The Philokalia Volume 3 - Paperback

The third volume of The Philokalia—a profound collection of medieval Byzantine spiritual writings on love, humility, and the transformation of the heart through prayer and divine grace.

Volume 3 brings us into the rich spiritual flowering of the Byzantine middle period (7th-11th centuries), where the teachings of the Desert Fathers mature into sophisticated theological reflection on the nature of divine love, the purification of the heart, and the stages of spiritual ascent. These texts reveal the deepening of Orthodox contemplative theology.

What you'll discover in Volume 3:

• St. Symeon the New Theologian on divine light and mystical experience
• St. Maximos the Confessor on love, theology, and the spiritual life
• St. Thalassios the Libyan on love, self-control, and contemplation
• St. John of Damascus on the virtues and vices
• Teachings on theosis (deification) and union with God
• The relationship between ascetic practice and mystical vision
• Profound reflections on divine love as the heart of spiritual life
• The integration of theology and contemplative experience

This volume is particularly notable for the writings of St. Symeon the New Theologian, one of Orthodoxy's greatest mystics, whose vivid accounts of experiencing divine light and union with God are among the most powerful in Christian literature. St. Maximos the Confessor's profound theological vision shows how contemplation and charity are inseparable.

The Byzantine masters in this volume demonstrate how the spiritual life is not merely moral improvement but transformation into the likeness of God through grace. Their teachings on love, humility, and divine illumination continue to guide Orthodox contemplatives today.

Translated by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Bishop Kallistos Ware, this volume maintains the scholarly excellence and spiritual sensitivity that characterize this acclaimed English edition.

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

Perfect for: Readers progressing through The Philokalia, students of Byzantine theology and spirituality, those interested in mystical theology and theosis, practitioners seeking deeper understanding of divine love and contemplation, scholars of Maximos the Confessor and Symeon the New Theologian, and anyone exploring the heights of Orthodox mystical experience.

This paperback edition includes 352 pages of profound spiritual wisdom—the essential third volume of Orthodox Christianity's contemplative treasury.