The Philokalia Is The Most Influential Book In The Recent History Of The Orthodox Church, Aside From The Bible. It Is An Anthology Of Thirty-six Spiritual Texts Written Between The Fourth And Fifteenth Centuries By The Masters Of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Tracing A Continuous Tradition Of The Prayer Of The Heart, Or Hesychasm, In Which The Jesus Prayer Plays A Growing Role, From Evagrios Of Pontos To Gregory Palamas. First Published In Greek In 1782, And Revered For Offering A Rich Tapestry Of Wisdom On The Path To Union With God, The Texts, Largely Of Monastic Origin, Serve As A Guide To Lay People As Well As Monks In Their Pursuit Of Contemplative Prayer, 'inner Asceticism', And The Purification Of The Soul.