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The Collected Works of St Ignatius (Brianchaninov) #1
The Field: Cultivating Salvation
The spiritual harvest requires a heart that is harrowed by repentance, softened by compunction, and irrigated by tears.
The field is a place of cultivation and of battle. In this volume the nineteenth century Christian saint and teacher Ignatius (Brianchaninov) instructs his reader in the cultivation of the field of their hearts, with the aim of producing a harvest of virtues both pleasing to God and of benefit to all humankind. Drawing on his own military background St Ignatius recognizes that this cultivation requires discipline and awareness of the enemies that thwart our efforts to live a holy life. His words combine spiritual wisdom with reflections on nature that hint at the joy awaiting those who embrace the saint’s call.
The Field draws deeply on the teachings of the ascetic fathers of the Church, from the desert dwellers of Scetis in Egypt to his Russian contemporaries the Optina Elders. He demonstrates how their voice is one in guiding us on the Christian path. It will be impossible for either lay people or monastics to read these words without being challenged and inspired to follow Christ more fully in cultivating the field of their own life.
The field is a place of cultivation and of battle. In this volume the nineteenth century Christian saint and teacher Ignatius (Brianchaninov) instructs his reader in the cultivation of the field of their hearts, with the aim of producing a harvest of virtues both pleasing to God and of benefit to all humankind. Drawing on his own military background St Ignatius recognizes that this cultivation requires discipline and awareness of the enemies that thwart our efforts to live a holy life. His words combine spiritual wisdom with reflections on nature that hint at the joy awaiting those who embrace the saint’s call.
The Field draws deeply on the teachings of the ascetic fathers of the Church, from the desert dwellers of Scetis in Egypt to his Russian contemporaries the Optina Elders. He demonstrates how their voice is one in guiding us on the Christian path. It will be impossible for either lay people or monastics to read these words without being challenged and inspired to follow Christ more fully in cultivating the field of their own life.
373 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2016
75 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Ignatius Brianchaninov
37 books26 followersSaint Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807–1867) is a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born Demetrius Alexandrovich Brianchaninov, to a wealthy landowning family. He was educated at Pioneer Military School in St. Petersburg. Although successful in his studies he was deeply dissatisfied with the lay life and turned to a life of prayer.
In 1827 he fell seriously ill and left the army on this ground. He began pursuing a monastic vocation and in 1831 took monastic vows and received the monastic name of Ignatius. Soon after he was ordained a priest. He rose rapidly to the rank of archimandrite and at the age of 26 was appointed superior of the Maritime Monastery of St. Sergius in St. Petersburg.
In 1857, he was consecrated Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea, but he retired only four years later to devote himself to spiritual writing.
He wrote a large amount of material, mostly about the spiritual life and prayer. Only a small portion of his writing has been translated into English. Although his writing was intended primarily for monks, his works are highly recommended for lay Christians by leading Orthodox figures such as Father Thomas Hopko.
He was glorified (canonized) as a saint by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1988. His relics are preserved at the Tolga Monastery, near Yaroslavl.
In 1827 he fell seriously ill and left the army on this ground. He began pursuing a monastic vocation and in 1831 took monastic vows and received the monastic name of Ignatius. Soon after he was ordained a priest. He rose rapidly to the rank of archimandrite and at the age of 26 was appointed superior of the Maritime Monastery of St. Sergius in St. Petersburg.
In 1857, he was consecrated Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea, but he retired only four years later to devote himself to spiritual writing.
He wrote a large amount of material, mostly about the spiritual life and prayer. Only a small portion of his writing has been translated into English. Although his writing was intended primarily for monks, his works are highly recommended for lay Christians by leading Orthodox figures such as Father Thomas Hopko.
He was glorified (canonized) as a saint by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1988. His relics are preserved at the Tolga Monastery, near Yaroslavl.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 23, 2020
This has set a new record for “book I took the longest time to finish reading,” but I don’t regret pacing myself. I started this in January, but just when I had my lunch break routine with St. Ignatius worked out, the pandemic hit full-force.
