Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/94

 "You see, Metropolitan Platon has been appointed All-Russian Patriarch, to take the place of Metropolitan Tikhon. A communication to this effect has been received from Ambassador Bakhmetyev. It is therefore necessary to exonerate Platon of all accusations made against him. Since your affairs with him has caused a sensation not in Russia and the Ukraine alone, but in America as well, it may prove an obstacle not only towards His Holiness' occupying the Holy Throne, but to his leaving America, and most of all, it will prevent him from repaying your money. It is up to you now to remove this obstacle."

I inquired how it was that I served as an obstacle to Platon's returning my money. To this Richlov replied: "Ambassador Bakhmetyev promised Platon to contribute a great amount of money to the Church Fund, but since he heard of your affair, he is waiting for the Holy Patriarch Platon to be cleansed of all the accusations you have brought against him." To my question as to what to do to remove the obstacle, Richlov's answer was: "Just one thing—you must copy this written confession and have it sworn to before a notary." Father Richlov then handed me a sheet of paper. I was struck dumb. When I recovered, I asked Richlov: "Why, does the Greek-Orthodox Church permit such written confessions?" Richlov replied: "Not only are written confession permissible in America, but at present they are required. If you don't sign this confession, you may bid farewell to your money as well as to all hope of my assistance."

I perused the paper Father Richlov handed me. It was a rough draft of a written confession, dictated by Metropolitan Platon and transcribed by Father Richlov himself. I have it among my papers as documentary evidence. The paper read as follows:

"Your High Eminence, Bishop Metropolitan Platon! Merciful Archpriest and Father! I herewith confess as before the Lord God, Himself and before your Eminence, that I have been guilty before you. 1) I confess in writing that I have never