“Lovest thou me.?!.”Saint Sophrony the Athonite.

The Old Rectory

 20th September 1977

 

 

      

         

Saint Sophrony the Athonite.

You say that you are getting old. So what can I say? I am 81 ! Incredible, but still a fact. In no way can I understand this strange situation. So many times I have been really seri­ously ill. So ill that those around me never supposed that I would recover and get up. So many times I was in danger in the mountains, in the desert, on journeys, in stormy weather at sea, and also from many tribulations and spiritual wounds, which perhaps no one can escape in our time. And what a wonder! I pray that you too will remain longer among the liv­ing. 'Old age is no joy', they used to say at one time, but still it can be a period of exceptional importance. On the one hand, it can make possible many deep experiences, and on the other, it can be a preparation, full of both fear and exultation, for our departure from here: from temporal things to things im­mutable and eternal.

You tell me off in your letter for my ideas, which you are familiar with   ![1] But surely it is impossible to avoid discussions on the level where your opponents stand. And when there are no opponents, everything comes down to the few words: 'Lovest thou me? Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee' . )John 21:15( In this lies the meaning of everything, all wisdom, Uncreated Light, the furthermost bounds of theology, the fi­nality of knowledge, everlasting life - in a word, everything. As for you, you possess all this, and no one will take this joy from you. So you mustn't reprove me for a discussion which includes elements of disagreement with those who think otherwise.

'And despair not. '[2] Despair can take the most varied forms. Some of them are very positive, others destructive. It is necessary to go through despair so as to deepen our under­standing of being in general and of our being in particular. Otherwise we are forever stuck on the surface. Life does not become simple all at once, but after many sufferings. But, I re­peat, everything comes down to something brief: 'Our Father'.

You ask me to pray for a young boy whom I don't know.[3]Who is he? As you know, there are unfortunately so many such cases spread all over the world. It has become im­possible for parents to manage the upbringing of their children in the way they would like to. In the schools the children fall under all kinds of unhealthy moral influences, and it is des­perately difficult to counteract these influences. 

 

 

 

 

Reference:

Letters to his family. Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov). Essex 2015.

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[1] . Fr Sophrony is responding to what Maria wrote to him on 14th September 1977: 'So, you have begun to write a book, which in my view will be very much needed by very many people. These very many people will be grateful to you for the help which they will get from this book. What is written for a select few is not suited to everyone. It is fearsome to read. One can get lost or even come to despair from these dizzying spiritual heights, which belong to the elect, and which many can never reach. And those who understand this need "first aid", so - write the book soon and may God give you strength to bring the project to com­pletion.' Fr Sophrony was working on texts later published under the title We Shall See Him as He Is.

 

[2] An allusion to the Lord's words to St Silouan: 'Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.'

 

[3] Maria in her letter of 14th September 1977 asks prayers for a certain Igor, who had fallen 'under the influence of street lads who are doing their best to lead him astray. His mother and grandmother are in despair over him.'