What do you think?
Rate this book
Λόγοι Ασκητικοί
Η μελέτη των Ασκητικών Λόγων δεν είναι εύκολη υπόθεση. Το περιεχόμενό τους αφορά τα μυστήρια του Θεού, στα οποία φτάνουν όσοι αξιώνονται από τον Χριστό. Η νέα αυτή μετάφραση μας δίνει τη δυνατότητα να προσπελάσουμε ένα κείμενο, που έχει τριπλή δυσκολία: στη γλώσσα, στη σύνταξη και στο λεξιλόγιο. Η μετάφραση επιλύει την τριπλή δυσκολία, με ένα κείμενο όμορφο, που μας ελκύει στην ανάγνωσή του. Οι δύο φιλόλογοι και μεταφραστές (Γιώργος Πινακούλας και Δημήτρης Κουτσούγερας) κοπίασαν για να δώσουν στη γλώσσα μας το λαμπρό έργο ενός ασκητού της σχεδόν εξαφανισμένης Εκκλησίας της Ανατολής, στο οποίο οι Πατέρες μας αναγνώρισαν τον εαυτό τους.
Όταν οι μοναχοί Πατρίκιος και Αβράμιος, οι φιλόσοφοι και ησυχαστές της Λαύρας του Αγίου Σάββα στην Παλαιστίνη, μετέφραζαν (8ος-9ος αι.) τους 68 Λόγους του αββά Ισαάκ στα ελληνικά, επένδυαν το έργο με ό, τι χρειαζόταν για να μπει στον μεγάλο χρόνο. Η μετάφρασή τους μοιάζει με εκείνη της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης που έκαναν οι Εβδομήκοντα, τόσο στο σκοπό όσο και στα αποτελέσματά της. Χάρη στο δικό τους έργο, ο αββάς Ισαάκ μεταφράστηκε στα σλαβονικά και στα λατινικά, διαβάστηκε και επέδρασε στη θεολογία, τη λογοτεχνία και τον πολιτισμό της Ευρώπης. Τα έργα που σπάνε τα όρια της εποχής τους και μπαίνουν στον μεγάλο χρόνο απλώνουν τις ρίζες τους στο παρελθόν, προετοιμάζονται για αιώνες και όταν εμφανίζονται, δρέπουμε τους καρπούς της μακρόχρονης και σύνθετης διαδικασίας ωρίμανσής τους.
Κάθε εποχή ανακαλύπτει πάντα κάτι καινούργιο στα μεγάλα έργα του παρελθόντος, που πολλές φορές δεν το είχαν συνειδητοποιήσει ο συγγραφέας τους και οι σύγχρονοί του. Εκείνοι έβλεπαν, αναγνώριζαν και εκτιμούσαν αυτό που ήταν πιο κοντά στην εποχή τους, στην οποία ήταν αιχμάλωτοι. Οι μεταγενέστερες εποχές απελευθερώνουν τον συγγραφέα από την εποχή του. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι ο συγγραφέας τους έγινε μέγας χάρη σ' αυτό που υπήρχε και συνεχίζει να βρίσκεται στα έργα του.
Όταν οι μοναχοί Πατρίκιος και Αβράμιος, οι φιλόσοφοι και ησυχαστές της Λαύρας του Αγίου Σάββα στην Παλαιστίνη, μετέφραζαν (8ος-9ος αι.) τους 68 Λόγους του αββά Ισαάκ στα ελληνικά, επένδυαν το έργο με ό, τι χρειαζόταν για να μπει στον μεγάλο χρόνο. Η μετάφρασή τους μοιάζει με εκείνη της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης που έκαναν οι Εβδομήκοντα, τόσο στο σκοπό όσο και στα αποτελέσματά της. Χάρη στο δικό τους έργο, ο αββάς Ισαάκ μεταφράστηκε στα σλαβονικά και στα λατινικά, διαβάστηκε και επέδρασε στη θεολογία, τη λογοτεχνία και τον πολιτισμό της Ευρώπης. Τα έργα που σπάνε τα όρια της εποχής τους και μπαίνουν στον μεγάλο χρόνο απλώνουν τις ρίζες τους στο παρελθόν, προετοιμάζονται για αιώνες και όταν εμφανίζονται, δρέπουμε τους καρπούς της μακρόχρονης και σύνθετης διαδικασίας ωρίμανσής τους.
Κάθε εποχή ανακαλύπτει πάντα κάτι καινούργιο στα μεγάλα έργα του παρελθόντος, που πολλές φορές δεν το είχαν συνειδητοποιήσει ο συγγραφέας τους και οι σύγχρονοί του. Εκείνοι έβλεπαν, αναγνώριζαν και εκτιμούσαν αυτό που ήταν πιο κοντά στην εποχή τους, στην οποία ήταν αιχμάλωτοι. Οι μεταγενέστερες εποχές απελευθερώνουν τον συγγραφέα από την εποχή του. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι ο συγγραφέας τους έγινε μέγας χάρη σ' αυτό που υπήρχε και συνεχίζει να βρίσκεται στα έργα του.
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 700
63 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Isaac the Syrian
5 books8 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Read
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]
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.
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.
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.
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 :)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews