Ignatius Bryanchaninov

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807–1867) is a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born Demetrius Alexandrovich Brianchaninov, to a wealthy landowning family. He was educated at Pioneer Military School in St. Petersburg. Although successful in his studies he was deeply dissatisfied with the lay life and turned to a life of prayer. In 1827 he fell seriously ill and left the army on this ground. He began pursuing a monastic vocation and in 1831 took monastic vows and received the monastic name of Ignatius. Soon after he was ordained a priest. He rose rapidly to the rank of archimandrite and at the age of 26 was appointed superior of the Maritime Monastery of St. Sergius in St. Petersburg. In 1857, he was consecrated Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea, but he retired only four years later to devote himself to spiritual writing.^[1]

He wrote a large amount of material, mostly about the spiritual life and prayer. Only a small portion of his writing has been translated into English. Although his writing was intended primarily for monks, his works are highly recommended for lay Christians by leading Orthodox figures such as Father Thomas Hopko.^[2]

Books

Available in English translation:

• The Arena: An Offering to Contemporary Monasticism. Brianchaninov, I. Translated by Arch. Lazarus. Holy Trinity Monastery, 1997. ISBN 0-88465-011-1
• On the Prayer of Jesus. Brianchaninov, I. Translated by Arch. Lazarus. Ibis Press, 2006. ISBN 0-89254-120-2

Veneration as a saint

He was glorified (canonized) as a saint by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1988. His relics are preserved at the Tolga Monastery, near Yaroslavl.^[3]

Quotes

• He who is careless about prayer is careless about his salvation; he who quits prayer renounces his salvation.^[4]
• Worldly people and even monks without spiritual discernment are nearly always attracted by humbugs, imposters, hypocrites and those who are in demonic delusion, and they take them for saints and genuine servants of God.^[5]

References

1. ^ The Arena, pp. vi-vii.
2. ^ Hopko, Thomas. In The Spiritual Arena
3. ^ Maximovitch, St. John. The Orthodox Veneration of Mary the Birthgiver of God, St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1996. p. 20
4. ^ The Arena p. 218
5. ^ quoted from The Arena by Hopko

External links

• Ignatius Brianchaninov article from OrthodoxWiki
• Champion of the Arena - Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov article from Orthodox America
• The Act of Canonization of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Trinity-Sergius Laura, 6–9 June 1988 (Russian)