The Lives of the Monks of Palestine

178 Pages·2016·6.99 MB·English

by  Cyril of Scythopolis, Richard Price, John Binns

Gi Spe Ye ero ef eine

a = LIVES OF THE MONKS

pny OF PALESTINE

FR aay ig me i by
* |

Cyril of Scythopolis

raters Gon Translated by

| RLM, Prive
| ‘with un Introduction and Notes by

John Binas

Cistercian Publications
Kolamazos, Michigan
1991
‘Beunrie Cotrnon Pecan ne 199

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PRERACE,

PSESUNAL DISCONTRY of the wntiag of Cyst of
seyMnpolis tuk place she yours aga whet 1 sas be
ginning a potind of rcscasch lo the history of the

hor inthe emt after the Couseil of Chaleson, [38 i
mediately cupevated hy the elaiy and pace of is proce see
the vivid poutst of Iie in the monastic deset, and the placine
of the events deserined in the peespesive of the history of the
Chueh and the Eeapre. 1 found it hard co waderstaad why 1
Fitle attention had been paid ws the rmanastic lite of Palestine
connpared wei hut given w ics neighbours Egypt and Syma, My
svearch quickly came to concentrate on rib

To have shared in the prosiction ef this voluame hich abot
Cis Lives available in English tor the Fire time bi, then
brew avery great plearwe, R. M, Prve's futhful yet lively—at
Firs almost sicy—temslinn preserees the flavour of Cyril's
Set of buograpies. Ir ig made (ron the Cineck text eted by
Einacd Sclnearte in 1936. Thece seovens found in Georan
lor Atubie versinns, bat notin Uke Greek, are added at 222.17
226.3 and 247.22 {in ether ts Text of the noes). The modest
‘yoonmity of Titernquce abwut Cyl is set ove in a sopacale see
Hou uf the Bibliugraphy. tnvatuable is Derwas Chity's clas
se stidy The Desert a City, whch aopliics Cyril's murative
will evidence from ether sources

Having speut several years conmhining sty at King’s Col-
lege, London, with ministry ia busy parish, |exnnat Wt slip
tis opporunity of evading my getinnde Wy Usose wh hav
sensrously encouraged mie: Stuart Hull, sho has supcuvis
any work: Peter Selby, Rishap of Kingoton, who amnget x
petios oF study Reave ata crtval moment; the Commaaity of
the Sisters of the Chnrch st Haka Common, Surey, niin pee
vided duly monastic hospitality daring tha peviod: the vlersy
and poople of the paishes of Munlake und Fast Shocn and of
Holy Trinity. Upper Voting: and, of wuurse, Sue and Wile
Peer
Hinm, my wite wad son, who cheesfully acvepted even greater
Uistuptioa to the fom thaa usa. Needlens to say, the Coster

‘Abronghou, ™ a

Toho Binas

‘TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

INL ROBUCIION
Palestinian monasticism, facts ed tex

{he inlaeace ofthe gengrsphy

Confit in Me runsteriee

the Haly City

The mori aid the see of Ferslem

Miracle and hstary

Phe holy nus as wear
The lite of Cyel of Seythepelis

9. Phe nature snd porpnss nf his snk
10, Doettinal disputes

11. Cyrt’s mentors und sources

12, Conclusion

LIVES OF THE MONKS OF PALESTINE
Lite of uthyiue
Lige uf Sabon
ifs af Jun the Hesyheat
Life uf Cynacus
ifs af Theodosius
Life of Yaeugnius
Life of Abeaamins

Tible of Abbeeriavions
BIBLIOGR APY
1. Primary Sources
2. On Cyt of Seythupoles
5. Ssccndsry Works

