Starec a slzy - Efrém z Katunakie, životní příběh a duchovní inspirace – Ventura Václav (2021)

The book presents a biographical and spiritual portrait of one of the prominent students of Father Josef Hesychasty, who was canonized by the Orthodox Church alongside him in 2020. Papa Efrém (1912–1998) lived his entire active life among the rocks of Katunakie at the southern tip of Mount Athos since 1933. At the school of Elder Josef, he adopted the hesychastic way of life, became a master of noetic heart prayer, and exemplified authentic monasticism. In addition to biographical information, the book also presents significant thoughts from his spiritual legacy. These are drawn from his addresses to the monks, testimonies from his students, and texts he left behind. Among the essential features of his legacy is undoubtedly his own experienced understanding of obedience and the relationship between the elder and his student, which he passes on to the upcoming generations of monks and nuns, but certainly to others as well. The book further includes a selection of preserved texts, letters, and homilies. In the afterword, the author attempts to place the two mentioned themes – obedience to the elder and the phenomenon of tears – into a patristic-spiritual context and to highlight the current significance of the elder's experience.