The T&T Clark History of Monasticism
The Eastern Tradition
Published on 14. November 2019
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-78831-761-0 (ISBN)
Description
Despite its rich history in the Latin tradition, Christian monasticism began in the east; the wellsprings of monastic culture and spirituality can be directly sourced from the third-century Egyptian wilderness. In this volume, John Binns creates a vivid, authoritative account that traces the four main branches of eastern Christianity, up to and beyond the Great Schism of 1054 and the break between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Binns begins by exploring asceticism in the early church and the establishment of monastic life in Egypt, led by St Anthony and Pachomius. He chronicles the expansion, influence and later separation of the various Orthodox branches, examining monastic traditions and histories ranging from Syria to Russia and Ethiopia to Asia Minor. Culminating with both the persecution and the revival of monastic life, Binns concludes with an argument for both the diversity and the shared set of practices and ideals between the Orthodox churches, creating a resource for both cross-disciplinary specialist and students of religion, history, and spirituality.
Binns begins by exploring asceticism in the early church and the establishment of monastic life in Egypt, led by St Anthony and Pachomius. He chronicles the expansion, influence and later separation of the various Orthodox branches, examining monastic traditions and histories ranging from Syria to Russia and Ethiopia to Asia Minor. Culminating with both the persecution and the revival of monastic life, Binns concludes with an argument for both the diversity and the shared set of practices and ideals between the Orthodox churches, creating a resource for both cross-disciplinary specialist and students of religion, history, and spirituality.
Reviews / Votes
[This] book is a deep dive into history and spirituality and is an excellent resource for study. * Anglican and Episcopal History * [The T&T Clark History of Monasticism] is a welcome addition to the fields of history, monasticism, and Eastern Christianity. With the growth of interest in Eastern Christian developments and the constant revision of history, this book will be an indispensable source to both academic and lay readers who are looking for a text which summarizes and captures the essence and spirit of Eastern monasticism. * Reading Religion * Binns identifies major trends and leading monks of each era, provides maps of monastic centers in the orbits of Constantinople and Moscow, and cites statistical data. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; practitioners; general readers. * CHOICE * Written with deep insight, over and above a compilation of facts, John Binns has captured the essence and spirit of monasticism. Exploring the phenomenon of monasticism from its origins in the third and fourth centuries to the twentieth century, the T&T Clark History of Monasticism imparts fascinating insight into one of the great hallmarks of Christianity, that has a particularly rich trajectory in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The lives of the countless monks who have contributed in so many different ways to the development and maintenance of monasticism over the centuries make this volume compelling reading. * ERICA C. D. HUNTER, SOAS University of London, UK * This book offers an inspiring excursion and engaging exploration into the search for silence and community in the Christian East through the centuries. It lays wide open for the reader a window into the connection between city and desert, the correlation between mission and mysticism, as well as the transformation through resistance and renewal. John Binns provides a historical and geographical panorama of the outer regions of monasticism through a spiritual and personal pilgrimage to the inner recesses of the heart. * JOHN CHRYSSAVGIS, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, USA, and author of In the Heart of the Desert *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
19 b&w illus, 2 maps
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 166 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78831-761-0 (9781788317610)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2019
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€36.49
Available for download
Person
John Binns is Visiting Professor at the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK and a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK.
Content
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Introduction
Part One: Monasticism before Monasticism: Up to 320
1. From Asceticism to Monasticism
Part Two: The Formation of the Tradition: The Period of the Ecumenical Councils
2. Solitude, Community and the Church: Beginnings in Egypt
3. Asceticism and Society: The Holy Men of Syria
4. An Experiment in Community Living: The Cities of Asia Minor
5. The Holy City of Jerusalem and Its Desert
6. The City of Constantinople: Where All Roads Meet
Part Three: The Forms of Monastic Tradition: After Iconoclasm
7. Going West: Two Benedicts
8. East to Asia and South to Africa: The Syriac Tradition
9. City and Mountains: The Byzantine Tradition
10. Missionaries and Kings: The Balkans
11. Monasteries in the North: Russia
Part Four: The Meaning and Purpose of Monastic
12. Hesychasm from Origen to Gregory Palamas
Part Five: Resistances and Renewals: After
13. Part One: Varieties of Tribulation: Under Islamic Government
14. Part One: Revival and Renewal in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
13. Part Two: Varieties of Tribulation: Genocide and Atheism
14. Part Two: Revival and Renewal in the Twentieth Century
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Foreword
Introduction
Part One: Monasticism before Monasticism: Up to 320
1. From Asceticism to Monasticism
Part Two: The Formation of the Tradition: The Period of the Ecumenical Councils
2. Solitude, Community and the Church: Beginnings in Egypt
3. Asceticism and Society: The Holy Men of Syria
4. An Experiment in Community Living: The Cities of Asia Minor
5. The Holy City of Jerusalem and Its Desert
6. The City of Constantinople: Where All Roads Meet
Part Three: The Forms of Monastic Tradition: After Iconoclasm
7. Going West: Two Benedicts
8. East to Asia and South to Africa: The Syriac Tradition
9. City and Mountains: The Byzantine Tradition
10. Missionaries and Kings: The Balkans
11. Monasteries in the North: Russia
Part Four: The Meaning and Purpose of Monastic
12. Hesychasm from Origen to Gregory Palamas
Part Five: Resistances and Renewals: After
13. Part One: Varieties of Tribulation: Under Islamic Government
14. Part One: Revival and Renewal in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
13. Part Two: Varieties of Tribulation: Genocide and Atheism
14. Part Two: Revival and Renewal in the Twentieth Century
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index