From Monachos.net
Monasticism Studies, Essays, Commentary and Papers
Gathered below are articles on various aspects of the monastic life in the Orthodox world, including its history, founders, notable personalities, and modern incarnation. If you are looking for non-monasticism specific studies, see instead the patristics studies listing.
Catalogue of Studies on Monasticism:
Antony of Egypt: The Basics of His Spirituality
- St Antony of Egypt is considered the founder of the anchoritic (solitary) monastic lifestyle, and his influence (primarily through the Life of St Antony, written by St Athanasius of Alexandria) upon the development of the monastic vocation has been unparalleled.
- A study dealing with Syriac (i.e. near-Eastern) Christianity in its earliest days, this article deals in particular with the proto-monastic groups of the bnay qyama as reported by Aphrahat the Persian, and the 'Upright' or 'Perfect' as recorded by the anonymous author of the Liber graduum, both of which can be seen as precursors to the later Syriac monastic traditions.
A Gospel Motivation for the Monastic Life
- An article on the motivations of the early Christians to adopt the new monastic lifestyle, especially as those Christians found such a motivation in the teachings of the Gospel.
The Origins and Motivations of Monasticism
- When, how and why did monasticism emerge in the Christian East (Egypt, Asia Minor, Palestine and Syria) as a distinctive movement?
Ex oriente lux: John Cassian on Eastern Monasticism in the West
- Often called the 'bridge between East and West,' John Cassian made it his goal to establish monasteries in the West that followed the desert traditions of Egypt. A short study on his motivations and activities.
On the Nativity Fast - Preparation of the Soul
- Reflections on the fast of the Nativity, directly preceding Christmas, drawn from the hymnography of the feast and forefeast. The character of the fast is discussed, with stress laid on the importance of a time of purification and preparation before the joy of the Nativity.
Ascetic: Reflections on the Way of Self Sacrifice
- Reflections on the character of the ascetic life, with specific examination of fasting, prayer, solitude and penitence. The text alternates between narrative and reflective dialogue.
- A brief passage by an anonymous Orthodox author on the character of true Joy in the Christian Way: joy that finds Christ and the presence of the Holy Trinity in all things.
- An epistolary examination of the character of the call to lifelong celibacy as a spiritual gift, with reflections upon the Christian view of this vocation.
Selected Sayings from the Desert Fathers
- A selection of short sayings on the spiritual life from the Desert Fathers, excerpted from the Apothegmata Patrum.