18 review for St. Isaac the Syrian: Mystical Writings

1. 

   4 out of 5

   booklady – Oct 08, 2008

   Although this is only a one hundred page book, it was not an easy read nor can I do justice to it in a review; I'm not sure if that's due to the translation nor the age of the text because there are no -- and I mean NO -- preface pages. There is the cover and then the text begins. So I had no idea even who the publisher was nor any background about the book, which was somewhat irksome. The wording was awkward and the sentence flow rough. Although there were flashes of incredible mystical insight Although this is only a one hundred page book, it was not an easy read nor can I do justice to it in a review; I'm not sure if that's due to the translation nor the age of the text because there are no -- and I mean NO -- preface pages. There is the cover and then the text begins. So I had no idea even who the publisher was nor any background about the book, which was somewhat irksome. The wording was awkward and the sentence flow rough. Although there were flashes of incredible mystical insight in the writing, I suspect much has been lost in this translation. Nevertheless I struggled with this due to what I had heard about St. Isaac, the Eastern Saint of Divine Mercy. The first sixty-seven pages were devoted to "Six Treatises on the Behavior of Excellence". Something which I highlighted: 'If thou wishest to have mental communion with God, by acquiring the impression of that delight that is not subject to the senses, then cling to mercy. For the holy beauty is formed by that element within thee, which resembles mercy. And all the practices of mercy bring the soul, immediately, into communion with the unique splendour of the divine glory.' (p.6)

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Iona –

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Mihaela –

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Yen –

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Bijo –

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Shanna84 –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Davede –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Geanina Mera –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Noel –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Nancie Baden –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Peter –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Mut Sankofa –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Lillian Hynfield –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Antarctica –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Daniel –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Nancy –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Svetlana Oss –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Jordan Cox –