Father Stephen Janos passed away yesterday. Father Steve was a retired Orthodox priest, a prolific English translator of great works of Russian philosophy and literature, a friend of this blog, and my own personal pen friend and faithful correspondent.
Though it is customary to wish that our deceased friends and loved ones "rest in peace" once they leave their mortal lives behind, I will resist the urge to do so here. For starters, I very much doubt Father Steve has embraced any notion of resting in peace now that he has followed Christ into life everlasting, and I am certain he would greet any condolence attesting to either rest or peace with polite awkwardness.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Father Steve personally, but through our years of correspondence I became well acquainted with his passion and his energy. As an Orthodox priest, he was rather unorthodox. A devout and serious Christian, Father Steve dedicated a great deal of his life and work to the thought of Nikolai Aleksandrovich Berdyaev whose books and articles he translated into engaging, sincere, and illuminating English prose. Many of his full-length book translations are available on Amazon and his translations of Berdyaev's shorter pieces are available at the outstanding Berdyaev.com he maintained (see side bar for link; ignore warning).
As a Christian, Father Steve recognized and understood the importance of relationships - the relationship of individuals with God, and the relationship of individuals with each other through Christ - and worked hard to nurture and develop such relationships, primarily through the Berdyaev Discussion Group, which I had the honor of joining (a group in which I have, regrettably, not made much of a concerted effort to connect).
Father Steve was a fiery, outspoken Christian who faced his own failing health with what can only be described as a saintly sense of cheer and humor. His emails were often lucid and enigmatic, but they were always honest, always thought-provoking, and always aligned with God and Creation.
I will miss Father Steve. More accurately, I already miss Father Steve, but I do not wish that he rest in peace. On the contrary, now that he is with God, I encourage him to create with passion. If he demonstrates even a fraction of the enthusiasm and zeal he displayed during his mortal life, he will add something to Creation that will inevitably enrich us all, including God.
Create with passion, Father Steve. Create with passion.
Though it is customary to wish that our deceased friends and loved ones "rest in peace" once they leave their mortal lives behind, I will resist the urge to do so here. For starters, I very much doubt Father Steve has embraced any notion of resting in peace now that he has followed Christ into life everlasting, and I am certain he would greet any condolence attesting to either rest or peace with polite awkwardness.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Father Steve personally, but through our years of correspondence I became well acquainted with his passion and his energy. As an Orthodox priest, he was rather unorthodox. A devout and serious Christian, Father Steve dedicated a great deal of his life and work to the thought of Nikolai Aleksandrovich Berdyaev whose books and articles he translated into engaging, sincere, and illuminating English prose. Many of his full-length book translations are available on Amazon and his translations of Berdyaev's shorter pieces are available at the outstanding Berdyaev.com he maintained (see side bar for link; ignore warning).
As a Christian, Father Steve recognized and understood the importance of relationships - the relationship of individuals with God, and the relationship of individuals with each other through Christ - and worked hard to nurture and develop such relationships, primarily through the Berdyaev Discussion Group, which I had the honor of joining (a group in which I have, regrettably, not made much of a concerted effort to connect).
Father Steve was a fiery, outspoken Christian who faced his own failing health with what can only be described as a saintly sense of cheer and humor. His emails were often lucid and enigmatic, but they were always honest, always thought-provoking, and always aligned with God and Creation.
I will miss Father Steve. More accurately, I already miss Father Steve, but I do not wish that he rest in peace. On the contrary, now that he is with God, I encourage him to create with passion. If he demonstrates even a fraction of the enthusiasm and zeal he displayed during his mortal life, he will add something to Creation that will inevitably enrich us all, including God.
Create with passion, Father Steve. Create with passion.
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