Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov remains a true conductor of Orthodoxy even after his death through his literary works, which still carry a saving light into the dark souls of people. His books have been translated into different languages of the world. The most familiar for the Russian reader is "Elder Siluan Athos". Among the other most famous creations of Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov are the works “On Prayer” and “Seeing God as He Is”. By the way, he built the last of these books in the form of a confession of his whole life, in it he tells all the most important things related to the knowledge of God.
In World War I, he was the chief officer of the engineering forces, then became a talented artist of the Academy of Fine Arts of Paris, who survived two interrogations and arrests of the Cheka and Lubyanka. He became a monk, tied up on Mount Athos and founded the Monastery of John the Baptist in Great Britain.
Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov - biography
He was born in Moscow on September 22, 1896 in an Orthodox landowner enlightened family. In the world, Sergei Semenovich Sakharov from childhood loved to read Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Gogol. His nanny Catherine often took him to church, as she herself was a devout man. And little Sergei often sat there at her feet. Thus, he also had a need to pray. From early childhood, Sergei was a weak and sick boy, but after walking with his nanny and praying for recovery, he began to gradually recover.
Youth
Sergey was fond of prayer until his youthful age, but then he began to be attracted to painting, because he really showed a remarkable talent for this art.
During this period, he also begins to get involved in mystical literature, which did not alienate him from Orthodox Christianity. In 1915, the young man entered the Moscow Academy of Arts, where he studied for two years.
In 1918, he was arrested twice by the organs of the Cheka. After the revolution and lawlessness that began in Russia, he emigrated to Italy, then to Berlin and Paris.
Abroad, his artwork was appreciated and immediately began to be invited to major exhibitions. But his soul rushed to God.
In 1924, on Easter, he experienced the gracious vision of the Uncreated Light. From that moment on, he could not live an ordinary worldly life and decided to devote himself to God.
Dedication to god
Now he felt his need to go to the monastery, where people pray day and night to God.
First, he goes to Yugoslavia, and from there he makes his way to Athos and takes monastic tonsure in a Russian monastery in the name of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon.
In 1930, God made him acquaintance with the famous old man Siluan of Athos, later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. It is he who becomes his spiritual father, who gives him many wise answers and instructions that have worried him all past years. Communication with the old man became for the monk Sophronius a real foundation for all his further spiritual life.
Ordination
His ordination occurred on April 30, 1932. In 1935, Hierodeacon Sofronia began to suffer a serious illness, and he was on the verge of death. Many of his brothers were convinced that he did not have long to live in this world. But God had completely different plans for him. By His great mercy and thanks to the prayers of the Monk Silvanus, Father Sofronius lived a long life.
September 24, 1938 there was a sad event for the entire monastic fraternity and spiritual children - the old man Silouan went to the Lord. But before his death, he handed over his notes to his disciple, father Sofronius, which became the main material for the print publication “Elder Silouan”.
Desolation and the path of fate
At the same time, he writes the first part of a book about the life of the old man Siluan. With the blessing of the abbot, he condemns himself to desertification and strives in the Karul and other Athos monasteries.
In February 1941, he was ordained a hieromonk. And on Athos, he begins his ministry as the confessor of the monastery of St. Paul.
After the war with Athos, for political reasons, they expelled all Russian monks. In 1947, Hieromonk Sofrony moved to France, where he began his ministry in Saint Genevieve de Bois as a priest in the Holy Assumption Cemetery Church. A year later, he publishes 500 copies of the first so-called manual edition of the book "Elder Silouan."
In 1957, the first typographic edition of this book was published in Paris. After a few more years, the first edition of this literary work (shortened) in English is published.
Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov gradually begins to surround spiritual children and students who are preparing for monastic life. Having been blessed by the church hierarchy, in 1956 he created a monastic community on the farm of Colard in France. At the same time, he did not leave thoughts about creating an Orthodox monastery monastery in which he could in practice realize the commandments of the Monk Silvanus. But so far it remains only in design, no possibilities were foreseen. But then in November 1958, he, along with some of his spiritual children, moved to the UK to the county of Essex, where he acquired an estate that eventually transformed into the monastery of St. John the Baptist.
Monastery Formation
The monastery, founded by Father Sofroniy, became one of the most revered in the UK. Orthodox people from all over the world from Japan to Canada began to gather there to receive spiritual enrichment from the Monk Siluan.
In this monastery all the last years of Father Sophronius will pass, who at first was his rector and then his revered old man.
Heritage
At the Essex monastery, Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov departed to the Lord on July 11, 1993. He lived a long fruitful life, which contained the most difficult years of the 20th century with its tragedies, scientific and technical achievements. He lived with dignity 97 years. The process of canonization of the elder Sophronius is already in full swing.
Now thousands of people, reading his books, gain faith. In his sayings, Archimandrite Sofroniy Sakharov spoke out that, as a person lives, then the external circumstances of his life take shape. This is due to internal errors, correcting which, you can change your life for the better. He also wrote that before doing any work, one must wait until the Lord gives strength. If God expects something from us, then He gives the energy and grace necessary for fulfillment.
It is very wisely noticed by his words that life without Christ is tasteless, sad and hopeless.