The Protocols of the Elders of Zion - Examined by Fr. Seraphim Rose

Fr. Seraphim Rose, in his examination of phenomena leading to our modern age, touches upon a most controversial and disputed document: “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”. Originally published in 1905 by Sergius Nilus in Russia, “Protocols” was blessed for publication by St. John of Kronstadt and would not have been possible without his support. One must take a sober, balanced look at this document, which Hieromonk Seraphim Rose offers in Lesson 9 of his Orthodox Survival Course. 0:00 Beginning0:16 Introductory Note1:23 Fr. Seraphim Rose’s examinationSaints and righteous ones who thought Protocols of the Elders of Zion was genuine:-St. John of Kronstadt-Tsar St. Nicholas -St. Barsanuphius of Optina-New Martyr St. Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomensky-Fr. Seraphim Rose-Elder Ephraim of Arizona-Elder Athanasios Mitilinaios-St. Nikolai Velimirovic-Fr. Ioanichie Balan of Romania…and moreOther saints who may or may not have understood Protocols the same way, but nonetheless spoke about Zionism and related matters the same way:-St. Paisios the Athonite-Fr. George Calciu-Elder Justin Parvu…and more-READ the “Orthodox Survival Course”:https://saintkosmas.org/orthodox-survival-course-LISTEN to “How to Understand the Jews as Being a Chosen People: An Orthodox Analysis”https://youtu.be/Zwtcox3ivCs-FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery: https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/“Publication of the Protocols in the book by S.A. Nilus ‘The Great in the Little…’ was blessed by the great Russian saint and visionary John of Kronstadt. Without the spiritual support of John of Kronstadt, the Nilus’s book would not have seen the light of day. As a contemporary notes, ‘Nilus himself did not believe in the possibility of readers' interest in his books. Under the influence of such despondency and pessimism he might not have written his famous work. But it was in order to remove this obstacle that the wonderful visionary St John confidently calls him to the task: ‘Write; your books will be bought and read.’’" -Oleg Platinov, Foreword to “The History of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion”NOTE: In order to make it clear when Fr. Seraphim is speaking and when he is quoting from Protocols, brief transitional phrases are included, such as “Fr. Seraphim continues his commentary”. At times the listener may find this a bit tiresome, but I felt it was essential to make the distinction absolutely clear.______Fr. Seraphim states:...a rather controversial document. It is called “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” and, because it presents itself in the form of a Jewish document, it has aroused a great deal of dispute. If you read any history book, of the two world wars especially; in fact, any history book written before the Second World War, you will find there an almost universal statement that “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” are a fabrication deliberately to discredit the Jews, that it is a totally fantastic thing which has no reality to it. There are others who take the document so seriously that they tend to go to the other extreme and they see everywhere a Jewish plot so much so that they can hardly take a step without fainting. We must try to look at this document somewhat objectively to see what is actually in it, how it was found and what is its significance.​​All this is deeply in accord with the philosophy of the Talmud, of the desire of the Jews for a Messiah who is of this world; and it is not surprising that there should be some kind of Jewish organization which has this philosophy. The philosophy is actually that of Marx; the ruthlessness, the using of everybody else for its own purpose, the establishing of one world rule — everything except the fact that Marx did not believe in God.Nilus himself was a very respected ecclesiastical writer, a popular journalist who went to Optina and even lived there and various other places; and there can be no doubt that he had nothing to do with making up a forgery. He accepted this text as quite legitimate and presented it to the world as a warning.The philosophy which is described in this document is one of absolute ruthlessness in bringing about a revolutionary government and in the means used to bring it about, the using of people (like Marx used Bakunin), utter hypocrisy, killing off your enemies, spreading pornography in order to corrupt the youth, causing revolutions, taking first the side of monarchs, then the side of socialists, then the side of liberals, democrats; taking any side in order to push across your point of view and eventually come to power. They talk about the control of the press, the control of money, etc.There are two new things in this whole plan…. 1) they are not atheistic. They believe in one world religion…. The second new ingredient in this revolutionary proposal is that there will be one world monarch.** From an Orthodox perspective, this world monarch will be the Antichrist.