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**12Cickprior** · 11-10-2007, 05:32 AM

Are we to idolize our elders? I think not. I know people deeply venerate Elder Sophrony, but some retired bishops seem to be critical of this elder idolization... I know people respect Elder Sophrony very much, but the tone of some of these posts makes me highly uncomfortable... Let us not get closer to the decease elders than to our own living priests, especially our dearly beloved parish priests who labor ceaselessly for our souls!

What do you mean? Please clarify!

Saint Symeon the New Theologian had icons painted of his spiritual father after he reposed, because he knew firsthand that he was a saint. The same goes for Elder Sophrony. He has worked miracles beyond the grave. As Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos says (and he is a teacher of great renown throughout the world), "If Elder Sophrony was not a saint, than there are no saints!" The Fathers of the Holy Mountain count him as one of the great saints of our era, along with Saint Silouan and Elder Joseph. Icons of him are painted throughout the world. He is venerated throughout the world as a saint. How is this un-Orthodox or idolization? I think a lot of these people who argue against the veneration of elders have a mindset similar to the Iconoclasts, or the Barlaamites. Here we have living, breathing, holy men who have been transfigured by the grace of God, and aid in bringing us into union with Our Beloved Lord.

Our priests are aided by the prayers of the saints. If someone has a deep love for the saints, I think they too will have a love for their priest.

11-10-2007, 05:32 AM	#15
12Cickprior Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 534 Senior Member	Are we to idolize our elders? I think not. I know people deeply venerate Elder Sophrony, but some retired bishops seem to be critical of this elder idolization... I know people respect Elder Sophrony very much, but the tone of some of these posts makes me highly uncomfortable... Let us not get closer to the decease elders than to our own living priests, especially our dearly beloved parish priests who labor ceaselessly for our souls! What do you mean? Please clarify! Saint Symeon the New Theologian had icons painted of his spiritual father after he reposed, because he knew firsthand that he was a saint. The same goes for Elder Sophrony. He has worked miracles beyond the grave. As Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos says (and he is a teacher of great renown throughout the world), "If Elder Sophrony was not a saint, than there are no saints!" The Fathers of the Holy Mountain count him as one of the great saints of our era, along with Saint Silouan and Elder Joseph. Icons of him are painted throughout the world. He is venerated throughout the world as a saint. How is this un-Orthodox or idolization? I think a lot of these people who argue against the veneration of elders have a mindset similar to the Iconoclasts, or the Barlaamites. Here we have living, breathing, holy men who have been transfigured by the grace of God, and aid in bringing us into union with Our Beloved Lord. Our priests are aided by the prayers of the saints. If someone has a deep love for the saints, I think they too will have a love for their priest.
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