The Path to Salvation: A Manual of Spiritual Transformation

Publication Data: Safford, AZ: St. Paisius Monastery, 2006
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 366
Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.0 cm × 13.5 cm × 2.3 cm
Additional Information: black-and-white illustrations
ISBN: 1‒887904‒50‒6

   
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose and the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood

“Christian life[...]has three stages which may be called: 1) Turning to God; 2) Purification or self-amendment; 3) Sanctification. In the first stage a man turns from darkness to light, from the domain of satan to God; in the second, he cleanses the chamber of his heart from every impurity, in order to receive Christ the Lord Who is coming to him; in the third, the Lord comes, takes up His abode in his heart, and communes with him. This is the state of blessed communion with God—the goal of all labors and ascetic endeavors. To describe all this and determine its laws will mean—to indicate the path to salvation. Complete guidance in this matter takes a man standing on the crossroads of sin, leads him up to the degree of perfection attainable to him, according to his level of maturity in Christ. Thus, it should show: 1) how Christian life begins in us; 2) how it is perfected, ripened and strengthened; and 3) how it manifests itself in its perfection.”
—“Introduction by the Author”

CONTENTS

   PREFACE A Biography by E. Sumarokov
   INTRODUCTION by the Author
PART I
HOW DOES THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGIN IN US?
   Chapter One: How the Christian Life Begins in Us
      1. Christian Life Begins with Ardor of Zeal
      2. The Fire of Zeal
      3. In the Face of Temptation
      4. A New Creature in Christ Though Holy Baptism
      5. Baptism for Infants
      6. Christian Upbringing
      7. The Influence of the Parents Upon the Child
   Chapter Two: The Chief Activities of the Body, Soul and Spirit
      1. Directing the Developing Powers of the Soul and Body
      2. Surrounding the Child With Sacred Images
      3. Forming Attitudes
   Chapter Three: The Instruction and Guidance of Youth
      1. The Instruction of Youth
      2. Conscious Acceptance of the Yoke of Christ
      3. The Turbulent Period of Youth
      4. Two Tendencies Characteristic of Youth
      5. The Pinnacle of Danger for Youth
      6. How to Guard Against The Temptations of Youth
   Chapter Four: Preserving the Grace of Baptism
      1. Why the Grace of Baptism Is Not Preserved
      2. How to Correct A Bad Order of Things
      3. The Fruit of a Good Upbringing
      4. The Chief Form of Moral Perfection: Unshakability in Virtue
PART II
ON REPENTANCE AND THE SINNER’S TURNING TOWARD GOD
   Chapter One: How Does Christian Life Begin in the Mystery of Repentance?
      1. Turning Away from Sin to God
      2. The Combining of Freedom with Grace
   Chapter Two: The Sinner’s Condition
      1. Particulars for a Person Who Lacks Grace
      2. The Care and Trouble about Many Things
      3. The Seductions of the Prince of This World
      4. The Invisible Kingdom of Spirits in which Each Sinner is Immersed
      5. The Inner Mood and Condition of the Sinner
   Chapter Three: The Action of Divine Grace
   Chapter Four: Awakening the Sinner from the Sleep of Sin
   Chapter Five: The Special Actions of Divine Grace in Arousing Sinners from the Slumber of Sin
      1. Introduction of the Divine Way through Visible Means and Through the Senses
      2. The Spirit is Led into the Divine Way and Perceives It Internally
      3. The Word of God Replaces All Methods Shown
   Chapter Six: The Usual Order of the Gift of Awakening Grace
      1. Procrastination: A Common Ailment
      2. Habits and Inclinations that Imprison a Person in Sin
      3. Though Processes that Keep One in Blindness
      4. Cease Making Excuses in Sins and Work on Your Blindness
      5. How to Soften Your Insensitive Heart
      6. How to Drive Away the Sleep of Indolence
      7. Labor Over Yourself Without Relaxing
      8. Reasoning With Yourself About Salvation
      9. God’s Grace Chooses Well-known Means
      10. Awaiting God’s Visitation
      11. What is Grace-filled Awakening?
      12. Discerning States of Awakening from Natural States
   Chapter Seven: Ascent to the Resolve to Abandon Sin and Dedicate One’s Life to Pleasing God
      1. Ascent to the Resolve to Abandon Sin
      2. Rising to the Promise to Dedicate One’s Life to God
PART III
HOW THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS LIVED, RIPENED AND FORTIFIED AND ABOUT THE ORDER OF A GOD-PLEASING LIFE
   Chapter One: The Final Goal of Man—A Living Unity with God
      1. Various Aspects of Communion with God
      2. How Grace Settles in the Repentant Soul
      3. Two Ways of Communing With God
   Chapter Two: Why the Grace of God Does Not Abide All at Once Entirely with the Soul
      1. The Inner Make-up of the Convert
      2. The Grace-filled Life is at First Only a Seed
   Chapter Three: A Guiding Rule for a God-pleasing Life
      1. The Spirit and Character of Ascetic Struggles
      2. The Fruits of Ascetic Labors are Preserved and Ripened Through Grace
      3. The Need for a Spiritual Guide and a Rule
      4. Rules for the Beginner of an Ascetic Labor
   Chapter Four: Preserving the Spirit of Zeal for God
      1. Being within
      2. Vision of Another World
      3. Remaining in Feelings that Lead to Resolve
   Chapter Five: Prescribed Exercises that Help to Confirm a Person’s Powers of Soul and Body in Goodness
      1. The Three Powers of the Soul and their Curative Exercises
      2. Bodily Exercises
      3. The Outward Ordering of Life
      4. Forming a Spiritual Atmosphere Through Govenie
      5. General Notes about all These Ascetic Labors and Practices
      6. Exercises for Developing the Powers of the Soul According to the Spirit of Christian Life
      7. Keeping the Body in the Spirit of New Life
      8. The Order of External Life According to the Spirit of New Life
      9. Grace-filled Means of Developing and Strengthening the Spiritual Life
   Chapter Six: Approaching Constant Govenie
      1. Concerning Govenie
      2. Concerning Confession
      3. Concerning Communion
   Chapter Seven: Rule for Struggling with the Passions, or the Beginning of Self-Opposition
      1. War with the Passions and Lusts
      2. Freely Choosing and Loving Good Is a Powerful Weapon
      3. Reviewing our Enemies to Know the Suitable Methods of Uprooting Passions
      4. The Rules of Spiritual Warfare
   Chapter Eight: The Beginning of Ascent Towards Living Communion with God
      1. Ascent to God
      2. Living Communion with God Occurs in a State of Hesychia, Which Brings Passionlessenss
      3. Dispassion is the Heavenly Palace of the Heavenly King
   Chapter Nine: Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostom on Education
   Index