  |
|
|
|
The PhilokaliaWritings of the Early Desert Fathers and the Jesus Prayer TraditionThe Philokalia of Russian Orthodox tradition, was popularized by the book 'The Way of a Pilgrim,' and the Pilgrim Continues His Way.'
The Way of a Pilgrim and the Pilgrim Continues His WayIn ‘The Way of a Pilgrim,’ and ‘The Pilgrim Continues His Way,’ an older Russian Orthodox gentleman goes on a lengthy journey to seek to fulfill the gospel directive of St. Paul to “Pray Without Ceasing.” He is led by a mysterious book he carries with him everywhere he goes entitled the Philokalia, which is a series of writings from the earliest of the desert fathers gleaned from the fruits of their profound ascetical lives in caves and other desert dwellings where they sought only the purification of their souls and knowledge of God. PhilokaliaIn the Philokalia, we hear from a collection compiled by two great saints: St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth. Writers of the Philokalia follow a narrow and stringent path and include such great souls as St. Isaiah the Solitary, Evagrios the Solitary, St. John Cassian, St. Mark the Ascetic, St. Hesychios the Priest, St. Neilos the Ascetic, St. Diadochos of Photiki, St. John of Karpathos, St. Theodorus the Great Ascetic, St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Thalassios the Libyan, St. John of Damaskos, Abba Philimon, St. Theognostos, St. Philotheos of Sinai, Ilias the Presbyter, Theophanis the Monk, St. Peter of Damaskos, St. Symeon Metaphrastis, St. Symeon the New Theologian, Nikitas Stithatos, Theoliptos Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Nikiphoros the Monk, St. Gregory of Sinai and St. Gregory Palamas. Russian Orthodox Tradition of the Jesus PrayerThe Pilgrimdiscovers in the writings of the Philokalia the Russian Orthodox Tradition of the “Jesus Prayer,” which is considered the perfect prayer because it covers all important aspects of Christian Theology and if prayed continually throughout the day within the mind – during times of quiet and times of work – it fulfills the injunction of St. Paul to ‘Pray Without Ceasing.’ St. Gregory of Sinai emphasizes the importance of this prayer in saying “Faith, like active prayer, is a grace. For prayer, when activated by love through the power of the Spirit, renders true faith manifest.” The Jesus Prayer‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me a Sinner.’ Why is this considered the perfect prayer? Because it begins by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord, recognizing His position as the Son of God, and then asks for mercy while at the same time acknowledging that we are sinners. By praying this continually, you are sending the incense of prayer to heaven continually and are engaging in a practice not unlike a mantra in Eastern Traditions which had a part in inspiring the Jesus Prayer. Yoga and the Jesus PrayerIn ‘Yoga and the Jesus Prayer Tradition,’ Bede Griffiths compares Symeon the New Theologian with the Yogis of Hinduism. “The language of the mystics is a ‘raid on the ineffable,’” he says, “an attempt to communicate the incommunicable experience of their transformation in God.” Russian Orthodox Asceticism in the PhilokaliaAlthough the Jesus Prayer Tradition is the most well-known aspect of the Philokalia, the majority of the texts are actually very profound ascetical treatises on the mysteries of the inner soul. Their self-examination and disciplinary practice go very deeply as demonstrated by Evagrios the Solitary when he says “Man cannot drive away impassioned thoughts unless he watches over his desire and incensive power. He destroys desire through fasting, vigils and sleeping on the ground, and he tames his incensive power through long-suffering, forbearance, forgiveness and acts of compassion.” The Early Church Fathers and the Desert FathersThe Writings of the Early Church Fathers are much more widely known in the Christian World than the Philokalia, but it is interesting to note that the Philokalia bears as much significance and in many cases surprisingly more depth into the ascetical way. It seems that the Writings of the Early Church Fathers are incomplete without the Philokalia, and the writings of their brothers in faith, the Early Desert Fathers and Solitaries. Sources: The Philokalia - Translated from the Greek and edited by G.E.H.Palmer, Philip Sherrard and Kallistos Ware, The Way of a Pilgrim and the Philgrim Continues His Way - Translated by Helen Bacovcin, Yoga and the Jesus Prayer Tradition - By Bede Griffiths
The copyright of the article The Philokalia in Catholic Practices is owned by Marilynn Hughes. Permission to republish The Philokalia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
