I. Precedents
A.
Asceticism (Askesis = training)
Vestals?Mystery
Cults?
B.
Greek Philosophy
Platonism:Mind
v. Body; avoid excesses of food, sex
C.
Jewish Asceticism
Fasting;
Essenes
II. Reasons
for Asceticism
A.
Early Christian Asceticism
-Fasting
(Wednesday and Friday; Lent)
-Sexual
abstinence (not required of Clergy until 4th C)
B.
Anachoresis (withdrawal from
society)
Withdrawal
to desert; withdrawal from inequality; withdrawal from civilized life
III. Monasticism
(Monachos = alone)
A.
Anchorites (live alone):Antony
(c. 250-355)
Midling
wealth; Stages of withdrawal; Hermit
B.
Cenobites (live together):Pachomius
(c. 290-350)
Tabennisi
monasteries; Cells; strict discipline under Abbat (father)
C.
The spread of Monasticism
1.
East:
Basil
(c. 370s) Marina; communal lifestyle
in cities; works of charity
Simeon
the Stylite (c. 450) mortification
on a column
2.
West (imported from East; esp. via Life of Antony):
Cassian
(c. 420) easterner who visits Egypt; writes cenobitic rule for monasteries
of Marseilles
Benedict
(c. 520) rule emphasizing labor; wealth and charity; Monte
Cassino
IV. The Holy
Man
A.
Patronage
Healing,
advice, exorcism, doctrinal support, lawsuits
B.
Shift from Holy Space to Holy Man
Locus
of divine energy
