The Philokalic View on Humility, as Illustrated by Mark the Ascetic, John Cassian, Hesychios the Priest, Peter of Damascus and Maximus the Confessor, with Preliminary Considerations on the Platonic and Neoplatonic Virtue of Modesty

Vasilică Mugurel Păvălucă

 

Abstract

I discuss here how the platonic and neo‐platonic virtue of modesty is transformed into the virtue of humility in Mark the Ascetic, John Cassian, Hesychios the Priest, Peter of Damascus and Maximus the Confessor. The comparative analyses offer a wide view over the main similarities and differences between the ancient Greek and the Philokalic virtues related to modesty and humility. I conclude that the Philokalic counterparts show a specific kinship with the Orthodox spirituality of our days.