[['''Hieromonk]] Damascene'''Damascene (secular name '''John Christensen)''' ; [[1961]]) is a priestmonk hieromonk of [[Serbian Orthodox Church]], and deputy [[abbot]] of St Herman of Alaska Monastery, Platina, California.
==Biographical notes==
*Born in 1961 in family with scandinavian roots. Raised as a nominal Christian.*Came to believe that personal deities were a less enlightened truth than trans-personal experience (a la Buddhism).*Practised Zen Buddhism, with some spiritual experiences.*Studied at University of California Santa Cruz.*c.1980: Met Fr [[Seraphim (Rose)]], who gave a lecture at UCSC.*Developed a dialogue with Fr Seraphim, who taught him that Truth was personal and Person (rather than abstract concept). Met Christ through this.*Eventually, Fr Seraphim became his spiritual father. Less than two years later, he was at Fr Seraphim's bedside at his repose.*Fr Damascene joined St Herman of Alaska Monastery, where he has lived for over 25 years.
