Invisible abuse

The book “Invisible Warfare” was first published in Venice in 1796 and is one of the most famous spiritual works of St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain. However, in the exact sense of the word, it is not his original work, which is clearly indicated in the title: “The most soul-helping book, called “Invisible Warfare,” was previously compiled by a certain wise man, and now adorned and corrected with much care by the most reverend among the monks, Mr. Nicodemus.” The original author is the 16th-century Theatine monk Lorenzo Scupoli, whose book Spiritual Warfare (first published in Venice in 1589) was widely circulated in Europe and was later revised in the 17th century. In the 1720s, a modern Greek translation of this work was carried out by the monk Romanitis. The Monk Nicodemus, having received the finished translation of Romanitis from Saint Macarius Notara, not only translated it, but carefully edited it: he clarified the style, added notes, quotations from the Holy Scriptures and patristic works, as well as a chapter on mental (inner) prayer. Quotes are mainly borrowed from the works of St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Palamas, St. John Chrysostom, St. Maximus the Confessor, blessed. Augustine, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Climacus. “The Invisible Warfare” is a systematic teaching about man’s inner struggle with the flesh, the world and the devil - a struggle inherent in anyone who strives for Christian perfection. Translated from Greek by St. Theophan the Recluse, the text retained the ascetic rigor and spiritual depth of Eastern monastic experience. The book is divided into 2 parts: in the first (53 chapters) there is a detailed guide to combating passions, managing the mind and will, prayer (including the teaching of the Jesus Prayer), preserving feelings and finding inner peace; in the second (27 chapters) - reflections on the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the hour of death, conscience, grace-filled peace of the heart and surrender of oneself to God's will. The author gives specific, practically proven means of victory over the spiritual enemy - from short prayerful sighs to exercises in humility, patience and love for one's neighbor. The book “Invisible Warfare” teaches “how to defeat your invisible enemies in order to acquire the treasures of true and divine virtues, and for this receive an incorruptible crown. *The title of the work in Greek is ᾿Αόρατος Πόλεμος. Translation from Greek by St. Theophan the Recluse Compiled by Elder Nicodemus for the manuscript he used