It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not. One person who comes to mind is father arseny, whose life of suffering in the last century one can read in two books of firsthand accounts. And you dont have to be eastern orthodox to benefit. Orthodox christians like to tell each other that their church is the best kept secret in america. It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not only survive but emerge as beacons of light and life. I read father arseny, truly inspiring and illuminating book. I had a father of my own who seemed as good a parent as anyone could hope for. Is say this is one super book to give as a gift for a believer friend or spouse you know who might feel like he or she doesnt quite fit in at times in church life. Prisoner, priest and spiritual father 1998, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Father arseny 18931973 priest prisoner spiritual father. Father arseny is believed to have performed many miracles during harsh times in the cold siberian prisons, where there was little hope for. Priest, prisoner, spiritual father there are many times when we read the words the best book i have ever read. Priest, prisoner, spiritual father, a collection of reminiscences by a wide range of people who were. Although his identity and historicity have been disputed click here, there is considerable evidence that father arseny existed.
Priest, prisoner, spiritual father was highly recommended to me some time ago and. Oct 05, 2017 poetryfilm fans should recognize the name arseny tarkovsky. I cant find any pictures or anything on piotr andreyevich streltzof father arseny s baptismal name even though he had a phd in soviet russia. Father arsenys biographer, author of father arseny, talking with one of the protagonists spiritual children about the book, which has been published in greece by the parakletos monastery at oropos, which kindly provided us with excerpts from the book and the photographic material.
Unable to publish his poetry in book form during the stalinist era, it was towards the end of his life that he even began to find any recognition in. Reading about him, i caught a vision of what it might mean to be truly a christian, a little christ. Father arseny, former scholar of church art, became prisoner no. In the darkness of systematic degradation of body and soul, he shone with the light of christs peace.
A cloud of witnesses continues the story with essays by people who knew him in the years after prison and, like the first, includes many tales of personal transformation and. Father arsenys tale is the saga of an individual who lived out his priestly vows and ideals while subjected to some of historys most focused malignity. Finally, in philip metres and dimitri psurtsevs i burned at the feast. The story of father arseny is perhaps the most illustrative example of what an.
How arseny roginsky confronted the politics of memory in. Father arseny, priest, prisoner, spiritual father father arseny. Its made me feel like i could now be one of his spiritual children. Vladimirs seminary press, 2001 translated by vera bouteneff. Please visit your favorite ebook provider to purchase this and other svs press ebooks. Famous art historian, author of many books and articals, teacher of many, a famous professor who seemed to. Here are a few of our favorite books that we think you could read as a chapter. Father arseny 18931973 priest, prisoner, and spiritual father. This was confirmed for me by a book recently published in english translation, father arseny. Gives stirring glimpses of fr arsenys life in a soviet pr.
The historical truthtelling of arseny roginsky the new. Father arseny, 18931973 edition 1 by vera bouteneff. Plus, its all told in an easytoread narrative style that feels like youre reading a. This narrative, compiled from accounts of father arsenys spiritual children and. Still others were less refined in a literary sense, with greater focus on the confession of personal failings and how fr. Arseny portrayed in it is an entirely fictional character,though many of the events described are based on actual events, occurrences and the real experiences of concentration camp inmates. It was a fascinating read, and very very entertaining. In the darkness of systematic degradation of body and soul, he shone with. Father arseny priest, prisoner, and spiritual father ebook. Arseny has been discussed many times on many orthodox forums, both traditional and true orthodox, and world orthodox. When asked if other, similar samizdat works are waiting to be published, translator vera bouteneff says, i wish, i wish. Jul 14, 2019 father arseny, priest, prisoner, spiritual father father arseny.
Mar 21, 2017 and the book reads like a compilation from many sources. A pleasant read, but it has much less to do with father arseny himself, and more to do with his spiritual students. A cloud of witnesses vera bouteneff, vera bouteneff on. Being the narratives compiled by the servant of god alexander concerning his spiritual father. Sakamoto will decide on a winner based on the following criteria. Bouteneff discusses a pair of books about father arseny, fr.
Alexei repeated everything father arseny was saying, yet he was not simply repeating, but praying together with him. The stories of father arseny and his work in the soviet prison camps have captured father arseny priest, prisoner, and spiritual father e book. I learned so much from father arseny, many times i would put the book down and pray in awe of this holy saint and the works god can do through his children. In this second volume readers will find additional narratives about father arseny newly translated from the most recent russian edition.
This narrative, compiled from the accounts of his spiritual children and others whom he brought to god, gives glimpses of his life in prison camp and after his release. It seemed like father arseny had become one with the words of his prayer, but alexei understood that father arseny had not forgotten him and was. Cloud of witnesses, both of which his mother translated from russian into english. A list of 10 recommended books for spiritual reading. The tale of an orthodox christian prisoner, priest. It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty. Father arseny 18931973 priest, prisoner, and spiritual. A prayer in accord, quoted in father arseny, a cloud of witnesses, pp 2214 this prayer is quoted by fr arseny in one of his talks on prayer, in the second book on his godpleasing life, fr arseny, a cloud of witnesses. There are no words to describe my experience with this book. This book has nothing as startling as the first volume of remembrances of father arseny father arseny, 18931973. This is not a perfect book but i dont know how i couldnt rate it five stars. A cloud of witnesses continues the story with essays by people who knew him in the years after prison, and like the first includes many tales of personal transformation and miracles.
Some sections read as though an educated writer composed them, others like a sentimental storyteller wove them. Public domain wikimedia commons arseny aleksandrovich tarkovsky 25th june 190727th may 1989 has only garnered a growing international following in recent years. Father arseny is believed to have performed many miracles during harsh times in the cold siberian prisons, where there was little hope for those who were encamped. I realize that this may seem an odd manner in which to begin blogging about a book that has gained a great following over the years. Selected poems of arseny tarkovsky we get a fair idea of what tarkovskys work might sound like in russian. Listening to vera discuss the book was like hearing her speak about an old friend. In a january 2010 podcast the translators son said that his mother personally met people who knew father arseny click here. Forgive me if the starkness of this question offends. Father arseny 18931973 priest, prisoner, and spiritual father by. Piotr andreyevitch streltzof 1893 1973, better known as father arseny, was a spiritual father in russia during the period of communist rule under stalin. A cloud of witnesses and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Here, the title poem from virginia roundings recent volume of english translations comes to us via an album by the film composer ryuichi sakamoto, which he.
This is a continuation of the book father arseny, 18931973. Father arsenys hagiography, have been at the forefront to give credibility to the memory of father arseny. Interviewing arseny roginskysomething i did at least half a dozen times, starting in the early nineteennineties, in a succession of poorly lit offices filled with cigarette smoke and book dust. Apr 25, 2019 father arseny priest, prisoner, and spiritual father ebook. Father ilarion and the suffering horse orthodox christian. David remnick writes about the historian and soviet dissident arseny roginsky, who died on monday. Jan 28, 2020 a list of 10 recommended books for spiritual reading.
Remarkably, somewho deny the realityof father arseny value the narrative for its spiritual quality. Perhaps the book father arseny combines stories of several anonymous russian saints people whose identities were blurred under the. Father arseny, when in camps, surprises people, well educated and criminal alike, by explaining to them that he is the well known piotr andreyevich streltzov. Oct 18, 2015 finally, in philip metres and dimitri psurtsevs i burned at the feast. It is simply a must read and an encounter with father arseny himself. I did like the way babar the elephant played with his children, and the devotion. Jun 22, 2014 father arsenys biographer, author of father arseny, talking with one of the protagonists spiritual children about the book, which has been published in greece by the parakletos monastery at oropos, which kindly provided us with excerpts from the book and the photographic material. However, it is much more practical, containing a lot of instruction on prayer, the raising of children in the faith, and living the christian life.
At the same time, critical voices have constantly disputed the biographical reality of the saint and the fictional characterof his book. Famous art historian, author of many books and articals, teacher of many, a famous professor who seemed to have dissappeared, but became a priest. However, it is much more practical, containing a lot of instruction on prayer, the raising of. It is the conclusion of the story of father arseny. This books gives more personal stories of father arseny while he was imprisoned in the gulag system. Though the book nowhere uses this description, father arseny was a true saint and as always with saints, esp. Dec 19, 2017 interviewing arseny roginskysomething i did at least half a dozen times, starting in the early nineteennineties, in a succession of poorly lit offices filled with cigarette smoke and book dust. Poetryfilm fans should recognize the name arseny tarkovsky. The stories of father arseny and his work in the soviet prison camps have captured the minds and hearts of readers all over the world. I like to think he is at the very least an amalgamation of.
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