Chapter 93
On the Difference Between Noetic Prayer Among the Latins and Among Us
93.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
93.3.1 I have written to you in response to your questions. By now you have surely received it. And you should repent of your premature distress.
93.4.1 I congratulate you on your safe journey and the settling of your affairs.
93.5.1 I’m sure you’ve already rested... and with a calm spirit you’re preparing for the matter that is so decisive for you.
93.6.1 I’m very glad that you’re back in your old groove. This means you can be considered ready...
93.7.1 Today is Thursday. You’ve already been living with Father[1] Cassian at the skete. If you’re in good health, that’s very good.
93.8.1 What you need, Father, Cassian will explain it better than anyone. And you yourselves understand it a little. I can only pray that the Lord will arrange everything for you in the most saving way.
93.9.1 Tell Mother Nadezhda Kronberg that there is no cure for my eyes. And surgery is not permitted. But even if it were permitted, I would not consent to it; for it is very painful, and I have little time left to live.[2]
93.10.1 I give thanks to her for her zeal. But I won’t write to her. Tell her it’s because of slothfulness.
93.11.1 Mother Cleopatra, writing on the occasion of a letter to Barsanuphia, mentioned your visit with her and that you read the Philokalia together, which delights her—and even delights little Cleopatra.
93.12.1 I’ve really become slothful. I wrote to you that I’d taken on translating something... I got to the articles on prayer... What a dark muddle! And I stopped... The Latins don’t understand noetic prayer the way we do. For them it’s meditation on God, concluded with prayer… But though that is a very fruitful exercise, it is not prayer… Prayer is a distinct exercise from meditation on God. Chapter twenty-two is also all about this. I don’t know whether you’ll feel inclined to rework it. In Unseen Warfare (which is also a translation of a Catholic book) I made the change.
93.13.1 May the Lord bless you with every blessing. Greetings to Father Cassian and company.[3] To Mitrophan. I ask for your prayers.
93.14.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.
93.15.1 year.