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Why did A.I. Osipov and some other Russians consider Elder Sophrony to be in prelest? Elder Sophrony writes about his experiences of the Uncreated Light and this led some to think that he was deluded. They couldn't understand how a man could be so bold about God. This was to ignore similar boldness on the part of Fathers such as St Symeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas. It was also to ignore the fact that experience of the Uncreated Light is more common than some think, and is not confined to those proclaimed as saints. True, such experiences are not normally spoken of, but Elder Sophrony has a special mission for our times. The Holy Spirit has not abandoned us but has, in our own days, given us saints such as Elder Sophrony to encourage us so that we may know that what read in the lives of the Fathers are not things of old but are such things as may happen now. Elder Sophrony writes from experience and it is this experiential quality which marks out his writings from those of academic theologians.