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Monasticism

The All-Embracing Gift of the Holy Spirit. An Approach to the Monastic Legacy of Saint Sophrony

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Monasticism is a paradoxical phenomenon on earth. It is life ‘outside the camp of this world.’ It reveals, in the present age, the life of the Kingdom to come and is governed by the Holy Spirit. It is the closest imitation of the path of Christ—first of His kenotic descent, even to the nethermost parts of the earth, and then of His glorious ascent above the heavens. By this path, the gifts of the Holy Spirit descended as rain watering the earth. Monasticism is bears the charismatic power of humility. Its prophetic character reflects the supra-cosmic otherness of Christ’s ethos – the truth of God. The monk is an image of the Resurrection, having passed ‘from death to life,’ and an image of Pentecost, when he bears in his chest the living flame of the Paraclete. The monk’s mission is to be a witness to the humble ethos of Christ, through which He brought to the world in these latter days His great and perfect salvation.

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AuthorArchimandrite Zacharias Zacharou

LanguageEnglish

Book CoverHardback Clothbound with Dust Jacket, Paperback

Pages490

PublisherStavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist

Edition2nd edition

Publication Year2023

ISBN978-1-909649-52-1

Weight0.734kg

Dimensions21.5 x 15.4 x 3.2 cm

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION

I. THE TRUE DIMENSIONS OF THE GOSPEL IN MONASTICISM

The Inverted Perspective of Monastic Life
Charismatic Theocracy

II. CHARISMATIC ASPECTS OF MONASTIC LIFE

Thirst for God
The Name of the Lord Jesus – the Breath of the Monk
Inconsolable Repentance
Fattening the Soul of the Monk through the Bread of Tears
New Beginnings, New Mercies, New Songs of Gratitude and Love
Prophetic Life in Monasticism
The Word Born in the Heart of the Man Who repents
Thanksgiving and Spiritual Sonship
Constantly ‘Rubbing’ against God’s Energy
Christ-like Vulnerability
Spiritual Tension in Times of Affliction

III. COMMENTS ON PHILOKALIC TEXTS ABOUT VIGILANCE

The Thought of Hell in Saint Isaiah the Anchorite
Stillness in Saint Hesychios
Positive Asceticism
Vigilance – the Science of Sciences and Art of Arts

EPILOGUE – AS ALIVE FROM THE DEAD
Biblical Index

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Excerpts (2)

Everything that is instrumental for receiving God’s incorruptible grace is a sacrament. In this sense, we could say that our entire Church is a sacrament. The monastic profession never sought to be acknowledged as one of the sacraments of the Church, as this would put its charismatic character at risk. Monasticism is the closest imitation of the path of Christ – of His kenotic descent and humiliation, and His glorious ascent above the heavens, by which all the gifts of the Holy Spirit came down as rain upon the earth. For this reason, institutionalisation would only occasion vanity and pride, as sometimes happens with holy priesthood.

By avoiding being recognised as an institution, monasticism remains hidden from the eyes of this world, and this allows it to keep its perfect and absolute freedom to exist purely on the spiritual plane, governed exclusively by the power of the Holy Spirit. If monasticism were to become an institution, it would cease to be a life outside the camp of this world (Heb. 13:14); it would lose its charismatic power of humility and its prophetic and paradoxical character, whereby it maintains the knowledge of God on earth.

— Excerpt from: Monasticism: The All-Embracing Gift of the Holy Spirit (An Approach to the Monastic Legacy of Saint Sophrony) • Introduction (p. 13)

The very essence of monasticism is therefore the cooperation of the spiritual Father with his disciple in slaying the old man, so that the new creature, the heavenly man, the hypostasis, may come forth. This prophetic gift is especially at work through the monastic practice of confession of thoughts; each time the monk discloses his thought with simplicity and trust, a small regeneration of his soul takes place.

— Excerpt from: Monasticism: The All-Embracing Gift of the Holy Spirit (An Approach to the Monastic Legacy of Saint Sophrony) • Prophetic Life in Monasticism (p. 228)

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John Asproyerakas (verified owner) – 4 months ago

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Given the title one might think that this book is only for people considering the Monastic life. Having read it I feel that it is valuable for all believers in Christ. There is nothing written that one would separate out as not being applicable to an individual living in the secular world. Maybe this is because the way that Monastics live is the way we are all called by Christ to live. The differences and advantage of the Monastic is their certainty, their commitment to a life of prayer and worship, and importantly most of their cares to meet the needs of the body are taken care of.
I was repeatedly surprised at the depth of the writing and wondered how one person could write so deeply about our relationship with God. This is not a book to read quickly through, but to take ones time to absorb the wisdom and insight.

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🇸🇪 Sweden
Gabriel Wennstig (verified owner) – 1 year ago

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Exploring the legacy of St Silouan, the most authentic monk of Mount Athos in the 20th century and his disciple Archimandrit Sophrony, Archimandrit Zacharias shows how obedience to Gods will through the commandments of the hegumen is the golden way to receive the grace of true hesychastic prayer, the stillness that knows God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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