ÎNTRE TĂCEREA CHILIEI ȘI GLASUL CETĂȚII
Tradiție și înnoire duhovnicească în vremea Sfinților Nil Sorski și Iosif de Volokolamsk

The present work concerns a telling episode in the history and spirituality of the Russian Church, marked by the luminous traces left by two key personalities of the time – the Venerable Saints Nil Sorsky (1433-1508) and Joseph of Volokolamsk (1439-1515) – in a turbulent period, full of transformations and reforms in both the political and religious life of the country. They renounced the world with a clear, righteous and pure intention, becoming ardent defenders of monasticism and dedicating themselves with all their strength to achieving a reform of thought and morality in the society of that time. These great Orthodox saints particularly distinguished themselves and remained in history as two pedagogues, defenders and reformers of Russian monasticism, representatives of two sides of monastic life and ministry (mystical, contemplative life and external, social action), considered for a long time to be in complete contradiction, and the abbots Nile and Joseph – seen as two enemies. The present research effort was initiated with the intention of re-evaluating and emphasizing the special role of the two truly emblematic figures – not only for Russian spirituality, but also for the entire Orthodox tradition –, out of the desire to make them known to the Romanian public. The volume aims to combat some clichés propagated in older historiography – which suggested the existence of an alleged controversy or even hostility between the pious Nil and Joseph – by capitalizing on and interpreting the more nuanced perspectives offered by recent historiographical research. Highlighting the fact that they do not deny each other, but have the same goal, each fulfilling their tasks in their own way; emphasizing the good relationship that existed between them, as well as the way in which they cooperated, in terms of solving various problems in public life – are among the main objectives of the research. The work aims to bring additional knowledge to the field of Romanian historical theology, constituting a first attempt at a systematic and comprehensive analysis and presentation of the life, activity and spiritual heritage of the two enlightened figures of holiness in the Russian Church – Nil Sorski and Joseph of Volokolamsk –, highlighting both their anchoring in the tradition of the Holy Fathers, as well as those elements of spiritual renewal, promoted through monastic reforms and through the social-philanthropic initiatives proposed by them.