Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Seraphim of Sarov
witnesses of the undivided Church
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article by Michel Evdokimov offers a comparative study of two major figures of Christian holiness: Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) and Seraphim of Sarov (1754-1833), one from the Western Catholic tradition, the other from Russian Orthodox spirituality. Through a meditative and theological approach, the author examines what unites these two saints beyond their distinct ecclesial contexts: inner transformation through trial, radical self-stripping, and unconditional openness to the other. The central idea is that authentic holiness requires a struggle against the passions and a demanding inner discipline, necessary conditions for the attainment of spiritual freedom. The contribution of the article lies in its ecumenical dialogue between two spiritual traditions, highlighting their deep anthropological convergence in the face of the challenges of a contemporary world marked by hedonism and individualism.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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