Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> The birth of monasticism is usually associated with the name of St. Anthony the Great His life was described by St Athanasius of Alexandria and his monument has remained for ever as a standard of the monastic ideal defining its further development in the Church. Outwardly the Life of St Anthony can be reduced to a very simple scheme. He was born in Egypt around 250 AD inte a Coptic Christian family. When still quite young he heard in the church the words of the Gospel: “If you want to be perfect go sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me” and was astounded by them. He gave away all his belongings and devoted himself entirely to ascetic feats. Beginning them in his own village he soon left it for the wilderness where he spent twenty years completely on his own. St Athanasius describes this period of his life as a continuous battle with the devil moreover to a great extent a completely realistic one. Monasticism only acquired its true “form” somewhat later with St Pachomius the Great Alse born in Egypt he started by creating a “community” and its rules. St Pachonius’s statute now lies at the heart of all monastic rules. Under his leadership he created an original monastic state in Thebes uniting thousands of people. It was visited in 357 358 by St Basil the Great who returned to Asia Minor and founded a monastic community there with his brother St Gregors and has friend.