On the prayer of the heart - the example of Elder Sophrony

[Andreas Moran]

During this last weekend when Bishop Eirenaios was with us, I asked him if he had seen Elder Sophrony at prayer. The Bishop said he had. I asked him how the Elder prayed. He said, Father Sophrony started by concentrating on expelling all thoughts and images to 'make space' for prayer. He then started to say the Jesus Prayer aloud though quietly. He gave equal emphasis to all the words. After a time, his voice became softer until he was saying the prayer silently inside himself. The Bishop learned from Father Sophrony that we must take care to distinguish between saying the Jesus Prayer mentally and the Prayer saying itself in the heart - more correctly, the Bishop thought, the Holy Spirit saying it within us. The latter is a gift of the Holy Spirit and we cannot know when (if ever) it may be granted. In St Silouan's case, it was remarkably soon; for others, maybe never. When the Lord told us to go into our room to pray, He meant our heart. This is the 'white cell' (as the Bishop calls it) where we may encounter God in prayer. St Paul's reference to our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit means that under the New Covenant, we have no need of the literal temple (of Jerusalem) for, if we pray with a clean heart, God is with us in our hearts. By this Prayer and by partaking of Holy Communion, the Holy Trinity make their abode within us.

[Andrew]

Thank you for relating this...

on a similar note, Schemamonk Seraphim is working on his memoirs of Elder Sophrony.

[Andreas Moran]

Last Saturday afternoon, the Bishop and I had afternoon tea with the Superior, Archimandrite Kyrill and a few others. Talk turned to the 'spiritual communications' Elder Sophrony had with a number of people such as Elder Porphyrios and Elder Simon. Years ago, before they even had a telephone at the monastery, Elder Sophrony made a remark about having had a 'telephone call' from Elder Simon. One young, new member of the monastery said, 'but we don't have a telephone': he had not yet learned about these things!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Last Saturday afternoon, the Bishop and I had afternoon tea with the Superior, Archimandrite Kyrill and a few others. Talk turned to the 'spiritual communications' Elder Sophrony had with a number of people such as Elder Porphyrios and Elder Simon. Years ago, before they even had a telephone at the monastery, Elder Sophrony made a remark about having had a 'telephone call' from Elder Simon. One young, new member of the monastery said, 'but we don't have a telephone': he had not yet learned about these things!

That's remarkable. Just this morning it mentioned in the book about Elder Porphyrios how he 'telephoned' various people, one of which was a hermit on Mt Athos.

I guess the 'phone' still works even when the connection is not so strong as for the saints!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Andreas Moran]

Saves on the 'phone bills!

[Nicolaj]

Thanks for sharing this insights with us. It is always wonderful and helpful to hear that there are still such experiences made.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Olga]

I guess the 'phone' still works even when the connection is not so strong as for the saints!

... if layman Slavs have their babafon' to get their news out, why not a svyatofon' via their monastics and clerics? (no irreverence intended!)

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

... if layman Slavs have their babafon' to get their news out, why not a svyatofon' via their monastics and clerics? (no irreverence intended!)

I'm sure that in Russia by this point svyatofon' is a brand name :)

[Nina]

Last Saturday afternoon, the Bishop and I had afternoon tea with the Superior, Archimandrite Kyrill and a few others. Talk turned to the 'spiritual communications' Elder Sophrony had with a number of people such as Elder Porphyrios and Elder Simon. Years ago, before they even had a telephone at the monastery, Elder Sophrony made a remark about having had a 'telephone call' from Elder Simon. One young, new member of the monastery said, 'but we don't have a telephone': he had not yet learned about these things!

The Elder of the monastery of Kareas in Athens is a monk from Mount Athos. Father Anthony. If you look at him you will see God's grace (and he has the typical look of saints with white beards from the icons and his eyes are full of fatherly love, if he is not saying the prayer because when he does you can not really see his eyes).

Once when I was in Athens, while talking about his departed grandmother - because I have the same name as her - he told me that, although he loved his grandmother very, very much, he does not visit the grave of his grandmother. I asked about the reason. And he said that he talks to her by phone and saying this, he looked briefly towards the sky. I was speechless.

[Peter S.]

The Elder of the monastery of Kareas in Athens is a monk from Mount Athos. Father Anthony. If you look at him you will see God's grace (and he has the typical look of saints with white beards from the icons and his eyes are full of fatherly love, if he is not saying the prayer because when he does you can not really see his eyes).




I beleive there are more saints than those names you read about in the calendars or vitaes, and still today, but "everyone can not be a St. Anthony", (like the famous egyptian hermit).

Peter

[Nina]

I beleive there are more saints than those names you read about in the calendars or vitaes, and still today, but "everyone can not be a St. Anthony", (like the famous egyptian hermit).

Peter

???? I do not understand... sorry...

[Peter S.]

???? I do not understand... sorry...

I just wanted to point out that I think there are many saints we dont know about, and that there are different levels of sanctity, and that every saint has not reached the same level in sanctity as St. Anthony the hermit, in their earthly life. Maybe this was besides of the discussion.

Peter

[Nina]

I just wanted to point out that I think there are many saints we dont know about, and that there are different levels of sanctity, and that every saint has not reached the same level in sanctity as St. Anthony the hermit, in their earthly life. Maybe this was besides of the discussion.

Peter

Ah, now I get it. Thank you for the explanation.