Vol. 56, No. 4 (333) July-August, 2020

The Cosmic Iconographer: Alexei Leonov

by Archpriest Gennady Belovolov

This issue of The Orthodox Word features an unusual article by St. Petersburg Archpriest Gennady Belovolov, about his collaboration with famous Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov to produce an icon of the Mother of God. Known worldwide as the first man ever to carry out a “space walk” (1965), and as the cosmonaut who performed the historic “handshake in space” with American astronaut Thomas Stafford (1975), Leonov was a sincere Orthodox believer and an accomplished artist. Fr. Gennady recounts how he met Leonov and asked him to help paint the “Cosmic” Icon of the Theotokos, which graces the cover of this issue.

Also featured is the second part of the four-part life of New Hieromartyr Andronicus of Perm.

Vol. 56, No. 6 (335) November-December, 2020

St. Therapont of White Lake and Mozhaisk

This issue of The Orthodox Word begins with a new chapter from the upcoming second volume of The Northern Thebaid, on St. Therapont of White Lake and Mozhaisk. St. Therapont was a fellow ascetic of the renowned St. Cyril of White Lake. He began his monastic life in Moscow, and then moved to the wilderness areas of the Vologda region, where he founded a monastery. He was summoned by Prince Andrew of Mozhaisk to found another monastery in the prince's realm, where the saint reposed in 1426.

This article is followed by the fourth and concluding part of the life of New Hieromartyr Andronicus of Perm, and the issue concludes with the Orthodox Word index for 2020.

Vol. 57, No. 3 (338) May–June, 2021

Elder Sofian Boghiu: The Urban Hesychast

This issue of The Orthodox Word is entirely dedicated to a recent Romanian elder, Archimandrite Sofian Boghiu, who reposed in 2002. While not as well known as his contemporaries, Elders Arsenie Papacioc, Cleopa Ilie, and Paisie Olaru, he was greatly beloved among Romanian believers, whom he faithfully served at Antim Monastery in the heart of Bucharest, Romania’s capital. Elder Sofian was a participant in the famous “Burning Bush” movement that began at Antim during World War II, and which was concerned with teachings on the Jesus Prayer and the Divine Liturgy. This issue contains a brief biography of the elder and this is followed by a conference on humility, given by him to a Romanian student organization in 1999. The St. Herman Brotherhood is currently working on an entire book containing his conferences, sermons, and other works.

Vol. 57, No. 4 (339) July–August, 2021

New Hiero-confessor Leontius (Stasevich)

This issue of The Orthodox Word is dedicated to Archimandrite Leontius (Stasevich), a Russian monastic who was born in Poland and spent his life serving his flock in the Ivanovo region of Russia. He maintained his burning faith throughout all his trials under Soviet rule, which included intensive interrogations and several imprisonments, and even persecution at the hands of his fellow clergy. This Life is another of those painstakingly compiled from archival sources and eyewitness accounts by Abbot Damascene (Orlovsky) and published in his twelve-volume opus, The Lives of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia of the Twentieth Century.

The issue concludes with a review of the recent critically acclaimed film Man of God, the story of the life of St. Nektarios of Aegina.

Vol. 57, No. 5 (340) September–October, 2021

New Hiero-confessor Schema-archbishop Anthony (Abashidze)

This issue of The Orthodox Word is dedicated to the life of Schema-archbishop Anthony (Abashidze), a true prince of the Church, a man of great courage and love for his neighbor. Born David Abashidze in 1867 in Georgia into a noble family, he was consecrated to the episcopate at the early age of thirty-four, and served in four different dioceses, all of which benefited greatly from his energetic and wide-ranging ministry. Everywhere he served, he was deeply loved by his flock. His staunch opposition to the revolutionary movement in Russia led to his arrest and exile on two occasions. He spent his last days in Kiev, where he was tonsured into the great schema with the name Anthony.

Also in this issue is the tenth installment of the Letters of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov.

Vol. 57, No. 6 (341) November–December, 2021

St. Macarius of Zheltovodsk and Unzha

This issue of The Orthodox Word features the Life of St. Macarius of Zheltovodsk and Unzha, a Russian monastic founder who lived along the Volga River during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. He was instrumental in providing both spiritual and material help to the Russian people during the difficult period of attacks and occupation by the Kazan Khanate. This Life includes an extensive account of the saint’s miracles, both during and after his life, and constitutes a chapter in the upcoming second volume of The Northern Thebaid.

