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October 8, 2014

Book Review: "The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society"


These thirteen lectures by Archbishop Averky, former Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, were delivered shortly after the end of World War II in Western Europe to help introduce the Orthodox method of asceticism as a means of healing and transformation of the human person to the modern world not acquainted with it. It accomplishes its goal and is an excellent book of introduction for those who desire to root out evil and the passions within us in order to live a life of virtue in Christ.

Below are the contents of the book:

Preface: The Essence and Meaning of Asceticism

1. Self-asserting Pride and Christian Humility

2. The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

3. Gospel Love and Humanistic Altruism

4. Acquiring Gospel Love

5. Reawakening our Conscience

6. The Christian Understanding of Freedom

7. Guarding the Heart Amidst the Distractions of Life

8. Resisting Evil

9. Waging Unseen Warfare

10. Christian Struggle

11. The Holy Fathers on Combating the Passions

12. Pastoral Asceticism

This book can be acquired from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York - here.