Concept
Theophan the Recluse
Overview
Theophan the Recluse (Russian: Феофан Затворник, romanized: Feofan Zatvornik), also known as Theophanes the Recluse or the Enlightener Theophan the Recluse of Vysha (Russian: святитель Феофан Затворник Вышенский; January 10, 1815 – January 6, 1894), was a Russian Orthodox bishop and theologian, recognized as a saint in 1988. Born as Georgy Vasilievich Govorov, he became a monk in 1841, taking the name Theophan.
He is best known through the books and letters he wrote concerning 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. In his works, a persistent theme was developing an interior life of continuous prayer and learning to "pray without ceasing" as St. Paul teaches in his first letter to the Thessalonians.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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Good (agathon) is the name which is given to the admirable (agasto) in nature; for, although all things move, still there are degrees of motion; some are swifter, some slower; but there are some things which are admirable for their swiftness, and this admirable part of nature is called agathon. Dikaiosune (justice) is clearly dikaiou sunesis (understanding of the just); but the actual word dikaion is more difficult…
Plato, Cratylus
States what Theophan the Recluse is.
Siberia, as far as China, was in a state of idolatry; and, in some of the provinces, they were utter strangers to all kind of religion. Perry, the engineer, and baron Strahlemberg, who both resided so many years in Russia, tell us, that they found more sincerity and probity among the Pagans than the other inhabitants; not that paganism made them more virtuous, but their manner of living, which, was that of the…
Voltaire, The History of Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia
States what Theophan the Recluse is.
The Roman Catholics have expiations which are called "penitences." By the laws of the barbarians who destroyed the Roman Empire, crimes were expiated with money. That was called _compounding_, _componat cum decem, viginti, triginta solidis_.
Voltaire, Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary
States what Theophan the Recluse is.
Related ideas
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- French language
- Greek language
- Hebrew language
- Latin
- Russian Empire
- Paul the Apostle
- Spirituality
- Saint
- Church Fathers
- Western Europe
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Iconography
- Pope Pius IX
- Canon law
- Arabic
- Kiev Theological Academy
Place in the tradition
Part of Mysticism.