A Conversation with the Elder Sophrony

16 November 2011 Religion / Interviews

The abbot of the Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, Archimandrite phraim, spo!e with lder "ophrony of blessed memory at the Holy Monastery of "t# $ohn the %aptist in sse&, ngland on '( "eptember )**'# +rom this meeting, one is str,c! by lder "ophrony-s spirit,ality and ascetic vision, and can appreciate the val,e of his contrib,tion to the contemporary life of the .h,rch#

The abbot of the Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, Archimandrite phraim, in the garden of the Monastery of "t# $ohn the %aptist in sse& /)**'0 with lder "ophrony, among the many pilgrims who fo,nd spirit,al comfort near the venerable lder

Elder Sophrony: O Heavenly in! and Com"orter# the Spirit o" tr$th# who art in all pla%es and "illest all thin!s# treas$ry o" blessin!s and !iver o" li"e# %ome and abide in $s and %leanse $s o" all that de"ileth# and save o$r so$ls# oh &ho$ who are !ood'( )el%ome# holy abbot* +" d$rin! o$r %onversation + do anythin! $n$s$al# please "or!ive me' &hese days + don,t hear or see very well' Ar%himandrite Ephraim: Considerin! yo$r a!e# yo$,re doin! very well' E'S': Ninety-si. years old*+,ll tell them to brin! $s the letter "rom /atopedi "rom o$r ar%hives' A'E': 0es# + wo$ld li1e to see it' E'S': 0o$ 1now# +,m one o" yo$r own' A'E': &his is a blessin! "or $s' E'S': + don,t 1now' +t is a blessin! "or me# that they !ave me leave with s$%h willin!ness' And %ir%$mstan%es have shown that 2od blessed it' A"ter + le"t the Holy 3o$ntain# tho$!h# + be%ame very ill' + had a stoma%h $l%er and + s$""ered "rom !astrorrha!ia# + was also very poor' + had to $nder!o a di""i%$lt operation# and they had to remove nearly my whole stoma%h' 4or twelve years + had !reat di""i%$lty eatin!' + !ot somethin! later on# b$t it,s "a1e' A'E': +t was 2od,s will# Elder# that yo$ %ame here' E'S': +,ll tell yo$ what# abbot# +,m always a"raid to say that somethin! 5"rom 2od6 happens to me# b$t it seems to me that nothin! too1 pla%e a%%ordin! to how + ima!ined it# b$t everythin! %ame "rom 2od' A'E': &his is what the %ons%ien%e o" the Ch$r%h also witnesses to# it seems that it was "rom 2od' And that it is a wor1 that has a history behind it' And 5this monastery,s6 history has been stamped by 2od# that,s what the "a%ts witness to' E'S': 0es# b$t + am only bold eno$!h to say# 7ord have mer%y on me and save me'( Only to a %ertain e.tent %an + say that it happened a%%ordin! to the providen%e o" 2od'

