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Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian
These homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian are on the life of prayer and stillness-hesychasm-and have been treasured by monastics and layman alike. The book includes an introduction about the Saint's life and the manuscripts of the homilies and the various translations of them, with maps, and Appendices with homilies by Saint Isaac only in the Syriac, a Glossary of special terms, and more. Includes all the homilies by Saint Isaac in the first edition plus two newly translated from the Syriac that were omitted from the first edition
Hardcover
First published January 1, 700
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About the author
Isaac the Syrian
4 books10 followers (Syriac: ܡܪܝ ܐܝܣܚܩ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ; Arabic: إسحاق النينوي; Greek: Ἰσαὰκ ὁ Σύρος), also remembered as Saint Isaac the Syrian, Abba Isaac, Isaac Syrus and Isaac of Qatar, was a 7th-century Church of the East Syriac Christian bishop and theologian best remembered for his written works on Christian asceticism.
He is regarded as a saint in the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox tradition. His feast day falls, together with 4th-century theologian and hymnographer St. Ephrem the Syrian, on January 28.
He is regarded as a saint in the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox tradition. His feast day falls, together with 4th-century theologian and hymnographer St. Ephrem the Syrian, on January 28.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 11, 2024
How can I review these pages written with golden ink? This will stand for eternity as a book of holiness and will endure the vicissitudes of time, there was nothing that I could think “this must have been true when it was written”, no, it is as true today as it has ever been.
What it is: it is about the spiritual life that both those wishing to join the monastic life or people who are not living religious lives could read with much benefit even today. It will instruct you on how to guard your heart, why do we have doubts and how they vanish, how to make your life more fruitful and pleasant in the right way, how to find wisdom, how to and how not to do ascesis, and how to find God.
What it is: it is about the spiritual life that both those wishing to join the monastic life or people who are not living religious lives could read with much benefit even today. It will instruct you on how to guard your heart, why do we have doubts and how they vanish, how to make your life more fruitful and pleasant in the right way, how to find wisdom, how to and how not to do ascesis, and how to find God.
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May 14, 2021Saint Isaac the Syrian was a monastic of the seventh century who lived within what we would call today the Assyrian Church of the East. The Church recognized his worthiness by elevating him to bishop of Ninevah (Mosul), but he demonstrated his humility in returning to the life of a hermit shortly thereafter.
Saint Isaac has always been a challenging figure. His star has waxed and waned over the centuries. With the ever-growing interest in the Church Fathers, Isaac is likely more well-known today than ever and for good reason. Out of his direct experience of God, he speaks as a grace filled pathologist, especially valuable to the struggles of modern believers. He doesn’t shy away from the absolutes
that we need to hear:
"Divine care surrounds all human beings all the time, but it is only seen by those who have purified themselves from sins and who have God in mind at every moment." (Hom. 5 B 64)
"The way to God consists in a daily cross (cf. John 16:33): no one can ascend to heaven in comfort—we know where the road of comfort leads to!" [Hom. 59, B 417–8]
Yet among his absolutes is the love and mercy of God:
"The entire purpose of our Lord’s death was not to redeem us from sins, or for any other reason, but solely in order that the world might become aware of the love which God has for creation. Had all this astounding affair taken place solely for the purpose of the forgiveness of sin, it would have been sufficient to redeem us by some other means" . [Keph. IV.78]
"Among all God’s actions there is none which is not entirely a matter of mercy, love and compassion: this constitutes the beginning and end of His dealings with us." [XXXIX.22]
"Just as a grain of sand will not balance in the scales against a great weight of gold, such too is the case with God’s justice when it is weighed against His compassion. When compared with God’s mind, the sins of all flesh are like a handful of sand thrown in the sea. "
[Hom. 50, B 345]
Saint Isaac has always been a challenging figure. His star has waxed and waned over the centuries. With the ever-growing interest in the Church Fathers, Isaac is likely more well-known today than ever and for good reason. Out of his direct experience of God, he speaks as a grace filled pathologist, especially valuable to the struggles of modern believers. He doesn’t shy away from the absolutes
that we need to hear:
"Divine care surrounds all human beings all the time, but it is only seen by those who have purified themselves from sins and who have God in mind at every moment." (Hom. 5 B 64)
"The way to God consists in a daily cross (cf. John 16:33): no one can ascend to heaven in comfort—we know where the road of comfort leads to!" [Hom. 59, B 417–8]
Yet among his absolutes is the love and mercy of God:
"The entire purpose of our Lord’s death was not to redeem us from sins, or for any other reason, but solely in order that the world might become aware of the love which God has for creation. Had all this astounding affair taken place solely for the purpose of the forgiveness of sin, it would have been sufficient to redeem us by some other means" . [Keph. IV.78]
"Among all God’s actions there is none which is not entirely a matter of mercy, love and compassion: this constitutes the beginning and end of His dealings with us." [XXXIX.22]
"Just as a grain of sand will not balance in the scales against a great weight of gold, such too is the case with God’s justice when it is weighed against His compassion. When compared with God’s mind, the sins of all flesh are like a handful of sand thrown in the sea. "
[Hom. 50, B 345]
November 27, 2012
Some books are so precious and demand such scholarship that you have to wait for a while to be able to have access to them. This is the case for The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac The Syrian, out of print for many years, and finally reedited and republished in 2011.
