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" ....

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.

This is some of the easiest prose to read that I have encountered. Yet the depth and challenge contained in it is astounding. I spent about 3 hours over a couple of days just working through 2 pages! 1500+ years old from a desert ascetic and yet the truths in here are still relevant and force the reader to evaluate their modern life. This has immediately jumped into my top 10 books. I look forward to rereading it for years to come.

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.