What I've learnt from St Sophrony (Sakharov) of Essex. Monk and Artist - the MONUMENTAL Saint

00:00 FIRST FEAST DAY of St Sophrony of Essex
02:10 Fear of death: from death-inducing curse to Life-giving grace
06:41 When death becomes the criterion. Living with death in one's nostrils
08:47 When you taste a drop of Life...
12:04 Artist and Monk. A MONUMENTAL Saint
16:02 The roots of 'Push yourself to the edge of the abyss...' and 'Keep your mind in hell and despair not'
19:34 The frightening Freedom: to grow from nothingness to Oneness with God
24:58 Moving from idolatry to Christ
29:13 Keep moving and keep open: Crucify the self of today for the Resurrected self of tomorrow
32:57 May Hid blessing pierce our hearts like and arrow!
Remember to S U B S C R I B E and S H A R E !
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Fr Seraphim, from the Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, talks about St Sophrony (Sakharov) of Essex, disciple of St Silouan the Athonite, on the first Feast Day of St Sophrony.
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The T R I P T Y C H of Christ, St Silouan the Athonite and St Sophrony of Essex is available for pre-sale from the Monastery online store: shop.mullmonastery.com/produc...
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U S A Friends can also support the Monastery by cheques made to 'American Friends of the Celtic Saints' - a 501 (c) (3) organisation - and sent to 3736 W County Rd 4, Berthoud, CO 80513. All donors by cheque to the AFCS will receive a tax receipt.

[@alexios769]

I really wish I could visit this monastery at some point in my life.

[@mullmonastery]

May God grant you and us this joy, dear Alex. Happy Feast, dear one.

[@burgervonstadt6503]

Me too. It's on my wish list.

[@mitrahispana4119]

Me too. Greetings, brother in Christ, from south Texas.

[@innocentgreen1338]

What a perfect message for me today / right now. I am praying at this moment for my father who is 84 and is near his death in Missouri. I am in New Mexico but my mother and older sister are with him there. He is a (Protestant) Christian, and they actually have an Orthodox priest with them at this moment per my suggestion. I give Glory to God for the timing of this message. I am glad I saw it and took a moment to listen. I have asked Saint Sophrony to pray for my father. Thank you, Father. 🙏❤️ (My father's name is Oran, if anyone else wants to pray for him right now as well.)

[@innocentgreen1338]

It's simply amazing because I also just read these quotes of Saint Sophrony and "living on the edge" yesterday night. ❤️☦️

[@innocentgreen1338]

Since I posted the above yesterday and this was such a timely and perfect video for me then I thought I would share that my father, Oran Green, reposed last night, July 10th, 2020, at 10:47 MST. He was 84 years old. He went peacefully and my older sister, Gaitha, was by his side. My mom had just left and had told him that she was going on home and that he could, "go on to heaven." He was also blessed by and prayed over by an Orthodox Christian priest, Father Basil. We are mourning him but are so thankful for the hope we have in Christ. May his memory be eternal! 🙏 Thank you again, Father, for your videos and for letting the Spirit guide you and bless us through you! I pray for you daily. ❤️☦️

[@mullmonastery]

May Christ's love cover all his faults and cleanse his soul, so he may rest with the saints. May you also find peace in this sorrow, dear one. Hold on to your faith and do not let go of your hope for salvation: for you and for all mankind.

[@innocentgreen1338]

@@mullmonastery Thank you, Father. I shared that with my mom and siblings. ❤️ And what you shared in this video is true... what I know of God today is so much beyond what I knew yesterday. Yet I know it is rubbish to what I can know tomorrow. ☦️

[@Nonny1112]

@@innocentgreen1338 Memory Eternal!

[@halabouabs6166]

This talented spiritual painter st Sophrony so dear to my heart, i used to call him”grandpa“because when i read his writings (i dare to say) i was amazed by the inner resemblance between us. St Sophrony describes with great precision the depth of the human being ,his weaknesses ,his fears ,his madness ,his passions ,his thirst for God for perfection,his fall and his resurrection .you are right Father ,one can hardly stop when talking about this wonderful Saint. May his blessings be with us.

