Theophan the Recluse

Theophan the Recluse
Born January 10, 1815
Chernavsk, Russian Empire
Died January 6, 1894
Vysha Monastery, Russian Empire
Venerated in Eastern Orthodoxy
Canonized 1988 by Russian Orthodox Church
Feast January 6 or 10

Theophan the Recluse, also known as Theophan Zatvornik or Theophanes the Recluse (Russian: Феофа́н Затво́рник; January 10, 1815 – January 6, 1894) is a well-known saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born Georgy Vasilievich Govorov (Георгий Васильевич Говоров), in the village of Chernavsk. His father was a Russian Orthodox priest. He was educated in the seminaries at Livny, Orel and Kiev. In 1841 he was ordained, became a monk, and adopted the name Theophan. He later became the Bishop of Tambov.

He is especially well-known today through the many books he wrote concerning the spiritual life, especially on the subjects of the Christian life and the training of youth in the faith. He also played an important role in translating the Philokalia from Church Slavonic into Russian. The Philokalia is a classic of orthodox spirituality, composed of the collected works of a number of church fathers which were edited and placed in a four volume set in the 17th and 18th centuries. A persistent theme is developing an interior life of continuous prayer,[1] learning to "pray without ceasing" as St. Paul teaches in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned To It

The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned To It was originally written in response to Theophan's encounter with a young woman. While at a ball, this upper class Moscow woman began having irrational thoughts about the meaning of life and the immortality of man. After contacting Theophan, the two began corresponding through letters, the lady writing on her spiritual difficulties and Theophan responding with spiritual advice. This correspondence had a significant impact on the woman; she later became a nun.[2] The Saint Herman Press, the publisher of the illustrated edition of The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned To It, notes that it was of great importance to Theophan that the young woman should "be able to keenly hear the right "tone" of spiritual life."[3]

Veneration as a saint

Theophan was canonized by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1988. The act of canonization declared that his "deep theological understanding of the Christian teaching, as well as its performance in practice, and, as a consequence of this, the loftiness and holiness of the life of the sviatitel' allow for his writings to be regarded as a development of the teaching of the Holy Fathers, preserving the same Orthodox purity and Divine enlightenment." His feast day is celebrated January 6 or January 10.

Quotes

Books in English translation

See also

References

  1. ↑ A Prayer Rule by St. Theophan the Recluse
  2. ↑ "Spiritual Life - And How to be Attuned to it". Writings of St. Theophan the Recluse. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Spiritual Life: And How to be Attuned to it". Amazon. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Quotes of St. Theophan the Recluse
  5. ↑ Thoughts for Each Day of the Year according to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God By St. Theophan the Recluse
  6. ↑ "Will the Heterodox Be Saved". Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Holytrinitymission.org
  8. ↑ Four Homilies on Prayer by St. Theophan the Recluse


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