INDICES
1. ides of Persons
2 index of Faces
3. Indes of Sujets

Mars
1. The Cilies of Palestine
2. The Monasteries of the fndean De seat

INTRODUCTION

|. PALESTINIAN AOS ASLICISM, FACTS ANT TESTS

TWFEN TUE DEE VALLEY whieh eoutains the Jordan
jer a the Dead Sea, and the hill enuntry of Tudaea,
fi which Jerusalem und Letlele se siooated, Ties 9
hurowe stretch of deseit country shoot ton miles sede,
tevokos aemanes ofthe preut ascetics of he Bible, Elijah and
Inbn the Bupis, and eany valleys, eaves, and qyings claim
to be te sites of events in ther lives! The cumbiaation of the
empty landscape unl biblical asocincoas prosenisd per
suisive invitation 10 those tecking to tive an ascetic life,
[Among thone who respotded was the saintly Narcissus,
Unhop uf Jesusalem, who hocamte ehunsted by the slanler
fd intrigues in is uiucent sand lived for many yoars in @
retreat ia the desea His setiroment taok place um the early
hig Contry and shows the existence of Ueseet ascetics in the
your before tie manic life becaats pope
‘AC the end of the thie an during the Fourth Cesnurie, the
first monasteries appeased. Recogaisabie monastic comouni-
ties evolved mnre ay lees simetianecusty in different pints of
Fgypt, Syria, and Palestine. Ia Euyp, Aathoas lett his village
for the desect in abour 271. In Mesopotamis, Jumes of Nisibis
and. Julien Subw hd ulrcted thei Let follosecs eel tore
the Counsel of Nieaca G25}, According wo watition. the st
neo in Palestine was Chanton. a confessor, eho ancived in
Jerusalem from Toonium id som 273 and founded
lonastesies at Photan, io a valley nociheast of Fesusalees st
Bani, on the summit uf the ridge overlooking Jericho; ana at

1 Eph rt ob he Bal were ashe a al of he a
Sig, hing revamp Le of nny yan Bi Cres ie
Posie Temas of aes nin ma ets TS
SSsouoo Ea rt or, ming theives i msl by
Chun, Se. Slay Samar Te ae a, 288,

2 Soe Et, Beene! zon 63
apo

Souka, neat Thekoa. In wicion «© thy aceuuat of his hing:
saphe (why admits to writing tong atler Chariton’ death)
there art: oes ceferences to the svisence wf these cise co
‘utes in ths fourth cemury.? Anather early Pestana
monk as Hilarion, seho was hom wea’ Gaza, studied at
Alexandria, lived 9 ow musts with St Antony, dhe returned
to Gara in'308 w bive as a solitary, Where eventustly others
joined him. According to Jerome, tis biographer, there sux
Tohody Living the monastic life before bite in Palestine oF
Syria, u claim which van hove Lae basis in tsalty* Another
carly monastery was that of Epiphawius at Hleuthcrepulis,
winch mouse have bees an existence before 367, because that
1995 shen Epiphonins let it ws Becorwe Bishop ot Sates in
Cyprus. The almost somultancons and apparently unen
necied manner in which dhe (ies. monusteries developed has
coused the old view that monasticism ego im Kaypr and
speead auth 10 be abmoned, A variety af eligi. 30°
fal, and ecouore reasons forthe ovigin of mumustie ifs has
been advances”

‘iter 400, monasticism developed fee these thodest he
elunings inta @ miss movement an which a hoge quantity of
hot human aod Fmancial resousces lowed inta the desert
monustic cominvaities. There is clesr literary anda
cehacologival evidence for this, Ta the ease of Palestine the
amateriat is conveniently summarised. 8, Vailig has com
piled an alphobotical iss of all dhe Pulertinian inousseries
‘mentioned in the bierary sources, wigh trie account af the

4 Pn om futon tin Fagin’ ane fn 485 Gx 14.
Donk ine alain an By 4, Saal hes
msn nr Ta at Cai, Conreney 8

“Tle Lf tira 1824 Tanna
vais Hin 1 on 538

Sore, betes lino 22203

6 Seer Sons an the one of bain Se fn snmp
nF arment Aue orgs te monaoiee agen 212 al Pwr, Le
ean lan ren oa Tide de 2

histery of cach, and A. Oeadiah has summarised the a
cheeotogical findings made on the sites of Byzantine
‘Smucues,” This table is wuupiled on che basis af their work
td shown the peas in which monasteries weet: founded

Mid Lue Rory Mid Lae ‘ow ey
hk £5 COth Coy Chih CAH CO,

IW nzsey Evidence (Vailb
6 oa 8 tb wt 8 ot
Lischaingnal Evidence Ov igiahs

2 2 @ ee Ro
totaie th sth com CRA sen
Yoko ran on)

Josstinh 2 nos 2 4

‘The monaneriss uf Faestiae were noc only rumnerous sme wre
Tange. The wontsory af Romanus ueay Tks te example, 3
Tint oer ax hued moni, a the FiN-oentory 1 oF
Prpois cefss (0 & monastery uf eight Nondeed monks ee the
ed Sea The irression eecived trom all the evden available
tive is hat the monastic movement was a De Zenith oC as sige
sn line between 450 aud 00.

