Evagrius Ponticus: Ad Monachos by Evagrius Ponticus & Jeremy Driscoll

Evagrius Ponticus: Ad Monachos by Evagrius Ponticus & Jeremy Driscoll

Author:Evagrius Ponticus & Jeremy Driscoll
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religion, Classics, Catholicism, Patristics, Christianity
Publisher: Paulist Pr
Published: 2003-09-29T04:00:00+00:00


The Greek construction is a tight chiasm, the beginning and end terms being gentle heart and soul accomplished in praktike. In the middle of the chiasm, wisdom and passionlessness (two names for Christ!) are put immediately side by side. Thus, gentleness is what is meant by a soul accomplished in praktike. Gentleness is knowing Christ as passionlessness and wisdom.

Commentary on M 53

In the analysis of the text's structure, this proverb was identified as standing free in the collection, functioning as a hinge between two rather substantially developed portions of the text. Its terms look in many directions, both summing up what has come before and what will follow. It is striking that once again in a proverb of considerable weight in terms of its placement, gentleness is found. Three other virtues are mentioned along with it. We shall examine these here, focusing on what is of special interest, namely, seeing how humility and gentleness are

This proverb offers a good occasion for sharing a story from Evagrius's life which I think lends an insight fundamental to understanding the nature and tone of his spiritual teaching. The story goes some way toward explaining this theme found to be so central to his thought, namely, the importance of love, be it called gentleness, mercy, compassion, or another of its many names.



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