The Way of a Pilgrim and Other Classics of Russian Spirituality (Dover Books on Western Philosophy)

The story of an anonymous 19th-century peasant's spiritual education, "The Way of a Pilgrim" ranks among the classics of world spirituality. Its appearance here distinguishes this superb anthology — the first such compilation in any language — of texts that derive from the lives of saints, ascetic and mystic treatises, and spiritual autobiographies. "A valuable treasure of Russian spirituality that theologians, philosophers, and laymen will read with pleasure and delight."  —  The Personalist.An anonymous nineteenth-century peasant attempts to follow St. Paul's advice to "pray without ceasing," setting out on a pilgrimage with only a Bible, a rosary, and some dried bread. Throughout his travels, he recites the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"), an invocation reputed to instill a sense of love for all creation. The story of his spiritual education, "The Way of a Pilgrim" ranks among the classics of world spirituality, and its appearance here distinguishes this superb anthology of spiritual works by Russian writers.Clear, scholarly commentaries introduce the texts, which date from the eleventh century to modern times and derive from the lives of saints, ascetic and mystic treatises, and spiritual autobiographies. All the authors — mystics, prophets, rebels, and saints — belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church, and most occupied places of spiritual authority. Their works offer both literary sensibility and compelling examples of intense religious experience. The first such anthology in any language, this volume was hailed upon its original publication as "a gold mine indeed" (Commonweal). "A valuable treasure of Russian spirituality that theologians, philosophers, and laymen will read with pleasure and delight." — The Personalist. An anonymous nineteenth-century peasant attempts to follow St. Paul's advice to "pray without ceasing," setting out on a pilgrimage with only a Bible, a rosary, and some dried bread. Throughout his travels, he recites the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"), an invocation reputed to instill a sense of love for all creation. The story of his spiritual education, "The Way of a Pilgrim" ranks among the classics of world spirituality, and its appearance here distinguishes this superb anthology of spiritual works by Russian writers. Clear, scholarly commentaries introduce the texts, which date from the eleventh century to modern times and derive from the lives of saints, ascetic and mystic treatises, and spiritual autobiographies. All the authors — mystics, prophets, rebels, and saints — belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church, and most occupied places of spiritual authority. Their works offer both literary sensibility and compelling examples of intense religious experience. The first such anthology in any language, this volume was hailed upon its original publication as "a gold mine indeed" ( Commonweal ). PREFACE ST. THEODOSIUS THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE OF KENOTICISM A LIFE OF ST. THEODOSIUS FROM ST. THEODOSIUS’ SERMON TO HIS MONKS ENTITLED “ON PATIENCE AND LOVE” ST. SERGIUS THE FIRST HERMIT AND MYSTIC THE LIFE ACTS AND MIRACLES OF OUR REVERED AND HOLY FATHER ABBOT SERGIUS ST. NILUS SORSKY THE TEACHER OF SPIRITUAL PRAYER AVVAKUM: THE CONSERVATIVE REBEL Chapter 7 THE LIFE OF ARCHPRIEST AVVAKUM BY HIMSELF ST. TYCHON A WESTERNIZING KENOTIC MEMOIRS BY CHEBOTAREV OF THE LIFE OF ST. TYCHON OF ZADONSK FROM THE MEMOIRS OF IVAN YEFIMOV CONFESSION AND THANKSGIVING TO CHRIST SON OF GOD THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD FROM THE LETTERS OF ST. TYCHON OF ZADONSK FROM ST. TYCHON’S WILL ST. SERAPHIM, MYSTIC AND PROPHET ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV A CONVERSATION OF ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV WITH NICHOLAS MOTOVILOV CONCERNING THE AIM OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. “THE PILGRIM” ON MENTAL PRAYER THE WAY OF A PILGRIM JOHN OF CRONSTADT - A GENIUS OF PRAYER MY LIFE IN CHRIST FATHER YELCHANINOV THE TEACHER OF SELF-EXAMINATION FRAGMENTS OF A DIARY NOTES A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RUSSIAN SPIRITUALITY A CATALOG OF SELECTED DOVER BOOKS IN ALL FIELDS OF INTEREST