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Sophrony (Sakharov)

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A typo in his ru:lastname was corrected
[[Image:sophrony8.jpg|right|frame|Archimandrite Sophrony]][[Archimandrite]] Sophrony (Sakharov), also '''Elder Sophrony''', was best known as the disciple and biographer of St [[Silouan the Athonite]] and compiler of St Silouan's works, and as the founder of the [[Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Maldon, Essex)|Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist]] in Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England.
==Timeline==
===Early Life===
*On [[September 23]], 1896 Sep 23: , Sergei Symeonovich Sakharov was born to Orthodox parents in Russia. Sergei, as As a child, Sergei would pray daily, and up to 45mins later recalling that he would pray for 45 minutes without stress. Experience of Even as a child, Sergei experienced the Uncreated Light occurs. Read GoglHe read widely, including such Russian greats as Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, [[Fyodor Dostoevsky|Dostoyevsky, ]] and Pushkin.*1915: Due to great artistic talent, Sergei studied at the Academy of Arts until between 1915 and 1917.*1920: Studied and then at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture until between 1920 and 1921. Sergei used art as a "quasi-mystical" means "to discover eternal beauty", "breaking through present reality...into new horizons of being.". This Later, this would help him to differentiate between human intellectual light and God's Uncreated Light.:At It was around this the time, of his study at the Moscow School that Sergei would see Christianity's focus on personal love as being necessarily finite; he develops an interest in, fell away from the Orthodoxy of his youth and delves delved into, Indian mystical religions based on the impersonal Absolute.*In 1921: Left , Sergei left Russia, partly to continue his artistic career abroadin Western Europe, and partly because he was not a Marxist. Went After first going to Italy , he went to Berlin, and then Berlinsettled in Paris in 1922
===Paris===
*Sergei's 1922: Arrived arrival in Paris. Artistic lent itself to artistic exhibitions of Sergei's works, which attracted the attention of the French media.:Frustrated However, he was growing increasingly frustrated by the inability of art to express purity, and however much he tried he couldn't escape this reality.:Saw He also grew to see that rational knowledge as was entirely unable to provide an answer to the biggest question, the problem of death.*In 1924: Due , Sergei came to Sergei's realisation the realization that [[Christ]]'s precent precept to love God totally with all of one's being was not merely a psychological thing, but ontological, and ; that this total love was the only way to relate to God, ; and the that love had to be a personal thing by definitional necessity . On [[Holy Saturday|Holy and Great Saturday]] of love being personalthat year, Sergei returns he returned to Christianity on Great Saturday. Experiences He experienced the [[Uncreated Light (]] in a strength unmatched to the end of his life)and, as a result, distances distanced himself from his artartwork.::Sergei then became among the first students of the [[St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (Paris, France)|St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute]] beginsin Paris. Sergei among first students. Was He was lectured by Fr [[Sergius Bulgakov ]] and [[Nikolai Berdyaev|Nicholas Berdyaev; however]], but while both influenced Sergei, problems with each (Bulgakov's [[sophiology ]] and Berdyaev's anti-[[asceticism, respectively]]), meant that limited the influence they had on Sergei was limitedthe future Elder.*In 1925: Finding , finding formal theological study to be inherently unfulfilling, Sergei leaves left the Institute and Paris for to become a monk on [[Mount Athos]]. ===Mt Mount Athos===*1926: Fr Sophrony Sergei arrived at Mt Athosin 1926, entering where he entered the [[St. Panteleimon's Monastery (Athos)|Russian Orthodox Monastery of St. Panteleimon]], desiring to learn with the intent of learning how to pray and to have to the right attitude to towards God.* He was [[tonsure]]d with the name of Sophrony. In 1930: , Fr Sophrony was [[ordination|ordained ]] to the [[diaconate]] by St [[Nicholai Nikolai Velimirovic|Nicolai (Velimirovic) of Zicha]]. Becomes , and he became a disciple of St [[Silouan the Athonite]], who would prove to be Fr Sophrony's greatest and life-long influence. While St Silouan had no formal system of theology, being largely uneducated, but his living of life exuded theology . This is what taught Fr Sophrony volumes, which and what Fr Sophrony would later systematisesystematize.*Between 1932-46: and 1946, Fr Sophrony exchanges exchanged letters with Fr David Balfour, a [[Roman Catholic |Catholic]] who converted to Orthodoxy. These letters reveal revealed Fr Sophrony's knowledge of many [[Holy Fathers|Fathers of the Church]], and forces they forced Fr Sophrony to articulate his theological thought, and to demonstrate the differences between Western and Eastern thought. Many of Fr Sophrony's later thoughts would arise out of the same topics addressed in this correspondence.*In 1938: , St Silouan reposes ([[September 24]])reposed. Following St Silouanthe saint's instructions, Elder Fr Sophrony left the monastery grounds to reside in the Athonite desert; : first at Karoulia, then at a cave near St Paul's Monastery.:The Second His residence in this desert lasted World War was II's duration, 1939-1945, and it proved to be a time of such intense prayer that Fr Sophrony's health was affected, teaching . This taught him the interdependence of all mankindhumanity.* In 1941: Fr , Elder Sophrony was ordained to the [[priest]]hood, and becomes . He became a [[Geronta|spiritual father]] to many Athonite monks.
===Paris revisited===
*1947: Circumstances (possibly There are a number of possible reasons as to why Elder Sophrony left Mt Athos. It may have been due to his deteriorating health, or to publish St Silouan's works, possibly or to complete his theological education, possibly ; it may simply have been due to deteriorating health, possibly due to difficulties the problems of being a non-Greek on Mt Athos after WW2) forced the close of World War II. Nonetheless, Elder Sophrony felt compelled to move to Paris. , where Balfour helpes helped him gain a passport.: The faculty of St Sergius allow Institute allowed Elder Sophrony to sit the examinations of the whole course, providing and provided for his needs; however, upon his arrival, this is blocked by the faculty insistence on insisted that Elder Sophrony denying deny, by silence , the grace of present in the [[Church of Russia|Moscow Patriarchate]], which he . Elder Sophrony refused to doso and therefore did not reenter the Institute.: Elder Sophrony settles settled in Russian House, an old-age home, in St Genevieve-des-Bois, assisting where he assisted the local priest and acting acted as the father confessor. He has had a major operation on a stomach ulcer.*1948: The next year, Elder Sophrony produces produced the first mimiographed mimeographed edition of ''Staretz Silouan'' on hand-roneo. In itWithin this text, Elder Sophrony outlines St Silouan's principles of theology, and he explains many fundamental concepts (, among them prayer for the whole world, God-forsakenness and the idea of all humanity being connected)interconnected.*1950: sees Elder Sophrony works working with [[Vladimir Lossky]] on the ''Messager de l’Exarchat du Patriarche Russe en Europe Occidentale'' , which he did until 1957. Lossky influences influenced Elder Sophrony's thought on many contemporary issues and compliments while complementing Elder Sophrony's work on [[Holy Trinity|Trinitarian ]] thought and its application to the Church and humanity; however, Lossky would not talk about a [[deification|deified ]] human nature, nor about the idea of God-forsakenness in a positive view, as Elder Sophrony did.*In 1952: , Elder Sophrony produces produced a professional second edition , professionally done, of ''Staretz Silouan''. This book brought , bringing much fame to both St Silouan and Elder Sophrony. Based on Lossky's criticism that he could find no theological value in the saint's works, and Elder Sophrony included a theological introduction to St Silouan's works, based on Lossky finding no theological value in the Saint's workswritings
===Essex, England===
*By 1958: , Elder Sophrony had many a number of people living near him and , seeking the monastic life. A property at Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England was inspected.*1959: , and the next year the Community of St John the Baptist was formed at Tolleshunt Knights this site, under the [[omophorion]] of Metropolitan [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh]]. Monastery has The monastery had both monks and nuns, something that has continued to the present, and numbers originally had sixmembers.* In 1965: Monastery of St John , the monastery would move under the Baptist, with blessing omophorion of Patriarch Alexy, moved under the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], adding the title 'Patriarchal's omophorionto its name. Later, the Ecumenical Patriarchate would upgrade elevated the Monastery monastery to '[[Stavropegic]]'.*In 1973: Publication of , a more complete translation of the life of St Silouan, under the title ''Monk of Mt Athos'' (, was published, followed by the life of St Silouan).*1975: Publication publication of ''Wisdom of Mt Athos'' (, the writings of St Silouan).*1977: Elder Sophrony seemed to move to his own works after this, publishing ''His Life is Mine'' published.*1985: in 1977 and ''We Shall See see Him As He Is'' in 1985. This last book, a very frank, open spiritual autobiography, was published, to mixed reviews: where the West generally enjoyed the book, the Russians generally criticised the bookcriticized it. Some of the criticism was so stinging that it, along with increasing illness, discouraged Elder Sophrony from writing again.*In 1987: , the Ecumenical Patriarchate glorifies glorified St [[Silouan the Athonite]], no doubt assisted by his fame from Elder Sophrony's works.
