Română
In this audio recording, St. Sophrony the Athonite (+July 11, 1993) recounts one of his conversations with St. Silouan the Athonite (+September 24) about a deeper meaning of prayer and the unity of human race. These reflections offer insight into the spiritual life of monks on Mount Athos, the Great Schema and the prayer for all of Adam.
Essex Monastery, February 17, 1992
English translation adapted after the Romanian version of Fr. Rafail Noica, Cuvantari Duhovnicesti I (23).
St. Sophrony:
When Father Silouan was still young, he became seriously ill and, expecting his death, asked Igumen Misail for a blessing to take the great schema (a higher monastic rank). Igumen Misail, this wonderful man, said to him, “God will bless you to take the schema, but you will not die soon,” and told him what would happen to him, though I don’t remember the exact details now. But when the year 1938 began, Silouan said, “According to the words of the Igumen, my death should come this year.”
Not long before this, I had asked for a blessing from the Igumen, the same holy and wonderful man, Misail, to allow me to use a kalyve (a small monastic dwelling). In fact, it was a well built house for elderly people who wanted to finish their lives on Mount Athos. It was located about a fifteen-minute walk south of the monastery, in the direction of Daphne, the port of the Holy Mountain. And I would go there when I was free from church services. (We were two deacons in the monastery. When it was necessary to attend all the services, there was little free time, but when I was free from my turn, I spent more time there.)
My life at this kalyva was difficult. I was younger than most of the fathers. Life in such a kalyva was considered by many to be a great privilege. But, as you know from my book, God granted me contrition for my sins, despair for myself, and long and abundant weeping.
There were many conversations there that I would like to share with you.
Once, [St.] Silouan asked me:
“Is it comfortable for you to pray in this kalyva?”
I replied:
“Yes, it is good. At times, it seems to me that I forget the world. But I remember my body.”
I was surprised by my father Silouan’s reaction:
“And the body—what is the body? Is it not the world?”
I stood before this wonderful phenomenon, and this comparison came to me: I am at the foot of a great mountain, the peak of which is hidden in the clouds. These words, “And what is the body, if not the world?” stirred a thought within me. But I did not tire him with questions; I received his words in the hope that the moment would come when God would grant me the understanding of their true meaning.
In his consciousness, through prayer for the entire Adam, Father [St.] Silouan came to understand that our body unites us—all of humanity—into one single Adam.
Our conversations, which the Lord granted me, were always filled with my amazement at my elder: how he became truly a living person, a truly authentic Christian!