[@mullmonastery]

I think that is a common feeling among those 'of a common heart' - it does seem strange to think that a saint is using 'your words' or that they are explaining 'your thoughts', but that is how this is experienced. I know what you say, and many others know it too. May we all be blessed.

[@lady7918]

Father Seraphim, you are the first person that I encountered through KZbin 3 years ago, that helped me transition to the orthodox faith. I kept following you to get more and more. You introduced me to St. Sophrony, then St. Silouan, then I ended up with St. Joseph the Hesychast and then Elder Ephraim of Arizona where he resided just 1 1/2 hours away from me. It's been a joyful journey. The first person set's the ground for the daily resurrection and has a huge effect on the soul. I'm so glad I landed on you. Thank you and God bless you 🙏

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless you for the courage and hope you have give me through this message. Most times, we see nothing beyond the work involved in what we do (from these videos to my retreats to the US, our booklets, our podcasts etc) - it makes such a difference to hear that there is some fruit to al of it. Happy Feast, dear one. Please keep me and the Monastery in your prayer.

[@d0g_0f_Christ0s]

Thank you Father Seraphim, at 29:00 the hammer drove the nail home to summarise my Protestant life. My god is not God at all. God (the true God☦) bless & keep you 🙏 Never have i seen or experienced such authentic faith as in the OC. Truly God answers prayer from the heart. I asked Christ where the church He established has gone. It's taken 3 years for me to open my deaf ears, and blow after blow of truth smashing my stone heart. I am both petrified and relieved because I'm 100% convinced, the Orthodox faith is the earthen manifestation of John14v6. Excuse me if I've gone too far with my thumbs, I'm pretty excited this day 1 of great Lent 2023. Thank you again Father Seraphim, thank you for your online presence. If it weren't for men like yourself standing firm in the devil's playground (youtube), I would never have had the necessary exposure to Orthodoxy to warrant challenging my 'from birth' belief structure. Post's like these pluck souls from hell, I don't know how else to put it. Thank you again, again.

[@janetouchedupoujol6344]

Depression. I once heard someone saying that depression has purpose. Depression God causes us to search so much deeper to find the one Truth. God is more than capable to use this dreadful state for our good. He uses it to draw us to Him. I've learned this through this miserable place.

[@ellemnop123]

Father Seraphim, I have listened to this message six times since you posted it, and I look forward to listening to it again. Thank you so much for sharing this life-giving message

[@renafielding945]

Happy Feast! Thank you for this wonderful word.

[@ljiljanasakovic8828]

Sophrony Sakharov was "father" to Klaus Kenneth (writer of "Born to hate reborn to love"). 2012. I beg God to make miracle in honer of St.Nikolas(Klaus) Great. It happened exactly on 19.december ,greater than I could dream..Book from K.Kenneth helped me a lot in that time. Later, I found out that p.Sophrony is my cousin and looked like my father...He helped Klaus to write that book... So many things (connections) are proving God is perfect ... God is with us.

[@LigiaAlexandra]

“Izbăveşte-i, Sofronie, pe cei ce îţi cântă, de lupta gândului, pomenirea lui Iisus dând lor, care mijloceşte pace tainică.” Praznic cu bucurie, Parinte, pentru rugaciunile Sfantului Sofronie!

[@mullmonastery]

Un Praznic cu bucurie sa ne dea Domnul tuturor

[@miriam4091]

Our journey is an ongoing search which slowly becomes lighter as we grow and become closer to God. In the meantime, He will permit us to have the heavier moments to teach us and polish our souls. I can picture our soul like a tiny white snowball going down a very steep hill and at that time it gains more speed sometimes bumping into twigs and stones, but also taking on more snow transforming it until it becomes immensely large and full (of the spirit or Heaven.) I believe from something I experienced several years ago, that when we feel as if our soul is overtaken by loss and emptiness, there is a tiny dark space which we must cross to meet God and when we call out for Him, He comes and replaces all the emptiness and loss with His love and newness of life. Thankyou Fr Seraphim for this beautiful reminder of things I have not thought about for a while which were very meaningful to me. God bless from Canada!

[@nicolaxx8113]

What a lovely comment Margaret!

