Difference between revisions of "Lev Gillet"

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Born in 1893 in Saint-Marcellin (Isère, France), after studies of philosophy in Paris, '''Louis Gillet''' ('''Lev Gillet''' - [http://www.sobornost.org/images/photos/lev_gillet.jpg Photo]) is mobilized during the First World War, held prisoner in 1914 and spends three years in captivity, where he is attracted by the spirit and the spirituality of the [[Church of Russia|Russian]] prisoners. He studies mathematics and psychology in Geneva and joins the Benedictines in Clairvaux in 1919. Attracted by the Eastern Christian world, he becomes acquainted with [[Metropolitan]] Andreas Szeptycki of the [[Uniates|Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] in Galicia, and pronounces his final vows at the Studite [[Monastery]] of Ouniov in Galicia.   
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'''Louis Gillet''', also '''Lev Gillet''', was a [[conversion|convert]] to the Orthodox faith between the World Wars through the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and was received into the Orthodox Church in Paris. He organized the first French language Orthodox parish in France.
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==Life==
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Born in 1893 in Saint-Marcellin (Isère, France), after studies of philosophy in Paris, Louis Gillet (Lev Gillet - [http://www.sobornost.org/images/photos/lev_gillet.jpg Photo]) is mobilized during the First World War, held prisoner in 1914 and spends three years in captivity, where he is attracted by the spirit and the spirituality of the [[Church of Russia|Russian]] prisoners. He studies mathematics and psychology in Geneva and joins the Benedictines in Clairvaux in 1919. Attracted by the Eastern Christian world, he becomes acquainted with [[Metropolitan]] Andreas Szeptycki of the [[Uniates|Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] in Galicia, and pronounces his final vows at the Studite [[Monastery]] of Ouniov in Galicia.   
  
 
Disappointed by the attitude of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] towards [[What is Orthodoxy|Orthodoxy]], Father Lev is received in the [[Orthodox Church]] in Paris in May 1928, and in November 1928 he becomes the [[rector]] of the [[parish]] of [[Genevieve of Paris|Sainte-Geneviève-de-Paris]], the first [[Orthodox Church of France|French-speaking Orthodox parish]]. In 1938 he leaves Paris to settle in London, within the framework of the [[Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius|Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius]] [http://www.sobornost.org/], an [[ecumenism|ecumenical]] organization dedicated to the bringing together of the [[Anglican Communion|Anglican Church]] and the Orthodox Church. He remains in England until his death in 1980, going on many journeys abroad, in particular to France, Switzerland and Lebanon, where he takes part in the spiritual revival of [[Church of Antioch|Antiochian Orthodoxy]].
 
Disappointed by the attitude of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] towards [[What is Orthodoxy|Orthodoxy]], Father Lev is received in the [[Orthodox Church]] in Paris in May 1928, and in November 1928 he becomes the [[rector]] of the [[parish]] of [[Genevieve of Paris|Sainte-Geneviève-de-Paris]], the first [[Orthodox Church of France|French-speaking Orthodox parish]]. In 1938 he leaves Paris to settle in London, within the framework of the [[Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius|Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius]] [http://www.sobornost.org/], an [[ecumenism|ecumenical]] organization dedicated to the bringing together of the [[Anglican Communion|Anglican Church]] and the Orthodox Church. He remains in England until his death in 1980, going on many journeys abroad, in particular to France, Switzerland and Lebanon, where he takes part in the spiritual revival of [[Church of Antioch|Antiochian Orthodoxy]].
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[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism|Gillet]]

Revision as of 22:30, February 7, 2012

Louis Gillet, also Lev Gillet, was a convert to the Orthodox faith between the World Wars through the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and was received into the Orthodox Church in Paris. He organized the first French language Orthodox parish in France.

Life

Born in 1893 in Saint-Marcellin (Isère, France), after studies of philosophy in Paris, Louis Gillet (Lev Gillet - Photo) is mobilized during the First World War, held prisoner in 1914 and spends three years in captivity, where he is attracted by the spirit and the spirituality of the Russian prisoners. He studies mathematics and psychology in Geneva and joins the Benedictines in Clairvaux in 1919. Attracted by the Eastern Christian world, he becomes acquainted with Metropolitan Andreas Szeptycki of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Galicia, and pronounces his final vows at the Studite Monastery of Ouniov in Galicia.

Disappointed by the attitude of the Catholic Church towards Orthodoxy, Father Lev is received in the Orthodox Church in Paris in May 1928, and in November 1928 he becomes the rector of the parish of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Paris, the first French-speaking Orthodox parish. In 1938 he leaves Paris to settle in London, within the framework of the Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius [1], an ecumenical organization dedicated to the bringing together of the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church. He remains in England until his death in 1980, going on many journeys abroad, in particular to France, Switzerland and Lebanon, where he takes part in the spiritual revival of Antiochian Orthodoxy.

Principal publications in French (under the pseudonym "a monk of the Eastern Church" - English translations also available) include The Jesus Prayer, Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality, The year of grace of the Lord: A commentary on the Byzantine liturgical year, and Jesus, simple gazes to the Saviour.

Quote

O strange Orthodox Church, so poor and weak, with neither the organization nor the culture of the West, staying afloat as if by a miracle in the face of so many trials, tribulations and struggles; a Church of contrasts, both so traditional and so free, so archaic and so alive, so ritualist and so personally involved, a Church where the priceless pearl of the Gospel is assiduously preserved, sometimes under a layer of dust; a Church which in shadows and silence maintains above all the eternal values of purity, poverty, asceticism, humility and forgiveness; a Church which has often not known how to act, but which can sing of the joy of Pascha like no other. -- from Fr Lev's 1937 funeral homily for Archimandrite Irénée (Louis-Charles) Winnaert, the founder of the Orthodox Church of France

Source

Translated from [2],[3] (French)

Further reading

Writings by Fr. Lev Gillet

Books
  • The Jesus Prayer
  • On the Invocation of the Name of Jesus
  • The Burning Bush
  • In Thy Presence
  • Communion in the Messiah
  • Jesus: A Dialogue with the Saviour
  • Orthodox Spirituality: An Outline of the Orthodox Ascetical and Mystical Tradition
  • The Year of Grace of the Lord: A Commentary on the Byzantine Liturgical Year
Articles

Other material