Ascetics, Society, and the Desert: Studies in Early Egyptian MonasticismBasing his work on papyrological documentary sources, archaeology, and traditional literary sources, James Goehring gradually forces a new direction in understanding the evolution of monasticism. He rigorously examines these multiple sources, transforming them into a clear narrative and infusing the history of Egyptian monasticism with renewed energy. "This is a fine collection of essays. It reads well as a complete unit, displays the complexity of writing the history of Egyptian monasticism, and incorporates new kinds of documentary and archaeological evidence. It is first-rate scholarship impeccably argued and written. This book is a must for historians of monasticism and late antiquity, Egyptologists, religious studies teachers interested in spirituality, papyrologists, and anyone in the general public fascinated by the growth and development of religious communities." Richard Valantasis, St. Louis University "In these twelve essays, Goehring convincingly dismantles much previous scholarship regarding early Egyptian monasticism. Appealing to archaeological and papyrological evidence as well as to literary texts, he situates Pachomian monasticism in the midst of the economic and social life of its time. The diversity of Egyptian monasticism, in theology and in lifestyle, is here demonstrated. Highly readable and clearly argued. Goehring's books is a must for all scholars of early Christianity." Elizabeth A. Clark, Duke University James E. Goehring is Professor of Religion and Chair of the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion at Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Origins of Monasticism | 13 |
The Social and Economic World | 39 |
Diverse Images of the | 53 |
Literary Production and | 73 |
Pachomius and the | 89 |
The Making of a Desert Ascetic | 110 |
The Development of a | 137 |
New Frontiers in Pachomian Studies | 162 |
A Challenge to | 187 |
Monastic Diversity and Ideological Boundaries in | 196 |
The Fourth Letter of Horsiesius and the Situation in the | 221 |
Chalcedonian Power Politics and the Demise of | 241 |
| 263 | |
| 281 | |
Common terms and phrases
abbots Abraham Alexandria anchoritic Antony Apophthegmata Patrum archbishop ascetic ascetic community ascetic practice asceticism Athanasius authority basilica Bohairic Brakke Chalcedonian Christian monasticism Christians in Egypt church coenobitic coenobium coptes Coptic desert Earliest Early Christian ecclesiastical Epiphanius Epiphanius of Salamis Epistle Epistula Ammonis evidence Excavation Fourth-Century Gnostic Goehring Greek Grossmann Halkin Hathor Heussi Hieracas Hieracas's Hieracite Historia Lausiaca Historia Monachorum Horsiesius Horsiesius's idem interpretation Jews and Christians Justinian later Lefort Leontopolis Letter of Ammon Manichaean Melitian monastery of Pbow monastic monks Monophysite Nepheros nome original orthodox Pacho Pachomian community Pachomian Koinonia Pachomian monasticism Pachomian movement Pachomii vita bohairice Pachomii Vitae Graecae Pachomii vitae sahidice Pachomius Pachomius's death Panarion Papyri present volume reports Sahidic Sancti Pachomii Vitae Šeneset Shenoute suggests Tabennese term texts Theodore Theodore's tradition translation Upper Egypt Veilleux village vision of heresy Vita Antonii vita bohairice scripta vitae sahidice scriptae withdrawal ἀποτακτικός