CARACTERUL ISIHAST AL UNUI LITURGHISITOR CONTEMPORAN: SFÂNTUL EFREM KATUNAKIOTUL
The hesychast character of a contemporary celebrant of the Liturgy: Saint Ephraim of Katounakia

Summary/Abstract: The present study aims at analysing the influence of thehesychast movement on the way Saint Ephraim of Katounakiacelebrated the liturgy. Spiritually formed under the guidance ofSaint Joseph the Hesychast, Father Ephraim becomes not only anauthentic monk, but also an angelic celebrant of the liturgy. In hisperson, one may identify the main characteristics of a hesychastcelebrant of the liturgy: the akrivia of obedience, the akrivia ofconscience, the ceaseless prayer, the gift of tears, watchfulness,the experience of grace. His way of celebrating the liturgyconstitutes a key element in the liturgical life of the community ofthe great ascetic. Saint Ephraim is presented today by hisdisciples as a model of the accomplished celebrant of the liturgy.Aspects of his way of celebrating the liturgy are used in manyspiritual centres, revived in recent years by the disciples of AbbotJoseph the Hesychast. One of the main conclusions of the study isthat the Athonite hesychast movement in the twentieth centuryhas developed not only a school of the neptic way of life, but alsoa school of the philokalic celebration of liturgy in contemporarytimes, through the personality of Saint Ephraim of Katounakia

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