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The Rev. Archimandrite Zacharias of Essex, one of the most renowned living exponents of Orthodox monastic spirituality and a direct link to one of the 20th century’s most celebrated saints spoke to an audience of more than 100 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow on Nov. 11.

In a talk entitled “The Divine Liturgy,” and afterwards during questions from the audience, Fr. Zacharias explored a wide array of themes, from the contrast between psychology and ontology to the theology of gratitude. The talk, which was well-attended by members of local Orthodox parishes and monasteries, was read by Reader Nicholas Reeves, the church’s choir director, because Fr. Zacharias was

suffering from a bad cold, but the elder was able to answer the questions

himself.

Fr. Zacharias is the principal teacher, at the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, in the U.K. He was a disciple of the late Elder Sophrony, who founded the Essex monastery after many years of study on Mt. Athos — an autonomous monastic center in Greece. Fr. Sophrony was a disciple of the great Russian 19th and 20th century saint, St. Silouan the Athonite.

Almost completely unknown during his lifetime outside of Orthodox monastic circles, St. Silouan was born in Russia in 1866. As a young man of about 18, he walked from his home in Tambov Province to the peninsula atop which the monastic foundations of Mt. Athos still sit. He spent the remainder of his life as a monk, and later priest, of the Russian Orthodox Monastery of St. Pantaleimon. He died in 1938.

Elder Sophrony arrived on Mt. Athos in 1926 as a 28-year-old artist who had left Russia during the revolution. He studied with St. Silouan for the remainder of the saint’s life and emigrated to the U.K in 1958 after 10 years in Paris.

Fr. Zacharias (Zacharou) was born in Cyprus to a devout Greek-speaking family. He went to London to study chemistry but met Elder Sophrony before finishing his studies. Abandoning chemistry for theology, Fr. Zacharias was sent to Paris to study at the renowned St. Serge Theological Institute. After five years there, he went to complete a second degree in theology at the Aristotle University in Thessalonika. Finally, he completed his doctorate in Christian ethics at Oxford University under Prof. George Matzarides.

Fluent in four languages, Fr. Zacharias is the author of several books, including “Remember Thy First Love” and “The Enlargement of the Heart.” But he is first and foremost a monk. As such, Fr. Zacharias is known for his innovative adaptation of the Jesus Prayer for communal use. The Jesus Prayer is perhaps Orthodoxy’s best-known contemplative practice and is used by Christians of many denominations.

Fr. Zacharias was slated to follow his talk in East Meadow with a second talk on Nov. 12 at St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood. A third talk was scheduled for the same evening as part of a concert of the music of his friend, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Manhattan.