[@lauragolub4228]

Очень удачный портрет старца Софрония ❤

[@dianechampagne7539]

I woke today in complete despair. My 8th round of covid I felt battered in all ways possible. Thank you so much for this incredibly pertinent message

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Diane, I am so sorry for your struggle. Keep strong, keep looking forward and do not let go of your hope. Even when it seems like all is lost here, remember that Christ is All, and that He is never far away from your heart. May you be blessed, dear one.

[@cpucilowski]

For Diane, I’ve spent years (off and on) in utter despair, but, through it, I began to notice the Lord encouraging me with clouds! I’d look up at the clouds and notice that they were ever changing. No matter how spectacular, or how subtle and plain, there was a beauty to them. They were there by God’s hand. I desperately wanted my life to change, and I would cry out from a very deep place in my being, and I had to FORCE myself to believe no mater how painful my life felt ... it could morph into something beautiful because God held me with more love than He held the clouds! I’m sorry for your suffering! Look for the good work being done in your life and don’t give up! ❤️

[@iglesiaortodoxaenvivo3373]

Bless the work that you are doing father, we have also been moving to all of these mediums, believe me i will pray for you, please pray for us also, greetings from Santisma Virgen Maria Church from Chile, for me at least you are a great source of knowledge, thank you father for this.

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless us all. We are blessed to have people praying for us, and we know that this common prayer for each other gives us the strength to keep going forward.

[@maryannguidry3431]

Thanks so much for your time and help in this great news All.about.st.sophrony...pray.for.us..and.praying.foryou.father..!!!.

[@mullmonastery]

May St Sophrony intercede for us all, dear Maryann. Have a blessed Feast!

[@janeself9827]

This is the most profound sermon I have ever heard. I cannot convey how deeply it affected me. Thank you for helping all of us listening to your channel. Deeply grateful.v☦️

[@joshuawebb5891]

Thank you for another well spoken video Father . As someone who suffers from pervasive depression, I can find hope and solidarity in Saint Sophrony' s experience.

[@adrianthomas1473]

Beautiful words and what I needed to hear - thank you my brother.

[@mullmonastery]

Thank God for all good things, dear Adrian. We are grateful to Him for using us in some small way in His work of salvation. Happy Feast, dear one.

[@elioftheforest]

Father my heart is unable to contain the joy that I felt when I saw the thumbnail and title of this video. He is close to my heart and will continue to help me throughout my life. Anxiety and dark night of the soul plague me unless I keep him close

[@elioftheforest]

I bought Fr Nikolai Sakharov’s book a few days ago and I have been reading his spiritual autobiography slowly since the beginning of the year

[@mullmonastery]

May he always protect us, dear Elijah. He Amy at times withdraw, just for a little while, so we try to stand on our own feet, but that does not mean he has stopped praying for us. Have a blessed Feast, dear one.

[@mkeenan1955]

Thank you Father. As a Catholic in my exploration of the Orthodox tradition I am continually amazed. I hope you will talk again about St. Sophrony. I have been reading one of his books, His Life is Mine. I am intrigued by this perfect balance you spoke of between St. Sophrony's outlook on life as an artist and his life as a monastic, and the tension of being on the cross. Reaching the edge of the abyss, the chasm, and stopping to have a cup of tea is a most astonishing image and metaphor of what you are relaying to me. I hope you will talk more about this. I hear echoes of existential philosophy in what you say, this Being and Nothingness. I wait for more of your enlightening words.

[@maxinehall572]

What an amazing testimony for the beloved Saint Sophrony. As ever, deep thanks for your thought provoking and meaningful words. May God bless all your endeavours dear Fr Seraphim, all those around you and involved all in the Monestery. Amen 🙏

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Maxine, that is such a beautiful and generous good wish - thank you, and may God bless you for your kindness. Happy Feast, dear one.

[@vickykentrota9031]

Such deep ,heartfelt words, piercing my heart into a life giving meaning 🙏🙏Thank you so much Fr Seraphim.A most beloved saint, st.Sophrony,i have also heard a very rare recording where St Sophrony spoke in perfect Greek!!

[@mullmonastery]

A Blessed Feast, dear one. St Sophrony did speak perfect Greek - he learnt is as an obedience and he used all the time he was on the Holy Mountain. There are also recordings of the talks he gave to the community in the last years of his life - he speaks in such a gentle voice, it is a blessing just to hear him.

[@patriciah3235]

Thank you, Father, for sharing your understanding of St. Sophrony. There is more depth than I can grasp at once. I returned to his book "We Shall See Him As He Is" for closer reading. In my daily prayers, in Christ.

[@mullmonastery]

Thank you so much for your kind words and (especially) for your prayers, dear one. A blessed Feast, dear one!

[@Owl365]

Thank you, Father. I found this really helpful. Thank you for your intercessions. It was really nice to listen. 🙂

[@mullmonastery]

Glory be to God. I recorded about twice as much, but I had to shorten it. My heart is so full when I talk about St Sophrony. Happy Feast, dear one.

[@jameskosch4052]

Yes, Amen, and thank you. A blessed feast to all.

[@mullmonastery]

Happy Feast, dear James!

[@SilouanSea]

Thank you, Father. You really captured a lot of my own experience with St. Sophrony, also. It is so difficult to express this experience of encounter with both Saints Sophrony and Silouan through their writings (and also prayers). Especially when you said that you would just pick up St. Sophrony's books to read them in order to experience grace from the words of the saint. I have had the same experience. It's a reading experience unlike any other. I'm not sure I can even really summarize or convey what I've read, not because I don't understand what he's written, but because it's more like having been in the presence of someone than having merely read a book. The words seem light-bearing on their own. Is it that the words somehow convey that about which they are speaking? I believe St. Sophrony said that St. Silouan's words had the same effect upon people. I wonder, can the words of a saint be considered a part of his or her reliquary, so like the body still bears the Spirit, so the words of the reposed saint? This is something I think I will listen to many more times, for there is much, much more here to meditate upon and to put into practice. Thank you again for sharing your own heart here.

[@iulianadragoi7914]

I am speechless, Father Seraphim... but as I have been listening toi you I could see my nothingness becoming holiness for a moment... Thank you so much for taking your heart out from your chest and sharing it with us... I really do not know anyone doing it for us... May God keep you close to His heart! This is the only way for some of us to get closer to Him... Thank you, Father!

[@ABPLJ]

If you are fortunate enough to grow old, you will understand this.

[@remahunt4277]

I too Dear Father suffered with this affliction of fear. It seems looking back it was almost demonic. When I learned to love Christ with every morsel of my being it went away, this fear. I guess I trusted Him with when and what from my death would be, and like a child giving her fear to her "daddy" she just forgot. What a wonderful release that was. I am so thankful to him.

[@alexsykakis7543]

Thank you very much for your beautiful, positive and full of hope teachings. I cannot wait for the summer so I can visit the monastery. God bless you

[@VeganVerse]

Happy Feast Day!

[@mullmonastery]

Happy feast, dear one!

[@lauragolub4228]

Who created those beautiful icons?

[@miriamnelson305]

Thank you Father for reminding me of St. Sophrony's outlook as an artist (I am an artist/singer). It is helping me understand my struggle in the pandemic and the different outlook on the world both as an out of work artist and an Orthodox Christian and find solace in that he understood this inner war so profoundly. What a helpful reminder to allow who I am today to be thankful but aware of needed growth simtaneously. His writing gives direction and time for tea as we battle in this season, and God willing the rest of our lives. It has been easy to feel that the days are "wasted" that I am stagnating and also not using the opportunity because my heart lacks courage to embrace Christ fully. This helped me remember to not despair: that I will be in process in my understanding and my search for courage and knowledge of God moment to moment and day by day. To embrace that these feelings that have been so strong recently, my sense that my identity and understanding is always moving are expected: that we move from "nothingness" to "everything" in potential for tomorrow while honoring today as best we can. Much to think on. Much to learn. In Christ, Miriam

[@maertensjohannes3334]

Thank you father, I need to listen en re-listen to this insightful message.

[@maryannguidry3431]

My wish also is that I could one day visit I so glad I found out about it and that I will be able to make it to the.beatiful.inland, God bless you father.serphim.!!!!!

[@elizabethshaw734]

For my entire life I always felt like nothing and I still do. I have been called a snob and other names. I tell people I am the farthest thing away from that I am a slug on the ground. Even though I've had an interesting and wonderful life at times I still am one of the most humble people that I could think of because that is how I describe myself as a slug on the ground.

