RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Course Notes
Chapter 15
Pages 170 & 172 - Antony of Egypt, the Desert Fathers and the development of early Monasticism
Antony of Egypt (ca.251-356) was a rich young Egyptian from the countryside near Alexandria. One day he heard a sermon on the call of Jesus to the rich young man to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22), so Antony gave up all his possessions and went first to live among the tombs outside his village.
Increasing numbers of people came to visit him for advice and counsel, and did not give him enough solitude and peace, so after 15 years he went further west into the Nitrian desert and eventually settled in an abandoned Roman fort by the Nile. Even there he was still visited by more and more people, until he decided to set up a community for those who wanted to live like him in the desert. He encouraged the members of the community to cultivate a garden and to support themselves by manual labor. He directed that when he died his body was to be buried in an unmarked grave.
Athanasius of Alexandria wrote a biography of Antony which circulated widely and helped to encourage others to try that life-style.
Many other Christians also left towns and cities and went into the deserts to be alone with God. They are known as the Desert Fathers (and Mothers). Initially they lived alone, as hermits, but then they began to form communities for mutual support and encouragement. The early communities were often cenobitic - the monks or nuns lived separately in caves or huts, and just met together for meals and worship, but eventually a more communal life-style developed, in which they lived and worked together. People came to them for advice and spiritual guidance, and their sayings were collected and published as "The Sayings of the Desert Fathers".
Page 171 - Hermits who went to unnatural extremes. One of these groups comprised the "Stylites", pronounced sty-LIE-tees, or "pillar saints". A pillar saint lived on a platform on top of a pillar. He would let down a bucket on a rope for people to put food in, and would also let down a bucket of waste for people to dispose of. The idea of a pillar saint was that he would spend time absolutely alone with God, without anyone near to distract him.
Page 171-172 - Pachomius - One of the earliest leaders of a monastic community was Pachomius, who was a pagan soldier in Constantine's army when he first encountered Christian hermits in the desert of Egypt. Pachomius became a Christian, and went into the desert himself, but he had so many followers that he set up a community for them. He formulated a set of rules for life together, which included silence, prayer, worship, fasting, obedience, and working to support themselves. This was the start of monasticism.
Page 172 - Athanasius (ca.AD 297-373) - see Page 116. Athanasius' exile to the West was caused by his opposition to Arianism, which was favored by the Eastern Emperors Constantine and Constantius (the son of Constantine). Also he was exiled by the Emperor Julian the Apostate (the nephew of Constantine) who tried to take the Empire back to paganism. Athanasius was exiled to Trier (in what is now France) in AD 336, to Rome in AD 339, to the deserts of Egypt in AD 356, AD 362, and AD 365-366.
Athanasius was bishop of Alexandria, and held out for the Trinity against Arianism.
When he was 27 years old, and only a deacon, he attended the First Council of Nicaea (AD 325) and was one of the leaders of the argument against Arianism.
In AD 328 he was made Bishop of Alexandria, and continued the fight against Arianism - even when it appeared that he was the only one who stood against it. There was a saying "Athanasius contra mundum" = "Athanasius against the world" - he was willing to take on the Emperor and all the other powerful Arians.
He is named as one of the "Doctors of the Church" in the West, and as "Father of Orthodoxy" in the Eastern Orthodox churches.
Athanasius was a friend of Pachomius, and wrote a biography of Antony.
Page 172 - Basil the Great and his monastic 'rules'. The textbook does not explain that a 'Rule' is a set of rules for monastic life and order. The Rule set out by Basil has been modified slightly over the years, but is still much the same as the original. The Rule is set out like a FAQ, with questions and answers. There is a short form, with 55 items, and a longer form with 313 items. Poverty and chastity were part of the Rule, along with prayer, manual labor, and other tasks.
Pages 180-181 & 183 - the liturgical hours. Mattins and Lauds were often combined, to give a total of seven offices.
Mattins (Latin matutinus = early, morning) - the eighth hour of the night, 2am.
Lauds (Latin laudare = to praise) - the first service after day-break. It includes Psalms 148, 149, and 150 - the "Praise Psalms"
Prime (Latin primus = first) - the service (office) for the first hour of the day, 6am
Terce (Latin tertius = third) - the office for the third hour of the day, 9am
Sext (Latin sextus = sixth) - the office for the sixth hour of the day, 12 noon
Nones (Latin nonus = ninth) - the office for the ninth hour of the day, 3pm
Vespers (Latin vesper = evening) - early in the evening, usually just before dark
Compline (Latin completus = complete) - the last office of the day, after supper, just before going silently to bed
Copyright © 2005 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
