Spiritual World Of Isaac The Syrian
Spiritual World Of Isaac The Syrian
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Paperback / softback
£18.99
Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 9780879077754
Number of Pages: 322
Published: 01/06/2000
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
From the Foreword by Kallistos Ware, Bishop of Diokleia—
Isaac the Syrian, also called Isaac of Nineveh, lived and wrote during "the golden age of Syriac Christian literature" in the seventh century. Cut off by language and politics from the Churches of the Roman Empire and branded "Nestorian," the Church of the East produced in isolation a rich theological literature which is only now becoming known to outsiders. Yet over the centuries and in all parts of Christendom, Isaac's works have been read and recommended as unquestionably orthodox.
Now, at last, to my great delight, we have at our disposal a single book in English, offering us a balanced and comprehensive overview of Isaac's life, background and teaching. Wisely, Fr. Hilarion Alfeyev has allowed Isaac to speak for himself. The book is full of well-chosen quotations, in which Isaac's true voice can be heard.
Saint Isaac of Syria was an ascetic, a mountain solitary, but his writings are universal in scope. They are addressed not just to the desert but to the city, not just to monastics but to all the baptized. With sharp vividness he speaks about themes relevant to every Christian: about repentance and humility, about prayer in its many forms, both outer and inner, about solitude and community, about silence, wonder, and ecstasy. Along with the emphasis that he places upon "luminous love"—to use his own phrase—two things above all mark his spiritual theology: his sense of God as living mystery; and his warm devotion to the Saviour Christ.
Isaac the Syrian, also called Isaac of Nineveh, lived and wrote during "the golden age of Syriac Christian literature" in the seventh century. Cut off by language and politics from the Churches of the Roman Empire and branded "Nestorian," the Church of the East produced in isolation a rich theological literature which is only now becoming known to outsiders. Yet over the centuries and in all parts of Christendom, Isaac's works have been read and recommended as unquestionably orthodox.
Now, at last, to my great delight, we have at our disposal a single book in English, offering us a balanced and comprehensive overview of Isaac's life, background and teaching. Wisely, Fr. Hilarion Alfeyev has allowed Isaac to speak for himself. The book is full of well-chosen quotations, in which Isaac's true voice can be heard.
Saint Isaac of Syria was an ascetic, a mountain solitary, but his writings are universal in scope. They are addressed not just to the desert but to the city, not just to monastics but to all the baptized. With sharp vividness he speaks about themes relevant to every Christian: about repentance and humility, about prayer in its many forms, both outer and inner, about solitude and community, about silence, wonder, and ecstasy. Along with the emphasis that he places upon "luminous love"—to use his own phrase—two things above all mark his spiritual theology: his sense of God as living mystery; and his warm devotion to the Saviour Christ.
Table of Contents
Forword
Bishop Kallistos [Ware] 9
Introduction. Isaac of Nineveh as a Spiritual Writer of the Church of the East 15
1. The Church of the East at the Time of Isaac 16
2. The Christology of the Church of the East 20
3. The Life of Isaac the Syrian 25
4. The Writings of lsaac 29
5. The Sources of lsaac's Theology 32
Chapter I. God, the Universe and Humankind 35
1. Divine Love which Reveals Itself through the Created World 35
2. The Structure of the Created World 43
3. The Incarnation 49
Chapter II. The Way of a Solitary 61
1. Solitude and Renunciation of the World 61
2. Love of God and Love of One's Neighbour 67
3. Stillness and Silence 77
4. A Monastic Way to God 81
Chapter III. Trials on the Way to God 91
1. Temptations 91
2. Experience of Abandonment 101
Chapter IV: Humility 111
1. Humility as Assimilation to God 111
2. Humility as an Inner Quality 116
3. External Signs of Humility 123
Chapter V. Tears 129
1. Repentance 129
2. Bitter and Sweet Tears 134
Chapter VI. The School of Prayer 143
1. Prayer 144
2. Outward Aspects of Prayer 150
3. Prayer before the Cross 163
4. Reading 174
5. Night Prayer 184
6. The 'Rule of Slavery' and the 'Rule of Freedom' 193
7. Prayer for the World 201
8. Meditation on God and 'Pure Prayer' 208
Chapter VII. The Life in God 217
1. 'Spiritual Prayer' and the Stillness of Mind 218
2. Contemplation 223
3. Visions, Revelations, Insights 229
4. 'Overshadowing' and 'Illumination' 236
5. Wonder 241
6. 'Inebriation' by the Love of God 248
7. Faith and Knowledge 256
Chapter VIII. The Life of the Age to Come
1. Meditation on the Future World 270
2. Life after Death 274
3. Eternal Punishment or Universal Salvation? 283
4. Divine Love which Reveals Itself in the Final Destiny of the World 292
Conclusion: The Enduring Influence of Saint Isaac 299
Bibliography 303
Index of Syriac Terms 313
General Index 315
Forword
Bishop Kallistos [Ware] 9
Introduction. Isaac of Nineveh as a Spiritual Writer of the Church of the East 15
1. The Church of the East at the Time of Isaac 16
2. The Christology of the Church of the East 20
3. The Life of Isaac the Syrian 25
4. The Writings of lsaac 29
5. The Sources of lsaac's Theology 32
Chapter I. God, the Universe and Humankind 35
1. Divine Love which Reveals Itself through the Created World 35
2. The Structure of the Created World 43
3. The Incarnation 49
Chapter II. The Way of a Solitary 61
1. Solitude and Renunciation of the World 61
2. Love of God and Love of One's Neighbour 67
3. Stillness and Silence 77
4. A Monastic Way to God 81
Chapter III. Trials on the Way to God 91
1. Temptations 91
2. Experience of Abandonment 101
Chapter IV: Humility 111
1. Humility as Assimilation to God 111
2. Humility as an Inner Quality 116
3. External Signs of Humility 123
Chapter V. Tears 129
1. Repentance 129
2. Bitter and Sweet Tears 134
Chapter VI. The School of Prayer 143
1. Prayer 144
2. Outward Aspects of Prayer 150
3. Prayer before the Cross 163
4. Reading 174
5. Night Prayer 184
6. The 'Rule of Slavery' and the 'Rule of Freedom' 193
7. Prayer for the World 201
8. Meditation on God and 'Pure Prayer' 208
Chapter VII. The Life in God 217
1. 'Spiritual Prayer' and the Stillness of Mind 218
2. Contemplation 223
3. Visions, Revelations, Insights 229
4. 'Overshadowing' and 'Illumination' 236
5. Wonder 241
6. 'Inebriation' by the Love of God 248
7. Faith and Knowledge 256
Chapter VIII. The Life of the Age to Come
1. Meditation on the Future World 270
2. Life after Death 274
3. Eternal Punishment or Universal Salvation? 283
4. Divine Love which Reveals Itself in the Final Destiny of the World 292
Conclusion: The Enduring Influence of Saint Isaac 299
Bibliography 303
Index of Syriac Terms 313
General Index 315
