Monastic Theology

Catalog description

Proposes a reading of the classical "canon" of early monastic literature. Beginning with a few sessions devoted to sources, the course moves to the early Syrians, notably Aphrahat of Persia and Ephrem Syrus, and then to the better-known and enormously influential "Vita Antonii," the several "Vitae" of Pachomius, the "History of the Monks of Egypt," Basil the Great's "Longer and Shorter Rules," Gregory of Nyssa, Evagrius of Pontus, the "Macarian Homilies," such early 5th century works as Palladius of Hieropolis' "Lausiac History," John Casian's "Institutes" and "Conferences," Theodoret of Cyrrhus' "Historia religosa," and the "Sayings of the Desert Fathers." Concludes with an examination of Benedict of Nursia's "Life" (by Gregory the Great) and "Rule."