Changes

'''Prelest''' ({{lang-ru|прелесть}}, from {{lang-ru|прелестьлесть}} - cajolery; (charm, seduction), {{lang-el|πλάνη - ''plani''}}), also known as: spiritual delusion, spiritual deception, delusion, illusion, – according to Holy Fathers of [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], a false spiritual state, a spiritual illness, "a wounding of human nature by falsehood" (St. [[Ignatius (Brianchaninov) of Caucasus|Ignatius Brianchaninov]]).<ref name="ign">[http://orthodoxleader.paradosis.com/articles/on-spiritual-deception/ On Spiritual Deception. Orthodox Life, July-August 1980.]</ref> The concept of prelest should not be confused with somatic mental illness of any kind, prelest is rather a spiritual illness,<ref>{{Fr icon}} Jean-Claude Larchet, Thérapeutique des maladies mentales. L’expérience de l’Orient chrétien des premiers siècles (1992, 3rd edition 2008) ISBN 2204045187 {{Ru icon}} [http://www.sociodinamika.com/lib/larshe1.html Жан-Клод Ларше, Исцеление психических болезней. Опыт христианского Востока первых веков]</ref> an illness of the soul in its personal relation to God, an illness that originates from vainglory, pride and demonic suggestion and that is to be cured by humility and Holy Sacraments.

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) writes that there is a spiritual law of interrelationship of virtues so that one certain virtue cannot be acquired without acquiring another that is in close relationship with the first one. For a spiritually inexperienced person, the very idea that some virtue can be premature seems almost blasphemous<ref>[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/53476.htm A.I. Osipov. The basics Basics of spiritual life based Spiritual Life Based on the writings Writings of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Part 1.]</ref>, but this is true according to Holy Fathers. St. [[Isaac of Syria]] writes that "It is the good will of the most wise Lord that we reap our spiritual bread in the sweat of our brow. He established this law not out of spite, but rather so that we would not suffer from indigestion and die. Every virtue is the mother of the one following it. If you leave the mother who gives birth to the virtue and seek after her daughter, without having first acquired the mother, then these virtues become as vipers in the soul. If you do not turn them away, you will soon die".<ref>{{Ru icon}}[http://www.hesychasm.ru/library/isaakisaaksr/sl72txt71.htm‎ htm St. Isaac of Syria. Ascetic words. Word 72.]</ref> St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) writes that "the fallen angel strives to deceive monks and draw them to destruction, offering them not only sin in its various forms, but also lofty virtues that are not natural to them". St. John Climacus writes that "the devil proposes impossible virtues to those who live under obedience, and unsuitable ideas to those living in solitude. <...>The enemy persuades them to look too soon for these virtues, so that they may not persevere and attain them in due time." <ref>St. John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 4.</ref>

St. Ignatius warns that the books of Holy Fathers can act on novices so much that they, in inexperience and ignorance, easily dare to leave the place of residence, which has all the convenience for personal salvation by means of execution of evangelical commandments, and to seek for another higher way of life, seductively painted in their imagination.<ref>{{Ru icon}}[http://lib.eparhia-saratov.ru/books/09i/ignatii/charm/3.html St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov). On Prelest. On caution when reading the books on monastic life.]</ref> Such desires are the basis of many forms of prelest: desire of visions, revelations , and other supernatural gifts, execution of very long prayer rule, extreme fasting, premature desire of stillness and seclusion. ==Expectation of grace== The very thought about forthcoming grace and receiving Divine gifts, expectation of grace is a clear manifestation of pride. St. Ignatius writes: "If there is an expectation of grace within you – beware, you are in a dangerous state! <...> Prelest exists already in self-conceit, in considering oneself worthy, in the very expectation of grace."<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://www.hesychasm.ru/library/stbrianch/strannik_b.htm St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Wanderer (from Works, Vol. 2).]</ref> The Gospel says: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation" (Luke 17:20). According to St. Isaac of Syria<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://www.hesychasm.ru/library/isaaksr/txt54.htm St. Isaac of Syria. Ascetic words. Word 55.]</ref> and St. [[Macarius of Optina]]<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://www.optina.ru/lec_mac/42/ Letters of St. Macarius of Optina. Prelest.]</ref>, these words mean that the ones who prematurely desired to acquire grace, acquired pride and fall. And this is not a sign that a man loves God but a mental illness. Saints who acquired grace, thought that they did not have it, and this humility kept them safe from the fall. St. Isaac adds: "How can we strive for high Divine gifts while Apostle Paul glories in tribulations." The same idea is expressed by St. [[Nectarios of Aegina]]: "The ones who seek the Divine gifts and insights while being immersed in the passions are in proud and foolish delusion. First, one need to work on cleansing oneself. Grace is sent as a gift to those who are cleansed from the passions. And they get it quietly, at the moment that they do not notice."<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://azbyka.ru/otechnik/?Nektarij_Eginskij/put-k-schastju St. Nectarios of Aegina. Path to Happiness.]</ref> St. Ambrose of Optina provides in one letter an example of such expectation of Divine gifts. A nun thought that she will receive all spiritual gifts at the day of the feast of [[Archangel Michael]]. But on that day, she instead received depression and thoughts of suicide from the demons. St. Ambrose writes that it was a delusion and that living in complete solitude will be dangerous for her because of such demonic attacks.<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://www.optina.ru/starets/amvrosiy_letters_chart2_24/#245 Letters of St. Ambrose of Optina. Letter 245.]</ref>

# ''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 resulting in hallucinations mixed with real visions on the same subject originating from the demons.

According to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, St. Gregory of Sinai,<ref name="greg">Philokalia, Vol. 4, St. Gregory of Sinai, On Commandments and Doctrines, Warnings and Promises; On Thoughts, Passions and Virtues, and Also on Stillness and Prayer: One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Texts, Ch. 131.</ref> St. Symeon the New Theologian,<ref>[http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/symeon_threeways.html Saint Symeon the New Theologian, The Three Ways of Attention and Prayer.]</ref> Valaam Elder Schema-Abbot [[John (Alexeev)]]<ref>[http://oprelesti.ru/index.php/what-is-spiritual-delusion/413-how-to-pray Letters of the Valaam Elder Schema-Abbot John (Alexeev), On Prayer]</ref> and other ascetics, the first kind of prelest (prayer with imagination) very often leads to insanity. The second kind (conceit) sometimes does not result in a mental disease, but the person cannot achieve salvation being in a state of one of the seven deadly sins - pride. St. Ignatius writes about it: "This kind of prelest - is terrible: it is equally fatal for the soul as the first one, but is less evident; it rarely ends in madness, suicide, but definitely corrupts both the mind and the heart."<ref name="ign1"/>

Many Orthodox Holy Fathers and modern ascetics wrote about the dangers of wrong practice of the [[Jesus Prayer]] and prayer in general: Saint Symeon the New Theologian, Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Saint [[Theophan the Recluse]], Saint Ambrosius of Optina, Saint Macarius of Optina, elder Joseph the Hesychast, Vallam Valaam elder John (Alexeev) and others.<ref name="ioann">{{Ru icon}} [http://www.ioann.ru/?id=424&partid=19 Gleanings from Holy Fathers on the dangers of the prayer of the heart.]</ref>

# Prayers of other people of the holy life about the deluded person.;

The first way to get rid of Sometimes in monasteries people suffering from prelest is the Sacrament of Confession. If the person saw any vision, he should tell it immediately are also given ignoble obediences to his spiritual father not concealing anythinghumble them.<ref>[http://wwwWork therapy decreases pride and demonic attacks that cause prelest.saintseraphimbookstoreSt.com/?page_id=243 Nun Macaria, The Angel Joseph of Light and Spiritual Discernment Optina writes in the Orthodox Tradition.]</ref> Other Sacraments are needed as well, but sometimes deluded persons are forbidden one letter to take the Holy [[Communion]] by their spiritual father for abbess of some period of time, sometimes rather long (1–3 years).<ref>{{Ru icon}} Архимандрит Иоанникий (Коцонис). Афонский отечник. 2011. Стр. 352. ISBN 9785985990645</ref> One woman saw monastery about a lamp before icon at her house lit deluded nun by itself. That happened every midnight and even in the presence name of other peopleMavra. She accepted He writes that Mavra should wash dishes or peel potatoes - it can decrease the pride that as Divinecaused prelest. But when He also writes that she told that to her should not take Holy Communion often - the spiritual father, a known ascetic Bishop Basil (Preobrazhensky), he said: "No, this phenomenon is not from grace, but from should first incline her to humility and self-abasement. At the enemy. And because you accepted it as being from gracesame time, I am giving you a penance: do not receive the Holy Mysteries solitary life should be completely forbidden for one year. The lampada Mavra - otherwise she will not light itself again". Truly, the lampada did not light by itself from that day ongo completely mad.<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://www.alexey-osipovoptina.ru/englishstarets/iosif_letters_chart_69/#695 St.doc A.I. Osipov. Search for Truth on the Path Joseph of Reason. POptina. 190Letter 695.]</ref>

Sometimes The same is true for the lay people living in monasteries people suffering from prelest are also given ignoble obediences to humble them. Work therapy decreases the world: washing dishes, laundering, dusting and cleaning everything, doing usual household work makes pride lower and demonic attacks can help to switch from the thoughts that cause pride and prelest.Also it is important to have a strict everyday schedule and to alternate mental and physical work as it was shown by an Angel to St. [[Anthony the Great]].<ref>{{Ru icon}} [http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Life/life234.htm Living of St. Anthony the Great.]</ref>