Description
On the periphery of the Roman empire, the sixth-century desert city of Gaza served as a crossroads between Palestine and Egypt. The nearby village of Tawatha was home to the thriving monastery of Abbot Seridos and the renowned anchorites Barsanuphius, known to the people as the Great Old Man, and his disciple John. The laity of the area looked to the monks for spiritual leadership, as did their brother monks, bishops, and religious leaders from as far away as Jerusalem and Constantinople. Having adopted a life of physical isolation, the monks communicated with others by letters, offering guidance in such matters as treatment of slaves, distribution of alms, interpretation of visions, and social relations with pagans and Jews.
This extraordinary correspondence opens a window into the spiritual world of the desert monastery and the lay community it served. In Disciples of the Desert, Jennifer Hevelone-Harper uses a careful study of the letters to reveal fascinating insights into the monastic community and sixth-century Christian spirituality.
Hevelone-Harper explains the network of spiritual authority that was created to lead the monastic community and discusses how monastic leaders responded to challenges to authority, appointed successors, and chose and mentored disciples. She reveals the immense love that Abbot Seridos, Barsanuphius, and John had for their fellow monastics and for the lay community in Tawatha, Gaza, and beyond.Reviews
"An important contribution and a welcome addition to the burgeoning study of Palestinian monasticism in general and of Gaza in particular."—Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony, Religious Studies Review"This little book should not only be on the shelves of every monastic library, it should also be read by anyone with an interest in the give-and-take between monastic and everyday life inside and outside monasteries."—Brian Patrick McGuire, American Benedictine Review "An important contribution to the understanding of the development of the early desert literature and a fine introduction to the relationships among monastics and laity in the sixth century."—John Chryssavgis, Theology Today "Groundbreaking work . . . Provides an informative, engaging interpretation of a daunting body of evidence that, in turn, makes an important contribution to an understudied form of monasticism in the Gaza region."—Bernadette McNary-Zak, Journal of Religion "An important contribution and a welcome addition to the burgeoning study of Palestinian monasticism in general and of Gaza in particular that we witness in recent years."—Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony, Journal of the American Academy of Religion "Based on very exciting material, and she presents it very accessibly to the wider audience it deserves. The whole work is well-structured."—Arietta Papaconstantinou, Henoch "An important contribution . . . The first book-length exploration of the entire epistolary collection in its social context."—John Chryssavgis, Sobornost: Eastern Churches Review
Author Information
Jennifer L. Hevelone-Harper is an associate professor of history at Gordon College.
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Athanasius and Asceticism