SAKHAROV, SOPHRONY

SAKHAROV, SOPHRONY, archimandrite, of Essex, England (1896–1993). A student at the Moscow State School of Fine Arts interested in Buddhism, yoga, East Indian culture, and eastern mysticism, he was a painter until 1921, when he emigrated to Paris by way of Italy and Germany. In Paris he exhibited his paintings at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Tuileries. Disillusioned with art, he entered St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (q.v.), became disillusioned with academic life, then abandoned Paris for the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt. Athos (q.v.). After four years there he came under the spiritual guidance of Starets Silouan (q.v.), with whom he remained until the Starets’ death eight years later. During World War II he was a cave-dwelling anchorite-priest, and remained so until he was called to be confessor and spiritual father to the monks of St. Paul Monastery. He later published two books on his spiritual father (q.v.), the Starets Silouan, as well as other works on the Orthodox spiritual tradition: Wisdom from Mount Athos (1975), The Monk of Mount Athos (1975), and His Life Is Mine (1977). He continues to live, as abbot emeritus, at the monastery of St. Joh n the Baptist, which he founded at Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, England.