The Three Stages of the Spiritual Life

Source

It is so refreshing to read words filled with life and the warm
breath of the Holy Spirit. The grace that rests upon Father
Zacharias' words is readily evident throughout the pages of
this book. Fr. Zacharias is a faithful bearer of Holy Orthodox
Tradition and in the process of passing on this tradition he
becomes to us a father in Christ and a teacher of the way to
the kingdom of heaven.
Author: Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou Publisher: Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist 2010
ISBN: 1874679738
In his continuing exploration of the spiritual teaching of Elder Sophrony, Archimandrite Zacharias describes 'the three stages of the spiritual life'-- the initial visitation of the grace of the Holy Spirit, its 'providential withdrawal' resulting in the realization of our true weakness and character, and our reacquisition through ascetic effort of grace. St. Seraphim of Sarov would have called it 'the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.
Available from Eighth Day Books Here
Contents:
Foreword
Editorial Preface
Foundations
The Just Shall Live by Faith
1. From Faith to Faith
2. The Three Stages of the Spiritual Life
3. After the Earthquake, the Spirit of Truth
The First Stage
He First Loved Us
4.Longing to See the Lord
5.Seeking Greater Things
6.Knowing the Gift of God
7.Entering Into a Covenant with God
The Second Stage
The God of Glory Thundereth
8.Man Comes to Himself
9.An Invitation to Overcome Death
   a. The merciful chastening of the Lord
   b. Charismatic despair and creative suffering
   c. Standing before God with prophetic self-knowledge
10.The Self-denial of the Mother of God
Receive Not the Grace of God in Vain
11.Earthly Life for Infinite Life
12.Discovering the Deep Heart
13.The Language of God
14.Living by a Single Thought
15.The Struggle with Temptation
16. Zeal for the House of God
17.Giving Thanks in All Things
The Third Stage
This Day Have I Begotten Thee
18.Christ's Victory Over Death: Man's Inheritance
19.Knowing the Mystery of the Way of Salvation
20.Regeneration in the Spirit
21.The Infallible Criterion
22.Charismatic Humility
Appendix
Questions and Answers
Index of biblical references
 From Faith to Faith page 17
"At first, our faith is necessarily immature and needs to
grow and develope within us. This first faith involves the
turning of our whole being towards God; it orientates our
spirit towards the One God Who is without beginning. Our
faith, then, gradually enters upon an intermediary stage,
which consists of hoping and trusting in God, particularly
in situations where humanly speaking everything seems
to be without hope. And eventually, we grow into a more
perfect form of faith: the disposition of the soul is now
stable, and she begins to live the words of the apostle:
'For unto you it is given not only to believe in Christ, but
also to suffer for his sake.' Phil. 1:29.