The book you hold in your hands is made in order to give the reader an opportunity to touch the spiritual experience of the Christian East. Here are collected three hundred sayings over fifty Orthodox saints from Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Greece, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Georgia. Since the first thousand years after Christ The Western Church was part of the family of the Orthodox Churches, we can see and statements in our collection of ancient saints who lived in what is now Italy, England, France, Tunisia, - all this is a common spiritual heritage of the Orthodox Church. The earliest sayings shown here was recorded in the second half of the I century, at the latest - in the second half of the twentieth century. Wherever they lived, where they live and whoever they were, orthodox saints say about a spiritual reality, so their statements so complement each Durga. In the XIX century, St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) as expressed this observation: "When in autumn clear night I look at the sky, studded with countless stars, emitting a single light, then I say to myself: such are the writings of the Fathers. When on a summer day look at the vast sea, covered with a variety of different vessels traveling under a single wind to a single goal, a single pier, then I say to myself: such are the writings of the fathers. When I hear a harmonious choir, in which diverse voices in elegant harmony sing a single song, then I say to myself: such are the writings of the Fathers "(St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov).). I believe that this small collection of Patristic aphorisms will be interesting and useful not only for Orthodox Christians, but also for all those who appreciate the present. Much of what is assembled here has helped me personally, - replied to questions plaguing allowed to rethink what is happening in my life - and I decided through this book to share with others what I hold dear.

Deacon George Maximov
January 8, 2011