Fer this period, Csi Seythops is ou amin source, He be-
ss hia account 9 405, whe Enbymins arved in Fess,
fand Finisher il iy 388, shen Johm the Hesyehast shed. tis

Sse works a 8th Aceon ape es east
ine av Oran ay fn Retain Cian es oles
Soca eens inthe ate sr the mal ol ME Fes
fost nha

fur oman ans, es ta os, Pepi 5. a fr He
maa A th Re Se Ae
“8 Conta Serena

Stated intention is wo describe the lives Af two of the most
eolebrated uf the Palestinian monks, and shurter notices of
five uihers, In fut, he provides far mores history of the
Palestinian ehusch ducing the perivd when i wa
UC its power and prestige

fn edon tn Cyril's work mention shonld be made of dhe
Swicitual Meadow of Joha Moschns,« vollectian of anecdotes

at the eight

‘rom the eumsteies of Palestine, Sinsi, Faypt, and else.
‘winese whieh dates fron tho end af dhe sixth century, sume
thirty year after the periad aaseibed by Cyril Im edition, &
series uf lives of te prear-monks otis. The Life cf
Thendosiee by Theodore of Poa is especially valuable der
‘aus if provides 3 fuller secount af the sti dosceted by
Corl ina short Wife, Vo Life of Gevasius and the Life of
Chrencon ace infonced hy Cyl und have hen sometimes
strributed to him. There ane als Lives of Peter (he theiian 3
Monophysi, sua) Gourge of Chui.” These aie the ain
‘writings which emerge frum the desert of Judaca, Compaved
with the tteratue of Egypt. they are undistinguished. aad
Date hoe Deen tragalited into English

The histony oF event ork om Cyril is briefly told. An edt
tion of che Greek rext was published by Edunsd Schovars in
1989, This work, alMough not without detects, has becoine
the standard feat used by all modem eotnentaors and hi
forians-! The pagination of Schravle's eiion appease in dhe
Margin of dhs tcnstarion and all ciow-reteueaces ave minds
Using these page aud ling qumbere, This may seem cum
Dersuine ro ceuders of dis velit. ot it wilt enable the tans
lation Ww be vse alongside eee modsin works, on Cyl. The

See utigty trae

1, Aly he hse fs wa ea Seare dl mics
Ibe elder Karen menses ent Sins 49 orc
th tears F Thomst. “Kpiee eon Suhel” Pe tases of
Sshoane' Line mene, see FS “seo Seyeepde A rope

include soros of ailes pointing co Mitons Wy Ure Greek text
‘ich appear inthe carly Corgian and Arabic versions: # sees uf
leks essen the Telaonship né Cyril wih saline ascetic
ules sd bra more general orks by French schol, hich
ince a French tanstetion!

Ur won ‘dese hen wd y he say msi tho
not pst ase ee ri plc os
the mk seas sd Sone spain Hes ite
to he feof ior das oe ered hy the
Sto iy. he ds a plc any an pst 0
the ly seat t wape te on a tn
emu ili inc I. The suse ofthe OM Tes
tut popes forthe dss othe tan hon ligon as
pure an8 eng sep eatin 0 ene he Ch
zen densest te pang ea
tae th ent em at he ny
Sere pen and Gd ce nes Co eS
2 Foal desirion of the stn enue of hee of
Fats meer ©2428 mos Toe hee
eset hume hus often been noted." At the same bme the desert
tex ane plac, tere ie feat by wil teat a Uy
evils Te mn ome note dent ot a ary ee
bore hi wih evi nega ve foals
trvsoer Tis far ie ese cote nthe par
aici ot eg

