Philokalia

[Terry]

I have a copy of "Writings from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart". My question is about the references in parenthesis after certain statements. Many are from the Bible such as for example (Rom. xii. 19, 21). My question involves the ones referenced Ch.

An example would be as in Directions to Heychasts in the section on the Monks Callistus and Ignatius. In section 80. About Slipping and Repentance is the reference (Ch. 90).

Could someone fill me in as to what that refers to? Terry

[Raphael Shelton]

Could they be references to the full Philokalia?

[Richard Leigh]

In each case you see a reference like that it follows a quotation from a holy Father. In the particular case you mention it is to chapter 90 of whatever work of St. Isaac the monks, Callistus and Ignatius are quoting. The suspicion is that there is only one work, otherwise I'm sure it would be titled. BTW, that "section" 80 is a chapter.

Richard

[Fr Averky]

Dear Terry,

I rather think Richard Leigh is correct. I do not know if you are Orthodox or not, but I will say the book that you have is best for non-Orthodox and generally for Orthodoxy laity, for it contains selections. As I have mentioned on this forum before, it is not usually given for laypeople to read the full Philokalia, and when it came to the fifth volume, Bishop kallistos himself mentions that he had to consider many times before he finally did put it to print, due to some of its content.

This is actually so of other Fathers: one entire section of St. Basils directioins for monk has never beern printed in English, because it describes rather graphically certain terrible sins, and it has been feared that young or weak monks would be tempted rather than helped by reading it.

In the book of needs, there is a rather long list of sins for which there is a severe penalty, and again, they are so vividly described, that in even the most recdet edition of the "Book of Needs," they are not to be found.

However, in regards to the Philokalia, it requires a greater spiritual knowledge and depth to be understood than most books and so people are usually steered to other reading.

Permit me to suggest, and I can only suggest, that for the time being, you be content with what you have. I say this out of spiritual concern for you.

In Christ,

Fr. A.

[Byzcath1]

Slava Isusu Christu!

Hello every buddy, Im not completly sure what the
Philokalia is about? Could you give me a brief synopsis?

In Christ
Daniel

[Terry]

A Night in the desert of the Holy Mountain. I just received this book today and am nearly finished reading it. I really like this book. It has a lot of useful information on the Jesus Prayer. I would like to hear some of your opinions on the book and its usefulness as a reference for Prayer of the Heart......Terry

[Richard Leigh]

Dear Daniel,

In short, it is a digest of the most spiritual classics of Orthodoxy from about the sixth century on. In English it comes to five volumes.
It's pretty deep, you might ask your priest about it.

Richard

[Fr Averky]

Dear Daniel,

it is a compilation of writings of Early Fathers, and usually, it is not recommended for new or non-Orthodox Christians because it has writings which are at a level that would be discernable only to a person who has struggled in the spiritual life for many years. While on the face of it, it might seem to be just "holy" writings, there is much more to it than that. It is something you need to wait to read until much later.

Richard, thank you from my heart.

Fr. A.

[Antonios Spartan]

Hi,

Has anyone heard any information regarding the projected date of completion for the English translation of the 5th volume for the Philokalia?

In Christ,
Antonios

[Olympiada]

I have received a blessing from my godfather several months ago to read this advanced text. If anyone else has received a similiar blessing and wishes to discuss, please let me know. Specifically I am thinking about the writings about fantasy and images and the intellect in the first volume to start with.

[Tim Grass]

Don't.... Unless your godfather is very advanced, and has a blessing to be teaching people things like this, don't. The Philocalia should be read with a guide... in obedience, not alone.

--tim

[Olympiada]

My godfather is a spiritual giant. I see it was a mistake to boast. I am desiring vengenance for the slander dealt out to me lately but it has come back on me. I am ending this thread for my part now.

[Antonios]

I just stumbled upon this web site (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0571117287/026-8428948-8337246) and according to it, the long awaited 5th volume of the Philokalia is due to be released in June, 2007. It seems like such a long time away, but worth every minute!

[Stephanos]

Hello,

Does anybody know when volume five of the English translation of the Philokalia is going to be published? My Google search on this subject returned no useful results.

Best regards,

Mariusz

[Antonios]

I just stumbled upon this web site (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0571117287/203-9979921-0632736) and according to it, the long awaited 5th volume of the Philokalia is due to be released in June, 2007. It seems like such a long time away, but worth every minute!

[Stephanos]

Dear Antonios,

Thank you very much, this is good news indeed! Strange that this title would be listed on Amazon.co.uk but not on Amazon.com...

Best regards,

Mariusz

[Eugene]

Dear brothers and sisters.

If anyone of you has multi-volume English translation of Philokalia, could you please check which volume has the text "The monks Kallistus and Ignatius" and whether there are chapters 68-70 in this text. The problem is that both the Russian 5-volume translation of Philokakia and the English "Writings from Philokalia on the Prayer of the Heart" have those chapters missing.

Christ in Risen!
Evgeny

[Ken McRae]

Dear Evgeny ~

I have the 'Palmer, Sherrard, and Ware' English translation, which is complete in five volumes, but the last (fifth) volume has not been published yet. I have checked the first four volumes, and the text to which you refer is not found in them. If you are using the Russian edition prepared by St. Theophan the Recluse, it has been expanded and contains extra material not found in the edition prepared by Sts. Nikodimos and Makarios. For example, St. Theophan included, in his edition, some texts from St. Isaac the Syrian, whereas St. Nikodimos did not. Mind you, Volume Five, the last of the series is not yet in print; so there is at least a remote possibility that it might contain the text about which you are asking. Hope this helps some!

humbly ~
Theophilus

[Eugene]

Thanks a lot, Theophilus. I guess I'll have to wait for the 5-th volume.

Evgeny

[Kevin P. Edgecomb]

Hello all,
I contacted the publisher, Faber & Faber, to verify the June 2007 date (as noted above, it appears on the page for the book in Amazon.co.uk) for the release of Philokalia volume 5, and received an interesting response.

To paraphrase, the gentleman who responded noted that they have not heard from the translator in years, and that the date is certainly incorrect.

Perhaps someone might approach Bishop Kallistos to ascertain his plans?

[Aaron Taylor]

Dear Evgeny,

I see this is an old post, but I just recently joined monachos. The only four volumes currently available in English only contain the texts up through those of St Gregory Palamas, so the texts of Ss Ignatios and Kallistos in Writings from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart are the only ones available in English, to my knowledge. I have the Greek edition of St Nikodemos's text published by Astir, however, and I see that the passages in question are present in the fifth volume of this edition. The titles of these passages are 'Eti peri phantasion kai pollon kai poikilon theorion', 'Peri ton tes psyches pente dynameon; omoios de kai peri phantasion oikeion tes psyches kai tou nou; kai oti dei olikos pheugein ten phantasian kai tous schematismous kai tas ektyposeis kai tas morphoseis en te kathara proseuche kai te aple kai eniaia tou nou ergasia', and 'Eti peri noos'. Hope that helps a little, if you're still interested!

in Christ,
aaron