A book about the Elder Avakum of Mount Athos was published in Oxford

A new book by Ukrainian historian Serhii Shumylo “Elder Avvakum of Mount Athos. The Life of Athonite Hieroschemamonk Avvakum (Vakarov)” – about the Athonite Elder Avvakum (Vakarov), who came from Transcarpathia and was a disciple of the famous Orthodox saint St Silouan of Athos.

The book was published by the International Institute of Athos Heritage in cooperation with the British society “The Friends of Mount Athos”, whose official patron is HRH Prince Charles of Wales.

The book was published with the blessing of Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, an Orthodox theologian and patron, Professor at Oxford University, Honorary Chairman of the International Institute of Athos Heritage and The Friends of Mount Athos, President of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge.

The book begins with his introduction, as well as an introduction by Dr Graham Speake, Secretary General of The Friends of Mount Athos, from Oxford. The book’s scientific editor is Dr Nicholas Fennell. The publication is a joint project of the International Institute of Athos Heritage and the British Society “The Friends of Mount Athos”.

The 108-page book, based on little-known archival sources and using the example of Athos Elder Avakum (Vakarov; 1899-1972), describes the history of the Transcarpathian monks’ stay on Athos in the twentieth century and their role in the preservation of the Panteleimon Monastery of Athos. A large number of colour illustrations and photographs from the Athos archives are also included on 16 pages. The edition is printed in 1000 copies.

As Dr Graham Speak, Secretary General of The Friends of Mount Athos, noted in his introductory remarks, “the book is an important contribution to the history of the spiritual influence of the Holy Mountain, bringing back from oblivion the names of many twentieth-century Mount Athos ascetics, including Hieroschimonos Avakum (Vakarov). He was the spiritual son of St Silouan of Athos, who was especially revered by Orthodox Christians in Britain and other countries.” In his turn, Metropolitan Callistus (Ware) noted that “his life and deeds are instructive and convincingly testify to what a person can achieve spiritually by selflessly serving God and his fellow human beings.”

The book was prepared on the basis of the previously published joint monograph “The Athos Elder from Zakarpattia. Hieroschimonos Avvakum (Vakarov) and his time: 1899-1972” (Kyiv, 2019, prepared by S. Shumylo together with Y. Danilets, P. Haidenko and M. Shkarovsky.

The author would like to express his sincere gratitude to Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), Dr G. Speake, Dr N. Fennell, Dr Y. Danylts, Dr M. Shkarovsky, Dr P. Haydenko, W. Thompson, M. Samsonova, and all those who helped with this book at various stages.

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