Elder Leonid of Optina

by Clement Sederholm

Book Overview

Possessing penetrating spiritual discernment, Elder Leonid radiated a powerful, straightforward manner, yet was both loving and fatherly. He could mystically see into the hearts of his spiritual... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0938635506
• ISBN13: 9780938635505
• Release Date: November 1990
• Publisher: Saint Herman Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Optina Elder tradition begins here.

Elder Leonid (+1841) was the first in the long line of great elders of the Optina Monastery in Russia. This book is the story of his life, as well as letters he wrote to his spiritual children.In his 74 years of life upon this earth, Elder Leonid's wisdom poured forth on those who sought spiritual guidance. He always knew the right thing to do at the right time. Sometimes this was a kind word, a small gift, or a stern rebuke. He even had a great sense of humor. Not funny in the sense that he was a clown, but he knew that a humorous observation was what one sometimes needed to soften their heart. He was a man of great patience, love, prayer, wisdom and other Christian virtues. He even peacefully endured persecution from others because he had shed his concern for himself. The section of the Elder's letters to his spiritual children is especially valuable. His answers to people's problems were to the point and full of Christ's love. He truly put others above himself. This is a highly recommended start to learning about the great Optina tradition, as well as a great source of patristic wisdom for modern times.

This book is a "must" on Russian Spirituality.

A "must" on Russian Spirituality How can one, filled with love for the traditions of Russian Orthodoxy, not cherish the biography of St. Leonid of Optina - the first of the famous Optina elders (startsy) and the founder of the Optina Eldership? The "bonus" of the book is the biography of Bl. Theodore of Svir, St. Leonid's teacher and friend. Bl. Theodore is the connection between St. Paisus Velichovsky's Eldership obtained at Mt. Athos and the line of Optina elders ended so abruptly by the Bolshevik Revolution in 1918. There is no doubt that this connection, Paisus - Theodore - Leonid, is of the greatest importance to former and contemporary Russian Spirituality. Who, after all, hasn't heard about a starets - like for instance Dostoyevky's Zosima - and his influence on high and low in Pre-revolutionary Russia. And the key to it all being what the saintly starets Leonid (Leo in Schema) did in the Optina Monastery. This book is a "must" on Russian Spirituality.

A "must" on Russian Spirituality

How can one, filled with love for the traditions of Russian Orthodoxy, not cherish the biography of St. Leonid of Optina - the first of the famous Optina elders (startsy) and the founder of the Optina Eldership? The "bonus" of the book is the biography of Bl. Theodore of Svir, St. Leonid's teacher and friend. Bl. Theodore is the connection between St. Paisus Velichovsky's Eldership obtained at Mt. Athos and the line of Optina elders ended so abruptly by the Bolshevik Revolution in 1918. There is no doubt that this connection, Paisus - Theodore - Leonid, is of the greatest importance to former and contemporary Russian Spirituality. Who, after all, hasn't heard about a starets - like for instance Dostoyevky's Zosima - and his influence on high and low in Pre-revolutionary Russia. And the key to it all being what the saintly starets Leonid (Leo in Schema) did in the Optina Monastery. This book is a "must" on Russian Spirituality.