Additional information
| Author Name | Ignatius (Brianchaninov) |
|---|---|
| Format | ED |
| Publication Date | 20120901 |
| Imprint | |
| Publisher | |
| Translator | Lazarus (Moore) |
| Language | Russian |
| Book Dimensions | 0 |
| Format Detail | eBook |
| Foreword | Kallistos (Ware) |
The Arena
Guidelines for Spiritual and Monastic Life
Living a Christian Life, Russian Spiritual Classics$14.99
Description
This is one of the most important and
accessible texts of Orthodox Christian teaching on the spiritual life, and and
not unlike the better known “Philokalia.” The author, St. Ignatius
(Brianchaninov) describes this work as his legacy “of soul saving instruction.”
He promises that “Those who carry out these instructions will enter into
possession of spiritual riches.” In an age even more alienated from spiritual
culture and rooted in materialism, his words pose both a challenge and an
invitation to all who ever say to themselves “There must be more to life than
this.” For anyone who desires to deepen their own spiritual journey based upon
an encounter with Christ as God, this book is essential reading. Its
contents may ultimately be accepted or rejected, but they will be very difficult
to ignore.
Like the other leaders of this Russian
monastic revival, Ignatius was deeply rooted in the ascetic and mystical
doctrine of the Greek Fathers, yet there was nothing antiquarian or academic
about his devotion to the teaching of the past: for this ancient tradition was
something that he had experienced directly, as a creative and dynamic reality in
his personal life.
–Metropolitan
Kallistos of Diokleia
Subjects covered
include unceasing prayer, the need for spiritual direction and the importance of
Divine meditation. The original Russian edition was published in 1867. The work
encapsulates the legacy of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) as it was published in
the year of his death, after some forty years of monastic life. There is a
helpful thirteen-page introduction is provided by Archimandrite (now
Metropolitan) Kallistos (aka Timothy Ware) as well as a glossary of terms. The
2nd edition was reedited and newly typeset. It includes interior design
features, subject and scripture indexes, and includes a short life of St
Ignatius.
Contents
Foreword to the Original English-Language
Edition
Introduction
Part I: COUNSELS FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
OF MONKS
1 On the Study of the Commandments of the Gospel and
On the Life According to the Commandments of the Gospel
2 People Will Be Judged at God’s Judgment According to
the Commandments of the Gospel
3 The Monastic Life Is Life According to the
Commandments of the Gospel
4 On the Precariousness of the Monastic Life When It
Is Not Based on the Commandments of the Gospel
5 On Guarding Oneself from Occasions of Sin or
Temptation
6 God-Pleasing Life in Human Society must Precede
God-Pleasing Life in Silence and Solitude
7 On Guarding Oneself from the Good That Belongs to
Fallen Human Nature
8 Concerning the Enmity and Conflict Between Fallen
Nature and the Commandments of the Gospel
9 On Reading the Gospel and the Writings of the
Fathers
10 On Discretion in Reading the Patristic Books on the
Monastic Life
11 On the Solitary Life
12 Concerning Life in Obedience to an
Elder
13 Concerning Life under Spiritual
Direction
14 The Aim of the Monastic Life Consists in Studying
the Will of God, in Making It One’s Own, and in Obeying
It
15 Love for Our Neighbor Is a Means of Attaining to
Love for God
16 Humility in Our Dealings with Our Neighbor Is a
Means of Attaining to Love for Our Neighbor
17 On Prayer
18 On Preparation for Prayer
19 On Attention at Prayer
20 On the Cell Rule
21 Concerning Bows
22 On Adapting the Cell Rule to the Monastic
Rule
23 On the Jesus Prayer
24 On the Practice of the Jesus
Prayer
25 On Unceasing Prayer
26 On the Oral, Mental, and Cordial Jesus
Prayer
27 On Divine Meditation 81
28 On the Remembrance of Death
83
29 The Narrow Way Is Designed by God
Himself
30 The Teaching of the Holy Fathers Concerning the
Narrow Way
31 Troubles Are the Special Lot of the Monks of the
Last Time
32 Sources of Monastic
Temptations
33 On the Necessity for Courage in
Temptations
34 On Sobriety or Vigilance
35 On the Use and Harm of Bodily
Discipline
36 Concerning Animal and Spiritual
Zeal
37 Concerning Almsgiving
38 Concerning Poverty or
Detachment
39 Concerning Human Glory
40 Concerning Resentment or Remembrance of
Wrongs
41 The Meaning of the Term
“World”
42 On Avoiding Acquaintance with the Opposite
Sex
43 Concerning the Fallen Angels
44 The First Way of Struggling with the Fallen
Angels
45 The Second Way of Struggling with the Fallen
Angels
46 Concerning Dreams
47 On the Close Affinity Between Virtues and
Vices
48 Concerning the Special Opposition of the Fallen
Spirits to Prayer
49 On Keeping the Eye of the Soul from All That Is
Harmful to It
50 Concerning Repentance and
Mourning
Conclusion: Adaptations of the Rules for Present-Day
Monasticism
Part II: RULES OF OUTWARD CONDUCT FOR
NOVICES
Introduction: On the Need for
Rules
The Meaning of a Monastery, Rule
1
On Obedience and Obediences, Rules 2 and
3
On the Treatment of Sins, Rule
4
On Prayer and Conduct in Church, Rules
5–18
On the Duties of Readers, Rules
19–22
On Movement in Church, Rule 23
On Bows and Prostrations, Rule
24
On Uncovering the Head, Rule
25
On Maintaining Strict Reverence in Church, Rules
26–27
On Behavior in Refectory and Use of Food, Rules
28–30
On the Use of Wine, Rule 31
On Conduct in One’s Cell and Reception of Visitors,
Rules 32–37
On Clothing, Rule 38
On Relations with Brethren of the Monastery, Rules
39–43
On Leaving the Monastery, Rules
44–49
On Venerating the Miraculous Icons and Holy Relics,
Rule 50
Conclusion
Glossary
Appendix: A Short Biography of St Ignatius
(Brianchaninov)
Notes
Subject Index
Scripture Index
