Glossary

Theological and spiritual terms used in this book, with short definitions and back-links to every occurrence.

commandments

The divine commandments given by God, including the Decalogue and the teachings of Christ, which guide the moral and spiritual life of believers and are to be fulfilled in obedience to God.

Occurs in: 1. Life Under Guidance (1.51.7).

contemplation

Direct apprehension of divine reality, distinguished by the Fathers from rational knowledge (γνῶσις) and conceptual reasoning; the highest degree of prayer in the hesychast tradition.

Occurs in: 1. Life Under Guidance (1.51.19); 2. Life According to Rules (2.15.5).

Jesus Prayer

The short prayer ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’, repeated continuously as a means of cultivating ceaseless inner prayer; central to Eastern Orthodox hesychast practice.

Occurs in: Introduction (7).

Last Judgment

The final judgment of all humanity by Christ at the end of time, a central eschatological doctrine in Orthodox theology and a frequent subject of contemplation and iconography.

Occurs in: 1. Life Under Guidance (1.13.2).

remembrance of God

Continuous awareness of God’s presence cultivated by all forms of inner prayer.

Occurs in: Introduction (7).