NOTE: The Way of Perfection by Theresa of Avila takes 3 minutes to download on a 28kb modem.

We are working on a vast collection of early mystical theology literature to be included in this aspect of the library.  What we are working on at the moment are some medieval western works that are readily available.

Mystical theology was the standard of the earliest church and probably set down its foundations with St. Thomas, Ambrose and Origen. However, as the small Jesus movement called, The Way was swallowed into the massive political vehicle called Christianity, mystical theology lost its appeal and the masses demanded (and received) cult, rite and creed--religion, instead of mysticism.

Church of the East was spared this devastating phenomenon. Not because we are more clever, or more spiritual, or even more correct--but because we never experienced politicization of the church and its subsequent overnight explosion in numbers.

Mysticism is a luxury God allowed us to hold and keep.  It is sad to recall but the mysticism inherent in Church of the East was preserved by the blood of its martyrs.  We know that persecution empowers a people in the long run; and we are deeply grateful to our forebears for that--and we know that our gratitude today does nothing to alleviate their humiliation and pain in the past.