Elder Aimilianos played an important role in the contemporary revival of monastic life on Mt. Athos, where he served as the abbot of the Monastery of Simonopetra from 1973 until his retirement in 2000. His remarkable gifts as a spiritual guide and teacher are evident in this outstanding collection of twelve talks, which uniquely illuminate the mystery of the human encounter with God. The struggle with the self, the deeper meaning of asceticism, the dynamic nature of spiritual growth, the centrality of Scripture and Liturgy, and the relationship of believers to the Holy Spirit, are among the many themes explored in this challenging and thought-provoking book. The energy and immediacy of the original texts are well captured in this superlative translation, which is supported by a wide-ranging introduction, extensive notes, and indices.
Book review
"The Way of the Spirit" is a collection of twelve spiritual talks by Elder Aimilianos, expresisng his personal experience of God, "which was always real, living and dynamic." From 1974 until his retirement in 2000 he was the abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Simonopetra on Mt. Athos.
"This book is an offering to our brothers and sisters throughout the world, for 'love does not seek its own' but desires communion with others, teaching us to sing in 'other tongues.' We cannon say 'we have no need of you,' for without you, our joy will not be complete (I Cor 13:3,12:21)." (Archimandrite Elisaios)
Read this book in a spirit of peace, with no anxiety about understanding new concepts or learning this under pressure. Let your reading and attenbtion be unforced, a form of prayer...listen for the word of God, and enter into communion with Him. How sweet is the voice of our Beloved! The winter is past, flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come (Song 2:10-12)
