A Treasury of Light: Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of the Philokalia

The Philokalia (Ancient Greek: φιλοκαλία, meaning “love of the beautiful,” “love of the good,” or “love of the exalted”) is a foundational anthology of spiritual texts within Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It’s considered one of the most influential books in the recent history of the Orthodox Church, second only to the Bible itself.

Here’s a breakdown of what the Philokalia entails:

Origin and Compilation
– Compilation: The Philokalia was compiled in the 18th century by two Orthodox saints: Nicodemus the Hagiorite of Mount Athos and Makarios of Corinth.
-First Publication: The first edition, in Greek, was published in Venice in 1782.
– Source Material: It gathers writings from various spiritual masters of the Orthodox tradition, dating from the 4th to the 15th centuries. These texts were originally written primarily for the guidance and instruction of monks in the practice of the contemplative life.

Content and Purpose
Focus on Inner Life: The core concern of the Philokalia is with “inner action” or “inner asceticism,” rather than just outward religious observances. It emphasizes the “guarding of the intellect” and the pursuit of inner stillness.

Hesychasm: It is the foundational text for Hesychasm, a mystical tradition of prayer that seeks divine quietness (hesychia) through uninterrupted prayer, often involving the Jesus Prayer.

The Jesus Prayer: The collection provides guidance on the practice of the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”), seen as a means to achieve spiritual focus and a deep, contemplative relationship with God.

Spiritual Growth and Theosis: The texts offer practical guidance for spiritual growth, emphasizing virtues like humility, love, and repentance. The ultimate aim is theosis, or union with God.

“Watchfulness” (Nepsis): A key concept is “watchfulness” (Greek: nepsis), which refers to attentiveness to one’s thoughts, intentions, and emotions, aimed at resisting temptations and maintaining a constant remembrance of God.

Influence
Monastic and Lay Appeal: While originally for monks, the Philokalia has gained wide readership among laypeople seeking to deepen their spiritual lives within the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Translations: It was translated into Church Slavonic (1793) and Russian (1877), significantly influencing Russian spirituality and inspiring figures like Fyodor Dostoevsky.

More recently, it has been translated into numerous other languages, including English (a complete five-volume translation concluded in 2023).

Contemporary Relevance: The teachings of the Philokalia offer guidance on contemplative living, inner cleansing, and balancing inner practice with outer responsibilities, providing a counterbalance to the busyness of modern life.

In essence, the Philokalia is a comprehensive guide to the contemplative lifestyle, emphasizing the purification of the heart, inner stillness, and constant prayer as a path to union with God.