Shepherd of Souls: The Life and Teachings of Elder Cleopa, Master of Inner Prayer and Spiritual Father of Romania (1912–1998)

Publication Data: Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2000
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 230
Dimensions (l × w × h): 20.9 cm × 13.4 cm × 1.3 cm
Additional Information: black-and-white illustrations
ISBN: 1‒887904‒04‒2

   
By Archimandrite Ioanichie Balan

“Whenever I ponder the fact that I met Elder Cleopa personally—not just once but many times—I realize that I encountered a man who knew God and who lived in Paradise even while here on earth. I met someone who had received a spiritual wholeness by growing up in a traditional Orthodox society. This wholeness was transmitted to his developing soul not only through the religious life of the Romanian people but through all aspects of village life. Thus, the shepherd boy grew and developed with an integrity rarely seen in the contemporary world.”
—“Introduction”

CONTENTS

Introduction by Mother Nina
PART I: THE LIFE OF ELDER CLEOPA OF SIHASTRIA
   1. Childhood
   2. Cozancea Skete
   3. Temptations of Youth
   4. Young Ascetics
   5. Basil and Constantine Leave Home
   6. A New Life
   7. A Brief History of Sihastria Skete
   8. Archimandrite Ioanichie Moroi—Renewer of Sihastria Skete
   9. Entrance into the Monastery
   10. The Sheepfold
   11. Meeting with St, John the Romanian
   12. First Instructor—Fr. Galacteon
   13. Trials
   14. Christopher the Hesychast
   15. The Power of the Psalms
   16. Brother Constantine Is Healed
   17. Ryassaphore Monk Basil (1905–1931)
   18. The Prophecy of St. John the Bishop
   19. The Marvelous End of Br. Basil
   20. Monk Gerasim Ilie (1907–1933)
   21. Heavenly Vision of Br. Constantine
   22. Miracle of St. John the New
   23. Departure to the Army
   24. The Bond between Schema-monk Paisius and Br. Constantine
   25. Tonsure into Monasticism
   26. The Fire of 1941
   27. How Monk Cleopa Was Chosen Abbot
   28. Rebuilding the Skete
   29. The Last Days of Abbot Ioanichie Moroi
   30. Ordination
   31. Sihastria Skete (1945–1946)
   32. Sihastria Raised to the Rank of Monastery
   33. Fr. Cleopa Tonsures His Mother into Monasticism
   34. A Miracle of the Mother of God
   35. Joys and Sorrows
   36. The Lost Sheep
   37. How Fr. Cleopa Delivered a Woman from Death
   38. Elder Pasius Olaru Enters Sihastria
   39. Communists Take Over Romania
   40. Fr. Cleopa Escapes into the Wilderness
   41. The Renewal of Slatina Monastery
   42. Abbot Cleopa—Renewer of Monastic Life in Moldavia
   43. How Abbot Cleopa Was Delivered from the Abbotship of Neamts
   44. Second Flight into the Wilderness (1952–1954)
   45. Monastic Revival
   46. Sihastria (1949–1959)
   47. Persecution (1959–1964)
   48. Fr. Cleopa’s Third Exile to the Wilderness
   49. Sihastria during Fr. Cleopa’s Absence
   50. The Tears of Mother Agafia
   51. The Return of Fr. Cleopa
   52. The Good Shepherd
   53. Uncreated Light
   54. Woman of Prayer
   55. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
   56. Pilgrimage to Mt. Athos
   57. The Eldership of Fathers Paisius and Cleopa
   58. The Spiritual Qualities of Fr. Cleopa
   59. He That Endures until the End Shall Be Saved
   60. In the Image of Adam
   61. His Last Days
   62. Departure to Christ
   63. Burial
   64. The Forty-Day Memorial
   65. Christ is Risen!
PART II: THE FINAL WORD OF ELDER CLEOPA TO THE COMMUNITY OF SIHASTRIA
PART III: WORDS AND DEEDS OF INSTRUCTION
Glossary
Index