Excerpt from the Letter to Father Georges Florovsky, 1957.

ENGLISH: Saint Sophrony and the English people

"This year I was in England; I spent two months there: September and October. During this time I traveled a lot, roaming the country from south to north; I saw many things that were new and interesting to me, which changed my attitude towards England and its people.

The "myth" about England, created by history (political history), which had taken root in my consciousness since childhood, has now been dispelled. Another "myth" about England, the one I saw and got to know closely, has taken its place. 

My first two trips, in 1952 and 1955, gave me the opportunity to glimpse many things in the life of this great people that I had not suspected before: a noble simplicity, a great modesty, and an astonishing tact (compared to other peoples). 

This trip deepened my first impressions and complemented them: in many people there, I encountered an astonishing tenderness, a patient love, a sincere friendship, and a desire to talk about God. The latter amazed me the most. There were even some curious circumstances in this regard. I had heard before that in England there are three topics that are not discussed:   about God, politics, and private life. In my conversations with the English, I was not questioned about the second point, that is, politics. It would seem that the English open their hearts and confide in you much more easily than I have seen here in France.

Traveling through the country, I blessed this truly great people in my heart. And here is the result: the English translation of the Elder's book was accepted by the Anglican publishing house The Faith Press. The book will apparently be published twenty years after the death of Elder Silouan, that is, in September 1958. It was received with great goodwill.

I sincerely hope that Elder Silouan's great prayer for the whole world was pleasing to God and that humanity will respond with equal love to his great love for all mankind. According to the law: "What he has sown, he will also reap."

Excerpt from the Letter to Father Georges Florovsky, 1957

Photo: Orthodox Church in Luton, Romanian parish in Luton, England