desert fathers

desert fathers
monks, as Saint Anthony or Saint Pachomius, who lived as hermits in the deserts of Egypt and founded the first Christian monasteries.

* * *

▪ Christian hermits
      early Christian hermits (hermit) whose practice of asceticism in the Egyptian desert, beginning in the 3rd century, formed the basis of Christian monasticism. One of these hermits, Pachomius (Pachomius, Saint) of the Thebaid (c. AD 290–346; see Pachomius, Saint), who organized nine monasteries for men and two for women, is credited with being the founder of cenobitic (communal) monasticism in the Western world.

      Following the example of Jesus' life of poverty, service, and self-denial, the early monks devoted themselves to vows of austerity, prayer, and work. Believers who chose to go into the desert as hermits were said to be answering the call of Christ: “Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me' ” (Matthew 19:21). See monasticism.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Desert Fathers — Coptic icon of Saint Anthony the Great. The Desert Fathers were hermits, ascetics, monks, and nuns (Desert Mothers) who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD. The most well known was Anthony the Great,… …   Wikipedia

  • Desert Fathers —    See Apophthegmata Patrum …   Historical dictionary of Byzantium

  • desert fathers — monks, as Saint Anthony or Saint Pachomius, who lived as hermits in the deserts of Egypt and founded the first Christian monasteries …   Useful english dictionary

  • desert fathers and mothers —  Пустыни, отцы и матери …   Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов

  • Desert Mothers — Saint Paula and her daughter Eustochium with their spiritual advisor Saint Jerome painting by Francisco de Zurbarán. The Desert Mothers were female Christian ascetics living in the desert of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria in the 4th and 5th… …   Wikipedia

  • Sayings of the Desert Fathers —    See Apophthegmata Patrum …   Historical dictionary of Byzantium

  • Church Fathers — The Church Fathers, an 11th century Kievan miniature from Svyatoslav s Miscellany The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Church Fathers — The following is a list of Christian Church Fathers. Catholics generally regard the Patristic period to have closed with the death of John of Damascus, a Doctor of the Church, in 749. However, Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the… …   Wikipedia

  • Sarah of the Desert — Amma Sarah of the Desert (5th century) was an early Desert Mother who is known to us today solely through the collected sayings of the Desert Fathers. Amma Sarah was a hermit and lived a life dedicated to strict asceticism for some sixty years.… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity — /kris chee an i tee/, n., pl. Christianities. 1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. 2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”