Paissy Velitchkovsky
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Paissy Velitchkovsky was a significant Russian translator and religious leader, primarily known for his role in introducing the Philokalia to Russia. The Philokalia is a collection of Greek Christian monastic texts focused on "inner asceticism" and the practice of ceaseless prayer, often referred to as the "prayer of the mind" or Jesus prayer.1
Velitchkovsky translated the Philokalia into Church Slavonic, titling it Dobrotoliubie, which was published in 1793. This translation played a crucial role in a neo-Hesychast spiritual renewal within Russian and Moldavian monasticism. While the Philokalia had a more limited influence in Greece, its Church Slavonic version became a widely read spiritual book among various classes of Russian laity in the 19th century, largely due to the influence of spiritual leaders known as startsy.12
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- Philokalia
…by the starets (spiritual leader) Paissy Velitchkovsky, who introduced a neo-Hesychast spiritual renewal into Russian and Moldavian monasticism. Whereas in Greece the Philokalia apparently had little influence outside certain schools of monasticism (although attempts were made to reach a wider public with new editions in 1867 and 1957), the Church…
Read More…by the starets (spiritual leader) Paissy Velitchkovsky, who introduced a neo-Hesychast spiritual renewal into Russian and Moldavian monasticism. Whereas in Greece the Philokalia apparently had little influence outside certain schools of monasticism (although attempts were made to reach a wider public with new editions in 1867 and 1957), the Church…
Read More - starets
…Old Slavic by the starets Paissy Velitchkovsky (1722–94) contributed to a revival of starchestvo (“staretsism”), which was furthered by the great St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759–1833) and the startsy of the monastery of Optina Pustyn, who inspired the personage of Zossima in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov. At a…
Read More…Old Slavic by the starets Paissy Velitchkovsky (1722–94) contributed to a revival of starchestvo (“staretsism”), which was furthered by the great St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759–1833) and the startsy of the monastery of Optina Pustyn, who inspired the personage of Zossima in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov. At a…
Read More