The Monks of Mount Athos: A Western Monks Extraordinary Spiritual Journey on Eastern Holy Ground

by M. Basil Pennington

Follow bestselling author M. Basil Pennington on his historic four-month stay on the "holy mountain, " as he wrestles with theological differences between Christianity's East and West and learns the Orthodox practice of the prayer of the heart.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Travel

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Dom M. Basil Pennington O.C.S.O. (1931–2005) was a Trappist monk and priest. He was a leading Roman Catholic spiritual writer, speaker, teacher, and director.

Pennington was an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a licentiate in Theology in 1959.[1] He also earned a licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Pennington became known internationally as one of the major proponents of the Centering Prayer movement begun at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, during the 1970s.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim while browsing in a used book store.

Many of the best books in the world are out of print. Also (sidenote) older books are not as politically correct. I think you learn more by reading older books than you do by reading books fresh off the shelf.

Our generation acts like it knows everything but one read of a newspaper quickly shows that we don't. The book was a nice escape from the daily grind of a world gone mad. I read it shortly after the stock market collapse of 2008.

This book documents a Catholic Monk's experiences while spending a season with the Orthodox Monks of Mount Athos. I am interested in all the major branches of Christianity.

This book highlights an interesting mystical tradition and is both interesting and humorous at times.

Even monks squabble sometimes. I am one who finds it comforting to know that there are spiritual men engaged in daily prayer for our troubled world.

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of the books I read in preparation for a pilgrimage to Mount Athos in February 2016 - though, in fact, I read most of it in the week immediately afterward. This book is a superb example of what it means to keep a spiritual journal - it provided much cause for reflection and inspiration as I attempted to keep a similar journal of my own time there. Fr. Pennington, a Roman Catholic monk, spent four months on Mount Athos at a time when that simply wasn't done. Through his own heartfelt reflections, and through his ecumenical wrestling with the varying degrees of reception he received, and through his deep dialogue with Athonite spirituality, a true treasure is born.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but perhaps it would be more meaningful or interesting to Catholics. I was hoping to hear the perspective of the Catholic monk as regards to the Eastern Orthodox monk but it felt like it wasn't quite enough.