The University of Oxford hosted a presentation of the English-language book by Ukrainian historian Serhiy Shumylo "Elder Avvakum of Mount Athos. The Life of Athonite Hieroschemamonk Avvakum (Vakarov)" - about the Ukrainian Athonite Elder Avvakum (Vakarov), who came from Transcarpathia and was a student of the famous Orthodox saint St Silouan of Athos.
This was reported by a Ukrainian researcher on his Facebook page.
During the presentation, the author spoke about certain aspects of the Ukrainian heritage on Athos and the role of Transcarpathians in the preservation of the Athos Panteleimon Monastery in the second half of the twentieth century. The presentation was held as part of the conference of the British Society "The Friends of Mount Athos", whose honorary patron is His Majesty King Charles III. For many years, the president of the Society was Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware; 1934-2022) of Diokleia, an Orthodox theologian and patrologist, professor at Oxford University, honorary chairman of the International Institute of Athonite Legacy in Ukraine and President of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge.
The book about the Ukrainian Elder Avvakum is a joint publication of the International Institute of Athonite Legacy in Ukraine and the British Society "The Friends of Mount Athos". It is one of the last publications to be carried out during his lifetime with the blessing of Metropolitan Kallistos and begins with his introduction.
As Metropolitan Kallistos notes in his introduction, "the life and deeds of Elder Avakum are instructive and convincingly testify to what a person can achieve spiritually when he selflessly serves God and his fellow men."
According to the author, the presentation of the book in Oxford was planned for last year, but due to the Russian war against Ukraine and the death of Metropolitan Kallistos, it was not possible. Now, the presentation has become possible thanks to the support of Serhii Shumylo athonic studies research projects by the British Academy and the University of Exeter, where the Ukrainian historian has recently been working as a visiting scholar.
The conference also featured a presentation of the fifth volume of the English translation of Philokalia, which was published this year in Oxford. According to Serhii Shumylo, this is a unique publication, because now the philokalian works of the Eastern Church Fathers are available in a high-quality English translation. Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) worked on this translation in the last years of his life together with Prof Palmer and Prof Sherrard, but the publication was not completed last year during his lifetime. This presentation was given by Prof Fr Andrew Louth, who spoke on "The Completion of the English Philokalia: the end of a long journey".