The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the
fourth and the fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of
the Orthodox Christian tradition. 'Philokalia' itself means
love of the beautiful, the exalted, the excellent, understood
as the transcendent source of life and the revelation of
Truth. It is through such love that the intellect is purified,
illumined and made perfect. They show the way to
awaken and develop attention and consciousness,
to attain that state of watchfulness which is the
hallmark of sanctity. They describe the conditions
most effective for a radical change of will and heart
leading man towards spiritual fulfilment and union with God.