Excerpts from the "The Path to Salvation" A Manual of Spiritual Transformation. By St. Theofan the Recluse.

 

Content:

Preface. The Living Reality of an Immortal Teacher: St. Theophan the Recluse.

I. A Church Father for Modern Times. 4. His Writings in the English Language.

Introduction by the Author.

Part One. How Does the Christian Life Begin in Us?

Chapter One. How the Christian Life Begins in Us.

I. Christian Life Begins with Ardor of Zeal. 2. The Fire of Zeal. 3. In the Face of Temptation. 4. A New Creature in Christ through Holy Baptism. 5. Baptism for Infants. 6. Christian Upbringing. 7. The Influence of the Parents upon the Child.

Chapter Two. The Chief Activities of the Body, Soul and Spirit.

I. Directing the Developing Powers of the Soul and Body. 2. Surrounding the Child with Sacred Images. 3. Forming Attitudes.

Chapter Three. The Instruction and Guidance of Youth.

I. The Instruction of Youth. 2. Conscious Acceptance of the Yoke of Christ. 3. The Turbulent Period of Youth. 4. Two Tendencies Characteristic of Youth. 5. The Pinnacle of Danger for Youth. 6. How to Guard Against the Temptations of Youth.

Chapter Four. Preserving the Grace of Baptism.

I. Why the Grace of Baptism is not Preserved. 2. How to Correct a Bad Order of Things. 3. The Fruit of a Good Upbringing. 4. The Chief Form of Moral Perfection: Unshakability in Virtue.

Part Two. On Repentance and the Sinner's Turning toward God.

Chapter One. How Does Christian Life Begin in the Mystery of Repentance?

I. Turning away from Sin to God. 2. The Combining of Freedom with Grace.

Chapter Two. The Sinner's Condition

I. Particulars for a Person Who Lacks Grace. 2. The Care and Trouble about Many Things. 3. The Seductions of the Prince of this World. 4. The Invisible Kingdom of Spirits in which Each Sinner Is Immersed. 5. The Inner Mood and Condition of the Sinner.

Chapter Three. The Action of Divine Grace

Chapter Four. Awakening the Sinner from the Sleep of Sin.

Chapter Five. The Special Actions of Divine Grace in Arousing Sinners from the Slumber of Sin.

I. Introduction of the Divine Way through Visible Means and Through the Senses. 2. The Spirit Is Led into the Divine Way and Perceives it Internally. 3. The Word of God Replaces All Methods Shown.

Chapter Six. The Usual Order of the Gift of Awakening Grace.

I. Procrastination. A Common Ailment. 2. Habits and Inclinations that Imprison a Person in Sin. 3. Thought Processes that Keep One in Blindness. 4. Cease Making Excuses in Sins and Work on your Blindness. 5. How to Soften your Insensitive Heart. 6. How to Drive away the Sleep of Indolence. 7. Labor over yourself without Relaxing. 8. Reasoning with yourself about Salvation. 9. God's Grace Chooses well-known Means. 10. Awaiting God's Visitation. 11. What is Grace-Filled Awakening? 12. Discerning States of Awakening from Natural States.

Chapter Seven. Ascent to the Resolve to Abandon Sin and Dedicate One's Life to Pleasing God.

1. 2. Rising to the Promise to Dedicate one's Life to God.

Part Three. How the Christian Life is Lived, Ripened and Fortified, and about the Order of a God-pleasing Life.

Chapter One. The Final Goal of Man — a Living Unity with God.

1. Various Aspects of Communion with God. 2. How Grace Settles in the Repentant Soul. 3. Two Ways of Communing with God.

Chapter Two. Why the Grace of God does not Abide all at Once Entirely with the Soul.

1. The Inner Make-Up of the Convert. 2. The Grace-filled Life Is at First Only a Seed.

Chapter Three. A Guiding Rule for a God-Pleasing Life.

1. The Spirit and Character of Ascetic Struggles. 2. The Fruits of Ascetic Labors are Preserved and Ripened through Grace. 3. The Need for a Spiritual Guide and a Rule. 4. Rules for the Beginner of an Ascetic Labor.

Chapter Four. Preserving the Spirit of Zeal for God.

1. Being Within 2. Vision of Another World. 3. Remaining in Feelings that Lead to Resolve.

Chapter Five. Prescribed Exercises that Help to Confirm a Person’s Powers of Soul and Body in Goodness.

1. The Three Powers of the Soul and Their Curative Exercises. 2. Bodily Exercises 3. The Outward Ordering of Life. 4. Forming a Spiritual Atmosphere through Govenie. 5. General Notes about all These Ascetic Labors and Practices. 6. Exercises for Developing the Powers of the Soul According to the Spirit of Christian Life. 7. Keeping the Body in the Spirit of New Life. 8. The Order of External Life According to the Spirit of New Life. 9. Grace-filled Means of Developing and Strengthening the Spiritual Life.

Chapter Six. Approaching Constant Govenie.

1. Concerning Govenie. 2. Concerning Confession. 3. Concerning Communion.

Chapter Seven. Rule for Struggling with the Passions, or the Beginning of Self-Opposition.

1. War with the Passions and Lusts. 2. Freely Choosing and Loving Good is a Powerful Weapon. 3. Reviewing our Enemies to Know the Suitable Methods of Uprooting Passions. 4. The Rules of Spiritual Warfare.

Chapter Eight. The Beginning of Ascent Towards Living Communion with God.

1. Ascent to God. 2. Living Communion with God Occurs in a State of Hesychia, Which Brings Passionlessness. 3. Dispassion Is the Heavenly Palace of the Heavenly King.

Chapter Nine. Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostom on Education.

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