Pachomius

The Making of a Community in Fourth-Century Egypt

Philip Rousseau

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9780520219595
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520341692
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

Pachomius, who died in 346, has long been regarded as the "founder of monasticism." Available again, Philip Rousseau's careful reading of the available texts reveals that Pachomius's pioneering enterprise has been consistently misread in light of later monastic practices. Rousseau not only provides a fuller and more accurate portrait of this great teacher and spiritual director but also gives a new perspective on the development of monasticism. In a new preface Rousseau reviews the scholarly developments that have modified his views and emphases since the book was published. The result is to make Pachomius an even less assured pioneer, a man likely to have been more involved in the village and urban society of his time than previously thought.
Pachomius, who died in 346, has long been regarded as the "founder of monasticism." Available again, Philip Rousseau's careful reading of the available texts reveals that Pachomius's pioneering enterprise has been consistently misread in light of later mo

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS 1
• ABBREVIATIONS
• PREFACE
• I EGYPT
• II THE SOURCES
• III FORMING THE COMMUNITY
• IV THE DAY'S ROUTINE
• V LIVING UNDER RULE
• VI LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY
• VII THE ASCETIC GOAL
• VIII MONASTERY AND WORLD
• IX CONTINUITY
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Index