Orthodox Spiritual Life According to Saint Silouan the Athonite

by Harry M. Boosalis

the teaching of St. Silouan on Orthodox spiritual teaching on the aquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, the significance of suffering, humility, love for all mankind and prayer for the salvation of the entire world. Softcover.

Genres: Spirituality

203 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota of Greek-American parents, Dr. Boosalis grew up at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Upon graduation from Seminary, he served his home parish as a lay assistant and youth director under the tutelage of his life-long parish priest, Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris. He went on to pursue his doctoral degree in Greece under the direction of Prof. Georgios Mantzaridis. His dissertation provides a systematic presentation of the teaching of St. Silouan of Mount Athos on Orthodox spiritual life, highlighting its relevance for today.

Dr. Boosalis has been teaching dogmatic theology as a full time faculty member at St. Tikhon’s since the Fall of 1992, when he organized, developed and implemented a new curriculum for the entire sequence of dogmatic courses in the Master of Divinity degree program. He serves the Seminary as the Chairman of the Department of Theology and Spirituality and is a member of the Academic Affairs Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, the Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Development Committee.

Reviews

[Devorina Gamalova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellently written book. Enjoyed reading it almost as much as I do reading St Silouan’s writings itself.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is written by Harry Boosalis and focuses on the spirituality of St. Silouan (and to a lesser extent Archim. Sophrony). Boosalis sort of systematizes Silouan's spirituality and compares it with scripture and the patristics.
This book was easy to read and digestible. I really think I learned from this book a more profound sense of humility in God and the true believer. There were good chapters on suffering, acquiring the Holy Spirit, and prayer for all mankind, but I think I gained the most from the chapter dealing with pride and humility. This book was my introduction into viewing God as primarily self-giving and self-emptying in so far as one says "God is love." I still need to think about this, but I am pleased by this more profound view of God and the trinity than one where he is simply morally perfect and only allows us life by making us morally perfect as well by grace. There is less love in this view.

[Prophet Elijah]

BX395.S54 B66 2000