Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian

It is an almost impossible task to write anything appropriate about this holy book with my insufficient words. The most beautiful words about it, are given through the foreword and the praising to Saint Isaac in the book itself. It is whispering to one's soul in an enormous language and therefore it is difficult to find words. Instead of my words I will give you some excerpts. Even the title of my review was given to me, as it is written - "On the boards of this book someone should write - 'The Soul's Cure'. Come, then, all you are ill and receive healing." And this, honestly I can feel throughout this book. Awesome. Holy. Before I start with some excerpts, I will also give my review at the very material of this book: Excellent in any way! Hardcover darkgreen with golden title and golden holy sign in the back, excellent binding, excellent paper, at the first three pages dedication to the blessed and venerable elders including homage to Saint Isaac beautifully made with drawings, inside throughout the book small very nice holy drawings in red colour, ornaments in red colour at the beginning of each homily. The whole layout is perfectly beautiful, it fits with the holy content. Even the very last page of the book is kept in a beautiful way, the very last sentence in red colour - "Glory be to God for all things. Amen." And it is worth every euro (please note that if you order from Europe, there is tax and custom charges to pay additional, it was around twenty euro due to the price of the book). Now some small excerpts, so you can taste a little bit: "He who wishes to praise the holy Isaac should hold an Archangel's trumpet, and not this sinful pen I have here in my hand. Who will weave an unfading garland for his head? With what melodious praise could any human being laud this man, who is hymned by the very angels? With the harmonious art of the tongue, come now, let us extol this humble wildflower of Syria, this goldspangled fountain of immortality, this salt of the earth, this honeybee of virtue, this gold-stringed lute which ravishes the heart, this divinely-fashioned intellect, this glory of the Orient, this tremendous ocean, this enchanted light shining to unfathomed depths, this blessed child of God, and whatever else our tongue may call him, accustomed as it is to speak of trivialties." (Photios Kontoglue - praising St. Isaac 'written with much love' as he himself said about that). "We (Holy Transfiguration Monastery in the foreword) mentioned above the homilies of Saint Isaac on the three degrees of knowledge. Nowhere in so few words has a Church Father expounded so lucidly and concisely our understanding of knowledge as in these two homilies. They are unsurpassed. These two homilies alone justify many times over the translation and publishing of the present book." And with the words of Saint Isaac himself: " The aim and purpose of these homilies and instructions is that, one may learn what is the life of stillness, what is its work, what mysteries are concealed in this discipline, mysteries that are hidden from many, but after the discovery of which strenuous men run, seeking to attain them in stillness, and why some men belittle the righteousness that is practised in the society of men and prefer to it the tribulations and struggles of a silent and solitary abode. From the understanding of these things and because of what they find in this epistle, men will call blessed the solitaries who pass their lives in this world by remaining concentrated and by themselves. But to those who have no acquaintance with these matters this instructions, with all its admonitions, about the stages that are in stillness will be superfluous. I write here to wise men and I offer advice with love." "Since the primary purpose of this book is the instruction of those in the desert, one may rightly ask why the great labor and cost in translating and printing such a work was undertaken, since there are so few, if any, desert-dwellers and workers of stillness in the world today? The answer can be found in 'The Ladder' of Saint John Climacus, who writes: 'Angels are a light for monks, and the monastic life is a light for all men.' Or again, why labor to read such a book if so very few ever in fact accomplish its purpose? It is evident that in Scriptures and God inspired writings many exalted and heroic states are described, not in order to dismay us or cause us to dispair, but in order to awaken in us a holy desire for that which is written and to spur us on from strength to strength, from glory to glory. Furthermore, a means is offered to us by which to measure ourselves and see how wanting we still are in our spiritual endeavors, thereby safeguarding us from becoming complacent and satisfied in our weak and meager struggles. Such writings humble us and demonstrate to us how lacking we are in the spiritual realm." Saint Isaac: "My beloved, I have become foolish and I cannot bear to guard the mystery in silence, but I am become a fool for the sake of the profit of my brethren. For true love is not able to tarry in any mystery without her beloved. Often when I was writing these things my fingers failed me in setting down everything on paper, and they were unable to endure the sweetness that descended into my heart and silenced my senses." "Saint Abba Isaac writes from experience. That is why his words have such a strength. There is nothing abstract about his teaching." And at the end of the foreword - "Embrace this holy book tightly in your bosom. Put it over your heart. Touch it to your forehead and eyes for a blessing. Kiss it reverently with tears and thank our God that it has come down to us throughout the ages ...." Now it is enough. I could go on and on. The first homily is on renunciation and the monastic life and starts with the words - "Be still and know that I am God" ....

It is difficult to express the power of this book written for monks and hermits who live alone in a life of silence and prayer. Why would a modern person living in the world read such a book? Because monks have always been a beacon of life for the laity. Prayer and meditation are not only for monks but will permeate the life of every person who seeks them out with a fragrance indescribable. Other monks write of Isaac the Syrian: " Forsake not Isaac. Every day one page of Abba Isaac. Not more. Isaac is the mirror. There you will behold yourself. The mirror is so that we may see if we have any shortcoming, any smudge on our face, in order to remove it, to cleanse ourselves..... IN Abba Isaac you will behold your thoughts, what they are thinking. Your feet, where they are going. Your eyes, if they have light and see. There you will find many sure and unerring ways in order to be helped. One page of Isaac a day. In the morning or at night." Heronymos the Clairvoyant of Aegina ( 1883 - 1966). "if all the writings of the desert fathers which teach us concerning watchfulness and prayer were lost and the writings of Abba Isaac the Syrian alone survived, they would suffice to teach one from the beginning to end concerning the life of stillness and prayer. They are the Alpha and Omega of the life of watchfulness andy interior prayer, and alone suffice to guide one from his first steps to perfection." Joseph the Hesychast of the Holy Mountain (1895-1950) During a difficult time in my life I began reading this book every day. It gave me incredible peace and inner resources. It inspired me to pray and spend more time on what is real: my spiritual path and less time being fearful about the details of my outer life, all of which resolved themselves wonderfully. I was left with Isaac's book which I would not leave behind for anything. another wonderful book is " Elder Paisios of Mount Athos" the story of a modern day mystic and monk of extraordinary insight. Elder Paisios also recommended reading Isaac the Syrian and said that he himself spend several years during which this author was his sole reading companion.