I had read some of his homilies a few years ago, in a binder, and in a monastery. I patiently waited for the re-edition and spent most of 2012 in reading them all.
I have to admit that even though they are presented by the publisher as being for monks and lay people alike, there are some passages that clearly went, not over my head, as I was able to intellectually understand them, but over my nous [mind-spirit-heart]: I am well aware that I would have been able to understand them some years back in the solitude of a monastery, but that now as I am living “in the world”, too busy with mundane things, I can no longer reach to the depth of some spiritual meanings.
But whatever I could grasp was definitely worth the wait and the effort. I’m not going to present here St Isaac’s theology, that would be too long. Let me just say that we often refer to his teaching on...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/01/09/b...
I had read some of his homilies a few years ago, in a binder, and in a monastery. I patiently waited for the re-edition and spent most of 2012 in reading them all.
I have to admit that even though they are presented by the publisher as being for monks and lay people alike, there are some passages that clearly went, not over my head, as I was able to intellectually understand them, but over my nous [mind-spirit-heart]: I am well aware that I would have been able to understand them some years back in the solitude of a monastery, but that now as I am living “in the world”, too busy with mundane things, I can no longer reach to the depth of some spiritual meanings.
But whatever I could grasp was definitely worth the wait and the effort. I’m not going to present here St Isaac’s theology, that would be too long. Let me just say that we often refer to his teaching on...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/01/09/b...
May 27, 2023
This is by far the best book I have read on the spiritual life. Abba Isaac traversed the narrow path unto theosis, and therefore had the wisdom and grace to map out the journey for those who seek to pick up their cross and follow Christ. Even though I am married with two kids, I was able to learn and grow through the writings of Abba Isaac, demonstrating that this book isn't simply for monastics, but also for anyone that is seeking to know and love God, and live a life in accordance with His will.
March 19, 2017
A definite must have work for those seeking an earlier perspective of the mystical contemplative life. He was a contemporary of Pseudo Dionysus. Isaac's perspective and writings are greatly over looked.
February 22, 2025
Clearly, he is right. And yet, there is something deeply uncomfortable about a teaching that so rejects the world that it seems to seek to abandon acts of mercy.
To what extent is the love of God in competition with the love of neighbor? Is there nothing lovely to be found in or through creation?
Perhaps all dissolves in light of the beatific vision, but I am certainly not yet holy enough to understand that.
To what extent is the love of God in competition with the love of neighbor? Is there nothing lovely to be found in or through creation?
Perhaps all dissolves in light of the beatific vision, but I am certainly not yet holy enough to understand that.
April 4, 2016
This is a collection of homilies by St. Isaac the Syrian. I have been reading them since 2005. When I no longer had the collection available to me, I had to wait three years before they were reprinted to get my own copy.
March 25, 2025
A must-read for all orthodox Christians. This book teachs humility, love, mercy over justice, solitary life, obedience in order to obtain humility, and much, much more.
And most importantly, to never be confident in your own salvation: the sinner can be saved, and the repentant can fall. So long as death has not come, no one is better than his brother.
>Why do you rebuke the sinner, o man? The labors of thine own merchandise have not yet entered the harbour; the hope of him over whom you are extolling yourself, has not been cut off by God. It is possible that within a short time he will surpass you in excellence and come nearer to God than you are.
And most importantly, to never be confident in your own salvation: the sinner can be saved, and the repentant can fall. So long as death has not come, no one is better than his brother.
>Why do you rebuke the sinner, o man? The labors of thine own merchandise have not yet entered the harbour; the hope of him over whom you are extolling yourself, has not been cut off by God. It is possible that within a short time he will surpass you in excellence and come nearer to God than you are.
May 17, 2023
This updated edition is quite a gem and a bit more manageable in the hands than its predecessor.
March 20, 2025
how do i give this 6 stars ?! genuinely a year 0 kinda read :)
April 19, 2011
absolutely priceless
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews