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With the blessing of

Archbishop of Ternopil and Kremenets

SERGIUS

Drafting and general editing

A. N. Strizhev

This volume of the Complete Works of St. Ignatius contains a major theological work, "Ascetic Sermon," and a large array of newly published texts collected in the "Appendix" section. Here are given in full the literary works of the saint - poems, sketches, memoirs, as well as literary and critical analyses that significantly complement our understanding of this outstanding spiritual writer. Of undoubted interest will be the linguistic reflections of Bishop Ignatius, taught to the teachers of theological institutions in the form of literature lessons. For the first time, the complete correspondence of the saint with the abbot of the Cheremenets monastery Anthony (Bochkov) is published from manuscripts, with an extensive essay on the nature of their historical views on many contemporary phenomena in social and church life. The volume closes the full bibliography of publications of the works of St. Ignatius himself and literature about him.

ISBN 5–87468–179–5

Saint

IGNATIUS

Brianchaninov

ASCETIC PREACHING

PREFACE

to the first edition

"Ascetic Sermon"

In 1863, some of my teachings were published. Here is offered a revised and enlarged collection of my teachings, conversations and words, pronounced and unspoken, written for reading in church and for reading in private. At the same time, their character became even more definite, and the title "Ascetic Sermon" turned out to be quite appropriate for them.

Those who have read the "Ascetic Experiments," which I wrote in the rank of archimandrite, will clearly see that the way of thinking set forth in the "Ascetic Sermon" naturally follows from monastic life and is inseparably connected with it. The sermon serves as a supplement to the description of the spiritual Christian feat, and significantly explains it. From this it does not at all follow that its reading is appropriate for monastics alone: it is appropriate for all Orthodox Christians who wish to become acquainted with the ascetic life according to the mind of the Holy Fathers, according to the mind of the Church.

Bishop Ignatius

1866