The reappear nf the dss ase considera

1. Seth cle ton oh Boge
Pace Th ofc 50
4 Fer am arent of te canton f We snd “wt, a A
Gillan sine nice len
ue rte coho

and this ia ture affected the way af Tie followed hy the
ruonks. Peter Browa its pointed ts the difference betwee the
Feyptian aml Syetun deter. In Fgspe there was an absnlnte
‘eunirast betwen the set agricultural feof the Nie valley
A the sui desert which extended on either side. Rainfall in
Egypt is toemty millimetres per anmon, and monastic fle
nocessicated a settled struggle fh existence in the mayginal
areas between oulGvated land and the tue dese. In Syria, by
contest, desert and sctled Tand iatecmingled. Kaintall was
more plentiful, and Wie monk could range treely Tough the
‘mountainous hinterland Hiving otf phuts and reserves of water
‘wappedt in holes in Uwe rock. “To ga in to the desert in Syria
1W96 fo wander inte the ever-present Lrg. it was nor t dis,

appear into snutber unimoginuhle world, The desert was a
sanding challenge on ths edge of the village.

Im Palestine the churaceristvs of the Peseet ear Jerusalem
bunditioned the style of fife whol te monks Failed,

4 joumnes frum Jerusulem to levicho ig 9 breathing ex
perience. The distance is under filleen miles and these is 3
Aromatic Geup from mounesine eight hucalred feet above sex
level tn the shows of the Dead Sea, the lowest Jan ot the
cwrth's suelace, four hundeed foet Below wea level. The laud
scape undergoes several chunges. Around Jeensaleen, th hills
‘a enile and productive, ag 4 sesull of heavy water sai
fall (over si hundeed miltimetes par anu). There are olive
groves, date pms and ceseal crops. Within bq miles. aati
nll veases. nd the toes die oot, The sil ix similar to that
of the Asian steppe, an allows shrubs and rongh glans
10%. Is hilly and ory, and teay is inhabited by 9 seange
combination of Bedouin wibesmen and fxs sergis clim=
Ing the West Bank by builling beash moder settlements, one
GF the largest uf which covers the ite of Euthymius

15 nonin an Freon of he Hay Ma a Late iy

moreatege® fe saving, cher than Farming. lard, Nese the
‘Dead Seu, the vegetation boenmes sparse, be lan Bsconacs eve
rier sud batittion dachnes. The Tandscape is at, exmpry, and
sab. Within w few miles Hee ewvellr pases down How Die
‘Meditecnea ches hough Asin Siz Wo Aican desert

‘Nor surprisingly this exteme corres in the wesoquent iv
hick the inoas Ted led to iatinetly ditersar putsms of
nostic ie.

‘he area around Bedhlham und fernaean fewanrcd the devel=
‘pment of large agricul units this well- populated aes Ube
monk gabered ogorher in envlused and well-equipped
tuontseies, “The monustery excavated at Khitbet Siya EL
CGinanam,» couple of miles eas oF Hetlebeu, ot a tradigonal ste
of the Sheponte’ Held, poutine a nerwork af water iste,
clive und wie guesses, @ bakery. and grails a wcll as a
luck an living quires ill atuad 4 conel coun, I sees
Tikely that tas is the eanasery of Marcians, aycinsandite of
the inonks of Palesdne, whe offered soppar, in the form uf
dong lagen vith provisions, co Sabus and his ewonks doing
burkbie weak on Castel Miarciaaus 88 moved © do this
esac of his awareness i ie in his men mucastery #95 mare
somfruble il ettor provided for than Us In Ssbas" comma
ny (112-9) The large censbiona of Thoadosus Ins Te e635
fo his aoa. The stip ot Lan is aboot five cules wide tn, he
Sacge cewobiuin drawing submstenve Gon agriculture win a tay

sal form a ie

The twat ship of land to the sant alse abou Five rien wide,
saw the development of uifferees form af monastic Ly he
aura. The Gist nso maul pravtaed lows he sep wads

