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To a modern reader, this subject is particularly well and clearly described in the writings of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), in which he relentlessly kept the tradition of the Holy Fathers.
Also some modern ascetics wrote about prelest including: elder [[Joseph the Hesychast]],<ref name="joseph">[http://oprelesti.ru/index.php/kinds-of-spiritual-delusion/134-false-visions/310-true-visions-from-god-are-often-a-consolation-in-suffering Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Monastic Wisdom, From letter 55.]</ref> elder [[Paisios (Eznepidis)|Paisios of the Holy Mountain]],<ref name="paisios">Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. 3. Spiritual Struggle.</ref> elder [[Daniel Katounakiotis]]<ref name="daniel">{{Ru icon}} [http://lib.eparhia-saratov.ru/books/10k/katunakskii/katunakskii1/16.html Elder Daniel Katounakiotis. Angelic living.]</ref> and others.
In Orthodox spirituality and ascetics, the concept of prelest is very important. It is one of the main dangers for a Christian (especially monastic) starting to pray with the [[Jesus Prayer]].<ref name="piligr">[http://www.pravmir.com/the-way-of-a-pilgrim-and-bishop-ignatius-brianchaninov%E2%80%99s-teaching-on-prayer-2/ Interview with prof. A.I. Osipov. "The Way of a Pilgrim" and Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov’s) Teaching on Prayer".]</ref>
==Kinds==
[[Saint ]] Ignatius Brianchaninov notes that there are two distinct kinds of prelest:# ''self-conseit'' (pride, arrogance) – the person attributes to himself dignity before [[God ]] that he does not have.# ''imagination'' – the person imagines in himself or outside something that does not exist. This kind of delusion includes false way of prayer (with imagination of Heaven, Lord [[Jesus Christ]], [[Angels]], Saints) and real visions on the same subject originating from the demons.
===Prelest and insanity===