A'E': Elder# yo$r monastery is an oasis in the desert 5o" a %$lt$re6 o" materialism' E'S': )e,re 8$st*eh9 How %an + e.plain it to yo$*we,re than1"$l to those who r$le this %o$ntry# and to the :$een# and other o""i%ials' ;$t Orthodo. li"e o$tside o" 2ree%e is di""i%$lt' Not all o" o$r tho$!ht: theolo!i%al# as%eti%al*%onne%ts with the tradition o" the )est# with the Catholi%s and <rotestants' ;$t these are the ones who r$le this pla%e' A'E': 4rom everythin! + have observed here# Elder# yo$ live wisely' =$rin! the years that yo$ have been here# yo$ have a%ted with !reat dis%ernment# whi%h is why yo$,ve been able to help people !reatly in hidden ways' And this is a very important thin! "or a spirit$al person' E'S': )ell*let me tell yo$' 0o$,re an abbot' And + was# in a %ertain way# an abbot' And + was always h$n! "rom a thread above the abyss# sho$tin! at 2od "or everyone# "or everythin!*be%a$se nothin! happens by h$man stren!th' A'E': And +,m s$re that yo$ m$st have had many di""i%$lties here# Elder' E'S': Oh*it,s better not to tal1 abo$t them*' ;$t even this# to a %ertain e.tent# is a :$estion "or $s' >e%ently# + p$blished a boo1# a spirit$al a$tobio!raphy 5 1e "hall "ee Him as He Is6' A'E': )e,ve read it# Elder' E'S': O" what interest wo$ld a p$rely "a%t$al bio!raphy have been? + only re%o$nt spirit$al events in this boo1' And the boo1 has appeared# somehow# at 8$st the ri!ht time' A'E': )hat yo$ have provided is a livin! witness' E'S': + didn,t write a theolo!i%al te.t# + only wrote down my e.perien%e# "rom "ear and be%a$se +,m bold to say# 7ord have mer%y# 7ord save me'( ;$t*+ don,t $nderstand*' + be%ame ill many times with "atal si%1nesses and yet +,m still alive' + don,t 1now why* A'E': &he Ch$r%h needs yo$# whi%h is why 2od has e.tended yo$r li"e' 0o$r li"e is a mira%le' )e are ama@ed at how yo$ are still livin! %onsiderin! the illnesses yo$ have had and still have' 3any spirit$al people are ama@ed that yo$,re still alive' E'S': +n 1AB6 they invented a ma%hine that %an dia!nose %an%er and they opened me $p and "o$nd that + had the worst type o" %an%er# and they were e.pe%tin! me to die' &here was no %han%e o" an operation# o" radiation therapy# %hemotherapy# or somethin! similar' &hey le"t me to waste away*' Si. years have passed and +,m livin! in my seventh year sin%e then# and + don,t 1now how' A"ter the stoma%h operation + had# whi%h %ompletely %$t $p my insides# "or twelve years + %o$ldn,t eat' &wo years a"ter that# + was a bit better' A'E': 0o$r Elder# St' Silo$an# wanted yo$ to see his o""i%ial %anoni@ation by the Ch$r%h' E'S': And + don,t 1now how the providen%e o" Christ made it happen' He pla%ed me at the "eet o" my Elder' &he %ontemporary spirit$al# theolo!i%al problem %on%erns the person 5CDEFGCH6*+ lived %ompletely by revelation' >evelation reveals that + am who + am( IE.od$s J:1KL' +" He says# + am( it means that He is a person' &his is why in one o" the %hapters in the boo1 to whi%h + re"erred earlier + note that the word +( has !reat si!ni"i%an%e' 4or it e.presses the person' 2od says# 7et Ms ma1e man in O$r ima!e# a%%ordin! to O$r li1eness( I2enesis 1:26L' S%ien%e %annot say this' Only revelation %an say this' And we need to base o$rselves on revelation# whi%h the 7ord never re"$ted*' So# when + sent the boo1 that is ri!ht behind yo$ to His All Holiness 5the E%$meni%al <atriar%h6# + didn,t want to write a theolo!i%al te.tboo1# b$t simply to des%ribe the e.perien%e o" an Orthodo. mon1' A'E': &his boo1 will be very $se"$l# Elder' E'S': 3ay 2od allow it to be so*may 2od allow it to be so* A'E': <eople today are %on"$sed# + wo$ld say very %on"$sed# and a %ontemporary# $ni:$e Orthodo. witness is ne%essary to wa1e them $p' E'S': 0es# + say that# + say it with boldness be%a$se it is a "a%t' &his boo1 is not an intelle%t$al %ontrivan%e# + re"er to a%t$al "a%ts' A'E': +t,s that "r$it o" divine !ra%e' E'S': +t,s "rom this perspe%tive that + was emboldened to write' <erhaps this a$tobio!raphy will help someone "ind the sol$tion to his or her own personal problem' A'E': &his boo1 has also helped $s on the Holy 3o$ntain a !reat deal' E'S': 5Elder Sophrony spea1s# in t$rn# o" the translation o" his boo1 into 3odern 2ree16*b$t they have translated it into the simple lan!$a!e# whi%h %annot e.press s$btle meanin!s' A'E': +t doesn,t properly e.press them# Elder# b$t yo$ need to translate it into 3odern 2ree1 be%a$se yo$n! people don,t 1now An%ient 2ree1' 0o$ need to ma1e an E%onomy#( and !ive the blessin! "or yo$r boo1 to be translated into 3odern 2ree1 as well# be%a$se $n"ort$nately# most yo$n! people,s lan!$a!e s1ills are la%1in! today' E'S': So*i" it,s in a !ood lan!$a!e already# what,s happenin! with it? A'E': +t is in a !ood lan!$a!e# and we want it in this lan!$a!e' ;$t $n"ort$nately# o$r yo$n! people today are not able to $nderstand it' E'S': And this translation %an be made now'

