St Nil Sorsky

[Patrick Walsh]

Greetings and Blessings

I am reading the book, "On the Jesus Prayer" by St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) and I am finding it to be a very difficult read, not because of its language or terminology, but the profundity of the teaching in this small book forces one to read it in a very contemplative manner. I am lucky to do one or two paragraphs a day.

However, he recommends in three different places his reader to also read three Russian authors, St. Paisius Velichkovsky, Elder Vasily Poiana Marului, and St. Nil Sorsky. My spiritual father has concurred that I should read these books. I have been able to locate both the writings of Elder Vasily, and St. Paisy and have them in hand. St. Ignaty only refers to Elder Vasily as "the Elder Vasily," and nothing more. It took some digging to find out which Elder Vasily he was referring to.

However, the only copy of the works of St. Mil Sorsky are published by Paulist Press, and are translated by Fr. George Mahoney.

As a rule, I do not trust Catholic publications or Catholic priests. The book is not sold at any of my trusted book vendors, so that leads me to be suspicious as well. Is anyone familiar with this book, "The Complete Works of St. Nil Sorsky (Classics in Western Spirituality)?"

Thanks in advance
Patrick

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

There are as many books on the Jesus Prayer as opinions on when to start etc.

Generally, for monastics, the opinions are in the manner of how each monastic performs this Prayer.

If you want the highly academic, this you can find, the middle road also.

I would recommend Met. Hierotheos' book on the Jesus Prayer. In English, it is "A night in the desert of the Holy Mountain, discussions with a hermit on the Jesus Prayer". Translated by Effie Mavromichali. Published by: Birth of the Theotokos Monastery; easily available in the States through Father Nick Palis.

Father Nick Palis can be reached at home: 724-375-7867
or fax: 724-378-3162, or email: NPalis@forcom.net
web site: www. pelagia.org/
ISBN 960-7070-04-6

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

In A Treasury of Russian Spirituality (ed George Fedotov) one can find a section on St Nil Sorsky with St Nil's writings on The Tradition to the Disciples, The Monastic Rule & St Nilus' Last Will.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Patrick Walsh]

Fathers Raphael and Seraphim
Blessings

I have found the text, actually the entire book by George Fedotov online!

[Link] (http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/russian_spirituality_fedotov.htm)

This is indeed a good day for me.

As for the book by Bishop Hierotheos, I must decline. I am working with my spiritual father, whose background is with the Russian Fathers of the Church rather than the Greek. This is not meant as a disrespect to Bishop Hierotheos or the Greek Orthodox Church, but my spiritual father is not versed in their writings. I am sure they say the same things in the end, since they continually tapped into each other's traditions at various points in time--St. Paisius Velichkovsky is a case in point.

Many Thanks
Patrick

(Message edited by admin on 01 February, 2006)

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

You may nevertheless give attention to Metropolitan Hierotheos' book.

The relatively modern approach to nationhood in Orthodoxy is over-stressed in today's Orthodox world.

Here in North America we live the tragedy of transgressing Tradition when we have a multitude of Bishop's whose diocese overlaps that of another.

In Ontario alone which is one province in a vast land we have every canonical Patriarchal Church overlapping.

As for the 'Russian Fathers of the Church rather than the Greek,' we are in dangerous waters here. Only one Father mentioned by St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) is truly from Russian soil and that is St. Nil Sorsky. St. Paisios Velichkovsky is Ukrainian and St. Vasili of Poiana Marului who was St. Paisios Spiritual Father is Romanian.

It is my personal belief that it may be interesting and rewarding to talk of the Optina School, the line of Fathers extending from St. Paisios, the Valam Fathers etc, etc. Yet what is at issue here is the Jesus Prayer.

The Jesus Prayer is used by both monastics and laity. The fruit depends upon synergy. The deeper the abiding in the seemingly paradoxical words of Luke 14:26 the greater the fruit.

I recommended this book by Metropolitan Hierotheos because it is, though one among many, a true account of a conversation with a Hermit about the Prayer of Jesus. It is truly a book to grow into.

I state this because I know personally Met. Hierotheos and I know very well the Hermit, and the Hermit is Russian, not Greek. Met. Hierotheos (a Greek) proposes his concerns to a Staretz (who is Russian.)

This Hermit has reposed in the Lord. His life was utterly saintly.

Do you seek an historical and academic study of Hesychasm,
or how to enter into the Jesus Prayer as part of the Life in Christ?

[Patrick Walsh]

Father Seraphim
Blessings

I think you misunderstood my motivation, and you probably think I am some kind of terrible sectarian. My motivation is to follow the guidance of my spiritual father. The books he reads on spiritual matters are in Russian or Slavonic. I should have said "Slavonic Fathers" instead of "Russian Fathers." My reading list includes many Greek Fathers, such as St. John Climacus, St. Symeon the New Theologian, St. Nicephorus, St. Kallistos Xanthropoulos, and so on. They have been around long enough to have been translated and absorbed into the Russian tradition I belong to.

I will also say that my church, as well as Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville recommends very highly the books of Bishop Hierotheos. So my exclusion of his books has nothing to do with what flavor of Orthodoxy I am. But my spiritual father has not read them. I know if I ask him about them, he will say, "Go ahead and read them. But I cannot help you with them." The problem is that Bishop Hierotheos books are too recent to have been absorbed into the Slavonic tradition I belong to, and we do not have a wealth of experience with them as yet. And I am not the one to blaze a trail here, at least not until I have at least learned a liitle bit about prayer.

My decision has nothing to do with the juridicial chaos of the Orthodox Church in America. It has nothing to do with sectarianism. It has to do with relying on my teacher and his experience. God willing, I will learn everything I can from him, and with the grace of God, when the time comes, I will find the teacher who will take me further.

I am presently reading a book on the Optina Fathers in Russian. This is very much a part of the tradition I belong to.

But I am just a beginner, who is mostly deaf, and is coping with the further difficulty of the gradual onset of total blindness. So I cannot dabble here and there with many books. I need to stay focused and hopefully progress with each book I read. Not to find books that basically teach the same things. I need to tap into the coherence and clarity that my spiritual father is willing to offer me.

In Christ
Patrick