Αuthors
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
Older articles
26/2/2023:
Flee far away
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
26/1/2023:
Without delay
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
22/1/2023:
It’s suicide
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
19/9/2022:
They’re weak
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
02/9/2022:
Studying the Gospel
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
06/8/2022:
It’s a prefiguration
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
25/4/2022:
They’re all pointless
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
17/2/2022:
The mind at prayer seeks union with the heart
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
31/8/2021:
Reading the Gospel (2)
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
30/8/2021:
Reading the Gospel
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
07/8/2021:
It makes us God’s children
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
21/10/2020:
Take a look
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
29/8/2020:
Deeply wounded
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
21/8/2020:
Beginning and end
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
31/7/2020:
The Faith which Saves
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
16/6/2020:
Don't play at it
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
22/5/2020:
Weeds spring up
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
31/3/2020:
No fraternization
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
13/2/2020:
Few take the decision
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
01/2/2020:
They give depth
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
17/1/2020:
No-one’s excluded
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
27/12/2019:
Clement weather and calm
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
04/12/2019:
Unaccustomed dryness
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
19/11/2019:
Gently
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
07/11/2019:
Set your Thoughts on Fire
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
29/10/2019:
He doesn’t need them
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
13/10/2019:
They reap thorns
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
26/9/2019:
At the gates
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
20/9/2019:
Don’t waste a moment
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
07/9/2019:
It racks the nerves
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
22/8/2019:
Just as a mirror
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
13/8/2019:
Both invisible and apparent
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
29/7/2019:
Flee far away
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
17/7/2019:
Take a look
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
04/12/2018:
A variety of ploys
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
21/11/2018:
It’s the path
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
26/5/2017:
It’s of little importance
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
28/1/2017:
On the Love of God
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
28/8/2016:
Weeds spring up
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
11/6/2016:
Prayer for beginners
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
09/6/2016:
Few decide
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
08/6/2016:
Vocal prayer, mental prayer and prayer of the heart
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
05/6/2016:
How can we fight our passions?
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
02/6/2016:
Let us cry for clemency!
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
30/5/2016:
On Practicing the Jesus Prayer
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
29/5/2016:
They give depth
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
09/5/2016:
Terrible cruelty
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
02/5/2016:
Whatever you can do
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
15/4/2016:
Pleasant and summery weather
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
26/3/2016:
You harvest thorns
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
15/3/2016:
Greedily take as much as you can
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
11/3/2016:
Fruitlessly and harmfully
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
27/2/2016:
It upsets the nerves
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff
Short biography
Saint Ignatios Brianchaninoff

Bishop Ignatius was a prominent Orthodox spiritual writer of nineteenth century Russia. Born of a noble family, he completed an education in engineering in St. Petersburg under the patronage of Emperor Nicholas I and was destined for a brilliant worldly career. Later, as an officer, he chose instead to follow the spiritual yearning of his soul and receive the monastic tonsure, as a disciple of the famous Elder Lev of Optina Hermitage.

Well grounded in the ascetic writings of the Holy Fathers, Bishop Ignatius captured the spirit of the ancient patristic and monastic traditions of the Orthodox Church in his own works, written in the most eloquent language of the time. His best known work, The Arena (An Offering to Contemporary Monasticism), which comprises the fifth volume of his Ascetical Works, is an indispensable treasure for seekers of spiritual life today.