Product Description: Among the earliest writings in Syriac literature is the collection of 30 mēmrē or discourses entitled the Book of Steps or Liber Graduum, most probably written in the late fourth century inside the Persian Empire (modern Iraq). The author, who deliberately withheld his name, wrote extensively on the spiritual life and exploits of two groups of committed Christians - the upright and the perfect - that flourished in a period prior to the development of monasticism...read more

Product Description: An in-depth look into the foundations of mysticism and alchemy, this book describes both physical and spiritual aspects of the various theories and practices of transformation, with attention to the beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sufism, Tantrism, Taoism and Yoga...read more

Product Description: At the present time, as in the past, biblical texts are represented in pictures. Not only in churches, chapels and monasteries but also in the public domain one can find new paintings, sculptures and leaded glass windows that refer to biblical texts...read more

Product Description: The Syriac Book of Steps collects 30 memre by an anonymous late 4th century author in Persia. It describes the struggle of a Christian community to live a life in the pursuit of perfection in the midst of a hostile culture.

Product Description: Intentionally anonymous and lacking concrete details of historical and cultural setting-and for many years suspected of messalianism-this collection of thirty memre [discourses] has been long recognized as an important, yet understudied, work of the fourth century Syriac Church...read more