Spiritual son of the Elder Sophrony visits Diocese of the South

On Feburary 10, 2008, His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri and the St Seraphim Cathedral clergy and faithful were honored by the visit of the Archimandrite Zacharias of the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist located in the small village of Tolleshunt Knights in Essex, England. Elder Zacharias travelled to the USA to speak at the clergy conference of the Antiochian Archdiocese diocese of the West earlier this week before coming to Dallas to lead a one-day retreat hosted by the North Texas Orthodox Missions group at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Large crowds at both Dallas venues greeted Archimandrite Zacharias who were blessed to hear his prepared presentations and his wise consul via questions offered by clergy and laity. At St Seraphim Cathedral the Elder offered the homily on the desire of Zachaaeus to see Christ even to the point of shame and ridicule by others, yet for overcoming these insults of the world he received salvation and that of his whole household.

Archimandrite Zacharias is the author of two recent books published by Mt. Tabor Publishing, The Enlargement of the Heart and The Hidden Man of the Heart. Both books are an outgrowth of the life long experiences of the Elder Zacharias who is the spiritual son of the Elder Sophrony (1896-1993) the founder of the St. John the Baptist Monastery in Essex. The Elder Sophrony was the disciple of St. Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938). Thus his teachings are part of an unbroken chain of spiritual teachers of two great Fathers of the Church.

The visit of Elder Zacharias afforded His Eminence Dmitri and the Archimandrite to renew acquaintances after 40 years when they first met each other in Paris, France.

Archimandrite Zacharias will also travel to St. Tikhon Monastery and Seminary before returning to England.