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Fr, Thank you so much for your Very clear & descriptive teaching on This subject! I too have had some fear of death.

[@MilTacticsandStuff]

20:10: excellent view on receiving knowledge from God.

[@adriancic1993]

Wonderful, thank you very much for your effort, may God grant strength for more!

[@mullmonastery]

Thank you for your good wishes, dear one. Happy Feast!

[@ivangalperin7600]

Thank you, Fr. Seraphim, for this extensive, thorough video. I am grateful for the helpful reminders about and interpretation of what St. Sophrony taught. I have read only one book he wrote, but it was very useful. I plan to read more of his books over time, especially his final autobiography. I enjoy St. Sophrony's sense of humor about existential issues and the tragedies of modern life. I also relate personally to his experience of how creativity without God is futile, so prayer, fasting, almsgiving, etc. become the main forms of creativity in a Christian's life, rather than one's vocation. I really liked your spoken poetry about dying to ourselves and learning about who we are and Who God is as we go along. It is important to not stagnate with fear of or reluctance to change, as Elder Aimilianos taught. And you explain very well how to continue to change throughout one's life. I enjoy your pastoral videos a lot.

[@uofc57]

Father, will you please speak in a future video about how Hagia Sophia is going to be used as a mosque again? I feel very confused and sad about it. In Christ, Meg from Indiana

[@elenastreang4896]

🙏❤🙏

[@kayf1986]

Please Father, can you name the Saint you began this video with? I couldn’t make it out, and your description sounded like this Saint is someone I need to pray with. Am overjoyed to ‘share’ in the celebration today for Saint Sophrony. Thank you!

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Kay, his name is Drostan - he is an AMAZING Saint and we have three different icons of him on our monastery site (shop.mullmonastery.com/product-category/mounted-icons/) - I think we included more information about his life, too. May he enter your life and heal what you feel needs to be healed. Happy Feast, dear one.

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

So father how do we benefit his teachings as well??? Do you sell his books in your book store???

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Fr. How do I get a book on St. Sophrony's life ?

[@jasamja6480]

Can anyone tell me when father Sophrony was canonised? I wasn't aware of that till now... Thank you and greetings from Serbia 😊

[@mamat7013]

I think about my judgement every day. That's what I fear. I fear God's judgement. Not the physical act of dying. Is that normal? Should we live in the state of fear of God's judgement or should we have peace. That's where I have no peace. Sometimes when I wake in the night It is really strong maybe from a dream or I know not why. My life for so long was lived in mortal sin. I feel like there isn't time enough left in my life, I'm 52, to do enough penance. Does it even work that way? Sometimes I feel this pull of love and trust and that it's all going to be alright. I'm afraid of Purgatory. Of being separated from God even more profoundly than I have been here. After all this darkness and self sabotage and sadness that I might get to see Him whom my whole being longs for for just a minute. long enough to be judged and know how bad I really was and then have to be separated from Him because when I think of that I feel terror and panicky and kind of hopeless. My whole being says NOOOOOOO. I just want to be with HIM. I started to climb up the narrow path only about 11 years ago and I feel like I'm just getting started. I pray for an illumination of conscience so maybe just maybe I can understand how to crucify this life so when I die I can be with Him when I die.

[@wannabe8487]

Father, can you direct me?.... My mother is a narcissist. Thank you.

[@ninasaabiyeh926]

Are saint Sophrony's books available in English as PDF files? Can anyone share them with us, please? In my country, we can't buy them, neither as a hard copy, nor as a soft copy

[@williamhecht984]

Maybe not entire books, but parts can be searched and found: ex. www.orthodoxprayer.org/Articles_files/Sophrony-On%20Prayer.pdf

[@williamhecht984]

Another: www.pravmir.com/aphorisms-elder-sophrony-sakharov/

[@Dimi3James]

Is his feast day July 10 or 11?

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

July 11

[@mullmonastery]

11th, indeed. Forgive me for not replying sooner. Have a beautiful and blessed Feast, dear one.

[@elizabethshaw734]

Are we talkin about Essex England?

[@nikola9348]

Yes, indeed, the monastery is in Tolleshunt Knights

[@tatianatixonova3101]

А по русски???