The Russian Orthodox Church is commemorating...

Theophan was born Georgy Govorov in the Oryol Province in central European Russia in 1815. His father was a priest. In 1841 Theophan was ordained a hieromonk after graduating from the Kiev Theological Academy and in 1859 he became the Bishop of Tambov.

St. Theophan was appointed Superior of the Vysha Monastery in 1866 but soon resigned to devote himself to writing spiritual books that have since been of great significance and help for many Orthodox Christians. His most famous works include The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned to It and The Path to Salvation.

He continued writing books after his reclusion started in 1872. Theophan died in 1894 on Epiphany and was canonized by the Russian Church in 1988.

"A Christian without zeal is a poor Christian," reads one of his famous sayings.

MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti, Ivan Korzun)