Originally written in Greek in the 4th century by St. Macarius the Great, Institutes of Christian Perfection offers spiritual wisdom from an experienced monk and desert dweller of the Egyptian desert at the dawn of monasticism. In this text, St. Macarius presents a different way of seeing the world—a different way of being. This book is extremely deep, and requires a slow and thoughtful approach. The saint writes in a slow, meditative and poetic style, that weaves intricate theological concepts with Scripture, revealing mystical realities about God and the other world. This edition was translated from the Greek by Granville Penn and was originally published in London in 1816. This text is one of the earliest examples of the "sayings of the Desert Fathers" that offers insights into the contemplative tradition of early Christianity.