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Prelest

112 bytes added, 13:37, February 20, 2013
another reference to result of Jesus Prayer without repentance
'''Prelest''' (from {{lang-ru|прелесть}} - 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]]).<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 originate originates from vainglory, pride and demonic suggestion and that is cured by humility and Holy Sacraments.
==General information==
#the person prays without keeping the attention in the words of the prayer and imagines heavenly hosts, Lord Jesus,<ref name="clim">Saint John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 28.</ref>
#the person does not use the prayer for repentance but seeks for some "spiritual feelings",<ref name="clim"/>
#the person does not truly repent of some sins, e.g. lives in licentiousness,<ref name="ioann"/><ref>{{Ru icon}}[http://www.ioann.org/pisma/molitva.html Letters of elder John (Krestiankin). On Prayer.]</ref>
he can fall into prelest.
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