A'E': 0es# it %an be done' E'S': + $nderstand# holy abbot' + wonder# tho$!h# i" many people $nderstand this boo1? A'E': &hey don,t $nderstand it in its "$ll depth# b$t they may not $nderstand it "or another reason# be%a$se o" its lan!$a!e' +n o$r monastery# we have :$ite a "ew yo$n! mon1s' &he yo$n! mon1s don,t 1now 2ree1# even tho$!h they are 2ree1# be%a$se $n"ort$nately in 2ree%e vario$s "a%tors have mana!ed to ad$lterate the 2ree1 lan!$a!e' E'S': )hat +,m tryin! to say is that this boo1# by its very nat$re# be%a$se the providen%e o" 2od lead me to Silo$an# is abo$t spirit$al pra%ti%es o" the very hi!hest 1ind' A deeper# more e.treme "orm o" as%eti%ism does not e.ist' And "rom this# one %an dis%ern that it is "rom 2od' eep yo$r mind in hell and despair not*'( A'E': 0o$r boo1# "t# "ilo,an the Athonite# was the reason that many people %ame to the Holy 3o$ntain to be%ome mon1s' And thro$!ho$t E$rope# the boo1 led many heterodo. to Orthodo.y'

"t# "ilo,an the Athonite /)2334)*520#

E'S': +t %an also help people in >$ssia# be%a$se they have %ompletely lost the as%eti% %$lt$re' Seventy years o" %aptivity* A'E': A n$mber o" >$ssian bishops %ame to /atopedi and told $s that the >$ssians are pio$s# b$t be%a$se o" their perse%$tions they don,t have an inner li"e' E'S': &hey lost as%eti%ism and this %an help' &he >oman Catholi%s# as + have heard "or many years# "rom the time + be!an to do philolo!i%al st$dies and have had %onta%t with them# have said that the Orthodo. Ch$r%h %annot say that it is# the One# Holy# Catholi%# and Apostoli% Ch$r%h'( +t isn,t %atholi%# it,s a part o" them# how %an we e.press it# they 5the Orthodo.6 are ethni% bodies who live with hatred amon! themselves' A'E': Mn"ort$nately# that,s what they say' E'S': And +* and +* A'E': 0o$ prove the opposite# tho$!h' E'S': &welve monasti%s# twelve nationalities' <atriar%h Athena!oras the 4irst $nderstood this idea as well' He had a !reat deal o" e.perien%e# whi%h was why + was bold and as1ed that o$r holy monastery be a dependen%y o" St' <a$l,s 3onastery 5on 3o$nt Athos6' And he# thro$!h the other Athena!oras Io" 7ondonL# said# tell Sophrony to !ive me*to send me a re:$est "or Stavrope!i% stat$s'( A'E': And# that Stavrope!i% stat$s was !ranted so easily# is an indi%ation that 2od wanted this monastery to be established' +t is also very en%o$ra!in! that yo$ are dire%tly %onne%ted to the E%$meni%al <atriar%hate'

