[...] 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 has produced delightful flowers and fragrant lilies, the ascetics in the world who, despite struggling amidst the temptations of society, have reached spiritual heights, with many even achieving sainthood. This fragrance of popular asceticism and reverence reaches us to this day, as there are still many such ascetics who, despite all difficulties, manage to live a higher spiritual life, similar to that of monastics.
Out of love and reverence for these graceful souls and nostalgia for this paternal spirit that was once widespread, this present collection is offered as the first volume. The first part includes biographies of virtuous and ascetically living laypeople, a nun from among the married, and married priests, as they too lived in the world and faced the same temptations. The length of the chapters varies mainly due to the lack of other elements and is not proportional to the virtue of the biographees. They are presented in chronological order based on the date of their passing.
The second part records individual miraculous and instructive incidents related to the struggles, virtues, and lofty states of certain virtuous ascetics who lived in the world. It also includes divine interventions through which God led well-intentioned souls to repentance or saved others from dangers.
[...]

(from the preface of the book)