ENGLISH

The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

By Benedicta Ward

Book information

Publisher
Penguin Classics
Year
2003
ISBN
9780141907000
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
911 kB (933230 bytes)
Pages
\286
Topic
Religion
Scanned
no
Time added
2024-08-05 18:45:44
Coptic Orthodox Christianity

Description

The Desert Fathers were the first Christian monks, living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. In contrast to the formalized and official theology of the “founding fathers” of the Church, they were ordinary Christians who chose to renounce the world and live lives of celibacy, fasting, vigil, prayer, and poverty in direct and simple response to the gospel. First recorded in the fourth century, their Sayings—consisting of spiritual advice, anecdotes, parables, and reflections on life—influenced the rule of St. Benedict, set the pattern for Western monasticism, and have inspired centuries of poetry, opera, and art. Organized around key themes—Charity, Fortitude, Lust, Patience, Prayer, Self-control, and Visions—this edition of the Sayings is fresh, accessible, and authoritative.

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