The Philokalia Volume 1 - Paperback

The foundational volume of the most important collection of Eastern Orthodox spiritual writings—a treasury of wisdom from the Desert Fathers and early Christian mystics on prayer, contemplation, and the transformation of the soul.

The Philokalia (meaning "love of the beautiful") is a monumental anthology of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition. This first volume introduces readers to the spiritual practices and teachings that have guided Eastern Christian contemplatives for centuries, including the practice of hesychasm and the Jesus Prayer.

What you'll discover in Volume 1:

• Writings from St. Anthony the Great, father of Christian monasticism
• Evagrius of Pontus on the eight deadly thoughts and contemplative prayer
• St. John Cassian's conferences on the spiritual life
• St. Mark the Ascetic on spiritual law and baptism
• Teachings on watchfulness, stillness, and inner attention
• The foundations of hesychasm—the practice of inner silence and the Jesus Prayer
• Practical guidance on battling passions and cultivating virtues
• The path from purification through illumination to union with God

Translated by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Bishop Kallistos Ware, this acclaimed English edition makes these profound teachings accessible to contemporary readers. The translators' scholarly introduction and notes provide essential context for understanding the spiritual landscape of early Christian monasticism.

Volume 1 lays the foundation for the entire Philokalia collection, introducing the core practices and theological framework that subsequent volumes build upon. Whether you're a student of Christian mysticism, a practitioner of contemplative prayer, or a seeker exploring the riches of Eastern Orthodoxy, this volume offers transformative wisdom for the spiritual journey.

About the collection: The Philokalia was originally compiled in Greek by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth in 1782. This five-volume English translation, completed in 2020, is the definitive edition for English-speaking readers.

Perfect for: Students of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, practitioners of the Jesus Prayer and hesychasm, readers of Christian mysticism (Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross), contemplative prayer practitioners, scholars of patristic theology and the Desert Fathers, and anyone seeking the deep wells of Christian contemplative tradition.

This paperback edition includes 400 pages of foundational spiritual wisdom—the essential first volume of Orthodox Christianity's greatest contemplative treasury.