well as among the Melkite Catholics. If
we were in relationship with any of these brothers, we could no longer
afford to make rash statements, like “They are not saved.” There are
unique streams of Christianity throughout the world. In Africa there are
so many denominations you cannot begin to count them.

Some of the greatest miracle workers the church has ever seen will
come, and are coming, from such places. It will be important for us not
to nationalize the coming move of God, any more than we should try to
denominationalize it.