PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

How Grace Awakens Wonder, Desire, and the Vision of Divine Love “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 ⸻ Synopsis of Tonight’s Group on The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian Homily 18 paragraphs 1-4a There is a temptation to read St. Isaac’s description of the ascetic life as though he were outlining a ladder by which we ascend to God through effort. Nothing could be further from his mind. The ascetical life is not an achievement but a