The Doctrine of Intelligent Work by St. Siluan of Athos and Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov)

Abstract

The article provides an examination of the doctrine of intelligent doing by its famous doers, the fathers of contemporaries — St. Siluan of Athos and Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov). Both fathers consider intelligent doing (the Jesus prayer practical) as something more than just a mechanical repetition of the prayer words; prayer seems to be a high art of inner state of the soul and mind concentration. They emphasize the importance of the inner near state of the heart and mind concentration of the mind. The fathers also talk about the various ways of spiritual life, ways of prayer and stages of its development. The fathers especially underline that all the worshipper activity should be aimed at observing the commandments and constantly standing before God in pure prayer. In their teaching, they adhere to the idea that the true essence of spiritual life is not only in activity, but also in contemplation, in attention to the enteral condition inner state of man and his relationship with God.