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33 from the Transfiguration of St. Sophronia of Essex: Explained Orthodox Spirituality to the Contemporary Secularized Worldtranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

Saturday marks the 33rd anniversary of the transfer to the Lord of St. Sophronius of Essex, the disciple of St. Siluan the Athonite and the author of a book about his life that breathed a new spirit into the spirituality of the 20th century and the Western secularized world: "The Life and Teaching of Abbot Siluan the Athonite" (1948).

The saint's biography published on the web page of the Essex Monastery mentions his date of birth as September 22, 1896, in Moscow, his parents giving him the baptismal name of Serghei. He was a child who read a lot, prayed a lot and had artistic talent. He studied Fine Arts in Moscow, in search of an ideal of beauty that went beyond purely aesthetic beauty.

During the turmoil of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, he was arrested twice in the infamous Liubianka prison, but in 1921 he managed to leave Russia.

Spiritual quests In the latter part of his adolescence he researched Eastern spirituality. Settled in Paris, he attracted the attention of the French press with a few exhibitions, but did not feel his spiritual quests satisfied by art.

Due to the inability of his mind to understand the mystery of death, on Holy Saturday of 1924, he returned to Christianity, renouncing Eastern ideas. In…

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Роман Лебедев

Thanks for the article. It’s interesting that he sat in Lubyanka twice, but in ’21 he finally left and then exhibited in Paris. I have a book about Elder Silouan at home, I re-read it sometimes - it’s very simply and accurately written, it goes right into my soul.

Carlos García

Yes, the part about the two arrests in Lubyanka also caught my attention. Imagine going through that and then arriving in Paris to exhibit paintings while still searching for something deeper. I have the book of Siluán on the table and from time to time I open it to any page; It always leaves me thinking about how he spoke so simply about prayer. Thanks for sharing the article.

Богдан Панченко

It is interesting that he was imprisoned twice in Lubyanka, but still escaped in 1921 and then exhibited in Paris. The book about Elder Siluan is also on my shelf, I sometimes open it - it's really simple and accurate, without extraneous things. But how he returned to Christianity precisely on Holy Saturday of 1924 because of the thought of death, that affected me the most.

Ελένη Νικολαΐδου

I was also impressed that he passed through Lubyanka twice and managed to leave in '21. Then in Paris he did exhibitions and yet he felt empty, until he turned to Christ on Holy Saturday of '24. I also have the book about old Silouanos, I open it often and every time I find something simple that stays.

Michael Moore

That bit about him getting arrested twice at Lubyanka and still making it out in '21 really stuck with me. Then to be showing his paintings in Paris while still feeling empty inside, until that Holy Saturday in 1924 when he came back to Christ. I keep my old copy of the Silouan book on the shelf by the armchair; it's one of the few I actually pick up and reread bits of every year.

Теодора Петрова

I was very impressed by how exactly on Holy Saturday 1924 he returned to Christ - just when the Church mourns the grave. I also have the book about the old man Silouan, I open it often and every time I am left with the feeling that he speaks directly to me, without unnecessary words. Thanks for the article.

Νίκος Κωνσταντίνου

I was also impressed that he passed through Lubyanka twice and managed to leave in '21. Then in Paris he held exhibitions, but he still felt empty until he turned to Christ exactly on Holy Saturday of '24. I've had the book about old Silouanos for years, I often flip through it when I cook and I always find something simple that sticks. Thanks for the article.

Софья Новикова

I also have this book about Elder Silouan at home, sometimes I take it off the shelf and open it to any page - however, everything is very simple and straight to the heart. It is interesting that it was on Holy Saturday of 1924, when the Church stood at the tomb, that he returned to Christ. Thanks for the reminder, on days like these I especially want to re-read it.

Величка Ангелова

Yes, exactly on Holy Saturday, when everything seems darkest - that has always made an impression on me. I also keep the book about Elder Siluan on my bedside table and re-read it bit by bit, especially the part about humility. Which head do you think is the strongest?

Христо Христов

Yes, just on Holy Saturday, when everything looks darkest, as you say. And I often turn to the book of old Siluan, especially when I struggle with pride - there is a section about "keeping the mind in hell and despair" that helps me the most. When did you first read it?

Rebecca Smith

That part about the two arrests at Lubyanka and still getting out in '21 always makes me pause too. I remember reading he was so desperate for the true God after all that that even the Paris exhibitions felt hollow. Do you have a favourite passage in the Silouan book that you return to most often?