Elder Barsanuphius of Optina

Optina Elders #7

by Victor Afanasiev

Elder Barsanuphius (1845 1913), a disciple of Elder Anatole (Zertsalov) and Elder Nektary, was a highly cultured man and a successful colonel before entering the monastic life at a relatively late age. Due to his purity of heart and spiritual sobriety, he was transformed by God into a grace-filled Elder virtually overnight. The period before the first World War and the Russian Revolution was a complex one. The world was seething in unprecedented passions, and one could clearly sense the approach of darkness. With a sympathetic soul Elder Barsanuphius attended to the world, and the Lord parted a curtain before him, showing him the horrors of the future. People from the world, thirsting for consolation in their sorrows, streamed to Optina. Elder Barsanuphius, in frail health but strengthened by the power of the Lord, received them, conversed with them, confessed them, and directed them to the only true path. He was a man of extraordinary spiritual vision, and could see clearly into the hearts of those who came to him. Presented here, for the first time in English, is a complete biography of this great Elder, including his talks on a variety of subjects, excerpts from the journal of his cell-attendant (the future Elder Nikon, himself a great Optina Elder and a subsequent victim of the communist terror), and selections from his spiritual poetry.

Genres: Biography

840 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2000

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. It's huge, over 800 pages and it took quite some time to read it, but was worth the effort. I felt as though I was in the presence of a saint. His advice and the relationship between him and his "children" was inspiring. I highly recommend this.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who takes even a cursory glance over my book reviews can generally surmise that I give most Orthodox books five stars. So it probably comes as little surprise that I do the same in this case. Be that as it may, I cannot recommend this book enough. For one reason or another, it has quickly advanced through the ranks to sit close to the top of my favorite pile. Personally, I cherish (a word chosen quite intentionally, I assure you) stories of pilgrims visiting and receiving spiritual advice from monastic elders in the snowy forests of the "Old World." To some degree, this is a response to the romantic atmosphere of the imagery described immediately above. On the other hand, I don't have many opportunities to engage in such spiritual journeys myself, but I can benefit from the advice passed down from others. Whatever the case may be, St. Barsanuphius is a fascinating, lovable, and holy figure. Anyone interested in Orthodox texts will appreciate adding this hefty tome to his or her bookshelf.

[Macaria Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best of the Optina series published so far. Elder Barsanuphy was one of the last of a succession of Elders over the span of 100 years. This book is written by his disciple, Elder Nikon so one gets a good picture of the relationship between Elder and disciple.