The second article is an account of the miraculous “Self-painted” Icon of the Mother of God, located at the Romanian Prodromou Skete on Mount Athos. The article was authored by the well-known Russian religious writer E. Poselyanin.

This issue ends with the Orthodox Word index for 2021.

Vol. 58, Nos. 1-2 (342-343) January–April, 2022

Elder Isaac I of Optina

This entire double issue of The Orthodox Word is dedicated to the Life of St. Isaac (Antimonov) of Optina, who served as the superior of Russia’s Optina Hermitage from 1862 until his repose in 1894, a period that almost perfectly coincided with the eldership of the great Elder Ambrose. A man from a wealthy background, St. Isaac nevertheless became the strictest of ascetics and, under the guidance of Elder Ambrose, led the monastery during its most famous period, when people from every corner of Russia flocked there to receive spiritual counsel, purification, and consolation. A humble yet firm leader of his monastic flock, he greatly multiplied the many talents entrusted to him by the Lord. This Life, appearing for the first time in English, is a translation of the original 1899 Life, and includes additional material from the 1995 Life, both published by Optina.

Vol. 58, Nos. 1-2 (342-343) January–April, 2022

Elder Isaac I of Optina

This entire double issue of The Orthodox Word is dedicated to the Life of St. Isaac (Antimonov) of Optina, who served as the superior of Russia’s Optina Hermitage from 1862 until his repose in 1894, a period that almost perfectly coincided with the eldership of the great Elder Ambrose. A man from a wealthy background, St. Isaac nevertheless became the strictest of ascetics and, under the guidance of Elder Ambrose, led the monastery during its most famous period, when people from every corner of Russia flocked there to receive spiritual counsel, purification, and consolation. A humble yet firm leader of his monastic flock, he greatly multiplied the many talents entrusted to him by the Lord. This Life, appearing for the first time in English, is a translation of the original 1899 Life, and includes additional material from the 1995 Life, both published by Optina.

Vol. 58, No. 3 (344) May–June, 2022

Explanation of the Epistle of St. James

This issue of The Orthodox Word features the first installment of the complete Explanation of the General Epistle of the Holy Apostle James by St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain, translated by Hieromonk (Papa) Ephraim. This article also contains extensive introductory material, both by St. Nicodemos and by the translator. This is the first English translation of this important scriptural commentary.

Also included in this issue is a review of Healing Fear, a biographical film depicting the life of St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), the renowned surgeon and archbishop of Simferopol in Crimea.

Vol. 58, No. 4 (345) July–August, 2022

Elder Isaac II of Optina

This issue of The Orthodox Word features the first part of the Life of New Hieromartyr Isaac (Bobrakov), the last superior of Russia’s famed Optina Monastery before its closure by the Bolsheviks. While there is a scarcity of detailed information on Archimandrite Isaac’s life, the author—renowned scholar and Church writer Victor Afanasiev—portrays St. Isaac’s life against the turbulent background of the early revolutionary years of Russian history. In this portrayal one can clearly see his steadfastness in the faith and true qualities of leadership under the worst of circumstances.

Also in this issue is the continuation of the Explanation of the General Epistle of the Holy Apostle James by St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain.

Vol. 58, No. 6 (346) September–October, 2022

Hidden Sanctity: Elder Sofrony of Rila

This issue of The Orthodox Word features the life of a recent Bulgarian elder, Monk Sofrony (Chelenkov), who lived his monastic life first in the renowned Rila Monastery, and then in a small skete nearby. Living during the Communist era in Bulgaria, he remained immersed in Christ's world and unattached to the fallen world around him, yet cared greatly for his neighbor. He was one of a multitude of such ascetics who lived during the last century mostly unknown to the world.

The second article in this issue is the conclusion of the Life of New Hieromartyr Isaac (Bobrakov), the last superior of Russia’s famed Optina Monastery.

Also in this issue is the continuation of the Explanation of the General Epistle of the Holy Apostle James by St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain.