The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus - The Ladder of Divine Ascent was the most widely used handbook of the ascetic life in the ancient Greek Church. As reflected in the title, the ascetical life is portrayed as a ladder which each aspirant must ascend, each step being a virtue to be acquired, or a vise to be surrendered. It's impact in the prayer life of the East cannot be overstated.
The Complete Text of the Philokalia - A collection of texts written between the fourth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the hesychast tradition. They were originally written for the guidance and instruction of monks in 'the practise of the contemplative life'.
St. Isaac the Syrian’s Ascetical Homilies (Part 1, Part II) are treasured for his perspective on both the Christian life and the practice of “stillness” and quietude in prayer, also known as “hesychasm.” This work is considered by many to be one of the most important writings on spirituality in the history of the Church.
Saying the Jesus Prayer - At the heart of Eastern Christian spirituality is the Jesus Prayer. This guide is both a thorough explanation of the origin of this simple and powerful prayer, as well as an exploration of its transformative effects.
Beauty, Sexuality, and Love by Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov, a Russian theologian and close friend of Dostoevsky who here contemplates the relationship between procreation and sexual love.