E'S': *and "rom my writin!s# as some people have said# it seems that monasti%ism is not h$man# b$t is a %all "rom 2od' And i" some read this boo1# they will say that it is not mon1s who %hoose this path by h$man means# b$t it is a %all "rom 2od' 4rom this perspe%tive# the boo1 may be theolo!i%al# the theolo!y# that is to say# that a%%ompanies the as%eti%ism o" the Orthodo. as%eti%' &his is why the re"eren%es in the boo1 are only made to Holy S%ript$re' And than1 yo$ very m$%h "or yo$r letter re!ardin! the boo1' +,ll tell yo$ why' 4ew people are able to $nderstand this boo1' Even on the Holy 3o$ntain# where Silo$an lived "or nearly hal" a %ent$ry# "ew $nderstood the spirit$al hei!ht o" the Elder' &hey had s$%h "ear*b$t also s$%h boldness "or the love o" 2od9 He did not spea1 openly abo$t his spirit$al %ondition# b$t hid' A'E': &hey didn,t $nderstand him*those who lived alon!side St' Silo$an in the monastery did not $nderstand him# and some spo1e ironi%ally abo$t him' Mn"ort$nately# they did not $nderstand with whom they were dealin!' )hi%h is also why we don,t have his reli%s# yo$ too1 some# tho$!h he was s$%h a !reat Saint' E'S': 3e# sinner that + wasNlost that is to say# he was very bene"i%ent to me*' He was the !reatest !i"t o" divine providen%e that 2od !ave to me* A'E': ;e%a$se He 1new that yo$ wo$ld ma1e !ood $se o" it# that,s why He showed it to yo$' And# h$manly# yo$ are the reason that St' Silo$an,s le!a%y has shone "orth' And he waits "or yo$ in heaven with open arms' E'S': + don,t have him* A'E': &hat,s the way it is* E'S': )hy? )hy don,t + have him? ;e%a$se many have told me that they have prayed to Silo$an and their re:$est was immediately "$l"illed' 3any times Athonites have also e.perien%ed somethin! similar# his :$i%1 response to their prayers s$!!ests to them that he was a Saint' 5One o" the other mon1s "rom Esse. then spea1s6: Elder# may + say somethin!? E'S': Certainly*b$t as1 the holy abbot' 53on16: 0o$r mon1# 4r' Silo$an# was at o$tlo$mo$sio$ the day a"ter the %elebration# d$rin! 3atins# and a tho$!ht %ame into his head# + wonder i" St' Silo$an has the ability to pray "or $s?( And as soon as 4r' Silo$an tho$!ht this# that same moment# 4r' Athanasi$s "rom Simonopetra %ame $p to him and said# 0o$ 1now# 4r' Silo$an# + have a reli% o" St' Silo$an# whi%h is not only "ra!rant# b$t one time it even !$shed myrrh' And 4r' Silo$an replied to him# O2od !ave me the answer almost immediately# be%a$se + was 8$st wonderin! i" St' Silo$an %o$ld hear o$r prayers',( E'S': &he writin! o" his bio!raphy was not a h$man wor1' +t was his own wor1*and when the Ar%hbishop o" Cypr$s ordained o$r beloved spirit$al "ather# 4r' Pa%harias# hierodea%on# he was as1ed to !ive a word' And he prayed to Silo$an' He sat and immediately wrote# what %an + tell yo$? Somethin! that s$persedes h$man meas$re' His answer and aid %ame immediately' A'E': And yo$# Elder# yo$ m$st have had personal e.perien%e with the boldness o" St' Silo$an' E'S': 7et me tell yo$# holy abbot# the story o" this boldness' On the se%ond day o" <as%ha 53onday o" ;ri!ht )ee16# in either 1AJ0 or 1AJ1# an ed$%ated >$ssian hermit mon1# he was an en!ineer# %ame to visit me in my %ell at the 3onastery o" St' <anteleimon,s' 4r' Sophrony# how will we be saved?( + loved this person' He was a very !entle and sweet person# b$t also very %lever' + prepared him a %$p o" tea# !ave it to him# and told him# Stand on the ed!e o" the abyss and when yo$ "eel that it is beyond yo$r stren!th# brea1 o"" and have a %$p o" tea'( &he ne.t day# + ran into Elder Silo$an# with whom + had not yet had personal %onta%t# b$t + %o$ld sense his spirit$al stren!th' And he said to me# )as 4r' /ladimir with yo$ yesterday?( + didn,t answer him# that is# + didn,t say# yes# he was#( rather + said# <erhaps + said somethin! wron!?( Silo$an answered# No# b$t what yo$ told him was beyond his stren!th# beyond his meas$re' Come and let,s tal1'( &hat,s how he %alled me to spea1 with him' And be%a$se o" this phrase# Stand on the ed!e o" the abyss and when yo$ don,t have any more stren!th# rest a little and have a %$p o" tea#( o$r relationship be!an# o$r spirit$al %onne%tion' A"terwards# + went to the Elder and he ta$!ht me re!ardin!# eep yo$r mind in hell and despair not'( A'E': &his is !reat love o" wisdom# Elder' E'S': 2reat love o" wisdom*' And yo$ 1now how + "eel# holy abbot? )hat + s$""er be%a$se o" this? )hat did the 7ord mean with the phrase# eep yo$r mind in hell#( whi%h was "or Silo$an the prono$n%ed removal o" !ra%e "or a whole ho$r be"ore the appearan%e o" Christ? He %learly saw his eternal destr$%tion and a"ter this the 7ord appears witho$t any word# He didn,t say anythin!*"or a moment' And when this happened# witho$t any word# witho$t words# he be!an to pray "or all h$manity and it be%ame a state o" bein!# not a tho$!ht# b$t a state o" bein!' And when the 7ord said# eep yo$r mind#( Silo$an saw Him' &his is why it was only Silo$an who $nderstood the depths o" the word re!ardin! this state' 4or $s sel"-reproa%h is appropriate# b$t not this state' And the %onversation# his tal1 with Christ# was very# how to say it*very brie"' &his is what he said: + see demons'( &he pro$d s$""er "rom this'( ;$t how %an + be%ome h$mble# 7ord?( eep yo$r mind in hell and despair not'(

