Counsels from the Holy Mountain

Selected from the Letters and Homilies of Elder Ephraim  

“When the soul sees that the glory and repose in the bliss of heaven are given in proportion to the cross it carried, it will regret that it did not carry a heavier cross in order to receive greater glory and repose. It will say, ‘The labor then lasted only a short time, whereas now I am deprived of eternal blessings!’ Even the Patriarch Abraham, when he sees the blessings being distributed, will regret not having struggled more!” - Elder Ephraim

The Holy Mountain of Athos is an ancient community of Orthodox Christian monks in Greece which as been a beacon of sanctity throughout the centuries. Its unbroken chain of saints has preserved the wisdom and traditions of the Holy Fathers intact. From this sacred lineage comes Elder Ephraim, a disciple of the renowned Elder Joseph the Hesycast, who handed down to him his wealth of holiness and wisdom as a sacred legacy. This blessed inheritance is being shared thoughout North America through the many monasteries he has founded, and now all may partake of it through this translation.

    This book is a treasury of personal counsels and homilies given by the Elder that clearly delineate the Patristic path to sanctification. He gives advice on every aspect of the spiritual struggle with insight acquired from his experience as a monk for more than fifty years and as the spiritual father of countless clergy, monastics, and laymen. By masterfully intertwining stories from the Holy Mountain with teachings of the Holy Fathers, he weaves a divine garment for souls desiring to enter the wedding-feast of the Lord. This contemporary classic is invaluable for all who wish to live Orthodox spirituality in its fullness.

446 pages, soft cover.