Philokalia

[akpapist]

As a young traditional Roman-Rite Catholic, would I be remiss to use the Philokalia as spiritual reading? I’m not sure if there are any writings by post-schism Orthodox saints in it or not.

 

[Shin]

There’re 4 volumes so far published, I believe the first volume is entirely fine and there is no disagreement as to the holiness of the writers. The later volumes include ‘saints’ mixed in among the genuine ones that aren’t ‘saints’ in Catholicism, and some of the content of these particular might have problems here or there, and so would be read with a more prudently careful eye or skipped over.

But overall, because it contains some very wise saints and so much spiritual knowledge compiled into a couple of volumes, it really is something I could recommend purchasing all the books of to everyone. There’s great deal of information on the spiritual battle, interior health, etc.

You can purchase the paperbacks, or you can get the whole thing on DVD if electronic reading is your thing.

 

[Cluny]

Any Orthodox monk or nun will tell you that the Philokalia is PhD in spirituality.

And basically, it’s written in secret code. Many of the terms there are used in technical senses, and, I promise you, you’ll find this work confusing.

Start with Kindergarten–good standard collections of Lives of the Saints: the Prologue, Butler’s, Vita Patrum by St. Gregory of Tours, and the like.

And don’t forget THE WAY OF A PILGRIM.

 

[Shin]

Any Orthodox monk or nun will tell you that the Philokalia is PhD in spirituality.

And basically, it’s written in secret code. Many of the terms there are used in technical senses, and, I promise you, you’ll find this work confusing.

Start with Kindergarten–good standard collections of Lives of the Saints: the Prologue, Butler’s, Vita Patrum by St. Gregory of Tours, and the like.

And don’t forget THE WAY OF A PILGRIM.

Yes, The Way of the Pilgrim, that’s how some people find out about the Philokalia’s existence.

Though I don’t agree with the secret code bit. It’s pretty clear, just some technical words that you have to understand the meaning of first, and there is a glossary for that.

 

[Shin]

Oh yes, and I do love St. Gregory of Tours’s work.

I think I’ll quote them both

From the Philokalia, St. Maximos the Confessor:

‘There are many people in the world who are poor in spirit, but not in the way that they should be; there are many who mourn, but for some financial loss or the death of their children; many are gentle, but towards unclean passions; many hunger and thirst, but only to seize what does not belong to them and to profit from injustice; many are merciful, but towards their bodies and the things that serve the body; many are pure in heart, but for the sake of self-esteem; many are peace-makers, but by making the soul submit to the flesh; many are persecuted, but as wrongdoers; many are reviled, but for shameful sins. Only those are blessed who do or suffer these things for the sake of Christ and after His example. Why? Because theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and they shall see God (cf. Matt. 5:3-12). It is not because they do or suffer these things that they are blessed, for those of whom we have spoken above do the same; it is because they do them and suffer them for the sake of Christ and after His example.’

From St. Gregory of Tours:

‘I will relate what happened at that time in a certain monastery, but I do not wish to give the name of the monk, who is still alive, for fear that when this account comes to him he may become vainglorious and lose merit. A young man came to the monastery and presented himself to the abbot with the proposal to pass his life in God’s service. The abbot made many objections, explaining that the service there was hard, and he could never accomplish what was required of him. But he promised that he would call on the Lord’s name and accomplish it all. And so he was admitted by the abbot. After a few days during which he proved to all that he was humble and holy, it happened that the monks threw out of the granary about three chori of grain and left it to dry in the sun and appointed this monk to guard it. And while the others were taking refreshment and he was left to guard the grain, the sky suddenly became overcast, and a heavy rain with roaring wind came swiftly in the direction of the heap of grain. Upon seeing it the monk knew not how to act or what to do. He thought however that even if he called the rest considering the great quantity of grain they would not be able to store it in the granary before the rain, and so giving up everything else he devoted himself to prayer, beseeching the Lord not to allow a drop of the rain to fall on the wheat. And when he threw himself on the ground and prayed the cloud was divided, and although there was a heavy downpour all around, if it is right to say so, it did not dampen a single grain of the wheat. And when the other monks and the abbot became aware of the coming storm they came quickly to take the grain within, and saw this miracle, and looking for the man in charge of the grain they found him close by stretched out on the sand praying. The abbot on seeing this prostrated himself close to him, and when the rain had passed and the prayer was finished he called to him to arise, and gave orders to seize him and punish him with stripes, saying: “My son, you must grow in the fear and service of God with humility, and not be puffed up with prodigies and miracles.” He ordered him to remain shut up in his cell seven days, and to fast as if he were at fault, in order to keep vainglory from forming an obstacle before him. At the present time, as we learn from men of the faith, the same monk is so abstemious that he eats no bread in the forty days of Lent and drinks only a cup of barley-water every third day. And may the Lord with your prayers deign to keep him as is pleasing to himself until his life is ended.’

 

[Cluny]

Yes, The Way of the Pilgrim, that’s how some people find out about the Philokalia’s existence.

Though I don’t agree with the secret code bit. It’s pretty clear, just some technical words that you have to understand the meaning of first, and there is a glossary for that.

There were previously two volumes of excerpts: WRITINGS FROM THE PHILOKALIA ON THE PRAYER OF THE HEART and EARLY FATHERS FROM THE PHILOKALIA.

And it was my sallies into these that convinced me they were written in secret code.

 

[Shin]

Heheh, well I’ve never read those. Especially if they are without the glossary. . .

I think yes, it would be tough. . .

Lol. Well, if you were willing to break out a dictionary and it was a -very- good and unabridged dictionary, though even then at times it would not have some of the words or what they truly meant in any case.

 

[Cluny]

I forgot to mention that EARLY FATHERS… and WRITING FROM… were translated from the Russian recension (which was translated from the Slavonic version).

 

[Shin]

I forgot to mention that EARLY FATHERS… and WRITING FROM… were translated from the Russian recension (which was translated from the Slavonic version).

lol… Translated from the Russian… now that’s got to be something.

Dostoyevski does the Philokalia?

 

[Layman]

Errr … I think I have this volume at home and I found it to be a very good and fairly easy read. Get stuck in:
Philokalia Vol. 1

I just dipped into it. [From memory] Some parts contain numbered aphorisms so reading 1 - 200 can be robotic. I recommend flicking though it, initially. Some writers are easier to read than others. Lives and works of saints are good in that you can read what others have done, before you start mortifying yourself and you can avoid their mistakes and pick up tips.

Some good stories in there, also.

 

[Cluny]

lol… Translated from the Russian… now that’s got to be something.

Dostoyevski does the Philokalia?

St. Paisius Velichkovsky translated a selection into Slavonic in 1 or 2 volumes (don’t know for sure).

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov used this for his 5 vol Russian version of the Philokalia.

Then there’s a Romanian version that’s 10 volumes–so far.