The Way of a Pilgrim and A Pilgrim Continues on His Way (Shambhala Classics)

Author: Olga Savin, Father Thomas Hopko

This classic of Orthodox spiritual writing is the firsthand account of a pilgrim's journey as he endeavors to live out Saint Paul's instruction to "pray without ceasing." The narrator, an unnamed nineteenth-century Russian peasant, sets out on his pilgrimage with nothing but a Bible, a chotki, and some dried bread. As he walks, he recites the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me")—a prayer that is said to quiet anxiety and fill the heart with love for all creation. With this prayer constantly on his lips, the pilgrim undergoes a profound spiritual education. This edition includes the sequel to The Way of a Pilgrim, entitled A Pilgrim Continues His Way, which contains a lengthy appendix reviewing the teachings of the Holy Fathers on the Jesus prayer.