Theophanes the Recluse

THEOPHANES THE RECLUSE. - Bishop (secular name Georgy Govorov), one of the most celebrated and influential Russian spiritual writers and moralists of the 19th century. Born in central Russia in 1815, died in the Vyshensky Hermitage in 1894.

He pursued his studies in the Seminary and then in the Ecclesiastical Academy of Kiev. Having become a monk, he was professor of philosophy and of moral theology, rector of the Seminary of Olonets and of the Ecclesiastical Academy of St. Petersburg. In 1847 he took part in a mission sent to the Balkan East for the study of the "Orthodox" Church; he remained there 7 years, during which he learned Greek and all the monastic and ethical traditions of the Greek Church. In 1859 he was consecrated bishop of Tambov and then transferred to the see of Vladimir, until in 1866 he withdrew to monastic life and devoted himself to the apostolate of the pen at the Vyshenskaya Pustyn. From 1872 he shut himself up in a double cell of great poverty, in which he celebrated Mass every day, and in his moments of leisure painted icons. T. translated the Philokalia into Russian, considerably enlarging it (5 vols.), and compiled a great work on the Rules of St. Pachomius, St. Basil, St. Benedict and Cassian. He also wrote several books of commentary on the letters of St. Paul. His works of spiritual direction have been partly published in 10 vols.

Giovanni Kologriov