The years when Metropolitan Philaret headed the ROCOR became a period of making important decisions, including the anathematization of Lenin and the persecutors of the Orthodoxy (1970), the canonization of Nicholas II, his family and servants and the New Martyrs (1981) and the condemnation of ecumenism (1983).

Living in Harbin, Voznesensky entered the Russo-Chinese Polytechnic Institute from which he graduated in 1927 as an electromechanical engineer.

By that time, the Russian population was leaving China en masse, settling mostly on the West Coast of the United States or Australia.

The Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR, aware of his irreconcilable position towards communism and the Soviet government, has been trying to rescue Archimandrite Philaret from China since 1953.

Despite his anti-communist views and reputation as a confessor,[4] Archimandrite Philaret had to repent that he had been under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate since 1945, and also sign a "penitential statement" in the form established by Bishops' Council of the ROCOR.

On October 22 of the same year, at the Council of Bishops of the ROCOR, where Archbishop Sabbas arrived, Archimandrite Philaret was proposed to appoint to the Diocese of Brazil, but Archbishop Sabbas began to insist that Archimandrite Philaret be left in Australia and appointed vicar of the Australian diocese with the title of Bishop of Brisbane.

The Council agreed to Sabbas' request and it was decided to ordain Archimandrite Philaret as vicar bishop for Australia.

The views on church administration also differed: St. John and his supporters saw sobornost as a living, functioning basis of church existence, while the supporters of Archbishop Nikon actually acted as defenders of the pre-revolutionary Synodal system, which in the conditions of emigration meant the dictate of the office of the Holy Synod.

[11] On February 7, 1964, Metropolitan Anastasius announced his desire to retire due to his old age and state of health.

[12] The real purpose of such a departure was the desire to control the election of his successor, with the help of his authority to prevent shocks, conflicts and possible division within ROCOR.

At the end of the voting, Metropolitan Anastasius was asked either to approve the election of Bishop Philaret, or to remain in office.

In November 1998, the Synod decided to transfer Metropolitan Philaret's relics to a new vault under the altar of Holy Trinity Cathedral at Jordanville, New York.

On May 19 – 20, 2001 Metropolitan Philaret was glorified by the Holy Orthodox Church in North America ("Boston Synod").

On October 23, 2009, Metropolitan Philaret was glorified at Holy Transfiguration Skete by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad headed by archbishop Vladimir (Tselischev).