Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father

Publication Data: Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: viii + 279
Dimensions (l × w × h): 22.9 cm × 15.3 cm × 2.0 cm
ISBN: 0‒88141‒180‒9
ISBN: 978‒0‒88141‒180‒5

   
Translated from the Russian by Vera Bouteneff

“Piotr Andreyevitch Streltzoff was an art historian who, on becoming a priest-monk, was given the name of Father Arseny. It appears from the text that he was born in the first decade of the twentieth century, was first arrested in 1933 and then again in 1939 for his activities as a priest, and survived in prison camps where he stayed until 1958. He died in 1973. This book first appeared during communist rule in samizdat form. Even then the book circulated widely and nourished the spiritual lives of many. After the fall of communism when it could be published officially, it was reprinted twice (200,000 copies each time), the last time in 1994. Its success in Russia has been enormous.”
—“Translator’s Foreword”

CONTENTS

Translator’s Foreword
Introduction
I The Camp
   The Prison Camp... The Barracks... The Patients... The Silly Priest... “Stop This!”... A Summons to the Major... Life Goes On... “Where Two or Three Are Gathered in My Name”... “The Fair One”... “O Mother of God! Do Not Abandon Them!”... Mihail... “Whose Side Are You On, Priest?”... Sazikov... The Confession... “I Will Not Leave You”... A Hard Trek... “I Order You to Stop!”... A Joy... Life Continues... The Interrogation... Major Changes... Leave-Taking... Departure...
II The Path
   Introduction to Part II... I Remember... Notes of a Woman Named Tatiana... We Meet Again... Letters: Excerpts from the Memoirs of O.S.... Returning from the Past... I Remember... Irina... The Journalist... The Musician... Two Steps to the Side... I Am Freezing... The Boots...
III Spiritual Children
   “O Victorious Leader of Triumphant Hosts!”... Father Matthew... Father Platon Skorino... Mother Maria... O Mother of God, Help Me!... On the Roof... An Admission... A Note... A Panikhida... I Deliver Letters... Lena... Liuda... A Few Sad Thoughts... Pavel Semionovich...
A Few Words in Conclusion
Translator’s Afterword