[...] Tradition generally constitutes the memory of the people, and one of its purest forms is Orthodox asceticism. This is the fertile and fruitful ground that gave birth to fragrant and beautiful lilies, the ascetics in the world who, although they struggled amidst the temptations of society, reached spiritual heights, and many even became saints. And this fragrance of popular asceticism and piety reaches our days, as long as there are many such ascetics who, despite the difficulties, manage to live a higher spiritual life, similar to the monastic life.
Out of love and piety for these precious souls and out of nostalgia for the paternal spirit that was prevalent in the past, this collection is presented, which constitutes Volume I. It includes in the first part Biographies of virtuous and ascetically living laypeople, a married nun, and married priests, because they too lived in the world and faced the same temptations. The length of the chapters mainly differs due to the lack of other elements and is not proportional to the virtue of those being biographed. They are presented in chronological order based on the date of their repose.
In the second part, individual miraculous and instructive incidents are recorded, referring to the struggles, virtues, and high states of certain virtuous ascetics who lived in the world. Even divine interventions through which God led well-intentioned souls to repentance or saved them from dangers.
[...]

(from the book's preface)