Hesychasts

Saint Antim Monastery

Saint Conf confessor Sofian Boghiu

St. Confessor Sofian Boghiu, abbot of Antim Monastery in Bucharest was one of the great Romanian spiritual fathers of the 20th century. Church painter, abbot, confessor, confessor of the faith in communist prisons, preacher and writer, Sofian was one of the brightest icons of service to the Savior Christ.

He was born in the village of Cuconeștii-Vechi in the north of the Republic of Moldova on October 7, 1912. His parents, the devout Christians Ioan and Alexandra Boghiu, baptized him Serghie, in honor of the Venerable Serghie of Radonej. Loving God since childhood, he was hard-working and learning, but especially loved the quiet prayer and the services in the village church.

Saint Antim Monastery

Father Hieroschimonah Daniil

(Evocation by Protos. Petroniu Tănase)

It was in the years 1936-1937, at Cernica Monastery near Bucharest, where I was a student at the monastic seminary; from time to time, in spring, fall, Father Gala Galaction came with some friends.

We were all gathered under a big walnut tree in the monastery, and a gentleman, elegantly dressed and wearing a beard, was talking to us about things that I had never heard at the monastery where I had been an apprentice for several years, nor had the seminary professors. He spoke to us of spiritual beauties found on the Holy Mountain, in manuscripts in monastery libraries, of the Philocalia, of the Prayer of the Mind. The image of St. Callistus, the lute-player with his head bowed on the altar, captivated by the beauty of the song, with which he wanted to draw our attention to the prayer of thought, remained in my mind.