i, 4 ee den a he ie yc i My Coes. Te
Miya 68

32S alse Odin 97, and Cy, Mh Moar fate Te
ssn Severed 8. Cab Gi Sar Rar of ana
“Camas Poste ns ens Ci oe a gee a ae
tras Maan’ artery, rete ain the A Lo Oe ea
edit Rhifer Cnty pT, so sd Oui 620
os ontof ena

vsliore ater, shelle. and sogetatian were imost likely fo be
finnnd, Muay uf dese steep lifts ace tiled with caves, ant
here the monks seled. "They lived off the plants which grew
in the neighbourhood, tke gills oF toed toumght hy the
shepherds who grazed their Macks in the are, and on pro
sede fren the Sate of tee hanirates fn the villages to the
went The prowess by which a Tawra grew in decribed vividly
by Cycil om soveia] uevanions (eg. 1810-169, Y8.16e182p
‘The discovery of a suitable eave, the contact it lacal
shepherds, the getty of the monaster aad the evensal om
Soueriow. of central hufidings ty serve the seatceed cuunks are
The slages of development of Futhyaius? and Sahse” cern
munities, Aw agricul] way of fi encourages monks to
ithe tngether so thatthe estate can be efficiently organised:
but the laurite lite encourages dispersion. The eonks spread
‘ou slong the raviue seeking a stitable pave tn sete within
eaet of the ster atthe butiom, The ptecipitous elite made
avvess to the eaves ditt, and this added father ise
coaayement to tegtlar contact berweea quunks. the nse of
the word laura te deceribe a setlered satlemett Of monks
loctely grouped around a centre centaiaing a vhugch and vou
rmunal buildings. seems to have originated in Palestine. The
incoming nf the word inthis contest is iUveested by
(Charitan’s fourdacon, dhe Old Laura or Souk, 4 few miles
suuttveast of Bethlehem. ‘his is located i a deep tse Full
ff Finestune caverns, which stil bear its toners ames the
Wash Kinweiua. The name Souk, or is Syriae Showga, is
saqvivstemt to the Arabic wep, which meims marker uy
“haraat’, aad laura is intended 96 a translation of this word.
‘The Aric sg, encountered in rsins tkrouphout the Middle
East codgy. is a muro’ wing sect ith houses and shops
Jeaddng offi 11 js wut dtsimar co dhe path which Ives along
fhe side of the ravine anil Lrum wich ageess can be gained to
the euves.™ I suggests thar the prescure sohich lod the monks

TR, See. Chis Te Peer 1216

lo develop these settlements was sconoimi. “The m00ks gat
tel thgsther athe ceats of the cornu at The weekend
‘This gaering was far wows unl fora shared euea. boc als
‘sr as to exchange the mats, buskew. and other ancl
Which they lid profuced ring the provions serch, fr tnd
And for row mulerials. To a psssunt compelled (0 Teave ts
home through eceuomic presnure. Une Janta offered not only 3
plice 10 Jead a le of prayer bt also a suciey in which he
‘co work snd aun living”

The great monastanes oF tke desert seem wy hase odin in
this way: the vive Founatins of Chute Cnet Phar
‘hich provided a prowatype for tae Boyan fourlaions, the
tusmiseres ot Theuctstps ond Kothyouus. an the Great amd
INew Luuras of Saker. Once these sere estalished, it becaune
clay tha there as age for # more orgasm of monastic
life purtvululy forthe ess experiensot manks who were aot
able to cope with te vlinde and independence ofthe Jute wy
Of lite, So bos Thenerisms’ und Eutbenivs” mnnustetien devel
fp ito cennhia and Sabus established cenobia alongside the
Taoves. These ceaubia womsined dependent onthe great Iau in
‘hie venus) asa oF she desen, When the duub appuitacnt af
Sabae ant Uno 48 secant vss mad, wth be Core
mer presidhag, over monks i vans andthe hater over the
‘enobits, itn probable tat his fered toa eespansiity ser
fotsin arey a8 Well a5 over a specific form uf jnsttwion
H11423-11828), Theulosas presided over the most prestigneys
ene great vepobi nt he agricola belt east of Redhead
Sabas over the auras of the veal aea of aru hee the
lnwrite Fe predominied. Ie is hard w imagine ¥ venubiuis
founded by Saha in the mid of his are a inflame, 3 To ex
ple the cenobiume he established a file dhe north of he
Groat Laura, seating rare chwely tw the Theodnsnus tan w the
founder (118,218.10),