And then He le"t' A'E': &his is why# Elder# on 3o$nt Athos Elder Silo$an and Elder Qoseph the Hesy%hast are re!arded* E'S': Ah9 He was a soldier o" the spirit' One o" the seven !reatest as%eti%s that + met in my li"e' A'E': *as the %ontemporary Elders who re-introd$%ed# thro$!h their e.periential way o" li"e# the tea%hin! o" St' 2re!ory <alamas to Athonite monasti%ism' E'S': 0es# yes*+ had !one two or three times to Elder Qoseph# who was still at St' ;asil,s' =id yo$ !et to meet him? A'E': + didn,t meet him' + wasn,t "o$nd worthy o" meetin! him' E'S': &his state that Silo$an e.perien%ed is related to the !reat 4athers o" E!ypt 5the desert "athers6' Abba <oimen# when they told him that he wo$ld !o to the heavenly 1in!dom# replied# ;elieve me brothers# where Satan was thrown# that,s where +,m !oin! to be thrown'( A'E': &his is the spirit o" the 4athers* E'S': And Anthony shared the tho$!ht o" the shoema1er o" Ale.andria# Everyone will be saved# and only + will be damned'( &hese are states o" spirit$al str$!!le' A'E': Sel"-reproa%h as a state o" bein!' E'S': >i!ht*as a state' A'E': As a never-endin! state' E'S': 7i1e theolo!y' &heolo!y is the %ontent o" o$r prayers' And an e.ample o" this theolo!y is the 7it$r!y o" St' ;asil the 2reat' &he whole anaphora is theolo!y and is e.pressed thro$!h prayer' ;$t then theolo!y %omes as a state o" bein!' Qohn the &heolo!ian# "rom an a%ademi% point o" view# was not a theolo!ian# he says thin!s simply' His theolo!y# however# is a state o" bein!' )hatever he says be%omes do!ma "or everyone' &he "athers aro$nd $s have !reat devotion "or the Elder and somehow# somehow they $nderstand what he was all abo$t' A'E': Abo$t whom# Elder? E'S': Abo$t Silo$an*he was one o" them' And i" + ta1e those to my ri!ht# or those to my le"t# it,s the same' +n "a%t# this past 3onday + en%o$ra!ed my brethren to des%ribe in a better way the path o" battlin! a!ainst passionate tho$!hts' ;e%a$se one o" the sisters has written a boo1 on the $pbrin!in! o" %hildren and tho$!h what she writes is simple# they are thin!s that don,t %ome into o$r minds' And perhaps it,s ne%essary to des%ribe the way o" battle# "or Silo$an spea1s o" these thin!s# b$t he does not des%ribe how it happens' )hen the 7ord "o$!ht with Satan in the desert# there we have some 1ind o" an interpretation o" the battle' ;$t what +,m tryin! to say is that perhaps people need to learn how they %an battle a!ainst passionate tho$!hts? + dis%$ss this topi% a bit in my boo1 on the Elder* b$t what do yo$ thin1? +n the "irst boo1# + e.plain that every passionate tho$!ht is tied to the earth# with matter# and always ta1es a %ertain "orm# it,s a %ertain type' And i" o$r heart or word does not a%%ept this "orm# the passion stops' ;$t sometimes# in the be!innin!# hand to hand %ombat needs to ta1e pla%e' <eople who don,t $nderstand then as1# ;$t how does this happen?( A'E': 0o$ did very well to analy@e the way this battle wor1s# "or yo$ have written abo$t these thin!s in a %ontemporary manner' E'S': + as1ed my brethren to try to des%ribe it# b$t it,s dan!ero$s "or one to write# do yo$ $nderstand? +t,s not an easy thin!' &his problem needs to be e.pressed in some way' A'E': &his is a very s$btle iss$e# Elder' E'S': Silo$an wo$ld say# o" %o$rse he was witho$t passion# +" a tho$!ht $psets $s# we are "ree to dis%ard this tho$!ht and to "o%$s o$r attention on somethin! else'( He was able to do thisR other people# however# are li1e slaves to passionate tho$!hts' A'E': 3any times# a passionate tho$!ht ma1es o$r li"e a livin! hell' E'S': 0es# and it t$rns o$r whole bein! $pside down* A'E': And it,s at a hi!h pri%e that the 4athers lend $s their wisdom# Elder' E'S': 0es*Silo$an says that we are "ree to "o%$s o$r attention on somethin! else# so that %aptivity to the passionate tho$!ht# "or him# is not a real problem' &he bad tho$!ht %omes and he thin1s o" other thin!s' &heoreti%ally# as Silo$an says# this is simple' +n a%tion# however# and "or $s $ntrained ones# it is very di""i%$lt' &r$ly# the passionate tho$!ht sti%1s and torments# s$%h that the %ombat is as i" "i!htin! hand to hand with Satan' + am very !rate"$l to 2od that He saw me "it to be%ome a mon1 on the Holy 3o$ntain' + was there "or twenty-two years' A'E': And we are very !rate"$l to 2od that we were able to meet yo$ today' 5Elder Sophrony does not answer' Some mon1 as1ed# =id yo$ not hear# or did yo$ not want to hear?(6 E'S': + didn,t hear*' Mn"ort$nately# the )est in this respe%t is $ndeveloped' &hey st$dy theolo!y "rom boo1s' A'E': )ith the intelle%t* E'S': 0es' ;$t the only st$dy that enables $s to sense what 2od is li1e# is the as%eti% li"e a%%ordin! to the %ommandments o" the 2ospel' )hen o$r li"e is lived a%%ordin! to the will o" 2od# then we $nderstand that there %annot be a di""eren%e between the %ommandments and the mind o" 2od Himsel"' )hen we thin1 a%%ordin! to the %ommandments# then o$r mind !ets $sed to thin1in! as 2od Himsel" thin1s' And re!ardin! theosis# they say: b$t what is theosis? )ith

