TEOFANE il RECLUSO. - Bishop (in the world Giorgio Govorof), 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 hermitage of Vichensk in 1894.
He pursued his studies at the Seminary and then at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Kiev. Having become a monk, he was professor of philosophy and morals, rector of the Seminary of Olonetz and of the Ecclesiastical Academy of Pietroburgo. In 1847 he took part in a mission sent to the Balkan East for the study of the “Orthodox” Church; he remained there for seven 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 in the Viscenschaja Pustynj. From 1872 he shut himself up in a double cell of great poverty, where he celebrated Mass every day, and in his leisure hours painted icons. T. translated the Filicacia into Russian, enlarging it considerably (5 vols.), and compiled a major work on the Rules of St. Pacomio, St. Basilio, St. Benedetto, and Cassiano. He also wrote several books of commentaries on the letters of St. Paolo. His works of spiritual direction have been partly published in 10 vols.