The amount of care that went into the design and production of this book is outstanding. The scholarship and clarity of translation is a testament to the devotion the monks of Holy Transfiguration Monastery have towards Isaac as a teacher of stillness. There is one flaw in the copy of this book which I received that I take as a hilarious example of human error: page one starts at what is obviously the back cover and the entire book is printed upside down relative to the cover. It is almost comical but does not ruin the book at all but rather adds to its charm. The seller obviously had nothing to do with this printing error and since my leaving the country prevents me from returning and ordering a correctly printed copy, the seller kindly gave me a discount on the price of this book. I appreciate the seller's taking responsibility for a defect he obviously did not cause: thank you for your prompt reply and generous responsible action. I will carry this book with me for the rest of my days, I expect, and the memory of a funny human error and a kind human response will endear the book to me even more. I will take this oddness as a sign that to understand Isaac, I need to turn my thinking on its head!

First, you need a blessing to read this book. Second, if you are heading to monasticism, this is a must. Third, if you as an Eastern Orthodox Christine have realized that even our regular everyday lives are monastic, this book is utterly essential. Fourth, if you have made spiritual progress in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, this book is essential. The bottom line, is that this book is utterly essential for any Eastern Orthodox Christian making progress in the spiritual life. Getting a blessing to read it. If you get that blessing, pack up for the journey that waits ahead.

You should read it if: 1. you value practical advice to actually progress in prayer. 2. you are wanting to go in humility and love of one another. 3. you are wishing to build dispassion and disdain for world, flesh and the devil. 4. you are willing to consider christ as your lord and true love and treasure. You should avoid this book if you value theology and philosophical arguments for knowledge enrichment to have an elite dialog with others on subjects, this is not that. BUT: having said that, this price is very high, the print is excellent, the quality of pages excellent too, but I personally think a treasure like this needs to be available to everyone at lower prices. But perhaps prices enable only those who are truly willing so I trust the lord.

I first learned about this book by reading Saint Paisios of Mount Athos. In that book, it said that, "The Elder had the Saint's 'Ascetical Homilies' by his pillow, and he studied them constantly. For one six-year period, it was his only spiritual reading. He would take one line and call it to mind frequently throughout the day, studying it in a deep and practical way - 'like animals chew over thier food' as he put it. As a blessing, he distributed a selection of the homilies in order to encourage their study. 'Studying the Ascetical Homilies of Abba Isaac the Syrian' he once wrote, 'will help you a lot, because it helps us understand the deeper meaning of life. Whatever kind of complex a believer might have, big or small, the Homilies help him get rid of it. There are a lot of vitamins in Abba Isaac, so a little study transforms the soul.' He recommended that laymen also read the Homilies, but bit by bit, in order to digest the text. He would say that the Homilies were as valuable as a complete patristic library. The entire text, he thought, deserved to be underlined: in his copy, under a picture of the Saint writing with a quill pen, he wrote, 'My Abba, give me your pen to underline your whole book.'" - Saint Paisios of Mount Athos (pg. 225)

Well worth the $75 I paid. Hardback is beautifully presented with two-tone ink inside. More importantly, Isaac’s exhortation is worth multiple times the weight of this book in gold. Isaac of Nineveh write from inside the Persian Empire, calling us to the self-denying, simple, crucified life which Jesus demanded. Somehow, Isaac manages to encourage, not discourage, as he beckons us to rely on God to bring about a radical life in us, the life of King Jesus - not as a to-do list, but as the overflow of God’s powerful indwelling. I’d put this book right after the Bible on my list of must-reads!

"O Lord, merciful Father, with these writings of Saint Isaac make someone, even just one lone man, turn to Thy holy will. Grant that he may see the unwaning light, even if he is one of those souls which wallow in sin with no hope, which are voluntarlily condemned by their own selves Accourding to thy word, there is great joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents, Open the doors that are shut, and make us worthy to see Thy mysteries. Give our spirit wings so that we can fly up to Thy majesty." Pthotios Kontoglou A prayer before study: O Lord Jesus Christ, open Thou the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy word and understand and do Thy will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth, Hide not Thy commandments form me, but open mine eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Thy law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom. On thee do I set my hope, O my God, that Thou shalt enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Thy knowledge, on only to cherish those thing which are written, but to do them; that in reading the lives and sayings of the saints I may not sin, but that such may serve for my restoration, enlightenment and sanctification, for the salvation of my soul and the inheritance of life everlasting. For Thou art the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from Thee cometh every good deed and every good gift. Amen.

One of the best quality (if not the best), quality of printed books I have ever bought. For any Orthodox Christian, whether laity or those especially interested in monasticism, a must own. “Let not a single day go by without reading at least a page by Abba Isaac.” - Hieronymos of Aegina “A little study of Abba Isaac alters the soul with its many vitamins.” - Elder Paisios

Very happy with the overall quality of this book, I look forward to the journey.