Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos wrote the book I Know a Man in Christ about Elder Sophrony as an expression of gratitude for his long association (17 years) with the Elder and “to share with readers the spiritual wealth that I unworthily received”.

The first part of the book is a spiritual portrait of Elder Sophrony. After a brief survey of his theology, the author examines the Elder’s writings in the light of the experience of saints of the Church, particularly St Paul, St Symeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas, thus placing his teaching in a wider context. There is a careful analysis of the Elder’s correspondence with David Balfour, which reveals “many subtle details of the spiritual life”but also how “a genuine spiritual father guides those entrusted to him”.

The second part of the book records what the author learnt and experienced during visits to the Monastery of St John the Baptist in meetings and informal conversations with the Elder and as a concelebrant at the Divine Liturgy. Over the years he carefully recorded the Elder’s words and amassed an archive of notes that he publishes here. The subjects covered reflect both Father Sophrony’s and the author’s personal and pastoral concerns and include prayer (particularly the Jesus Prayer); monasticism and obedience; priesthood and the temptations it brings; giving spiritual guidance; the problems facing those who become Orthodox; and family life. The discussions also shed light on theological issues close to the Elder’s heart.

The Elder’s teaching are presented mostly in his own words, interspersed with brief accounts of the author’s impressions of the blessed life he lived during visits to the Monastery of St John the Baptist. We see the Elder in Church during the Divine Liturgy and the daily services, in the refectory, and meeting pilgrims.

The author also describes in I Know a Man in Christ visits to the Holy Mountain to see the various places where the Elder lived and to meet monks following the same tradition.

After the chapters arranged chronologically by year, this part of the book ends with a collection of undated sayings of the Elder, which were not spoken directly to the author but were passed on to him by others. The book shows us a “great hesychast and theologian, but also a wise, discerning and prophetic spiritual father”and brings us closer to Elder Sophrony.

Foreword by the Ecumenical Patriarch to the Greek Edition
Preface by the Author to the Greek Edition
Introduction
Part 1
‘Spiritual Autobiography’
1. The Charismatic Elder Sophrony
1. The Theology of Elder Sophrony
a) The Theological Formation of Elder Sophrony Sakharov
b) A Presentation of the Theology of Archimandrite Sophrony
2. ‘Spiritual Autobiography’
1. The Teaching of the Church as the Fruit of Experience
2. Marvellous Works
a) Early Experience
b) ‘Struggling with God - Mindfulness of Death’
c) ‘Fall’
d) ‘Returning to Christ’ – “I AM THAT I AM”
e) ‘Mourning’
f) ‘Reaching up to God’
g) ‘Visions of the Uncreated Light’
h) The Coming of the Uncreated Light and Its Concealment
i) Sermon on the Uncreated Light
j) ‘Living Confirmation’ – Saint Silouan
3. Conclusion
3. Struggle to Know God
1. Meeting and Conversation with David Balfour
2. Reflections on the Book Struggle to Know God
a) The Basis of the Book Saint Silouan the Athonite
b) Two Levels of the Spiritual Life
c) Self-emptying Love
d) The Experienced Spiritual Guide
e) Hesychastic and Liturgical Life
f) ‘Triple Alliance’
g) Conversion of Non-Orthodox to Orthodoxy
h) The Orthodox Church and other Organisations and Confessions
i) Self-emptying Love after the ‘Rift’ and the Fall
j) Miraculous Intervention and Repentance
k) General Impression
l) Testimony
3. Autobiographical Elements
a) Reason for the Letters
b) The Orthodox Church
c) Theophany – Divine Grace
d) Godforsakenness
e) Spiritual Struggle
f) Temptations
g) Orthodox Monasticism
h) Spiritual Guidance
i) Saint Silouan
Part 2
Everyday Life – Pastoral Ministry
1. Elder Sophrony in Everyday Life
a) Welcome
b) Divine Liturgy – Prayer
c) Refectory
d) Hospitality
e) Love for People
f) Discussion – Confession
g) Visits
h) Love for Nature
i) Sense of Humour
j) Taking Leave
2. Theologian and Shepherd
 1976
 1977
 1978
 1979
 1980
 1981
 1982
 1983
 1984
 1985
 1988
 1991
3. Various Words of the Elder
In Conclusion
Encomium by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and St Vlassios for Elder Sophrony the Hesychast and Theologian
Appendix
Timeless Relevance
1. ‘The Elder of the Monastery’
2. ‘Living Theology’
3. ‘Elder Sophrony’s Personal Participation in the Mystery of the Cross’
4. ‘On Prayer – The New Book by Archimandrite Sophrony’
5. ‘From the Morning Watch until the Night’
6. ‘The Theology of Elder Sophrony’
7. ‘The Chariot and Horseman of the Israel of Grace’
8. ‘Elder Sophrony’
9. ‘The Person as Truth in the Teaching of Elder Sophrony’
Photographs