The first volume of the “Homilies on the Philokalia”, contains the interpretation of Archimandrite Aimilianos of Simonos Petras on the Ascetical Homilies of Abba Isaiah; in fact these homilies are a summary of the writings of the Abba Isaiah and were delivered in 1978 at the Simonos Petras Monastery by Archimandrite Aimilianos.
In this interpretation of the writings of Abba Isaiah, Archimandrite Aimilianos selected the passages in which Abba Isaiah describes the good spiritual behavior, for example, the acceptance of the other and peaceful coexistence, in a monastery or in the family – which is an essential criterion of spirituality, without which no one can advance towards God.
Likewise, Archimandrite Aimilianos, emphasizes in this first volume of the “Commentary on the Philokalia” that we should not occupy ourselves with ourselves, our thoughts, our past, nor with our sins, but rather look to Christ, Who comes and seeks lodging in our hearts.

“… therefore we have surrendered our heart to God that he may open it, and he will open it to him who endures, fights, does not rebel, does not resist, is not impatient, but listens. To him who waits patiently and says, “The hour will come. And indeed the hour will come! It cannot fail to come! Otherwise God does not exist. If it exists, then there is also this moment when God will become my God”.

Archimandrite Aimilianos