TRYS HESYCHIJOS PAKOPOS, VEDANČIOS Į AUTENTIŠKĄ KRIKŠČIONIŠKOJO MALDINGUMO KOKYBĘ
Three Stages of Hesychia Leading to the Authentic Quality of Christian Piety

Summary/Abstract: Prayer in Orthodox theology is understood as an essential and integral dimension of human existence. A human being, created according to the image of God, is called to form in him/herself divine features. The stages of Hesychia as a way towards a kinder and more intimate dialogue between God and people helps a person to seek for spiritual maturity and an authentic identity of him/herself. Hesychia was practised at the beginning by the desert Eremites. The Apophtegmata of the desert Fathers was later defined by Evagrius Ponticus and Diadochus of Photice as a way to a union with God through Hesychia, i.e. guarding the mind and/or heart and continual prayer. In the 14th century a method of regular prayer with the use of certain physical exercises started being practised in monasteries on Mount Athos. The movement acquired the name Hesychasm. On the one hand, the Hesychast praying method is of interest in the 21st century, as it resembles yoga; on the other hand, it remains unreachable because the practice of Hesychasm is complicated and not suitable for many people. Even Hesychast authorities themselves have warned believers not to practise physical exercises while praying without the guidance of an experienced spiritual teacher. Hesychasm is addressed to everybody, and the Prayer of the Heart pertains to monks as well as to lay people, both of whom can attain the same spiritual heights. The main point of Hesychasm is not in the praying method or spiritual techniques, but in its intensive and qualitative spiritual Christian life. The purpose of Hesychasm is the constant communion of the human being with God. This communion expresses life through prayer in three stages, and each of them reflects a certain level of Hesychia. As a method for a contemplative life, Hesychasm is not separated from liturgical and sacramental spirituality; on the contrary, teachers of Hesychasm underline the necessity for regular sacramental practice for the formation of inner spirituality. Participating in the liturgy supports and supplements Hesychastic piety and encourages the progress of the authentic quality of Christian piety, which is missing in the 21st century.

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