Theophan the Recluse?

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Hi - just wondering if any Eastern Orthodox members (and Eastern Catholics too) can give me the low down on Theophan the Recluse…
I know some cursory bits about him. How do Eastern Catholics view him? How do the Eastern Orthodox view him? What of his writings is the best one to get?

Thanks in advance!
 
I know a number of Eastern Catholics who venerate St. Theophan (including myself) and consider his writings to be essential spiritual reading. The Orthodox certainly venerate him. Indeed, he is worthy of veneration. Like St. Seraphim, St. Theophan was an extremely holy man.

“Art of Prayer” is certainly a must-read, and contains a good number of juicy quotes from St. Theophan. “The Path of Salvation” is the other must-read from the writings of St. Theophan. I haven’t yet made it all the way through that one, but what I’ve read has been amazing.
 
:tiphat:Thanks guys - I have been trying to expand the Orthodox part of my library, and am looking for some excellent reading. I always like to go straight to the source, so I will purchase The Path of Salvation at some point. I also have the Triads of Palamas, the Little Russian Philokalia of Seraphim of Sarov, a selection from the Philokalia* and the work entitled The Way of the Pilgrim.
Theophan’s work really appeals to me though, especially considering some of the quotes I have read of him. Beautiful stuff.
Is there anything in his teaching that is supposedly unorthodox, from either a western or eastern perspective?*
 
St. Theophan’s writings are 100% orthodox. I’ve not even run across any jabs at the West in his writings.

If you’re wanting to expand your Eastern/Orthodox library, take a look at anything you can find by Archbishop Joseph Raya (Melkite Greek Catholic)
 
at st.peter’s western rite orthodox library there was a paperback book called ‘the spiritual life’ by theopan the recluse. You can find it in a orthodox bookstore if not on barnes&noble or amazon.
 
Phillip_Rolfes said:
St. Theophan’s writings are 100% orthodox. I’ve not even run across any jabs at the West in his writings.

If you’re wanting to expand your Eastern/Orthodox library, take a look at anything you can find by Archbishop Joseph Raya (Melkite Greek Catholic)
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Ok, great. Only reason I asked is that I know Symeon the New Theologian had some controversies surrounding his views on confession I think…
Obviously, there will always be controversies over things like essence/energies distinctions and all that, but when I ask about orthodoxy in the writings, I mean in the sense of how people like Origen are viewed as heterodox in certain areas (though, speaking for myself, I still hold him to be one of the greatest minds ever in Christian history, and a devout member of the Church, despite some of his more unorthodox ideas).
 
Origen was/is indeed one of the greatest minds the Church has ever seen. Certainly right up there with St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure in terms if intellectual brilliance and personal piety. The fact that his ideas were later found to be heterodox is little against him. In his day he was breaking new ground by attempting a more wide-spread marriage of philosophy and the Gospel message. It is my understanding that prior to him philosophy was used by Christians simply to point out that their beliefs were reasonable (apologetics). But Origen wanted to use philosophy to elucidate the essence of the Christian Faith itself. That’s what makes him so different, and such a central character in the study of Christian theology. From what I understand too, there has been an attempt by certain modern theologians to vindicate at least some of Origen’s ideas; not the more controversial ones, but some at least.

As far as St. Theophan is concerned, read his stuff. I’m sure you’ll not be disappointed, nor will you find anything heterodox.
 
St. Symeon the New Theologian’s views on confession have never really been condemned by Orthodoxy. Of course, I could be wrong and I’m open to correction from our Orthodox brethren. I don’t believe the Catholic Church has condemned those views either, but that’s primarily because they’ve never really entered into Catholic thought. 😛
 
There, I ordered Turning the Heart to God by St. Theophan. It’s the only book I could get by him that is not exorbitantly priced; very excited though. I think it is what I need to read right now, as I am preparing for baptism, and struggling through some things spiritually. Thank you for your advice everyone!👍
 
Phillip_Rolfes said:
St. Theophan’s writings are 100% orthodox. I’ve not even run across any jabs at the West in his writings.
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In the beginning there was one Church with one, true faith. But temptation set in. The pope of Rome, through sophistries of his own invention, fell away from the Church and the Faith. This constitutes the first degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

From the Roman Catholics, the Protestants sprang forth, who, through more sophistries of their own invention, fell into deception and broke away from Roman Catholicism. This constitutes the second degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

Later, the Anglican sophistry sprang forth. This constitutes the third degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

St Theophan The Recluse
 
Mickey said:
In the beginning there was one Church with one, true faith. But temptation set in. The pope of Rome, through sophistries of his own invention, fell away from the Church and the Faith. This constitutes the first degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

From the Roman Catholics, the Protestants sprang forth, who, through more sophistries of their own invention, fell into deception and broke away from Roman Catholicism. This constitutes the second degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

Later, the Anglican sophistry sprang forth. This constitutes the third degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

St Theophan The Recluse
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That’s really too bad.😦
I’m not getting into the whole east vs. west thing - it’s ridiculous. I merely wanted to know about some good reads, that’s all.
 
Mickey said:
In the beginning there was one Church with one, true faith. But temptation set in. The pope of Rome, through sophistries of his own invention, fell away from the Church and the Faith. This constitutes the first degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

From the Roman Catholics, the Protestants sprang forth, who, through more sophistries of their own invention, fell into deception and broke away from Roman Catholicism. This constitutes the second degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

Later, the Anglican sophistry sprang forth. This constitutes the third degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

St Theophan The Recluse
Click to expand...
Huh! I’ve not come across this one before. Where did you find it?
 
Mickey said:
"Preaching Another Christ"
An Orthodox View of Evangelicalism
by St Theophan the Recluse
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Well that makes sense! 😃 Obviously I disagree with his opinion, but I’d like to read that some time.
 
Mickey said:
In the beginning there was one Church with one, true faith. But temptation set in. The pope of Rome, through sophistries of his own invention, fell away from the Church and the Faith. This constitutes the first degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

From the Roman Catholics, the Protestants sprang forth, who, through more sophistries of their own invention, fell into deception and broke away from Roman Catholicism. This constitutes the second degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

Later, the Anglican sophistry sprang forth. This constitutes the third degree of the fall into falsehood and darkness.

St Theophan The Recluse
Click to expand...
I understand where your sympathies lie, Mickey, but was that really necessary on this thread? theidler wrote: *“I merely wanted to know about some good reads, that’s all.” *

Perhaps a separate thread would be more appropriate if you want to debate what St. Theophan had to say.
 
I believe Micky’s comment was indeed pertinent as the OP asked if there was anything in St. Theophan’s writings that was against the Catholic Church. Or at least the conversation went in that direction and Micky just responded in kind.

Again, thanks for posting it, Micky. I hadn’t realized that St. Theophan ever said anything against Catholicism. It’s good to know. He’s still one of my favorite Russian fathers. 👍
 
One thing I liked about the book Path to Salvation by Theophan the Recluse is that he mentions the main goal/mission of parents is to make sure that their children preserve their baptismal grace and not commit any mortal sins. (Okay, okay I don’t remember if he used the word “mortal sin” so please let’s not get into that debate, lol, but that is the essence of what he said.)
 
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