Power of the Name
This slender volume emerged from Kallistos Ware's desire to introduce Western Christians to one of Eastern Orthodoxy's most treasured spiritual practices. Writing in the early 1970s as Orthodox theology was gaining renewed attention in the West, Ware recognized that the Jesus Prayer—the repetitive invocation "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"—remained largely unknown outside Orthodox circles despite its central role in Eastern Christian spirituality for over a millennium.
Ware traces the prayer's biblical foundations and patristic development, showing how this deceptively simple formula became the cornerstone of Orthodox mystical theology. He explores the prayer's connection to the divine name, drawing on both Scripture and the writings of the Desert Fathers to demonstrate how the invocation of Jesus' name carries transformative power. The work examines the prayer's physiological aspects, including its coordination with breathing and its role in achieving what Orthodox tradition calls "prayer of the heart." Ware carefully explains how the prayer moves beyond mere repetition to become a pathway into theosis, the Orthodox understanding of deification or union with God. He addresses common Western misconceptions about "technique" in prayer while honoring the genuine spiritual disciplines that support contemplative practice.
The book has endured as perhaps the most accessible English-language introduction to this ancient prayer form, bridging Eastern and Western spiritual traditions without compromising the distinctly Orthodox theological framework that gives the prayer its meaning. Ware's scholarly precision combined with pastoral sensitivity has made this work influential far beyond Orthodox communities, inspiring renewed interest in contemplative prayer across denominational boundaries.
Who should read this: Christians seeking to deepen their contemplative prayer life will find here both practical guidance and theological depth, though readers uncomfortable with Orthodox emphases on theosis and the veneration of saints may find the framework challenging. Those looking for quick techniques rather than sustained spiritual formation should look elsewhere.