In Search of True Wisdom: Visits to Eastern Spiritual Fathers

In Search of True Wisdom: Visits to Eastern Spiritual Fathers, by Sergius Bolshakoff and M. Basil Pennington, OCSO

Introduction:
Christian spiritual tradition has a basic core and an essential body of truths and mores, that even the major rifts between the West and the East in the Eastern schism of 1054, has not changed radically the common understanding of God and prayer between them. Though the East has separated from the Catholic West because of a theological dispute in the role of the Holy Spirit, the Orthodox Church in the East

In Search of True Wisdom by Sergius Bolshakoff

which grew and developed since that schism continued in its spiritual traditions that have remained mostly unchanged due to the monks who preserved the religious practices associated with it. A book that can be read in relation to this spirituality is "In Search of True Wisdom: Visits to Eastern Spiritual Fathers" by Sergius Bolshakoff. The author, Bro. Sergius, writes this book and speaks of his experiences of learning the spiritual wisdom of the Eastern fathers and monks.

Bro. Sergius Bolshakoff
As a young man in 1919, Sergius did not want to do anything with the Bolsheviks. He settled in Estonia to pursue an education to be an engineer. It was while he was in this state that he discovered about Russian Catholics and their communities outside Russia. An inspiration led him to conceive a work for the unity of these Russian Christians in the face of the Bolsheviks. Seeking advice, he was told to get steeped first in his own Orthodox tradition. He thus began to pursue theological studies at Pskovo-Petchersky Monastery. The situation at that monastery led him also to live in the West, at the newly established Latin-Byzantine Benedictine Monastery at Amay - today's Chevtogne.

Over the course of years, Sergius became convinced that his life is to be spent in the cause of Church unity. Christians of East and West, especially monks, needed to share in each other's community's life and search for God, the source of all unity. And so, in England, on December 27, 1928, in the Anglican Benedictine Monastery of Nashdown, Bro. Sergius made a lifetime commitment [in the hands of the Orthodox Bishop of Berlin, Tikhon Ljoshenko] to seek perfection according to the Rule of Saint Benedict as a lay oblate and to work for Christian unity.

This profession was quite extraordinary, since it was the first time an Orthodox had committed himself to the Rule of the Patriarch of Western monasticism since the Benedictine monasteries on Mount Athos died out, in the thirteenth century.

A travelogue of interviews with wise and holy monks
Bro. Sergius' lifetime commitment led him in a road untravelled - one wherein he would visit the old monasteries in the East, particularly within and around Russia - listening and learning from the old and holy monks about a spirituality that is rooted in the classic and sound traditions of Orthodoxy. This book is very interesting: both in the personages that are featured [the old holy monks], and in the spiritual teaching they impart from both learning and experience.

One great teaching these monks commonly share about is the "Jesus Prayer", a prayer that can be used as a mantra in one's meditation or prayers. The prayer goes like this:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

In one of his interviews with these holy monks, he learned that the "Jesus Prayer" is the bounden duty of all Orthodox, which they must not neglect. They also add that the prayer must not only be prayed externally but also in unity with its being prayed within us - in our mind, heart and soul.

Bro. Sergius is taught how to begin the practice of this Prayer of Jesus:

we must first lead a wise and abstentious life, avoiding all luxuries and all carnal pleasure
we must watch over our sight, hearing, and other senses and limit our speech to the needful
we must also learn to live in a true solitude: the ascesis of solitude of the heart and a true seclusion while still living in the world
we must master our passions
we must do penance and have a true sorrow for our sins
we must have deep humility, humble wisdom, setting our neighbor's good before our own, evangelical love of our neighbor, desire to be unknown and to leave behind worldly vanity

The book is truly a treasure of the great spiritual teachings of the Eastern saints - often very contemplative and who have led lives of intense prayer and solitude. Whatever our state of life, their teachings are so basic and so essential to being a Christian, that following their counsels can set us on a journey to holiness in whatever state of life or vocation we are presently in. For an idea of what the book contains, the following list enumerates the travels Bro. Sergius made and the holy persons whom he had the privilege to interview about Eastern Orthodox spirituality:

At the Lavra of Saint Alexander Nevsky: Father Sergius
In the Tradition of Bishop Ignatius: Hierodeacon Isaya Bobinin
Father Theophan and the Pskovo-Petchersky Monastery
Hieromonk Dorofey of Konevitsa: The First Steps on the Spiritual Journey
In the Far North: Hieromonk John of Petchenga
Hegumen John, Exiled from Solitude
The Tradition of Valaam: Hieroschimonk Luke
The Recluse of Uusi Valamo: Hieroschimonk Michael
Archimandrite Ilian, Hegumen of Aghios Panteleimonos
A Good Monk at Dionysiou: Father Euthemios
A Monk in Exile: Father Tikhon Voinov
The Young Elder: Archimandrite Aimilianos
Stavronkikita: Father Paisios and Archimandrite Vasileios
Archimandrite Sophrony: Disciple of Father Silouan
Mount Athos in Boston: Archimandrite Panteleimon
A Noble Spiritual Mother: Mother Alexandra

As regards the Russian Orthodox terms which are particular to Orthodox spiritual tradition, there is a glossary at the back of the book which defines and describes the meaning of these terms. There is also a map of the Russian mainland to help locate certain places where the mentioned monasteries are built. The book is not only spiritually enriching, but is also entertaining since it gives vivid imagery of the Russian countryside, the freshness and tranquillity of the Finnish lakes, the vastness of the forests, the giant conifers and many more.

If you wish to search for items
that you find in this web site
you can use our associate and
affiliate logos at our old homepage
or make a search at Google

For additional ideas on what
books to see and browse, you
may check our Affiliate Product
Catalog or use Google's Book Search