Orthodox River

Diadocus of Photike New Translation

I recently came across a new translation of the works of Diadochus, Bishop of Photike in Epiros. I have his ten definitions to be very helpful, so seeing them in English as a new translation is great.

I am taking the quotes from the book Following the Footsteps of the Invisible - the Complete Works of Diadochus of Photike: Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota.

The Other version I have is something I found on the Internet and have found myself reading over and over again since I found it.

Here is the original text I have: The 10 Definitions:

Faith: dispassionate understanding of God.
Hope: the flight of the nous in love towards that for which it hopes.
Patience: with the eyes of the mind always to see the Invisible as visible.
Freedom from Avarice: to desire not to have possessions with the same fervor as men generally desire to have possessions.
Knowledge: to lose awareness of oneself through going out to God in ecstasy.
Humility: attentive forgetfulness of what one has accomplished.
Freedom from anger: a real longing not to lose one’s temper.
Purity: unwavering perception of God.
Love: growing affection for those who abuse us.
Total Transformation: through delight in God, to look on the repulsiveness of death as a joy.

Here is the new translation:

Faith: an impassible consideration of God.
Hope: an emigration of the intellect in love, moving towards those things that await us.
Patience: to steadfastly persevere in seeing with the eyes of the mind the invisible as well as the visible.
Detachment from riches: to want to possess nothing with as much desire as those who want to possess.
Knowledge: unawareness of oneself in the ecstasy of God.
Humility: to forget constantly your successes.
Meekness: a strong longing not to get angry.
Purity: to sense continually being united to God.
Charity: to grow in friendship towards those who insult us.
Complete transformation: reveling in God’s delight while joyfully considering the gloom of death.