Review of: Larchet J.-C. Healing of spiritual infirmities. An introduction to the ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church / Head editor hegumen Dionysius (Shlenov); trans. from French edited by A. O. Soldatkina. Sergiev Posad, 2018. 763 [5] p.

ISBN 978-5-87245-233-9

Abstract

This year the Moscow Theological Academy translated and published a major work by French author Jean-Claude Larcher, The Healing of Spiritual Diseases. An Introduction to the Ascetic Tradition of the Orthodox Church". Professor Jean-Claude Larcher has dealt with the topic of spiritual illnesses for over forty years. In 1971, after graduating from the faculty of philosophy of the University of Nancy, specialising in ethics, he decided to devote himself to study the works of F.M.Dostoevsky. But already in 1972, he switched his attention to spiritual diseases, and from then on, he focused mainly on them. His interest in this field can be explained firstly by his study of the Greek patristic tradition, familiarity with which has influenced his reception of orthodoxy, and secondly by his study of clinical psychology (a theoretical course in psychopathology).
After graduation from university: while serving in the army J.-C. Larcher was a psychologist at a psychiatric military hospital in Nancy-Laxoux.