Theophan was born George Govorov, to a priestly family in 1815. He lived and grew in an atmosphere steeped in Orthodox tradition and eventually attended the famed Kiev Theological academy. In 1841, at the age of only 26, he became both a Hieromonk and a Master of Theology. Theophan accepted the position as Rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, and in 1859 became the bishop of Tambov. He later became the bishop of Vladimir but longed for spiritual solitude. Eventually granted an early retirement, Theophan retreated into a monastery where he became a spiritual “recluse” within his cell. He spent many years laboring in prayer and writing discourses and books on everything from spirituality and prayer, to the proper family life and raising of children. One of his most famous works is the classic, “Unseen Warfare.” Theophan fell asleep in the Lord 1894, at the age of 79, and was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as part of its millennium celebrations in 1988.
