Hesychia: Pure Inner Prayer | S1E42

PART NINE: Your Inner Journey to Union With God What if the deepest form of prayer begins when the words finally stop? In this episode of St.Aub, we explore hesychia—the ancient Christian practice of stillness and pure inner prayer. For centuries, the Desert Fathers and other Christian contemplatives sought deeper union with God through a prayer of the heart that moves beyond words, images, and thoughts into silence and attentiveness to God's presence. Drawing from Eastern Orthodox spirituality and the teachings of Evagrius the Solitary, Gregory Palamas, Kallistos Ware, and the Desert Fathers, St.Aub reflects on the practice of hesychasm and what the early Church called "pure prayer." This is prayer rooted in solitude, silence, and stillness—a gradual quieting of the mind and heart so that our attention can rest more completely in God. This episode also explores how short, repeated prayers such as the Jesus Prayer—"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"—can help lead the heart toward deeper stillness. The goal is not simply to say more prayers, but to become increasingly present to the God who is already present to us. For those accustomed to filling prayer with words, this kind of silence may feel unfamiliar or even difficult. St.Aub approaches the practice as a fellow beginner, inviting us to start slowly and discover what might happen when we stop talking, quiet our thoughts, and simply learn to be with God. If this reflection resonated with you, consider subscribing and returning as we continue exploring the Godward path together. You're always welcome here. And if you think of someone who might need this, feel free to share it. Topics in this video include hesychia, hesychasm, pure inner prayer, the Jesus Prayer, prayer of the heart, contemplative prayer, unceasing prayer, solitude stillness and silence, the Desert Fathers, Eastern Orthodox spirituality, union with God, and the Godward life. #ChristianYouTube #EasternOrthodox #OrthodoxChristianity #Hesychasm #JesusPrayer #PrayerOfTheHeart #GodwardLife Continue watching more episodes at https://www.dickstaub.com/episodes