Man’s Spiritual Evolution | Ἡ Πνευματικὴ Ἐξέλιξις τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου

Publication Data: Belmont, MA: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 2011
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 167
Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.3 cm × 13.9 cm × 1.0 cm
Additional Information: full-color and black-and-white illustrations
ISBN: 978‒1‒884729‒83‒6

   
By Constantine Cavarnos

A volume of Paths and Means to Holiness / Holiness: Man’s Supreme Destiny / Man’s Spiritual Evolution

“The subject of man’s spiritual evolution is one with which I have dealt in two of my earlier publications. I first discussed it in my book Paths and Means to Holiness. [...]I wrote and published in 2001 a second book on the subject, entitled Holiness: Man’s Supreme Destiny. The aim of both these works, as well as the present one, Man’s Spiritual Evolution, is to explain how, according to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, contained in the Holy Scriptures and in the writings of the holy Fathers of the Orthodox Tradition, one can attain salvation. This is conceived as union with God, and is called theosis, ‘deification.’ In theosis one participates in God’s perfection and blessedness. While the teaching of my three books on this subject is in substance the same, the approach in them is different. The approach in the present book resembles that of the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacos. Man’s spiritual evolution is viewed as progressing upward in a step by step manner. It begins with a decisive act of free choice and a firm resolve to strive wholeheartedly for theosis. And it proceeds with zealous askesis, unrelenting ‘work upon oneself,’ an individual aspiring to rise more and more towards spiritual perfection.”
—“PREFACE”

ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ | CONTENTS

   ΠΡΟΛΟΓΟΣ | PREFACE
Αʹ. Ο ΑΝΑΓΕΝΝΗΜΕΝΟΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ | 1. “THE REBORN MAN”
Βʹ. Η ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ ΕΝΟΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥ ΔΥΝΑΤΑΙ ΝΑ ΑΛΛΑΞῌ | 2. ONE’S LEVEL OF BEING CAN BE CHANGED
Γʹ. Η ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΑΝΟΔΟΣ | 3. SPIRITUAL ASCENT
Δʹ. ΑΠΑΡΑΙΤΗΤΟΣ ΚΑΘΙΣΤΑΤΑΙ Η ΣΥΝΕΧΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΕΙΑ | 4. CONTINUOUS EFFORT NEEDED
Eʹ. ΑΠΟΦΑΣΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΚΛΟΓΗ, ΠΙΣΤΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΓΜΑΤΑ | 5. DECISIVE CHOICE, FAITH, AND EXEMPLARS
ΣΤʹ. ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΤΟ ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΓΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΥ | 6. FOLLOWING ST. ANTONY’S EXAMPLE
Ζʹ. ΑΞΙΟΛΟΓΑ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΜΑΤΑ | 7. VERY VALUABLE READINGS
Ηʹ. Ο «ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΙΝΟΣ» ΚΑΙ Η «ΦΙΛΟΚΑΛΙΑ» | 8. THE EVERGETINOS AND THE PHILOKALIA
Θʹ. ΑΛΛΑ ΕΠΟΙΚΟΔΟΜΗΤΙΚΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ | 9. OTHER EDIFYING BOOKS
Ιʹ. ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΗ ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ, ΝΟΕΡΑ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΛΟΓΙΚΟΝ | 10. INNER ATTENTION, MENTAL PRAYER, AND REASON
ΙΑʹ. ΣΥΝΕΙΔΗΣΙΣ, ΑΣΚΗΣΙΣ, ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΑΚΗ ΖΩΗ | 11. CONSCIENCE, ASKESIS, AND SACRAMENTAL LIFE
ΙΒʹ. ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΤΕΛΕΙΟΤΗΣ | 12. SPIRITUAL PERFECTION
   INDEX OF PROPER NAMES
   INDEX OF SUBJECTS
   SUPPLEMENT