The Philokalia: What the Collection of the Neptic Fathers Is and Why Read It

The Philokalia is one of the most important works of Christian spirituality. It is a collection of writings by monks and Fathers who lived between the 4th and 15th centuries, teaching watchfulness of the heart and unceasing prayer. Its name means "love of the beautiful", and it is the book that, in The Way of a Pilgrim, the starets places in the pilgrim's hands to teach him the prayer of the heart.

Who compiled it and when

The Philokalia was compiled by two Greek monks, Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite of Mount Athos and Saint Macarius of Corinth. It was first printed in Venice in 1782, in Greek. Its full title presents it as the "Philokalia of the Holy Neptic Fathers", that is, the Fathers of watchfulness.

A few years later, in 1793, Saint Paisius Velichkovsky published a translation into Church Slavonic, the Dobrotolubiye, which made the prayer of the heart flourish again in Russia. Later Saint Theophan the Recluse produced an expanded Russian edition. Today there are complete translations in English, Italian and many other languages.

What it contains

The Philokalia gathers texts by some thirty authors, including Saint Anthony, Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Diadochos of Photiki, Maximus the Confessor, Symeon the New Theologian, Nikiphoros the Hesychast and Gregory Palamas. It speaks of:

• watchfulness and guarding the heart: noticing thoughts before they become passions;
• the struggle against the passions: gluttony, anger, sadness, pride and the other vices;
• unceasing prayer and the invocation of the name of Jesus;
• humility, repentance and charity, without which no prayer is true;
• discernment: telling what comes from God from what does not.

What "neptic" means

From the Greek nepsis, "sobriety", "watchfulness". The Neptic Fathers are the masters of inner watchfulness: they teach us to guard the heart as a sentry guards the gate. It is the same path described on the page about Christian asceticism.

How to read the Philokalia

1. Slowly. It is not a book to read in one go: a few lines a day are enough.
2. Prayerfully. Every sentence can become a prayer.
3. Starting with the simplest texts. Many recommend Diadochos of Photiki, Hesychios or the centuries of Maximus the Confessor.
4. With a guide. Some texts were written for monks: a spiritual father helps you understand what suits your life.
5. Alongside other books. The Way of a Pilgrim is a simple and luminous way in.

A book born in Venice

It is striking that the best-loved book of Orthodox hesychasm was first printed in Italy, in Venice, then one of the great centres of Greek printing. It is a small sign of how closely East and West are linked, as in Sicily, the land of the Italo-Greek saints.

Talking about it together

During the spiritual days near Taormina we often read a short passage of the Fathers together outdoors and talk about it as we walk. The tradition from which the Philokalia springs is explained on the page about hesychasm.

How to take part

The days take place near Taormina, in Sicily. The places to visit are agreed together each time. There is no overnight stay: we share one day, and in the evening everyone returns to their own home. Hospitality has no price and does not depend on any offering: whoever comes is welcomed for who they are. Everyone contributes as they can: anyone who cannot leave anything is welcomed like everyone else, and takes part by giving a little of their time.

The days are reserved for Catholic and Orthodox Christians, because they are lived in shared prayer. To ask for a date, simply write to me on WhatsApp. The spirit of the days is told in the manifesto of hospitality.

If you would like to know what makes this mission possible, read The circle of love.

Explore the other pages

The days: Christian spiritual days in Sicily · The Philoxenia of Abraham · Spiritual search and finding yourself · Day retreat, silent retreat and pilgrimage: the international names

Spiritual travel in Sicily: Spiritual tourism in Sicily: the guide · Pilgrimage walking routes in Sicily · Holy Week and Easter in Sicily · Religious festivals in Sicily: the calendar · Orthodox pilgrimage in Sicily · Spiritual Nordic walking and ski walking in Sicily

Nature and places: Spiritual Taormina · Spiritual walks in nature · Christian meditation in nature in Sicily · Places to meditate near Taormina and Messina · Places to meditate in Sicily

Prayer: Christian asceticism: the spiritual struggle · The prayer of the heart or Jesus Prayer · Hesychasm: the prayer of stillness

The saints of Sicily: Byzantine Sicily and the Italo-Greek saints · Saint Hilarion the Great in Sicily · Saint Methodios of Syracuse · Saint Joseph the Hymnographer · Saint Elias the Younger of Enna · Saint Agatha of Catania · Saint Lucy of Syracuse · Saint Pancras of Taormina

Sources

• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Philokalia
• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Hesychasm
• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Saint Gregory Palamas