Niketas Stethatos

Niketas Stethatos (Greek: Νικήτας Στηθᾶτος; 1005–1090) was a Byzantine Christian monk, mystic, and theologian.

Quotes

 * Philokalia (vol. 4), as translated and edited by G. E. H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard and Kallistos Ware (1999)


 * Stillness is an undisturbed state of the intellect,
 * the calm of a free and joyful soul,
 * the tranquil unwavering stability of the heart in God,
 * the contemplation of light,
 * the knowledge of the mysteries of God,
 * consciousness of wisdom by virtue of a pure mind,
 * the abyss of divine intellections,
 * the rapture of the intellect,
 * intercourse with God,
 * an unsleeping watchfulness,
 * spiritual prayer,
 * untroubled repose in the midst of great hardship and,
 * finally, solidarity and union with God.
 * "On the Inner Nature of Things", #64, p.125


 * The rays of primordial Light that illumine purified souls with spiritual knowledge not only fill them with benediction and luminosity; they also, by means of the contemplation of the inner essences of created things, lead them up to the noetic heavens. The effects of the divine energy, however, do not stop here; they continue until through wisdom and through knowledge of indescribable things they unite purified souls with the One, bringing them out of a state of multiplicity into a state of oneness in Him.
 * On Spiritual Knowledge, Love and the Perfection of Living, #21


 * The Spirit is light, life and peace. If consequently you are illumined by the Spirit your own life is imbued with peace and serenity. Because of this you are filled with the spiritual knowledge of created beings and the wisdom of the Logos; you are granted the intellect of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16); and you come to know the mysteries of God's kingdom (cf. Luke 8:10). Thus you penetrate into the depths of the Divine and daily from an untroubled and illumined heart you utter words of life for the benefit of others; for you yourself are full of benediction, since you have within you Goodness itself that utters things new and old (cf. Matt. 13:52).
 * On Spiritual Knowledge, Love and the Perfection of Living, #46