19. Te ssa of nmin ies op

Pagan, Pui Encitgue Poel ri Bern TK
sis i ef Seaps

‘The uest bel of lam to the eas! Le doxen to the shone of
We Dead Sea, This seus anhuhited emly by experienced a5
ots se usually omy a cen timey a che yea, This was

we “utter desert” or punerémcs. Such rain as Users was fell
between the months of Noveraber and Vebrasry, and exsured
& minimam of plaalife and water supply for Euthymius,
Sabas. and their frvomed uisuciales whon ey elt the
‘monasteries fora period of greater solitude during Lent, They
leit ahe monastery after the Least of the Theoplhaay, al the
height of the rainy season, and scrsened for Balm Sunday
when the Hest and usyuees were making the desert unin-
habitable even Sur the experienced Ueseri-dvalter. The uuly
allthe-yeur-oond sellerieat mn this seetion of the dosctt of
‘whic we knuw was Cyeiacus’ heamitage at Soakim
2424-50),

CCytl's weitings describe the mowasterien of che cent strip
vf desert, He is te histonan af the Invas, and offers only
incidental informacien about dhe eencbix grompedt ib the im-
mediate neighbuachoud nf Jorvsalem and Beshletem, Hie ic
tare et the monastic Ife uf Palestine is vivid, bun wal exhaus
tive, The putin sourwe tor the cenobitic fife 1 Thendove of
Poi's Life of Theadosus, which pravides a valuable, if
long-winded, account af dhe developrcent of Theodosius!
cenobiam, on the tills between Bethlcheat aad Sabus” Great
Tas,

‘The foose: scl of the Lsura encovsaged diversity within
he community. The constivuent part of the lau were the
cell oF ketia, Sometimes these cols appease « have hoveed
single mons 26.15) and somebmes gramps of auguks. 48
‘when a ew mumastery was formed by the building of thnee
cells (24.14, 26.15, 105.8). Leading raonks gained » ropa
tion toe samciny and Ieadesship, sand a small community
‘would gather agowed ther. JF this grenp coaliued Ua gro, it
could form the hasis of 9 nev eaamastery. The carvers of Mur
{yrs and Elias are on example of sis process. They were
ecopmmed hy Favtymius as eutsunding laadeys sad quickly

bocume close hint, They later depasted trom his laura he-
cause the cells “were extremely stamped
wrcomfontble’—a reference Lo le Fac that they Were Inade-
‘quate f0 accommodate the grovving eile of ebriples zather
than that they weve Snsulivieumly wxucions (31-181. Both
founded now manasteries, und both became Fasiarchs of

Jorusulem This quasi-vresnic tendeacy within te lave pat=
toca of mawasic life t split, ansplant anu colunise accounts
tor the mfluence uf Euhymis over te subsequent history of
Palestiaian monasticism

| similar putea van be ubseved in Sabas” monasteies,
Cuil Lists 4 cota! of seven monasteries tounded hy: Sobus
thr laurus and four cecubis. Tu he aaives which desesibe
Ite fousdations, che leadership and initiative af the saint ere
strongly craphanised Wut, since each cunasiic group cow
sinted uf enomky fm the Great Cgura and was led hy a monk

appointed by Sabas, it iy clear that thin the Great Lana |

roups were cominsally eanerging Which had a nce 10 he 8
owed to catabinh thmsclves as separate commie, Us
ally this pravess happened aude the dicction ot Sahos.
Tawwgh ie his Tense extended and ne became the de
rant figure ine Palestinian Chuck,

