Non-Possessors (Nil Sorskii)
KONSTANTIN GAVRILKIN
Monks from a number of Russian northern monasteries, associated with Nil Sorskii (1433–1508), who based his monastic rule on early Christian writers and advocated a moderate ascetic life in small communities, centered on contemplative prayer, discernment, and studying Scripture, with a focus on inner transformation of mind and heart. Nil criticized “external” asceticism and extensive decoration ofchurches, and argued that monastic landownership, despite its application for social welfare, corrupted the church. At the Moscow church council of 1503 he and his followers questioned the legitimacy of monastic estates, covering one third of Muscovy’s territory at the time, and argued for their transfer to the poor. Eventually, they were defeated by their opponents the Possessors, led by Joseph of Volotsk.
SEE ALSO: Hesychasm; Monasticism; Possessors (Joseph of Volotsk); Russia, Patriarchal Orthodox Church of
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS
Nil Sorskii (2008) The Authentic Writings, ed. and trans. D. Goldfrank. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications.
Pliguzov, A. I. (2002) Polemika v russkoi tserkvi pervoi treti XVI stoletiia. Moscow: Indrik.