Мисли за сваки дан у години по црквеном читању Речи Божије

by Theophan the Recluse, Феофан Затворник, Hilandarski monasi (Translator)

Богом надахнути светитељ из Русиjе 19. века, подвижник и богослов, у овоj књизи jе предложио побожна расуђивања за сваки дан у години. Мисли кратке, светле, чисте, упутства за живот у Христу, уз тумачења поjединих места Светог Писма препоручуjу ово изванредно штиво свакоме ко жели спасење.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Theology

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1881

About the author

St. Theophan the Recluse, also known as Theophan Zatvornik or Theophanes the Recluse (Russian: Феофан Затворник), is a well-known saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born George Vasilievich Govorov, in the village of Chernavsk. His father was a Russian Orthodox priest. He was educated in the seminaries at Livny, Orel and Kiev. In 1841 he was ordained, became a monk, and adopted the name Theophan. He later became the Bishop of Tambov.

He is especially well-known today through the many books he wrote concerning the spiritual life, especially on the subjects of the Christian life and the training of youth in the faith. He also played an important role in translating the Philokalia from Church Slavonic into Russian. The Philokalia is a classic of orthodox spirituality, composed of the collected works of a number of church fathers which were edited and placed in a four volume set in the 17th and 18th centuries. A persistent theme is developing an interior life of continuous prayer, learning to "pray without ceasing" as St. Paul teaches in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

Russian profile: Феофан Затворник

Reviews

[Cristina Popescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book dedicates about half a page to every day of the year. I try to begin every morning with a glimpse into St. Theophan's interpretation of the day's scripture. Needless to say, at times I underline the whole passage, so impressive is the author's capacity of rendering the essential. This is indeed a book that any Orthodox should spend at least one year with. As for me, I will surely read it for many years to come. I am eager to read any other similar books, so if you have any recommendations, do not hesitate to comment.

[Noël · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, short bits of wisdom and inspiration for everyday.
The calendar is a bit wonky - it doesn't match with the Lenten/paschal cycle this year- but if the daily scripture reading and the approximate week is known it is moderately simple to find one's place and follow from there.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book with sage Christian advice for daily reflection in the life of a Christian, written by St. Theophan the Recluse, a 19th century Saint from Russia who lived the last twenty-eight years of his life as a hermit. His impact on his homeland was immense, with his articles appearing in the popular spiritual journals of his time, and personally replying to an average of thirty letters daily. A couple of excerpts from the book that were striking and spiritually deep follow:

"A Christian is a person who is wholly in Christ and whose every good quality is from Christ. His justification is by Christ, and his body is also of Christ. He who is being saved is being saved because he is clothed in Christ. The Father is accessible to him only when he is this state...The seal of Christ is imprinted on the entire nature of a Christian, and he who carries this seal will walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil (cf. Ps. 22:4).
In order to become this way we have the Sacraments--Baptism, and Communion--for which Confession acts as a mediator for those who sin after Baptism. But this is from the Lord. We must do our part to cultivate a spirit of acceptance: faith which confesses, "I am lost and can be saved only by the Lord Jesus Christ"; love which fervently strives to devote all to the Lord and Savior, sparing nothing; hope that does not hope in itself, but only in its assurance that the Lord will not abandon us and will help us in every way, both internally and externally throughout all of our life, until our hope takes us to the place where He Himself abides."

- Second Sunday of Lent, pgs. 63-64

"Real Christian love is proved by our relationship with our enemies. Not only should slight and incidental annoyances not extinguish our love for others--neither should attacks and persecutions, misfortunes and deprivations, intentionally and maliciously inflicted. We must not only bless people [that inflict these upon us], but also do good to them and pray for them."

- Saturday before Sunday of All Saints, pg. 122

[Saint Katherine BookstoreVA]

In Thoughts for Each Day of the Year, St. Theophan himself selected the passages from his writings that guide the reader through the Church’s yearly Gospel and Epistle readings. These are brief, yet profound commentaries on God’s word, ones that also weave together his thoughts on the problems of his times. The lack of faith and coldness of heart he decries at the beginning of our modern era are only magnified today.

This is not a “once and done” collection. The editors have arranged the daily readings so that they’re not dependent on a single year’s calendar. The present English translation was made from the original 1881 Russian publication; while not rendered in a conversational tone, it is neither stiff nor florid. The commentaries appear to have been written for a general audience, being largely excerpted from his published articles.

Why is it that we should expect to profit from the words of a man who spent almost three decades as a recluse? St. Theophan made the choice of Mary, rather than Martha; he sat at the feet of his Master every minute of every day. Yet he wrote to dozens of spiritual children and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that grew within him brought salvation to thousands. He wrote with firmness, yet with love, as in these words from his commentary for Christmas day:

"I will not try to convey this joy to you with my words; it is inexpressible by any words. The work that was accomplished by the Lord Who is born touches each one of us. Those who enter into communion with Him receive from Him freedom, healing, and peace; they possess all of this and taste of its sweetness. There is no reason to say “Rejoice!” to those who experience this within themselves, for they cannot help but rejoice." (p. 291).

In taking the words of Scripture and St. Theophan’s encouragements to heart, we can more fully cooperate with Grace and begin to realize the wish of St. Paul: “And do not fashion yourselves after this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

[Navel · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Theophan's thoughts based on the scriptural readings for the day provide excellent reflections and food for thought.

[Thomas Coletto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and inspirational devotional for everyday of the year, this should be added to your daily regimen of prayer and reading.