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The Philokalia
The Philokalia Vol 4: The Complete Text Compiled by St.Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St.Makarios of Corinth
'The Philokalia' is a collection of texts on prayer and the spiritual life, written between the fourth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Also devoted to themes of universal significance: how we may develop our inner powers and awake from illusion; how we may overcome fragmentation and achieve wholeness; how we may attain contemplative stillness and union with God.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 3, 2019
Having finished "The Philokalia, Vol. 1" earlier this year, I ended up next reading its Volume 4, thanks to Amazon shipping it to me instead of Volume 2 like I'd ordered. But no matter --- as it turned out, most of Volume 4's writings from the Fathers are several centuries ahead of those in the first volume, yet are entirely consistent with each other, notwithstanding the gap in time between the two.
As is the case with Volume 1, Volume 4 has practical advice to monks on how to achieve a closer relationship with God via abnegation, prayer, faster, stillness of mind, and watchfulness over one's thoughts. These same principles seemed to me mostly applicable and useful also to lay Christians desiring the same aim.
Of all the writers, I most enjoyed the practical and frank advice of St. Gregory of Sinai. As I've said before in my review on Volume 1, notwithstanding their separation from the world, I think that these Church Fathers and ascetics had a very realistic and practical view of human nature and thinking --- I doubt one from outside could put one over on them!
The latter part of Volume 4 has St. Gregory of Palamas's teaching on the Trinity and refutation of a heresy from his day. As was the case in my readings on Sts. Ambrose and Athanasius from last year, while these bear respect for their place in developing Christian doctrine, I just found this part very dry and abstract.
However, overall, I do think that this book is a valuable resource for any Christian desiring to take their Christian journey forward and looking for ideas and principles to do so, and is a worthy addition to their personal library. And now I will begin reading Volume 2!
As is the case with Volume 1, Volume 4 has practical advice to monks on how to achieve a closer relationship with God via abnegation, prayer, faster, stillness of mind, and watchfulness over one's thoughts. These same principles seemed to me mostly applicable and useful also to lay Christians desiring the same aim.
Of all the writers, I most enjoyed the practical and frank advice of St. Gregory of Sinai. As I've said before in my review on Volume 1, notwithstanding their separation from the world, I think that these Church Fathers and ascetics had a very realistic and practical view of human nature and thinking --- I doubt one from outside could put one over on them!
The latter part of Volume 4 has St. Gregory of Palamas's teaching on the Trinity and refutation of a heresy from his day. As was the case in my readings on Sts. Ambrose and Athanasius from last year, while these bear respect for their place in developing Christian doctrine, I just found this part very dry and abstract.
However, overall, I do think that this book is a valuable resource for any Christian desiring to take their Christian journey forward and looking for ideas and principles to do so, and is a worthy addition to their personal library. And now I will begin reading Volume 2!
October 9, 2008
Currently reading the material by St Gregory Palamas, almost done with his section. Incredible. Not for the faint of heart.
August 28, 2013
An invaluable tool wrought from the monks of Mt. Athos, laying out the theology of the Orthodox Church and the principles of humility for living a genuine ascetic life.
October 8, 2025
This volume moves from spiritual theology more applicable to the spiritual life to St. Gregory Palamas' more detailed rumination and arguments about essence and energy, only more tangentially applicable, even if significant, to the spiritual life. All together, the four volumes of The Philokalia present a compendium of eastern spiritual theology that is worth the time of every Christian, east or west.
September 17, 2015
The Philokalia is EXTRAORDINARY! Now, I will make an unusual assertion for a Western Christian… The Philokalia of the Eastern Church, compiled by Nicodimos and Makarios, is the most comprehensive, thorough, and integrated legacy of Christian mystical writings available today (East or West). If we can make sense of these writings we can plumb the depths of Christian Mysticism.
The English translation of The Philokalia published by Faber & Faber comes in four volumes (about 1,500 pages), so I think it’s important to identify key authors within the text, most noted for their mystical insights and clarity. For me the key Philokalia authors are Evagrius the Solitary, Hesychios The Priest, Didachos of Photiki (Volume 1)/ Maximos The Confessor (Volume 2)/ Peter of Damaskos, Makarios of Egypt (Volume 3)/ Nikitas Stithatos, Gregory of Sinai, and Gregory Palamas (Volume 4). (An aside here… I wish The Philokalia was available during the time of Thomas Merton. He would have devoured it, relished it, and publicized it in the West!)
There are many other root texts of Christian Mysticism, but in my estimation and the estimation of my organization, RCMR (Recover Christianity's Mystic Roots), these noted Philokalia writers are the place to start for a thorough and cohesive overview of texts of Christian Mysticism.
For the student of Christian Mysticism who has gotten an introductory taste, the Philokalia writers noted above will provide a wonderful foundation for an integrated study of Christian Mysticism.
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
The English translation of The Philokalia published by Faber & Faber comes in four volumes (about 1,500 pages), so I think it’s important to identify key authors within the text, most noted for their mystical insights and clarity. For me the key Philokalia authors are Evagrius the Solitary, Hesychios The Priest, Didachos of Photiki (Volume 1)/ Maximos The Confessor (Volume 2)/ Peter of Damaskos, Makarios of Egypt (Volume 3)/ Nikitas Stithatos, Gregory of Sinai, and Gregory Palamas (Volume 4). (An aside here… I wish The Philokalia was available during the time of Thomas Merton. He would have devoured it, relished it, and publicized it in the West!)
There are many other root texts of Christian Mysticism, but in my estimation and the estimation of my organization, RCMR (Recover Christianity's Mystic Roots), these noted Philokalia writers are the place to start for a thorough and cohesive overview of texts of Christian Mysticism.
For the student of Christian Mysticism who has gotten an introductory taste, the Philokalia writers noted above will provide a wonderful foundation for an integrated study of Christian Mysticism.
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
March 22, 2023
The fourth installment of this planned five volume series. A beautiful book, in fact all four volumes are beautiful! Full of pertinent, REAL information, knowledge and wisdom for the journey. Second only to the Bible in importance! All Christians, all Jews and all Muslims should read this book! It is crucial for atheists to read this also. May God give you all the best there is in life!
April 27, 2011
The Philokalia is the masterwork texts of Eastern Orthodox Spirituality and should be read within the context of a monastic life and the church as whole.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews