Saint Theophan the Recluse

Letters on Prayer and the Spiritual Life

Name: Letters on Prayer and the Spiritual Life
Author: Saint Theophan the Recluse

19th c.

Modern translation

Letters · English translation, 2026

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Introduction
1. On the Jesus Prayer and Interior Prayer
2. On the Prayer Rule and Attention
3. Purity of Heart and Purification From Spiritual Numbness
4. On Spiritual Guidance and Relations With Those of Other Faiths
5. On the Prayer Rule and Its Fruits
6. On Prayer That Proceeds From the Heart
7. On Prayer as the First Work of Christian Life
8. On the Jesus Prayer and Noetic Activity
9. On the Unfolding of Prayer of the Intellect and Heart Through Church Services
10. On the Prayer of Intellect and Heart
11. On the Jesus Prayer and the Formation of a Prayerful Habit
12. On Freedom in the Prayer Rule
13. On Unceasing Prayer and the Ordering of Our Affairs
14. On Prayer as the Work of All Christians
15. Entrusting Everything to the Lord and Keeping Prayer
16. On Spiritual Coldness in the Practice of Prayer
17. On the Perfection of Noetic Prayer
18. On Self-Pity and Self-Indulgence
19. On Acquiring the Jesus Prayer
20. On the Essence of the Jesus Prayer
21. On Feelings in Prayer and Spiritual Delusion
22. On the Warmth of the Heart and Attention to Thoughts
23. On Slothfulness and Self-Justification
24. On Overcoming the Coldness of Prayer Through Labor
25. On the Warmth of the Heart and the Jesus Prayer
26. On Prayer Rule and Progress in Prayer
27. On Prayer and Patience in Afflictions
28. On Prayer Rule and Short Prayers
29. On Prayer From the Heart Outside the Church
30. On Prayer Rule and Unceasing Prayer
31. On the Prayer of the Intellect and Heart to God
32. On Feeling Toward God in Prayer
33. On Prayer Rule and Ascesis
34. On Slothfulness in Prayer and Instruction in Noetic Prayer
35. On the Jesus Prayer in the Church
36. On Short Little Prayers and Humility
37. On Short Prayers and Unceasing Prayer
38. On Reciting Prayers With Little Prayers and Sobriety
39. On Prayer as a Witness to Spiritual Life
40. On Prayer, Patience, and Humility
41. On Guarding Against Self-Love and Angry Words
42. On Overcoming Slothfulness Toward Prayer
43. On Unceasing Prayer and the Dedication of Works to God
44. On the Jesus Prayer and Hope in God
45. On the Jesus Prayer and Walking Before God
46. On Warmth of Prayer and Spiritual Coldness
47. On Attention in Prayer and Warming the Heart
48. On the Jesus Prayer and its Spiritual Action
49. Lessons of Illness and the Path of Spiritual Restoration
50. On the Imagelessness of Noetic Prayer
51. On the Jesus Prayer and the Preservation of Interior Warmth
52. On Measure in Ascesis and Humility
53. On the Remembrance of Death and the Guarding of the Intellect
54. On Prayer Made and Given
55. Patience and Affliction as the Path to the Kingdom
56. On Haste in Prayer Rules
57. On Self-Condemnation and Salvation in the Lord
58. On the Jesus Prayer and Interior Order
59. On Conscience and What Is Necessary for Salvation
60. On the Remembrance of God and the Jesus Prayer
61. On the Jesus Prayer and Living Communion With the Lord
62. On Noetic Standing Before the Lord
63. On Prayer Without Images and Attention of the Heart
64. On the Essence of Prayer and the Feeling of Contrition
65. Guidance for Prayer and Interior Work
66. On the Remembrance of God and Prayer of the Heart
67. Establishment in Noetic Prayer and the Struggle Against Distraction
68. On the Remembrance of God and the Fear of God
69. An Apology for the Delay in Replying
70. On Confession and Disclosure of Thoughts
71. On Beginning Spiritual Prayer and the Contrite Spirit
72. On Attentive Prayer and Images in Prayer
73. On Prostrations, the Reading of Psalms, and Prayer of the Heart
74. On Receiving Penitents and the Struggle Against the Passions
75. On Errors in the Practice of the Jesus Prayer
76. Errors in the Practice of the Jesus Prayer
77. On the Jesus Prayer and Its True Fruit
78. On Prayer and the Interior Fire
79. On the Disclosure of Thoughts and Spiritual Guidance
80. On Prayer From the Heart and its Gift
81. On the Work of Salvation and the Jesus Prayer
82. On the Prayer of Novices
83. On the Writings of Hierarch Ignatius and Spiritual Delusion in Prayer
84. On the Jesus Prayer and its True Practice
85. On the Jesus Prayer and a Contrite Spirit
86. On Brief Prayers and Noetic Prayer
87. On the Difference in the Manner of the Prayer Rule
88. On the Jesus Prayer: Vocal, Noetic, and Prayer of the Heart
89. On the Essence of the Jesus Prayer and the Grace of God
90. On the Prayer Rule and Unceasing Prayer
91. On Unceasing Prayer and Spiritual Practice
92. On the Jesus Prayer and Attention of the Heart
93. On the Difference Between Noetic Prayer Among the Latins and Among Us
94. On the Frozen Soul and the Rearrangement of the Prayer Rule
95. On Meditation on God in Prayer
96. On Wordless Prayer
97. On the Jesus Prayer and Its Technique of Practice
98. Noetic Prayer and the Technique of the Jesus Prayer
99. On the Labor of Engaging in the Jesus Prayer
100. On Prayer and Boredom in the Lord's Presence
101. On Prostrations and the Jesus Prayer
102. On the Warming of the Heart in Prayer
103. On Prayer Before Sleep and at Night
104. On Prayer and the Right Disposition of One Who Prays
105. On Learning Noetic Prayer
106. On the Power of Prayer and Spiritual Disposition
107. On Attention in Prayer and the Spirit of the Labor of Prayer
108. On the Essence of Prayer and Its Forms
109. On Sobriety, Noetic Prayer, and Patience
110. On the Jesus Prayer and the Guarding of Attention
111. On Surrendering Yourself to God and Unceasing Prayer
112. On Unceasing Prayer and the Order of the Day
113. On Noetic Prayer for Laymen
Persons and Places
Glossary
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