Steeped in the Philokalic tradition, the holy Hierarch Theophan was a prolific writer and interpreter of the holy Fathers of the Church, making them accessible to contemporary Christians. Patristic literature has always provided an age-old, tried-and-tested model of spiritual life, foreign to fleeting fashions. St. Theophan keeps this traditional model sharp and clear, presenting it in an approachable language. In this book, his crowning achievement, the Saint himself expresses its precise aim as follows:

It is possible to describe the feelings and inclinations which a Christian must have, but this is very far from being all that is demanded for the ordering of one’s salvation.  The important thing for us is a real life in the spirit of Christ.  But just touch on this, and how many perplexities are uncovered, how many guideposts are necessary, as a result, almost at every step!  True, one may know man’s final goal:  communion with God and one may describe the path to it:  faith, and walking in the commandments, with the aid of divine grace.  One need only say in addition:  Here is the path—start walking!