"Olga Savin provides a highly readable translation of this essential text of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. The pilgrim's journeys and his various encounters are recounted in an appealing, unaffected manner, and Savin's flowing translation serves this tone well."

A stunning tale of spiritual journey, prayer, and detachment told by a Christian pilgrim.This classic work of spiritual literature is the firsthand account of a pilgrim's journey as he endeavors to live out Saint Paul's instruction to "pray without ceasing." The narrator, an unnamed nineteenth-century peasant, sets out on his pilgrimage with nothing but a Bible, rosary, and some dried bread. As he walks, he recites the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me")--a prayer that is said to quiet anxiety and fill the heart with love for all creation. With this prayer constantly on his lips, the pilgrim undergoes a profound spiritual education. These pages offer practical advice for every spiritual practitioner, translated in a way that is relevant, fresh, and inspiring.