that such a book, beyond all my hopes, was to be found in this holy place." Notably, Theophan the Recluse's Russian translation of the Philokalia, called the Dobrotoliubie, omits the writings of Peter, probably because they had been translated into Russian earlier by hieromonk Juvenalii. Manuscripts Of the 107 known manuscripts that contain writings attributed to Peter of Damascus, most have been edited and subsumed into the two treatises or books of Peter which exist in the Philokalia and make him the most quoted author after Maximus the Confessor, taking up a large portion of Volume 3. According to Jean Gouillard, the division of manuscripts between the two books of Peter in the Philokalia is as follows: Book 1 manuscripts Vatican City, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 210 (13th century) Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Ancien gr. 1134 (14th century) Oxford, Bodleian, Barocc. 133 (14th century) Athos, M. Iberon, Ms gr. 700 (14th century) Moscow, Gostudarstvennyi Istoricheskii Muzei, Sinod. gr. 420 and 421 (15th century) Book 2 manuscripts Athos, M. Lauras, Ms gr. K 125 (15th century) Athos, M. Lauras, Ms gr. Λ 24 (16th century) Athos, Sk. Annes 8 (17th century) Athos, M. Staur., Ms gr. 92 (17th century) Structure As mentioned before, Peter's writings in the Philokalia are divided into two major books which cover a wide array of practical spiritual advice. In the words of Nicodemus of Hagiorite, "[Peter's writings are] a recapitulation of holy watchfulness... a circle within a circle, a concentrated Philokalia within the more extended Philokalia." Book 1: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge Introduction The Seven Forms of Bodily Discipline The Seven Commandments The Four Virtues of the Soul Active Spiritual Knowledge The Bodily Virtues as Tools for the Acquisition of the Virtues of the Soul The Guarding of the Intellect Obedience and Stillness The Eight Stages of Contemplation The First Stage of Contemplation The Second Stage of Contemplation The Third Stage of Contemplation The Fourth Stage of Contemplation The Fifth Stage of Contemplation The Sixth Stage of Contemplation The Seventh Stage of Contemplation The Eighth Stage of Contemplation That there are No Contradictions in Holy Scripture The Classification of Prayer according to the Eight Stages of Contemplation Humility Dispassion A Further Analysis of the Seven Forms of Bodily Discipline Discrimination Spiritual Reading True Discrimination That we should not Despair even if we Sin Many Times Short Discourse on the Acquisition of the Virtues and on