The Personalistic Mysticism of Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov): Sacramentological Context
Proceedings of the Saratov Orthodox Theological Seminary September 25, 2025 Valery S. Budyanskiy
The article examines Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov)'s mystical theology through its sacramentological dimension, arguing that sacraments are central to Christian spiritual life. Mysticism is treated as a semantic shade of theology involving rational description of communion with God, while Orthodox dogmatic theology serves as the basis for critically analyzing spiritual experience. The author's personalistic interpretation integrates Orthodox mysticism into a sacramental context, viewing church sacraments as both foundation and catalyst for actualizing human personality and transitioning to a personal mode of existence. This perspective aims to improve study of 20th-century theological legacy and reception of Sophrony's ideas.