My reading habits, fictional and otherwise, have still not recovered.
“If I waste all my life for the gathering of knowledge that ends with the earthly life, then what will I take with me beyond the reaches of this crude material world?” (p.323)
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) (1807—1867) was a Russian monk. Born to wealthy landowners and trained as a military officer, his ill health allowed him honorable discharge from the army, and a subsequent entry into the monastic life. As a monk, he was a rather prolific writer, with a body of work aimed primarily at his fellow monastics, but still broadly edifying for lay life.
"Faith is the mother of patience, the mother of courage, the power of prayer, the instructor towards humility, the giver of hope, the ladder to the throne of love." (p.58)
What is a field? It is a place of growth and struggle, toil and harvest. Life is a field. The heart is a field. And so what do we seek to cultivate there? And how?
This collection of work covers many subjects: from the definition of salvation to common roadblocks and pitfalls of life. How does one love one’s neighbor? How does one maintain focus in the now-now-now rush of modern life (and if St. Ignatius thought it was bad in the 19th century, I can only imagine what he’d think of today!). The difference between true and false humility, and how to address the latter in one’s own life; the proper mindset when encountering death, and much more, all with a sober but accessible writing voice.
Some chapters are only a couple pages, some are closer to 30. It’s not a collection to rush through (though hopefully most readers don’t take as long as I!), but to consider over time.
"The voice of eternity! Alas! There are so few people in the noisy hostel of the world that listen to you! At first, our childhood hinders us; then our everyday worries hinder us, our worldly enjoyments. But you still don't fall silent. You speak, you speak, and finally though the terrible messenger-death-you require attention from both the attentive and inattentive listener..." (p.230)
Will I read this cover-to-cover again anytime soon? Probably not. But I’ll definitely return to it in the future. 4/5
My reading habits, fictional and otherwise, have still not recovered.
“If I waste all my life for the gathering of knowledge that ends with the earthly life, then what will I take with me beyond the reaches of this crude material world?” (p.323)
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) (1807—1867) was a Russian monk. Born to wealthy landowners and trained as a military officer, his ill health allowed him honorable discharge from the army, and a subsequent entry into the monastic life. As a monk, he was a rather prolific writer, with a body of work aimed primarily at his fellow monastics, but still broadly edifying for lay life.
"Faith is the mother of patience, the mother of courage, the power of prayer, the instructor towards humility, the giver of hope, the ladder to the throne of love." (p.58)
What is a field? It is a place of growth and struggle, toil and harvest. Life is a field. The heart is a field. And so what do we seek to cultivate there? And how?
This collection of work covers many subjects: from the definition of salvation to common roadblocks and pitfalls of life. How does one love one’s neighbor? How does one maintain focus in the now-now-now rush of modern life (and if St. Ignatius thought it was bad in the 19th century, I can only imagine what he’d think of today!). The difference between true and false humility, and how to address the latter in one’s own life; the proper mindset when encountering death, and much more, all with a sober but accessible writing voice.
Some chapters are only a couple pages, some are closer to 30. It’s not a collection to rush through (though hopefully most readers don’t take as long as I!), but to consider over time.
"The voice of eternity! Alas! There are so few people in the noisy hostel of the world that listen to you! At first, our childhood hinders us; then our everyday worries hinder us, our worldly enjoyments. But you still don't fall silent. You speak, you speak, and finally though the terrible messenger-death-you require attention from both the attentive and inattentive listener..." (p.230)
Will I read this cover-to-cover again anytime soon? Probably not. But I’ll definitely return to it in the future. 4/5
November 26, 2018
This book is a deep treasury of truth. It should be read in a slow pace prayerfully to aquire all of its benefits. It might shatter some delusions you may have about life and yourself, so be warned. It's not for someone who is careless about things. St. Ignatius Brianchaninov is a true expounder of the Holy Gospel and his words are exactly what we need in this crazy messed up generation.
