Îndemnuri la acrivie în scrierile Sfântului Isaac Sirul
Exhortations to akriveia in the writings of Saint Isaac the Syrian

Summary/Abstract: Saint Isaac’s exhortations to akriveia primarily address those who are still at the beginning of their spiritual asceticism, who still lack the discernment and experience necessary to distinguish between good thoughts or impulses and the bad ones coming from the devil. This does not mean that those who are more experienced are granted full liberty. This study highlights the importance of the Church services in the ascetical life and analyzes Saint Isaac’s practical advices through which he urges his disciples to regulate their ascetic practices with rules, both externally – such as services, schedules, limiting visits, gestures at prayer etc. – but especially internally, by cultivating a vigilant watch over the movements of their thoughts. He shows that the more consistent the hermit is and the more vigilant he remains the more open the path becomes for him to attain higher experiences in prayer, which will grant him the charism of discernment or the ability to distinguish spirits. It will help him understand how to fight more efficiently against the temptation that overwhelms him, preventing him from falling easily into the devil’s deception. It will help him understand the theology and purpose behind various forms of asceticism and to see the effect that each one of them has on him. It will also help him recognize the moments when he prays out of obligation, as opposed to times when he is led into prayer by his love of God, thus overcoming the pain of “forceful” asceticism. The author will show that strangely, adherence to the rules can help ascetics to attain spiritual freedom, which Saint Isaac likens to the transition from slave to divine son. The author will also emphasize that one should never abandon prayer, even in times of illness, because doing so means interrupting one’s focus on God and surrendering the mind to sinful thoughts.

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