Syrian Mystics on Love, Fear, Anger, and Joy

By the authors of the popular paid podcast Arzamas "Syrian Mystics Answer"
Answers to pressing life questions in the philosophy of Syrian mystics — Christian sages who lived in the Middle East over a thousand years ago.
The nature of evil, love for one’s neighbor, guilt, burnout, reaction to criticism, fear, success, joy, and other themes for reflection.
The book is written by the authors of the popular podcast Arzamas "Syrian Mystics Answer" Maxim Kalinin (philologist, translator, senior lecturer at the Institute of Classical East and Antiquity of the Higher School of Economics, chief editor of the ANO "Cognition") and Philipp Dzyadko (writer, philologist, author of the novel "Radio Martyn", co-founder and former editor-in-chief of the educational projects Arzamas and "Goose Goose").

The book is structured in the form of a dialogue and divided into chapters that explore important topics such as the nature of evil, love for one’s neighbor, guilt, burnout, criticism, fear, success, and joy.

Throughout human history, there have always been periods when millions of people lost their support and hope. One such epoch for many nations was the 7th century. The empires that seemed eternal proved powerless against the Arab invasion. The destruction of long-established social relations, rapid changes in power, religion, and language in the territories occupied by the Caliphate made people believe that the end of the world was near.

How can one find meaning in a world where your faith is failing? Is it possible to find love in a society where everyone’s eyes are filled with fatigue, and the mind is filled with anxiety? Strangely enough, it was during this time that there arose individuals who not only asserted that love is at the foundation of the world but also found ways to attain it in those difficult times. These individuals are the Syrian mystics.

Their wisdom helps to find answers to the complex questions we often ask ourselves today.