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Молитвата и животът
A classic book on prayer, written out of the author's own deep spiritual life. It includes an interview with Metropolitan Anthony, who reveals details of hos life - his traumatic childhood, his career as a physician, his experience in the French Resistance, as well as his conversion and call to the ordained ministry. He provides help and inspiration for all of us who struggle with our faith.
376 pages
First published January 1, 1970
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About the author
Anthony Bloom
90 books80 followersMetropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh was a prominent writer and broadcaster on prayer and the Christian life, as well as the founder and leader of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh.
See also: Antonie de Suroj, Anthony of Sourozh, Antonijus Surožietis, Антоний Сурожский, Anthony van Sourozh, Антоний Сурожки
See also: Antonie de Suroj, Anthony of Sourozh, Antonijus Surožietis, Антоний Сурожский, Anthony van Sourozh, Антоний Сурожки
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 2, 2019
This little volume is probably the best book I've ever read about prayer. It contains profound truths about how we might begin to enter into relationship with God, but also contains very practical tips and relatable anecdotes to illustrate what he means. Here are a couple of memorable examples (stop reading here if you do not want to see any excerpts from the book until you read it):
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In the chapter "The Absence of God," Bloom makes eye-opening points about those situations where we feel God is absent and is not listening to our prayers. After making the point that it may sometimes be a good thing that God is absent, so that his judgment is not right in our faces when we can't handle it, he then speaks of how we often come to God with a shopping list of what we want him to do, rather than looking for Him, for relationship. He says,
Do we ever say 'I am unworthy that He should come near me?' Not to speak of all the occasions when we should be aware that He cannot come to us because we are not there to receive Him. We want something from Him, not Him at all. Is that a relationship? Do we behave in that way with our friends? Do we aim at what friendship can give us or is it the friend whom we love? Is this true with regard to the Lord? (p. 5)
Then there is the problem where we sometimes pretend to be what we are not, so in this way, we are not present - we've substituted a illusion in our place, and God can't be in relationship with an illusion. Bloom writes,
As long as we ourselves are real, as long as we are truly ourselves, God can be present and can do something with us. But the moment we try to be what we are not, there is nothing left to say or have; we become a fictitious personality, an unreal presence, and this unreal presence cannot be approached by God. (pp. 5-6)
In the chapter "Addressing God," Bloom focuses on finding a name for God such that it is a personal name (e.g., O Thou my Joy!) rather than a functional name (The Almighty) that describes characteristics or facts. He concludes,
Do try to experiment along the lines I have suggested and you will see that it is not a waste of time. Search for a name [for God], and if you have no name, do not be surprised that no one hears you: you are not calling. (p. 70)
There are many other gems and beautiful anecdotes in this book that are also worth reading but would take too much space to mention here, so I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to gain some perspective on what prayer is and how to begin in earnest in their own lives.
.
.
.
In the chapter "The Absence of God," Bloom makes eye-opening points about those situations where we feel God is absent and is not listening to our prayers. After making the point that it may sometimes be a good thing that God is absent, so that his judgment is not right in our faces when we can't handle it, he then speaks of how we often come to God with a shopping list of what we want him to do, rather than looking for Him, for relationship. He says,
Do we ever say 'I am unworthy that He should come near me?' Not to speak of all the occasions when we should be aware that He cannot come to us because we are not there to receive Him. We want something from Him, not Him at all. Is that a relationship? Do we behave in that way with our friends? Do we aim at what friendship can give us or is it the friend whom we love? Is this true with regard to the Lord? (p. 5)
Then there is the problem where we sometimes pretend to be what we are not, so in this way, we are not present - we've substituted a illusion in our place, and God can't be in relationship with an illusion. Bloom writes,
As long as we ourselves are real, as long as we are truly ourselves, God can be present and can do something with us. But the moment we try to be what we are not, there is nothing left to say or have; we become a fictitious personality, an unreal presence, and this unreal presence cannot be approached by God. (pp. 5-6)
In the chapter "Addressing God," Bloom focuses on finding a name for God such that it is a personal name (e.g., O Thou my Joy!) rather than a functional name (The Almighty) that describes characteristics or facts. He concludes,
Do try to experiment along the lines I have suggested and you will see that it is not a waste of time. Search for a name [for God], and if you have no name, do not be surprised that no one hears you: you are not calling. (p. 70)
There are many other gems and beautiful anecdotes in this book that are also worth reading but would take too much space to mention here, so I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to gain some perspective on what prayer is and how to begin in earnest in their own lives.
November 29, 2021
This is hands down one of the best books I've read on prayer. I love his down to earth style of writing. I would recommend this book to anyone who cares about prayer.
May 27, 2025
O carte plină de înțelepciune care te pune pe gânduri și care îți poate schimba înspre bine rugăciunea, indiferent de confesiunea creștină. Merită citită.
“De aceea, primul lucru pe care trebuie să-l faci este, după cum am spus, să găseşti o rugăciune pe care să o poţi spune cu toată mintea ta, cu toată inima şi cu toată voinţa ta - o rugăciune care nu trebuie să fie neapărat un mare exemplu de subtilitate liturgică, ci una care să fie adevărată, una care să nu eşueze în ceea ce dorește să exprime. Trebuie să înțelegi această rugăciune, cu toată bogăţia şi precizia pe care le cuprinde.“
Îi pot oferi doar patru stele din pricina uneia dintre cele două meditații de la final, care nu pare a fi neapărat la locul ei, având concepte teologice mult prea specifice viziunii ortodoxe, care nu sunt comune cu alte confesiuni și care rupe ritmul cărții. Altfel ar fi fost o carte de 5 stele.
“De aceea, primul lucru pe care trebuie să-l faci este, după cum am spus, să găseşti o rugăciune pe care să o poţi spune cu toată mintea ta, cu toată inima şi cu toată voinţa ta - o rugăciune care nu trebuie să fie neapărat un mare exemplu de subtilitate liturgică, ci una care să fie adevărată, una care să nu eşueze în ceea ce dorește să exprime. Trebuie să înțelegi această rugăciune, cu toată bogăţia şi precizia pe care le cuprinde.“
Îi pot oferi doar patru stele din pricina uneia dintre cele două meditații de la final, care nu pare a fi neapărat la locul ei, având concepte teologice mult prea specifice viziunii ortodoxe, care nu sunt comune cu alte confesiuni și care rupe ritmul cărții. Altfel ar fi fost o carte de 5 stele.
August 27, 2020
Little to say, lots for me to think about. The best book on prayer I’ve ever read, I think. Contemplative, inviting, easy to read but challenging to put into practice. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about prayer.
November 5, 2021
I've read through this book three times. Though I have only read four or five books about prayer, this is easily the best book on this topic that I have ever read. Loads of profound and helpful insights.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews