Early History of Monasticism

1. Ascetics in the Bible.2. Ascetics in early Judaism:

Essenes.3. The rise of monasticism.4. St.Antony of Egypt.5. Communal monasticism.6. Spiritual warfare.7. Functions of the holy man.

Temptation of Christ in the desert

Nazarites in the OT

• Consecrated to God and made the following vows:– Abstained from wine– Did not cut their hair– Avoided contact with the dead body

• Example: Samson

Essene settlement in Qumran (second c. BC-first c. AD)

• Lived in an isolated community founded by the “Teacher of Righteousness”

• Rejected Temple worship• Massacred by Romans in 68 AD.

Dead Sea Scroll Jar from Qumran

John the Baptist

“Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.”

Mk 1: 6.

NT call to perfection

• Matthew 19:21: If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." (cf. Evagrius, Praktikos 97)

• 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 7: ‘It is well for a man not to touch a woman, but because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. . . This I say by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am.’

Stark contrast between the cultivated land and the desert

Leaving everything behind...

Two reasons for the rise of monasticism

1. Renewal movement within the church.2. Call to personal holiness.

Antony the Great (251?-356)

• founder of solitary monasticism

• his call

• Athanasius’ Life of St. Antony became a model

St Antony enjoying the company of St Paul the Hermit

Life was not peaceful all the time...

Demonic hordes attack St Antony

A close-up of the demonic ‘Zoo’

St Antony’s monastery. Founded in 356.

Entrance towers, St Antony’s monastery

Communal Monasticism

1. St Pachomius.2. Pachomian monasteries3. Pachomian Rules.

Apa Menos is a friend of God

St. Pachomius (290-346)

• Founded a monastery at Tabenninsi in Egypt about 320 AD

• Wrote the first monastic rule

• At death presided over 9 monasteries for men and 2 for women

Pachomius & David of Thessalonica (right)

Main architectural features of Pachomius’s monastery

• Enclosing wall

• Gate-house

• Guest-house

• Assembly Hall (church or synaxis)

• Refectory with Kitchen

• Hospital

• Several houses with cells for monks

Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai.

Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai.

Monastery of Anba Hatre in Egypt

Anba Hatre. Plan of the monastery.

Principal Church (11th c.; remains)

A Cell with Stone Beds

Spiritual warfare: five stages of sin

1. Provocation2. Coupling3. Assent4. Captivity5. Habit

Seven deadly sins

Goals of monastic life

1. Purity of heart2. Ceaseless prayer 3. Life according to the

Beatitudes4. Self-mastery.5. Imitation of Christ6. Final goal: eternal life

Ladder of Divine Assent: John Climachus

The function of the holy man in Late Antiquity

• Miracle-worker • Patron and protector• Mediator between heaven and earth• Intercessor who stands outside social relations