Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from the Patristic Era with Commentary - Olivier Clement

The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy - St. Dionysius the Areopagite

In The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, the 5th-century Christian theologian Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite outlines the visible Church as a sacred, vertically ordered system. Its purpose is to guide believers upward through material symbols and sacraments, facilitating their assimilation and union with God (known as theosis or deification)

Hymns on Paradise: St. Ephrem the Syrian

In Hymns on Paradise: St. Ephrem the Syrian offers a deeply poetic and theological reflection on the story of Genesis 2 and 3, weaving rich imagery to reveal the profound connection between the material and spiritual worlds. Through 15 hymns, Ephrem invites readers to see creation as a sacramental witness to its Creator, where nature and Scripture work together to reveal God’s truth. With a Biblical and symbolic approach, Ephrem explores themes such as the unity of the Old and New Testaments, the sacraments as glimpses of heavenly realities, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan. His timeless use of vivid imagery transcends cultural and philosophical barriers, making his insights fresh and accessible even today. Hymns on Paradise: St. Ephrem the Syrian will inspire readers to see God’s hand in creation, deepen their understanding of Scripture, and reflect on the eternal mysteries of faith.

The Sunflower Conforming the Will of Man to the Will of God By John of Tobolsk

This is a thoroughly practical manual of the spiritual life that focuses on the central goal of every Christian: discerning the will of God and struggling to mold our life to it, just as Christ “humbled Himself and became obedient” (Philippians 2:8). Saint John addresses fundamental questions: Why should we care about God’s will? What are the benefits in following His will? How do we avoid common obstacles to living in accordance with His will? The reader will find practical and eternal wisdom running through these writings that discuss the perennial questions of why a good God permits evil. This is the first English edition of St John’s text, edited and abbreviated for the contemporary reader. St John Maximovitch (1651-1715) was Metropolitan of Tobolsk and all Siberia. He served as a missionary in Siberia and was known for his unpretentiousness and his generosity to the poor. His veneration among the people grew after his repose and he was glorified by the Russian Church in 1916, becoming the last canonized saint of the pre-revolutionary period. He is best known today as the namesake and ancestor of the great 20th-century saint of the Russian diaspora, St John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

Do You Know Yourself? Psychological Problems and the Spiritual Life by Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos

Why do so many of us good Christians find our spiritual progress blocked? What can we do about the unconscious neurotic tendencies that warp our relations with others? How can we let go of the idealized image we have of ourselves? Drawing on the classic work Our Inner Conflicts by psychiatrist Karen Horney, Archimandrite Symeon shows how we are led to unhealthy attachments, slavish dependency, or a position of compliance which can even affect our relationship with God. He then explains how today s Christians can use biblical teachings and the wisdom of the Eastern Orthodox Church fathers to combat these characteristically modern problems. Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos is a lecturer, preacher, and confessor in the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, Greece. His spiritual lectures often draw on his study of psychology. He has founded two monastic communities, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity for men and the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos for women.

Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from the Patristic Era with Commentary - Olivier Clement

By linking together a series of brilliantly chosen texts from the early centuries of the Church, the author lays bare the roots of the deeply mystical spirituality that has flourished among Christians throughout the ages.