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Title: The Diary of a Russian Priest by Aleksandr V. Elchaninov, Helen Iswolsky ISBN: 0-88141-000-4 Publisher: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (1 review)

Rating: 4
Summary: Sip this cream in small portions.
Comment: Fr. Alexander Elchaninov(1881-1934) was a genuine Russian priest to the backbone. A simple childlike ascetic and at same time a thoroughly educated man which this book show. With a background as a teacher and member of the intellectual elitè of pre-revolutionary St. Petersburg for a decade(1900-10) he knew personally many of those who came to form a "revival" of religion and philosophy of the time. But he was of different material. He soon gave up teaching, fled to France in the 1920's and stayed there until his pre-mature repose of a complicated ulcer in 1934.

It's an odd book this. Small notes, cards, papers, parts of manuscripts for books he never finished - all this was collected by his loving wife Tamara and published after his death. It's more like a big collection of notes and ideas the priest jotted down on pieces of paper in between his enormous workload as spiritual father for many, many emigré Russians in France. This is not Ernest Hemingways France - the moveable feast, but quite another picture. Elchaninovs France is seldom on the sunny side of the street. But spiritually it's inspiring.

Thomas Merton once wrote in his diary that he was at his best when he wrote short filosofical or religious comments on a piece of paper, than when he wrote even his most popular books. Fr. Alexander never came around to write any books, the workload being too heavy and the time too short, but his notes are thought-rendering and close to Mertons diaries. And one can read clearly out of this book that he loved and treasured his vocation.

The minuses, but also in it's own way the pluses, is of course the briefness of Fr. Alexanders thoughts and reflection about his ministry and spirtuality, and lack of thorough descriptions of the enviroment he lived in. But still one can feel his warmth of heart and some few larger sections that covers at least to a certain degree some of his experiences.

Sip this cream in small portions.