SAINT CLEOPA OF SIHĂSTRIA AS AN APOSTLE OF HIS NATION: LITURGY, PASTORAL AUTHORITY, AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN CONTEMPORARY ORTHODOXY
SAINT CLEOPA OF SIHĂSTRIA AS AN APOSTLE OF HIS NATION: LITURGY, PASTORAL AUTHORITY, AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN CONTEMPORARY ORTHODOXY
Author(s): Stefan Iulian ApopeiSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion, Religion and science , Biblical studies, Eastern Orthodoxy, Other Christian Denominations, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion, Psychology of Religion
Published by: Editura Arhipelag XXI
Keywords: Saint Cleopa; Orthodoxy; priesthood; liturgy; authority; leadership; communism
Summary/Abstract: This article examines the image of Saint Cleopa of Sihăstria as a model of Orthodox pastoral authority grounded in liturgical life and ascetical humility rather than institutional power or public visibility. Focusing on his activity within twentieth-century Romanian Orthodoxy, the study analyzes how Eucharistic practice, prayer, and spiritual fatherhood shaped a form of religious leadership resilient to ideological pressure and post-communist secularization. By situating Saint Cleopa’s pastoral legacy at the intersection of liturgy, humility, and collective religious identity, the article contributes to broader discussions on religious authority, charisma, and leadership in modern Orthodox contexts.
Journal: Journal of Romanian Literary Studies
- Issue Year: 2026
- Issue No: 44
- Page Range: 1464-1472
- Page Count: 9
- Language: Romanian
