TITLE: The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way

AUTHOR: Anonymous (translated by R.M. French)

The Way of a Pilgrim is a wonderful novel first published in 1884 in Kazan. It recounts
the story of an anonymous Russian pilgrim who is seeking to learn how to “pray without
ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He is taught the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
God, have mercy on me, a sinner) by an old monk and acquires a copy of the Philokalia, a
collection of writings on prayer by the ancient Fathers. The pilgrim wanders all over
Russia and Siberia meeting many people and seeking a spiritual father to learn more about
inner prayer. During the course of his wanderings, the Jesus Prayer becomes the source of
the pilgrim’s spiritual nourishment and comfort for his troubles. The Pilgrim Continues
His Way, the second part of this book, was published almost three decades later and
recounts the pilgrim’s return to his spiritual father. The characters proceed to discuss the
theology of inner prayer in the Holy Scriptures and the Philokalia. The lesson of this
book is that prayer and asceticism are for Christians in every walk of life - not just for
monastics. The book also presents the challenge of living a Christ-centered life with few
material possessions in the modern world.

Reviewed by Mark and Anastasia Vassilakis