St Diadochus of Photikê is one of the two Church Fathers
recommended to St Symeon the New Theologian by his spiritual
father - St Symeon the Pious, the other being St Mark the Ascetic.
St Diadochus, a fifth century Father, is also considered to be the
earliest Church Father that mentions the Jesus Prayer in his
writings. Therefore his importance for the proper understanding
and practice of the Jesus Prayer is immense.
Fr. Cliff Ermatinger has made a significant contribution to the
theological field of Patristics with this book, the first translation of
the complete works of St Diadochus into English.
In Chapter 57 of the Discourses on Judgment and Spiritual
Discernment p.94 St Diadochus states, "The one who dwells
in the depths of his own heart escapes from this life's
enchantments, for walking according to the Spirit, he cannot
know the desires of the flesh. Such a person walks ahead in
strength of virtue, finding in those virtues the sentinels of the
fortress of purity. In this way the devils machinations against
him result ineffective, even should his darts of vulgar love - so to
say - penetrate the gates of his nature."
St Diadochus continues in Chapter 85. "If one were to think that
because we have both good and evil thoughts, both the Holy Spirit
and the devil dwell together in the intellect, let him understand that
this occurs because we have neither tasted nor seen how good the
Lord is. In the first place, to be sure, and as I have said above,
grace hides its presence in the baptized, awaiting the soul's
movement. When the entire person turns toward the Lord, then
she (grace), in an ineffable movement, manifests her presence
in the heart and awaits once again the soul's movement,
permitting that the devil's darts penetrate unperceived unto the
most intimate sense, so that even in a more fervent resolve and
humble disposition, the soul seeks God. For the rest, if the person
begins to advance in the observance of the commandments and
continuously invokes the Lord, then the fire of holy grace
spreads even to the external senses of his heart, burning the chaff
of the human soil completely. Thus, even the demonic darts land
far from these parts and only lightly pierce the passionate part of
the soul. Finally, when the combatant has dressed himself in all
the virtues and, above all, perfect poverty, then grace illumines
all of his nature with an ever deeper sentiment, setting it ablaze
with great love for God. From that moment onward, the demonic
bowshots are extinguished outside of the body's senses. Thus
the breeze of the Holy Spirit which moves the heart toward the
winds of peace extinguishes even those demon-borne fiery darts
in midair."
Fr Cliff then writes in p.32 or the Introduction, "Here the role of the
Jesus Prayer and its part in the reintegration of the sense is laid
out: Fidelity to God's commandments makes the invocation
of the Holy Name (Jesus Christ - emphasis mine) fruitful. The
Name brings about the memory of God, which, in turn, prepares
the path to union with God. St Diadochus often mentions obedience
to God's commandments and the invocation of Jesus / mnêmê
theou in relation to each other. To attempt such obedience or
recollection is only possible for those under the Holy Spirit's
influence, for it is a realization of the second baptismal gift.
Baptismal grace bestows two gifts on the soul: a renewal of
one's status as image of God and the opportunity to restore
the divine likeness. In bestowing the second gift, infinitely
surpassing the first, the Holy Spirit hopes to bring about (this
transformation) with our cooperation."
From, Following the Footsteps of the Invisible, The Complete
Works of Diadochus of Photikê, Introduction, Translation and
Notes by Cliff Ermatinger, Cistercian Publications 2010
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