Eastern Orthodox mystics

Would purchasing these two books/resources be congruent to Eastern Orthodox mysticism, spirituality or the contemplative life style?

Just want to figure out the "intouch" or inner life of the Orthodox way of living.

Here are the two resources:

Would these be compatible to the Philokalia?

The Fathers of the Desert (2 vols.)

Early Egyptian Monasticism Collection (5 vols.)

mm.

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Ken McGuire

Both collections include material which has been influential on the "contemplative live" and so Mysticism. But reading about it is a far cry from any understanding of it - and I will not claim to really understand it myself.

Much better, I think, would be to arrange a guest visit for a few days with a contemplative community. No, they will not be able to instantly answer all your questions, but it is a much better way to get in touch with the contemplative live - and I say this having just returned from a day and half with some Benedictines...

After such a visit is when some resource recommendations would make more sense.

James Taylor

This one...

https://www.logos.com/product/54497/philokalia-the-eastern-christian-spiritual-texts-selections-annotated-and-explained

has selections taken from the Philokalia which will give you a pretty good idea of Eastern Orthodox Spirituality.

The Fathers of the Desert (2 vols.) is primarily short biographies with quotations here and there.

Early Egyptian Monasticism Collection (5 vols.) is mostly history/biographical as well, other than

Fifty Spiritual Homilies of St. Macarius the Egyptian

and

The Rules of Pachomius

which give some actual writings of Macarius and Pachomius but neither of these are probably going to get you what you're looking for.

James Taylor

Also if you're looking for a good overview of Mystic writings from the East this book (not yet available from Logos)

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Writings-Christian-Mysticism-Classics/dp/0812974212/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462375860&sr=8-2&keywords=essential+writings+bernard

is probably the best on the subject. And you can determine where each author is from and whether they would fit in the Eastern category (since the book covers all of those traditionally associated with Mysticism and not just the Eastern)

SineNomine

Would purchasing these two books/resources be congruent to Eastern Orthodox mysticism, spirituality or the contemplative life style?

Yes, substantially, although I would recommend reading The Wisdom of the Desert first or instead.

MJ. Smith

Then, while it is a biit broader, there is always Classics of Western Spirituality Bundle (126 vols.)

Dan Francis

Oxford Studies in St. Symeon the New Theologian(2 vols.)

This unfortunately has not been released but is one of the more important Mystical writers of the Orthodox faith. I have of course read him in the Philokalia and some of his works elsewhere... I wish there were more available by him in Logos.

-Dan

MJ. Smith

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Writings-Christian-Mysticism-Classics/dp/0812974212/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462375860&sr=8-2&keywords=essential+writings+bernard

McGinn is one of my favorite writers on Christian mysticism. I have asked for his multi-volume history of Christian mysticism multiple times. The first volume is The Foundations of Mysticism: Origins to the Fifth Century (The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism, Vol. 1)

Actually the first volume or two apply equally to Orthodox or Catholic.

Deacon Steve

You may also find this set helpful:

https://www.logos.com/product/49432/orthodox-spiritual-heritage-collection

Here is another edition, on Logos, of the Philokalia. Not sure the content is identical to the other on-line sellers edition or the other Logos resource mentioned above.

https://www.logos.com/product/45046/the-philokalia-a-classic-text-of-orthodox-spirituality

Maybe Gabe will chime in and provide some recommendation.

Milkman

I ordered The Foundations vol 1 & 2 during this OP and am excited (always love to get new books) to say that both have arrived at the books store.

Thanks again.

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Writings-Christian-Mysticism-Classics/dp/0812974212/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462375860&sr=8-2&keywords=essential+writings+bernard

McGinn is one of my favorite writers on Christian mysticism. I have asked for his multi-volume history of Christian mysticism multiple times. The first volume is The Foundations of Mysticism: Origins to the Fifth Century (The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism, Vol. 1)

Actually the first volume or two apply equally to Orthodox or Catholic.