===Events of and after his repose===
The monastery had been informed that the only way that it could bury people on its property was to build an underground crypt, which it proceeded to build, and to which Elder Sophrony said that he would not repose until the crypt was ready. Then, having been told of the expected completion date of [[July 12 July]], Elder Sophrony stated that he "would be ready". On the 11th, Elder Sophrony reposed; and on the 14th was his funeral and burial, attended by monastics from around the world. At the time of Fr Sophrony's repose, there are 25 monastics in the monastery, a number that has remained steady since then.[[Image:Reposed_Elder_Sophrony.jpg|thumb|Repose of Elser Sophrony - 11th July 1993]]
Mother Elizabeth, the eldest nun, reposed soon after, on the 24th. This was in accordance with Elder Sophrony's words that he would repose first, and she would repose soon after.
''On Prayer'', a book containing Elder Sophrony's writings on prayer - , particularly the [[Jesus Prayer - is ]], was published posthumously.
==Books==
==Quotes==
*"No one on this earth can avoid affliction; and although the afflictions which the Lord sends are not great men imagine them beyond their strength and are crushed by them. This is because they will not humble their souls and commit themselves to the will of God. But the Lord Himself guides with His grace those who are given over to God's will, and they bear all things with fortitude for the sake of God Whom they have so loved and with Whom they are glorified for ever. It is impossible to escape tribulation in this world but the man who is giver over to the will of God bears tribulation easily, seeing it but putting his trust in the Lord, and so his tribulations pass."*"There are three things I cannot take in: nondogmatic faith, nonecclesiological Christianity and nonascetic Christianity. These three - the church, dogma, and asceticism - constitute one single life for me." - ''Letter to D. Balfour, [[August 21]], 1945''.*"If one rejects the Orthodox creed and the eastern ascetic experience of life in Christ, which has been acquired throughout the centuries, then Orthodox culture would be left with nothing but the Greek minor [key] and Russian tetraphony." - ''Letter to D. Balfour''.*"There are known instances when Blessed Staretz Silouan in prayer beheld something remote as though it were happening close by; when he saw into someone's future, or when profound secrets of the human soul were revealed to him. There are many people still alive who can bear witness to this in their own case but he himself never aspired to it and never accorded much significance to it. His soul was totally engulfed in compassion for the world. He concentrated himself utterly on prayer for the world, and in his spiritual life prized this love above all else." -- ''St Silouan the Athonite'', p.228. 
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*http://sophrony.narod.ru/texts/chapt1.htm
==External Linkslinks==
*[http://www.divineascent.org/DA5/hierotheos5.htm Interview] with Archimandrite [[Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos|Hierotheos]] on Elder Sophrony, excerpt from Divine Ascent.
* Biography & photos of Elder Sophrony Sakharov [http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Russian/Fr._Sophrony_Sakharov/]
[[Category:Athonite Fathers]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Hesychasm]]
 
[[el:Γέρων Σωφρόνιος Σαχάρωφ]]
[[fr:Sophrony (Sakharov)]]
[[mk:Старец Софрониј]]
[[ro:Sofronie (Saharov)]]
[[ru:Софроний (Сахаров)]]
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