Flowers from the Desert: Sayings on Humility, Obedience, Repentance, and Love from the Christian Hermits of Ancient Times

Publication Data: Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 2003
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 100
Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.3 cm × 13.8 cm × 0.8 cm
ISBN: 0‒911165‒54‒1

   
Translated from the Greek, compiled, and arranged by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna

“It is from my earlier research on the psychology of the Fathers and this present translation work that I have drawn and selected the sayings contained in this book. Many of them, since almost all of the extant translations of aphorisms and anecdotes from the desert hermits are from Latin sources, appear here for the first time in their original form; indeed, some of the specific aphorisms of the Elders (originally collected in what was called the Gerontikon, from the Greek word γέρων, or Elder) are absent from the Latin collection. [...]At times, I have chosen to retain the terse expressions of the original Greek; at other times, without violating the style or content of the ancient text, I have directly translated from the modern Greek. The result is, I think, the closest possible approximation of the tone, spirit, and meaning of the original texts that can be found in a contemporary language, other than modern Greek, and one which easily and adequately translates into other modern languages. Hence, I believe that my translation offers a genuine encounter with the wisdom of the Desert Fathers that eludes translations made from the Latin source texts.”
—“Introduction”

CONTENTS

The Author
Acknowledgements
Introduction
CHAPTER 1
   Humility
CHAPTER 2
   Obedience
CHAPTER 3
   Repentance
CHAPTER 4
   Love