Scholars and monastics occasionally upload chapters. However, the "top" complete sets are often behind paywalls on these sites. Unless you have a subscription, skip these for the full four volumes.
While the PDF is convenient, the monastic tradition insists that a spiritual text should be held, underlined in pencil, and passed down. The "top" physical copy (the CTOS four-volume hardcover) is still in print. Consider buying it to support the monastery that spent decades translating it. Then, use your purchased PDF as a backup.
That said, for the non-English speaker or the impoverished scholar, the Greek Aster Press PDF (available legally via public domain) is the undisputed "top" free resource. the evergetinos pdf top
When search queries include terms like "top," they often refer to the high esteem in which the book is held. The Evergetinos is considered a "top" resource for several reasons:
| Volume | Logoi (Sections) | Key Themes | |--------|------------------|-------------| | 1 | 1–36 | Compunction, repentance, renunciation of the world | | 2 | 37–72 | Thoughts, discernment, silence, prayer | | 3 | 73–108 | Almsgiving, hospitality, patience, humility | | 4 | 109–144 | Spiritual perfection, end times, theosis | Scholars and monastics occasionally upload chapters
Each logos contains numbered sayings from various Fathers (Abba Isaiah, John Cassian, St. Basil, etc.).
The "top" of the pyramid is the Greek version. Published originally in Venice (1783) and later in Athens (1961-1966), the Greek Evergetinos is the standard against which all translations are measured. A "top PDF" would be a high-resolution scan of the 1961 Aster Press edition, complete with the marginal notes of St. Nicodemus. adding his own exegetical footnotes
Before hunting for the PDF, one must understand the book. The Evergetinos (from Greek Εὐεργετινός, meaning "The Benefactor") is a monumental collection of sayings and narratives from the Desert Fathers, organized thematically by the monk Paul of Evergetis in the 11th century.
Unlike the Apophthegmata Patrum (Alphabetical Sayings), which is arranged by the name of the elder, The Evergetinos is arranged by subject. It contains over 450 chapters divided into four volumes, covering topics such as:
St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (18th century) revised the text, adding his own exegetical footnotes, which became the standard Greek edition used by the Philokalian Fathers.
Why the "Top" Matters: The original Greek text compiled by Nicodemus is the "top" source. Any PDF derived from inferior later editions, or poorly scanned versions from the 19th century, contains missing pages, corrupted Greek fonts, or even entire missing chapters.