Editing Hesychasm (section)

====Inner prayer====
The practice of inner prayer, which aims at "inward stillness or silence of the heart",{{sfnp|Ware|1995|p=5}} dates back to at least the 4th century. [[Evagrius Ponticus]] (345–399), [[John Climacus]] (St. John of Sinai; 6th–7th century), [[Maximus the Confessor]] (c. 580–662), and [[Symeon the New Theologian]] (949–1022) are representatives of this hesychast spirituality.{{sfnp|Ware|1995|p=5}} John Climacus, in his influential ''[[Ladder of Divine Ascent]]'', describes several stages of contemplative or hesychast practice, culminating in ''[[agape]]''.

The earliest reference to the [[Jesus prayer]] is in [[Diadochos of Photiki]] (c. 450); Evagrius, Maximus, nor Symeon refer to the Jesus prayer.{{sfnp|Ware|1995|p=6}} Saint [[John Cassian]] (c. 360–435), who transmitted Evagrius Ponticus's ascetical teachings to the West, forming the basis of much of the spirituality of the [[Order of Saint Benedict]] and the subsequent western [[Mysticism|mystical tradition]], presents as the formula used in Egypt for repetitive prayer "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me."<ref group=web>{{cite book | first = John | last = Cassian | title = Conferences | number = 10 | chapter = 10–11 |publisher= New advent |access-date = 2014-02-06 | series = Fathers|chapter-url= http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/350810.htm }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|John Cassian is not represented in the ''Philokalia'' except by two brief extracts, but this is most likely due to his having written in Latin. His works ''(Coenobitical Institutions'' and the ''Conferences)''}}