Athose püha Siluan

Postimees Book Publishing House has released in Estonian the book Athose püha Siluan (Saint Silouan the Athonite), written by Saint Sophrony. We invite everyone to the presentation of this long-awaited Estonian translation of a book that has been published in many languages.

Written and compiled by Saint Sophrony (Sakharov) the Athonite, Saint Silouan the Athonite is one of the most remarkable works of contemporary spiritual literature. The book unveils the profound teachings of Saint Silouan, one of the most important Church Fathers of the Eastern Church in the 20th century. Archimandrite Sophrony (1896–1993), the author of the book, led a notably diverse and eventful life. As a young man he entered the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on Mount Athos, where Saint Silouan became his spiritual elder. After the elder’s death, his valuable notes were entrusted to Saint Sophrony, who came to regard the publication of his teacher’s writings as the calling of his life. The book was first published in France in the late 1940s.

Saint Silouan (1866–1938), who was canonized in 1987, lived a seemingly uneventful life. He spent over four decades in rigorous ascetic practice at the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, dedicating himself wholly to prayer and labor. Yet the impact of his teaching has been immense and endures to this day. Among those deeply moved by him were Arvo Pärt and his wife, Nora Pärt, who discovered his book in the 1970s, when spiritual literature circulated secretly in Estonia. “Later, in emigration, to our great surprise and joy, we became acquainted with the book’s author, Elder Sophrony, at the monastery he had founded in Essex, England. We remained in contact with him for 13 years, until his passing. Both the book and our encounters with the elder have shaped our entire lives and inspired several of Arvo Pärt’s works,” Nora Pärt recalls, reflecting on the significance of this newly published book. Arvo Pärt’s Adam’s Lament and Silouan’s Song are both based on Saint Silouan’s writings.

Archpriest Toomas Hirvoja, who translated the first excerpts of the book thirty years ago, believes that the life of Saint Silouan the Athonite can serve as an example, at least in part, for every Christian, whatever their homeland, way of life, or the time in which they live. 

In 2019, Elder Sophrony was also canonized, and the chapel at the Arvo Pärt Centre is dedicated to both Saint Silouan and Saint Sophrony.

The book has been translated by Archpriest Toomas Hirvoja and Marrit Andrejeva, edited by Carl Eric Simmul, and designed by Angelika Schneider.

At the book presentation, Jaan Tootsen will host a conversation with the translators, Archpriest Toomas Hirvoja and Marrit Andrejeva.