3 CONFLICT WS TAR WONASTRRIES

‘The satura tesleney in the Iroete Hie towards exibitiy,
diversity, andl eroarivagy wa atthe same ne a source vf vo
Atel, divinivu, aa Cale, Diversity easily hocame division,
Iris surely nat accidental thatthe fies epi ic Ue lie uf
tne Great Lan. alter i was estllishod dough the diseavery
of he ettrch and water supply. was w retell wf a group uf
rinnks eying 10 challenge Sates’ aothouts, They sont a
Acpucation of ants ta the Parriareh complaining that Sabas
1w9s uneducated or “rustc", und su unfit tw lew the comm
ity (403.17-[08,1}, The complaint seems 10 have heen sim-
imecing for some te, a¢ dhe wjecturs ited unt Pstmarch
Muetyrins had died and new Patsazet, shu dhd not kaos
Sabas, had succeded hea, The result af thle compliant was
to confirm Sebas in bis pasition af sugevior but thie 4 aot
stop the oppositinn. Cyl describes hue Saba withdees fam
the lana cur occusions heeguss of the centliet, and hu
ccsentually his oppoaeins tired us a deserted aura neat
“Chek, which as esubtihed on a proper fanting ttuvuel
the patronage of Sabas, Later this group evolved a distinctive
doutinal identity thraugh alloginace 1 cerain Origeaist,
‘piaivns. ‘The conflier yas mot finally resolved until ar
Salus? death (118.21-128.25)

A ess serions conflict uso developed ovey tke attempt of
‘e monk Sacob to estahlish a separate tauru within dhe area of
the Great Lavra. This separaise movement as eusily deale
‘with by Sabas, who established laura under properly ap-
ponnted stowaids £129.3-1§M121)

‘The problem in both oases was one of uathoits, ur the lak
DF mt Ssbas is presented hy Cytil above all as # founder of
Dnonasteres. Mis fo" werk is surevarines ths

Subas.. hy the Cavour af God the Fates Une a
Sisteace of Chnst and Whe iaicaion of the Ely
Spirit. colonized the dosere with 9 hue numb
Of monks and tonnded in it seven eslebeated
tmonasteces (158.15-18),

His retarioaship with these mranasteces did mot extend «0 cox
ean forthe contig vare und euxtanes of ea ommaaniy.
With Me exception of bis First mouastery. the Grest Laura,
Cyril gwes ne indication hut Sahas visited amy at bis
monsstecies alter they had been Fouled. Faced sich w threat
Ww his position thor the “intsllcceual” party, he pestered te
leave dhe monks and ree te at remote ope trod which he
could nev be sealed, rather than to seek to resolve the
protler. Is hard to avoid the conclusion eat Sabus was ont

fof couch sub the routine events of the daily life uf his
onastedes, His was not the auurity of he superior or

egueeros
Nor was it tke anthorigy of the teacher. The estiisny mats
DC tion hy the intellectuals was that he was rustic, or
‘agraikos, Tu fonath-centory Paype thm worl was compl
renkay. H rstorred to the simpivity snd Tumi of the true
Kunce of the secular

acetic ws opposed fo the Hveoctoa
cola, Am monastie suciely bevatue mou seed, 1Ccamme to

sefer un ioability co exezeise authority. *

Sabae a5 the son of w soldier, and. aocudiag 1 Ci. is
saeation sas Fited 19 “the pialer and she ubsersance of
the venobice ele" Q8.1-2). Ihere ws 90 reference At any Point
ii his Life to uny uC his ascetic caching and he iy not Ue
seribed 96 giving insgustion or discounes (© is. monks,
‘when Ciynl describes Une achievements of Fathymms be re-
fers w his ascetic Hie and his whilty to Jead others in the
sanse way, bot whan he extuls Sabu, itis Because of his en
cexgy in founding new munzsteries

These weaknesses staat out wich greater clarity wen
Sabis" foundations ate campared wth those of Pacem
Pachoniins” monasteries were established in eos rato than
desert ateas. A wll kept the modks agen from the secular
vnrd and this helped the development af 9 centratised and
cculiesive nganisation. An elaborate structure for maiacaning
aumcity 98 established with “housexastss? and "second
Appointed to core tor the amouks. Pachomins smphasived Che

2U Campa de Chalom biberon Teophnee ernie oe
Somme hedes Dyes np) eae andr
Tr Wee tll suk Gs, none he amt De
visio thease anesthe nt oi 8 dil oni. Ae
he ee nf tial et tao op 5273821 wd RIE 2S,
{Sui eesti er ei the ak 6 ir (48.17 ad
Tesisapa Ine tel Eau the U6) deere hn ete
tohicreaens nthe cae Sab end of osatne