obedien%e to the abbot "rom the be!innin!# one,s will is %$t o""# then in obedien%e to the 2ospel %ommandments one rea%hes this state' )e do small thin!s b$t the res$lts m$st be%ome !reat' &hro$!h obedien%e we enter into the li"e o" divine ;ein!' )e have !ood des%riptions o" this in the writin!s o" St' Ni%odem$s the Athonite' A'E': He was a !reat Saint' St' Ni%odem$s des%ribed the as%eti%# nepti% li"e in detail' E'S': 0es*yo$ 1now that we have the o""i%ial pro%lamation o" Silo$an,s %anoni@ation "ramed# in the same 1ind o" "rame that they $se in the Holy Comm$nity o" the Holy 3o$ntain'

The ,ndergro,nd crypt at the Holy Monastery of "t# $ohn the %aptist, sse&# In the middle is the tomb of lder "ophrony of blessed memory

A'E': )hen the o""i%ial <atriar%hal pro%lamation %ame to the Comm$nity# "or St' Silo$an,s in%l$sion in the o""i%ial list o" Saints o" the Orthodo. Ch$r%h# they sent $s a %opy "or o$r ar%hives# and they sent one to all o" the monasteries o" the Holy 3o$ntain' ;e%a$se the Saint was an Athonite* E'S': And +,m a /atopedinos*and +,m a /atopedinos9 A'E': +diorhythmi%# however' 0o$,re an idiorhythmi% /atopedinos9 E'S': Not idiorhythmi%# be%a$se + was at St' Andrew,s S1ete# whi%h was a %oenobi$m' 5At this point# the "athers be!in to la$!h'6 &hey,re la$!hin!* A'E': &hey,re happy' &hey,re not la$!hin!# Elder# they,re happy9 E'S': 0es# and + love them' &o thin1 and to live the way they do# in the present state o" E$rope# is a !reat thin!' )hile in 2ree%e# the whole atmosphere is "$ll o" "aith# o" theolo!y# o" as%eti%ism' A'E': 2ree%e is also !oin! thro$!h a %risis ri!ht now' &he E$ropean# rationalisti% way o" li"e has been introd$%ed to 2ree%e# and it,s !oin! thro$!h a spirit$al %risis' E'S': )e,ll see' ;e%a$se re%ently# !reat as%eti%s have reposed*no one %an say that 2ree%e is dead' +t is very m$%h alive' A'E': +t is alive# in one sense# b$t it is in dan!er "rom the se%$lar and rationalisti% spirit o" the )est# and we are !reatly distressed' )e are %on%erned "or 2ree%e' E'S': 4air eno$!h# b$t don,t yo$ thin1 we,ll be vi%torio$s? A'E': 0es# we believe that' ;$t yo$ 1now# Elder# we are also %on%erned abo$t the Holy 3o$ntain' E'S': +n what way? A'E': ;e%a$se# yo$ see# the yo$n! mon1s that %ome are $sed to %om"ortable livin! and do not a%%limati@e easily to the as%eti% tradition o" the pla%e' E'S': +" that,s the %ase# then yo$ will arran!e their as%eti%ism a%%ordin! to their %apabilities# in parti%$lar the st$dy o" the past so that they %an be "reed o" their se%$lar ideas# and rather st$dy the lives o" the holy 4athers and the Apostles' 0o$ $nderstand what +,m tryin! to say*i" that is where their tho$!hts are# they will not spend time with the passions' >emember the e.ample "rom the Geronti!on' &here was a !ra%e-"illed as%eti% who had a se%$lar ed$%ation and had been very wealthy' )hen another as%eti% visited him# a person that had been a poor shepherd in the world# he saw the bed o" the !ra%e-"illed as%eti% and how he lived

