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Anyone know of someone in the Houston area who is knowledgeable on that aspect of Russian Orthodox tradition/spirituality known as "fools for Christ?"

There's a small group of Catholics here who would like to learn more about it.

Short of that, any links to a good written exposition/discussion?

Dear Latin Lurker,

There is a good article in "The Byzantine Saint" ed.Hackel, London, 1981 "The Holy Fool" Lennart Ryden p. 106-113.

By the best is probably Kallistos (Ware)'s "The Fool in Christ as Prophet and Apostle" in 'Sobornost' vi, no. 2, 1984.

Another introduction (perhaps more easy to find in a library?) was recently published in "Again" magazine (1996), "Holy Fools" by Jim Forest p. 21-31.


Perhaps the most influential "Life" of a holy fool is that of 'Symeon the Holy Fool' by Leontius. A marvelous book which includes a translation of the Life: "Symeon the Holy Fool, Leontius's Life and the Late Antique City", Derek Krueger, Berkeley, 1996.

This life was most important, and became influential in ascetic literature, almost becoming the normative work in understanding this grace and call.

The grace never seemed to be widespread, until the flowering of the vocation in Russia. An illustration of that is the popular Saint Xenia. An account of her wonderful life is translated and published by the Jordanville monastery. This is a handy translation of the life of a famous and very popular "fool for Christ": "The Life and Miracles of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg" Jordanville, 1997.

The number of fools in Russia, is recounted in a readable collection presented by the Synaxis Press (The Canadian Orthodox Publishing House) Dewdney, B.C. publishes "God's Fools, the lives of the holy "Fools for Christ" translated from the Russian, and illustrated by Bishop Varlaam (Novakshonoff), with a forward by Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo), 1973.
The Krueger book contains the best bibliography.

Hope this helps...

Enjoy the study, a wonderful topic!

Elias

I posted you question on the Orthodox Discussion groups I belong to and here are the replies -

Here are some links about particular Fool for Chrsit saints:
http://www.stjohndc.org/Saints/9507a.htm
http://www.stjohndc.org/Saints/9807c.htm
http://www.roca.org/OA/43/43m.htm
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/basil_moscow.htm
http://www.goarch.org/access/calendar/May/May_10.html
http://blazhenny.narod.ru/ (follow the english links)
http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/


Just from a Google search of "fool for Christ"
Raphael in Tennessee

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The best thing I have found written on Fools for Christ is in a book by

Christos Yannaras, published by St. Vladimir's press. The book is entitled,

"The Freedom of Morality." Chapter Four of this book provides a short

theological and practical exposition of the phenomenon of the Fools for

Christ.



TK

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I suggest they try to get hold of the Anglican priest John Saward's "Perfect
Fools - Folly for Christ's sake in Catholic and Orthodox spirituality" (OUP
1980, ISBN 0-19-213230-X).

He deals with Greek Fools (saloi) as well as Russian (yurodivye), arguing
that the Russian tradition came from the West rather than Byzantium and the
East. He discusses the place of folly in the Carthusian, Cistercian and
Franciscan traditions, for example, and takes the story up to our own times
in the person of the Irishman Matt Talbot.

The book's 230 pages are extensively annotated with references and it makes
fascinating if detailed reading.

Fr Alban.

_________________________________

Protopresbyter Alban Barter,
Penlan, Llanfwrog,
Ruthin, Denbighshire LL15 1LG.
Tel: 01824-702505. Fax: 01824-705778

_________________________________

I don't know of any links per se; all I know is what I read in Bishop Kallistos Ware's book, "The Orthodox Way." I will say, though, that this is NOT NOT NOT a way of life one chooses for oneself, but one is led to it by the grace of God and under the direction of one's spiritual father. To take it on under any other conditions would be prideful and, dare I say, demonic in origin. That would almost certainly lead to real insanity.

Dear Friend,

The classic Fool for Christ whose Life is comprehensively and well written up is St Theophilus, the Fool for Christ of the Kyivan Caves Lavra.

Jordanville published his Life and it is widely available.

Some have suggested that the Turkish Whirling Dervishes were the Muslim counterpart of the Fool for Christ's Sake.

In fact, there was a Turkish Christian New Martyr, St Alexander, who was a Whirling Dervish himself.

He became a Christian and preached Christ to his Turkish compatriots for 17 years!

Since he was a dervish, everyone thought he wasnt' really serious about all that "Lord Jesus is our Saviour" stuff!

After 17 years, some Turks realized he truly was a Christian and he was martyred.

The status of Dervish was sacred in Turkish society and the fact that one of these became a Christian shook Turkish society for years afterwards.

Alex

Your replies are wonderful and much appreciated. I am digesting it all and waiting for the day when I can thank each of you individually.

Ed