The author, Metropolitan Hierotheos, is a bishop in the Orthodox Church of Greece, and the author of many books on Christian spiritual life and theology. He is one of the most highly respected and widely read ascetical theologians in the Orthodox Church today. The Holy Mountain is Mt. Athos, a 40 mile long peninsula in northeastern Greece which is home to several thousand Orthodox monks, whose chief work is "praying without ceasing" using the Jesus Prayer, handed down from the early Church. The "desert" refers to the some of the very isolated places on Athos populated by hermit monks living hidden away in little huts or caves (as opposed to the large ancient monasteries on Athos). If we say that the Church is the spiritual army of God, then the monks are the Marines and the hermits are the Green Berets of prayer. interceding for the world and defeating the demons. The bishop is a frequent pilgrim to the Holy Mountain, the spiritual heartland of the Orthodox world. After a particularly fruitful visit with a hermit monk (a God-bearing elder who prefers anonymity), he wrote down their discussion about the Jesus Prayer and published it in Greek (now in over 9 Greek editions). It appeared in English in 1991, with six reprints and a revision, as well as in French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. This fascinating conversation has become a modern classic of Orthodox Christian spiritual literature, in the tradition of the Philokalia. Imported from Greece.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romantic and stimulating ;) 5 stars!,
This review is from: A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer (Paperback)
This book focuses on discussions between a holy pilgrim and a true Gerondas. It begins on mount athos, the center of greek orthodoxy. It feels as if one is actually there. The descriptions are magnificently drawn. If you are interested in the Prayer of the Heart, this book is for you. It goes deep deep into discussions on prayer and other very important things such as an argument against buddhism, hinduism and the like, and why prayer of the heart is different and better. Truly a classic, the above professional review dude said it all, im just here to raise my hand and say hey this book rocks.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ascending Tabor,
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This review is from: A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer (Paperback)
An awe inspiring work on prayer and the spiritual life. Simple and clear yet incredibly profound. Your heart will be moved to seek deeper communion with Christ.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern Conference,
This review is from: A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer (Paperback)
A priest spends an evening (and well into the night) discussing the theory and practice of the Jesus Prayer with an experienced Elder on Mt. Athos. I was reminded of the style of the 'Conferences' of John Cassian, with the eager young disciple seeking wisdom from the experienced monk and wringing out every last piece of insight. The unnamed Elder is a luminous figure; gentle, wise and full of the Spirit. His teaching is obviously derived from genuine experience. We are led systematically through the methods of praying the Jesus Prayer, its benefits and dangers, and the rich rewards that await those who persevere in bringing their heart and mind before God in humble expectation. Probably like most readers I was disappointed that the author cast a veil of silence over the Elder's description of his own vision of the Uncreated Light, but as he points out in the preface, even this silence is edifying.
By the end, we indeed feel that we have spent a night in heaven. Mt. Athos is described as a regained Eden of beauty and divine silence. The thought that such a place, with such inhabitants, still exists in the world today moves me with awe at the grace of God.
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