The Chapters on Prayer

Few writings have shaped Christian prayer more deeply than The Chapters on Prayer, a collection of 153 short sayings by the fourth-century desert father Evagrius Ponticus. Written for monks yet beloved by seekers of every kind, these brief, luminous chapters teach what prayer is — the mind's quiet conversation with God — and how to prepare for it: stilling the thoughts, releasing the passions, persevering through distraction, and at last praying beyond every image. Evagrius is startlingly honest about the wandering mind and the obstacles to interior stillness, and his wisdom has been treasured for sixteen centuries in the Christian East and West. This faithful modern-English edition presents the complete text in clear, present-day language, true to the original's meaning and spirit, with an introduction, a glossary, and notes that open the door to this timeless classic for today's readers. Part of The World Scriptures Library.