Archimandrite Sophrony

[Fr John Wehling]

Greetings in Christ,

I heard about a year ago that Fr Sophrony (Sakharov) was going to be canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarch, but have not heard any more of it. I am wondering if anyone has heard anything of this, especially recently.

God's mercy on us all,
Fr John

[Daniel Jeandet]

Metropolitan Vlachos was quoted as saying: "If Father Sophrony was not a saint, then there are no saints".

[Herman Blaydoe]

Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not create saints, we merely acknowledge them. Our "process" (if it can be called that) for doing so is much less formal. Many saints are reverenced locally long before the Church makes it "official" throught the rite of canonization.

[Fr John Wehling]

I am aware of that, Herman. I believe there is already much local veneration for Arch. Sophrony, but what I wanted to know is if anything "official" had been done.

Thanks,
Fr John

[Richard Leigh]

Dear Herman,

The Catholic Church doesn't create saints either, but only acknowledge them, after quite a bit of examination to boot!

Richard

[Andreas Moran]

From what little contacts I have had with both ROCOR clergy and Old Rite clergy, it appears that neither group is keen to acknowledge Elder Sophrony as a most significant figure of the Church in the 20th century (and perhaps beyond). I have no doubt as to his sanctity. Could anyone explain the reluctance of the two mentioned groups to accept Elder Sophrony for what many believe him to be - a saint? Or at least as a great elder?

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

From what little contacts I have had with both ROCOR clergy and Old Rite clergy, it appears that neither group is keen to acknowledge Elder Sophrony as a most significant figure of the Church in the 20th century (and perhaps beyond). I have no doubt as to his sanctity. Could anyone explain the reluctance of the two mentioned groups to accept Elder Sophrony for what many believe him to be - a saint? Or at least as a great elder?

In general I do not think there would much hesitation about the Elder Sophrony nowadays. At one time though the view of almost all was influenced by what jurisdiction they were & were not part of.

For example I recall once a senior priest (now reposed) cautioning me about speaking so favourably about Nikolai Velimirovich. At first I was very surprised by this reaction until I realized that this priest had been part of a world in which lines were drawn from which jurisdiction you were part of or weren't. Possibly/probably positions were also adopted by such respected people that showed their leanings. Jurisdiction tended to reflect this in those days to a greater extent than it does now.

In the new atmosphere that we live in now this no longer thankfully makes so much difference. But at one time I am under the impression that it greatly did and affected who accepted you and who didn't.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

I would agree with Fr Raphael's comments and just add that not only would such opinions be influenced by jurisdiction, but also by locale. I do not recall any negative reservations about Fr Sophrony from people here in the states, however, we generally only knew Fr Sophrony by his writing and not from personal contact. It could be that those who were closer to him in person and therefore had to "deal with" his impact (positive or negative - and jurisdictional) on their parishes might have developed stronger opinions.

Fr David Moser

[Peter S.]

From what little contacts I have had with both ROCOR clergy and Old Rite clergy, it appears that neither group is keen to acknowledge Elder Sophrony as a most significant figure of the Church in the 20th century (and perhaps beyond). I have no doubt as to his sanctity. Could anyone explain the reluctance of the two mentioned groups to accept Elder Sophrony for what many believe him to be - a saint? Or at least as a great elder?

At least Silouan is a saint. And he also died in the 20th century along with another saint. Mother Mary (Skobtsova). She became a martyr.

[Andreas Moran]

I don't understand why jurisdiction should so form a person's view. I can understand that ethnic background might. Father Sophrony suffered himself from jurisdictional difficulties. It's true that I had personal contact with him (albeit very briefly) and that his monastery has played a big role in my life. His writings (some of which are difficult) are very much for our times and relevant in all places. Father Sophrony famously said, 'I do not know a Greek Christ, a Russian Christ, an English Christ, an Arab Christ', and also, 'We must have the same consciousness as Christ, who bears in Himself the whole world: this is what makes for the universality of the human person . . . If we confess in the Creed, Christ is very God, the Saviour of the universe, the Creator of the world, 'by whom all things were made', how can we bring our understanding of Him down to a question of nationality, place, epoch?' He intended his community to transcend jurisdiction and nationality, and to be just Orthodox.

Father Sophrony would be deeply saddened at the thought that the very things he taught against might prevent people from hearing what he had to say.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

It's difficult to describe the Orthodox world that we grew up in because of how different it is now.

Not universally but in much of the west jurisdiction defined or provided the pattern or even platform for one's deeper sense of what Orthodox spirituality & praxis should be.

This meant that through much of the 20th century certain people were 'part of' certain jurisdictions and were very unlikely to be part of certain others. This pattern of identification tended to perpetuate itself over time as the faithful would naturally move towards the jurisdiction that most reflected their own beliefs.

But of course this assumes a world in which the entire Orthodoxy only partially encompassed the full spectrum of pastoral expression as it most often does and should. Instead in the chaos following the Russian revolution and then the Calendar change, pastoral expression came to be defined according to jurisdiction.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

I understand very well the concern of Andreas and I feel that both Fr. David and Fr. Raphael have given very proper, considerate and even compassionate responses.

First, allow me to say, having known Fr. Sophrony over the course of many years, and having the inestimable blessing of being made a Monk by him, I have traversed all these currents in my monastic life.

Yet, my Blessed Elder would be the first to acknowledge that slander and accusation deserved or not are the blessing of the monastic state.

If our Lord Himself was misjudged, misunderstood, abandoned, ultimately betrayed even by His closest disciples - is there another path for one who desires to be a disciple of Christ?

Even during my last pilgrimage on the Holy Mountain I heard yet again the litany of derision against my Spiritual Father. Yet, when my Spiritual Father asked me to go and visit my brother in ascetic labour, Fr. Raphael (Noica) who now lives as a hermit upon the most majestic peak in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, lo and behold, the Staretz with whom I settled - Fr. Iustin (Pirov) of the Holy Monastery of the Archangels (indeed the Feast Day of Fr. Raphael!); gave me the Obedience to visit every place in Romania that requested that I speak about both St. Silouan and Fr. Sophrony.

Due to the immense love of the Romanian Orthodox for both St. Silouan and Fr. Sophrony I spent four and a half years going north, south, east and west uttering my impoverished words. Fr. Iustin was a hard Staretz! No sooner had I arrived back at the Monastery, then there would be a knock at my cell door: 'Fr. Iustin wants to see you...' Like a swallow that could not find its nest I was under Obedience to set out again. The most memorable and difficult (the Communist trains still in use, were not very comfortable) was the journey from Petu Voda (close to Moldova) to Oradea (on the Hungarian border). Kyrie Eleison.

God is praised in His Saints!