Purification by the Virtues

"The purification of the passions can't be attained by realizing a neutral state of the soul, but by replacing the passions with opposing virtues." 

Fr. Dimitru Staniloae

These are the primary resources used by Fr. Dimitru Staniloae in his discussion on the Way of Perfection:


       The Ladder of Divine Ascent by Saint John Climacus
       Seventh Century. Outlines thirty steps.

       Directions to Hesychasts by Callistus and Ignatius Xanthopoulos
       14th Century. Made up of 100 Chapters

       The Ascetic Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian
       Chapters on Love by Saint Maximus the Confessor

Here are the steps of Perfection we will be discussing:
       Faith
       Fear of God
       Repentance
       Self-Control
       Guarding of the mind
       Patience
       Hope
       Humility
       Dispassion
       Gifts of Holy Spirit
       Contemplation
       Spiritual Understanding of Scripture
       Apophatic Knowledge of God
       Pure prayer
       Mental Rest