Moved by love and reverence for these blessed souls, as well as nostalgia for the ascetic spirit so prevalent in bygone times, we present to you this edition. The first part contains biographies of asceticized laymen, a nun (who had been married before taking monastic vows) and family priests (after all, they, too, living in the world, encountered the same temptations as we do). The volume of individual chapters differs from each other solely due to the lack of materials and often does not fully reflect the virtues and podvig of those who are described. The chapters are presented in chronological order (based on the day of the blessed death of the ascetics).

The second part of the book describes miraculous and instructive incidents from the life of lay ascetics, their virtues and the higher spiritual states they experience. It is also about Divine Providence, about how He leads people to repentance and miraculously helps to avoid certain dangers.

We had the good fortune to know many of the ascetics described in this book personally and received immeasurable benefit from communicating with them. Others were told by trustworthy people who compiled their biographies on the basis of personal memories and historical testimonies.

The ascetics to whom this modest work is dedicated lived in different regions of Greece and abroad, in different historical epochs (from the period of Turkish rule to the present day), were of different ages and classes (priests and laity, fathers of families and monks in the world). Each had his own character and the peculiarities of his personal podvig, but they were all united by strong faith and great love for Christ. This prompted them to observe the Divine commandments and to great ascetic feats (strict fasts, nightly vigils, prostrations and prayers). They were reverent and loved the Divine services, they were merciful, despite their poverty. They were steadfast and patient in trials, forgiving offenses and glorifying in sorrows. They were humble and simple, sincerely considered themselves the last, believed that they were nothing, never exalted. Sometimes they had little worldly knowledge, but a lot of Divine Enlightenment and experience of higher spiritual states.

They always strove to gain patience, love, and humility. It can be said that to one degree or another they struggled in the acquisition of all virtues. To one degree or another, they attained the wisdom of the Old Testament righteous, the steadfastness of the martyrs, the boundless endurance of sorrows and trials, the silent confession of faith by the example of their own lives, and the asceticism of the venerable desert fathers. Their very life is a preaching of love and true repentance.

Some of them were vouchsafed the gifts of clairvoyance and prophecy, beheld the Uncreated Light, and in their purity and simplicity were vouchsafed visions of the Saints, the Most Holy Theotokos and Christ Himself. Others, through their humble and tireless prayer, performed miracles. Simple and grace-filled priests healed and expelled unclean spirits. After their blessed repose, their relics remained incorrupt, streaming myrrh and fragrant.

Their grace-filled gifts have nothing to do with the actions that psychics and sorcerers perform. The manifestation of Divine Grace is one thing, and the manifestation of demonic power is another. According to the words of the Gospel, "By their fruits ye shall know them," the ascetics described in this book were humble and unmercenary. They were citizens of Heaven on earth and always sought to help their brothers. They brought joy, peace, blessing, comfort, not confusion, anxiety, and fear. They were great in their simplicity. "Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him" (James 2:5). Foolish by the concepts of this world, persecuted by it, they are the invisible pillars that support the universe, the light and salt of the earth. Their simple souls became houses of grace and treasuries of the spirit. The lives and aspirations of these people contain all Orthodox theology, all the values and ideals of our people, the Orthodox tradition and the greatness of our faith. Despite all their innumerable gifts and abilities, they confessed, were nourished and showed obedience to their spiritual fathers. They have never violated the order established by our Holy Church.

After all, we want to go to Paradise, but at the same time we want to enjoy all material goods. Their love for Christ was so great that it burned up everything temporary and sinful. We want to be saved without sacrificing anything and with a minimum of effort, but they sacrificed everything for Christ. The ascetics whose lives are given in this book are guides to the Kingdom of Heaven. They show us the path to holiness, which they themselves have walked to the end. They testify that it is possible to become a Saint in the world. In every epoch there are chosen ones of Christ, and there are them, thank God, even today. Through their prayers, this world still exists.

The spiritual state of these ascetics invisibly influenced their family and kinship circle, and their entire environment. Having boldness to the Lord and being overshadowed by His Grace, during their lifetime they helped many to bring repentance and acquire faith in God. They continue to help their descendants today after their blessed repose. After all, for the virtues of the righteous David, God once had mercy on the entire Jewish people: "The Lord did not want to destroy Judas, for the sake of David His servant" (2 Kings 8:19).

The spiritual state of the ascetics of piety has an impact even on nature. In the words of the Psalmist: "[The Lord] turns the wilderness into a lake, and the parched earth into fountains of waters" (Psalm 106:35). That is, through the prayers of the righteous, God makes barren land fertile, and can turn fertile land into "salt marsh, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it" (Psalm 106:34).

A person without faith is like a blind man walking in darkness. A human society without values and ideals is lifeless and gradually decaying. Today, many, having no faith, "have come to ruin, have perished, perished from terrors" (Psalm 72:19). Our society, unfortunately, clearly shows signs of degradation and self-destruction. What is the cause of all troubles? "Have not these calamities come upon me, that my God is not among me?" (Deuteronomy 31:17). Today, a variety of ways out of the impasse are proposed. However, a new society can only be born if there are new (renewed in Christ) people. Our strong faith in the spirit of repentance is what gives life, preserves and can save a person and our people. This truth is confirmed by the example of their lives by the ascetics in the world, to whom this book is dedicated.

They lived in difficult times, faced wars, occupation, hunger, persecution, but they were able to overcome everything and "live in God". They had the blessing of God in their lives, so they did not know the concepts and conditions that are inextricably linked with the modern world: depression, mental illness, drugs, divorces, abortions, obesity and diets, lack of meaning and purpose in life, disappointment, despondency and suicide.

Living, pure and grace-filled icons of the Prototype, they bring us the grace and blessing of God and therefore are worthy of imitation.

Today, we especially need such examples. Now, when a new type of person is being formed and propagated everywhere and obsessively – self-loving and egocentric, distorted by passions and self-justification – the story of the bright and grace-filled souls of people who have deified the flesh will help to return to the original and primordial beauty, the true image of man. Amen.