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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Has anyone out there read Unseen Warfare as edited by Nicodemus of the Holy Mountian and revised by Theophan the Recluse?
What did you think? Any good?
What did you think? Any good?
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ciero
Guest
A fantastic book!! 
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Alexander_Roman
Guest
It is, in fact, a Western devotional book that was adapted for Orthodox usage (for example, the overt emphasis on the Jesus Prayer and downplaying of the use of mental images in prayer).
Not an easy read, but it was never intended to be. St Nicodemos didn’t go far enough in editing the original Latin text according to St Theophane the Recluse which is why the latter reworked a great deal more of it. Unseen Warfare has become a timeless spiritual classic and is often ranked alongside the Philokalia.
St Nicodemos adapted numerous Western texts to Orthodoxy and Orthodox readers, including … the Spiritual Exercises of the Jesuits. (This got him into some trouble when word got out who the author of that book really was - yet it has been republished without Loyola’s name and is used by monks on Mt Athos today).
St Peter Mohyla, Orthodox Metropolitan of Kyiv and Rus’ translated the “Imitation of Christ” and other similar works.
Alex
Not an easy read, but it was never intended to be. St Nicodemos didn’t go far enough in editing the original Latin text according to St Theophane the Recluse which is why the latter reworked a great deal more of it. Unseen Warfare has become a timeless spiritual classic and is often ranked alongside the Philokalia.
St Nicodemos adapted numerous Western texts to Orthodoxy and Orthodox readers, including … the Spiritual Exercises of the Jesuits. (This got him into some trouble when word got out who the author of that book really was - yet it has been republished without Loyola’s name and is used by monks on Mt Athos today).
St Peter Mohyla, Orthodox Metropolitan of Kyiv and Rus’ translated the “Imitation of Christ” and other similar works.
Alex
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dcointin
Guest
I read it during Lent a few years ago, and thought it was excellent. It’s very intense in its spirituality, even extreme at times, but it was intended for monastics who are accustomed to strict spiritual discipline. I would read it slowly and really take the time to digest it paragraph by paragraph, and look for things that you could apply to your own life while you read. What I really liked about it is that it’s truly an ecumenical book, written by an Italian monk and revised by an Orthodox monk, so its spirituality draws from both traditions. Again its a difficult book, but well worth the time.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Thanks for the advice.
Due to recent cognative issues, “chemo brain”, I think I will wait on this one.
Needs something lighter to start with.
I was given a copy of Way to Happiness by Fulton J, Sheen when I made my first vows. I think I will give that a try.
Not to worry though, my “chemo brain” does not seem to be that bad and has mostly resolved at the moment, I just don’t want to start out with something really tough.
Due to recent cognative issues, “chemo brain”, I think I will wait on this one.
Needs something lighter to start with.
I was given a copy of Way to Happiness by Fulton J, Sheen when I made my first vows. I think I will give that a try.
Not to worry though, my “chemo brain” does not seem to be that bad and has mostly resolved at the moment, I just don’t want to start out with something really tough.
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