November 16, 2019
What a treasury of knowledge! The author, St. Ignatius, was a living link to the Patristic mindset of the Church. I couldn't help but be convicted of my sin by every page.
Also very interesting to note his ideas about the decline in Orthodoxy and in monasticism in Imperial Russia. It is later than we think - the end is near. Read this book to help you lay aside the cares of the world and pursue the one thing needful!
Also very interesting to note his ideas about the decline in Orthodoxy and in monasticism in Imperial Russia. It is later than we think - the end is near. Read this book to help you lay aside the cares of the world and pursue the one thing needful!
August 30, 2017
A book to read in small bites and allow to settle. I found many items for prayer.
May 4, 2020
Not belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church and coming from a Protestant background, which Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov unfortunately regarded as heretical, there are obviously portions of Saint Brianchaninov's writings that I have some theological disagreements with; however, I firmly believe that there is much fruit to be gathered from all the various branches of Christianity from the Roman Catholic Church, to the Eastern Orthodox Church, to the Oriental Orthodox Church, and to all the various denominations of the Protestant Church. Saint Brianchaninov's writings burn with the fiery passion of a deeply repentant man of humility, consecration, and holy silence. His writings on the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, mortification, and separation from the world are beautiful and deeply challenging. For example, this beautifully poetic understanding of the relationship between fasting and prayer,
Also, as another example, consider this challenging exhortation,
There is much to be learned from Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, especially coming from the Protestant tradition where grace has, in the words of Bonhoeffer, been unfortunately reduced oftentimes to being treated "cheaply." I am thankful for this holy and humble man who I consider and count as a brother in Christ, even if he probably would have called me a heretic. I'm also grateful for being introduced to the teachings of Abba Dorotheos of Gaza through Saint Brianchaninov's writings and am looking forward to reading more of both of their works.
"Prayer is without effect if not established on fasting and fasting is fruitless if prayer is not created from it... Whoever begins to sow the land without first clearing it destroys the seeds before they can even sprout, and instead of wheat he reaps thorns. If we sow the seeds of prayer in a similar manner, we will reap nothing, but we will harvest sins instead of truth. Prayer will be destroyed and dissipated by various vain and sinful thoughts and imaginings; our feelings will be defiled by sensuality. Our flesh has come from the earth, and if we do not clear it as we would a field, we will never be able to grow the fruit of truth. However, if someone works the land with great effort and labor, but leaves it unsown, then it will be completely covered in weeds. Thus, when the body is mortified by fasting but the soul is not cultivated by prayer, reading, and humble-mindedness, then fasting becomes the source of many spiritual passions - vanity, arrogance, contempt."
Also, as another example, consider this challenging exhortation,
"The one who believes in Christ holds a drawn sword against the emotions of the heart, and he forces his heart using the sword of obedience to Christ, to cut off not only obvious sinful inclinations but even those desires that seem to be good but in their essence contradict the Gospel commandment... apparently good deeds inspired by fallen nature grow the person's ego, destroy faith in Christ, and are antagonistic to God. The works of true faith destroy a person's selfishness, uniting him to Christ and increasing faith yet more."
There is much to be learned from Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, especially coming from the Protestant tradition where grace has, in the words of Bonhoeffer, been unfortunately reduced oftentimes to being treated "cheaply." I am thankful for this holy and humble man who I consider and count as a brother in Christ, even if he probably would have called me a heretic. I'm also grateful for being introduced to the teachings of Abba Dorotheos of Gaza through Saint Brianchaninov's writings and am looking forward to reading more of both of their works.
August 29, 2018
Excellent book about monasticism
November 9, 2020
Fully used my highlighter
March 23, 2025
A desert island book. A book you grab if your house is burning down and you can only save a few. St Ignatius is plainspoken, loving, and wise. He is noted for his nature writing as well. I am looking forward to the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews