The
Eremitical Tradition
General Resources
Class outline on the desert
hermits
The
Desert Hermits
OBJECTIVES:
1. Be able to discuss the primary settlements of desert hermits.
2. Be able to discuss the values expressed in the Sayings of the
Desert Hermits.
3. Be able to respond to the study questions on the Sayings.
OUTLINE
I. Desert Settlements
A. Lower Egypt: Antony
B. Upper Egypt and cenobitic monasticism: Pachomius
C. Nitria and Scetis
i) the lavra
ii) Evagrius Ponticus, Macarius, Moses, Pambo
II. The Sayings of the Desert Hermits: Apophthegmata Patrum
A. Alphabetical Collection in Greek
B. Anonymous Collection in Greek
C. Systematic Collection by topic
D. The teachings in the Sayings:
i) Asceticism
a) bodily mortification
i) fasting
ii) poverty
iii) vigilance
b) ideas of body and soul
c) the company of others?
d) women?
e) prayer
ii) sorrow: Metanoia
iii) Control of Passions: Apatheia
iv) self-knowledge
a) work and weaving
i) weaving in various cultural traditions
b) the role of Abba
i) the Apophthegm
ii) learning vs. knowledge
v) inner quiet: Hesychasm
Study questions for the
Life of Antony
- Inner
Light Productions Home Page
- Sayings of the Desert Fathers and pictures of hermitages
- Egypt
- St. Antony of Egypt, Abbot
History of
the Coptic Language
The
Desert Mothers:A Survey of the Feminine Anchoretic Tradition in Western
Europe by Margot King. The scope of this paper goes beyond the period
covered by this unit, but the topic is nonetheless relevant to the desert
tradition.