%om"ortably# and he was s%andali@ed' )hen# however# he learned that in the world he had lived a l$.$rio$s li"e# with !reat wealth# he a%%$sed himsel" and %on"essed that the wealthy man was now livin! as%eti%ally# while he himsel" was livin! %om"ortably' A'E': 0es# yes + remember that story' E'S': )hen + was a spirit$al "ather at Simonopetra# the older mon1s wo$ld %omplain abo$t the yo$n!er mon1s# and the yo$n!er mon1s %omplained abo$t the older mon1s' + wo$ld say to the older mon1s# 4rom where did yo$ re%eive these %hildren?( 4rom the world'( )hat did they learn there? How did they live?( A'E': &hat,s the way it is' E'S': =on,t e.pe%t them to be%ome per"e%t ri!ht away' + have told others# as well# that when they learn thin!s "rom the world# they are livin! in sin' &hey need to "ree themselves thro$!h as%eti%ism' &his is how + tried to ma1e them $nderstand the need "or patien%e' Now# holy abbot# let,s wrap this $p# be%a$se the servi%e will be!in' )e were very !lad that yo$ wanted to %ome# and that + had the %han%e to see my abbot' A'E': 7et it be blessed# Elder' + brin! to yo$ the respe%ts o" my Elder# who as1s that yo$ remember him and pray "or him' 5Another mon1 as1s Elder Sophrony6: =o yo$ remember Elder Qoseph# who %ame here two years a!o? E'S': 0es# yes o" %o$rse*' )e need to "inish# tho$!h*tomorrow we,re %elebratin! the %onse%ration' 0o$ 1now# "or some Saints and !reat tea%hers o" the Ch$r%h# there is no servi%e# b$t "or Silo$an# on the Holy 3o$ntain there are "o$r' A'E': Silo$an is a !reat Saint' E'S': 4or me# + have written abo$t it*"or me he is tr$ly !reat' A'E': 4or yo$# he is the !reatest' E'S': 4or me# he is !reat* A'E': )hi%h Saints have yo$ in%l$ded in the %onse%ration? )hi%h reli%s? 5Another mon1 responds6: )e in%l$ded the two &heodores Ithe martyrsL and the venerable Silo$an' A'E': &hro$!h the prayers o" o$r holy 4ather# 7ord Qes$s Christ o$r 2od# have mer%y on $s' 5All to!ether6: Amen9 A'E': &han1 yo$# Elder' E'S': 2od seldom allows as%eti%s to meet# and that,s the way it happened' &his was pre%isely the reason*now*how did yo$ 1now it? A'E': + didn,t $nderstand yo$r last senten%e' How did + 1now what# Elder? E'S': &hat o$rs wo$ld be a meetin! in the Holy Spirit'