Elder Cleopa of Sihastria: In the tradition of St. Paisius Velichkovsky

by Ioanichie Balan

A life worth reading!! Wisdom worth listening to and doing.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing what one person can do and how many he can influence, even though he was a shepherd in the country. One of the reasons I stay Orthodox is because of lives like this, where true Christianity is practiced and lived. What's more is he lived in recent times, in the era of our grand-parents (1912-1998).

Lives like the Elder's allow me to see Christ easily through him. His teachings are interspersed throughout the biography and he gives some awesome answers to many questions that people generally have, e.g., on holiness, purity, marriage, the Theotokos, catholicism, protestantism, evolution and other ideas. It's a worthwhile read and encouraging. I'll definitely return back to the back for my own encouragement and to help me remember his teachings.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of one of the leading figures of the monastic revival in Romania, Elder Cleopa, this book offers us a vivid glimpse into his life, as well as presenting us the godly wisdom he accumulated in the form of counsels to both laymen and monastic. I would highly recommend it to any Orthodox Christian who wishes to be edified in the precepts of the faith by learning from the example of this holy man. For those who are not Orthodox, the benefits might not be of the same caliber; nevertheless, anyone would have a lesson to learn from the beloved elder of the Sihăstria Monastery, in understanding how to lay the foundation of a real character by staying true to your principles, in spite of persecution, oppression or adversity.

[Christian A Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Please read it.