The Arena: Guidelines for Spiritual and Monastic Life

Author: St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Form: Paperback

Pages: 311

This is one of the most importantﾠand accessible texts of OrthodoxﾠChristian teaching on the spiritual life, and and not unlike the betterﾠknown "Philokalia." The author, St.ﾠIgnatius (Brianchaninov) describes this work as his legacy "of soul saving instruction." Heﾠpromises that "Those who carry out theseﾠinstructions will enter into possessionﾠof spiritual riches." In an age even moreﾠalienated from spiritual culture and rootedﾠin materialism, his words pose both aﾠchallenge and an invitation to all who everﾠsay to themselves "There must be more toﾠlife than this." For anyone who desires toﾠdeepen their own spiritual journey basedﾠupon an encounter with Christ as God,ﾠthis book is essential reading. Its contentsﾠmay ultimately be accepted or rejected,ﾠbut they will be very difficult to ignore.

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 (n(more...)