Romania: Its Hesychast Tradition and Culture

by Bp. Seraphim Joanta

Since accepting Christianity in the 3rd century, Romanian culture has been leavened by its vital monasticism, which has preserved to our own day the highest spiritual tradition of Christianity: hesychasm, the interior stillness and vigilance by which passions are overcome and the "still, small voice of God" is heard. This is the source of the nation's spiritual strength, which has sustained it for almost 2,000 years through the worst storms of history: barbarian invasions, Ottoman conquest, and Communist tyranny. Through them all, the people's faith and love of God have remained unshaken, and have given life to the second largest Orthodox Church in the world. This book takes us on a pilgrimage through Romanian history, its monasteries, saints and elders, and shows us how much wealth this once materially impoverished people has to offer the West today.

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992