The Library of Paradise
A History of Contemplative Reading in the Monasteries of the Church of the East
Published on 13. October 2022
Book
Hardback
358 pages
978-0-19-883624-7 (ISBN)
Description
Contemplative reading is a spiritual practice developed by Christian monks in sixth- and seventh-century Mesopotamia. Mystics belonging to the Church of the East pursued a form of contemplation which moved from reading, to meditation, to prayer, to the ecstasy of divine vision. The Library of Paradise tells the story of this Syriac tradition in three phases: its establishment as an ascetic practice, the articulation of its theology, and its maturation and spread. The sixth-century monastic reform of Abraham of Kashkar codified the essential place of reading in East Syrian ascetic life. Once established, the practice of contemplative reading received extensive theological commentary. Abraham's successor Babai the Great drew upon the ascetic system of Evagrius of Pontus to explain the relationship of reading to the monk's pursuit of God. Syriac monastic handbooks of the seventh century built on this Evagrian framework. 'Enanisho' of Adiabene composed an anthology called Paradise that would stand for centuries as essential reading matter for Syriac monks. Dadisho' of Qatar wrote a widely copied commentary on the Paradise. Together, these works circulated as a one-volume library which offered readers a door to "Paradise" through contemplation. The Library of Paradise is the first book-length study of East Syrian contemplative reading. It adapts methodological insights from prior scholarship on reading, including studies on Latin lectio divina. By tracing the origins of East Syrian contemplative reading, this study opens the possibility for future investigation into its legacies, including the tradition's long reception history in Sogdian, Arabic, and Ethiopic monastic libraries.
Reviews / Votes
The Library of Paradise is the first book-length study of East Syrian contemplative reading. . . . this study opens the possibility for future investigation into its legacies, including the tradition's long reception history in Sogdian, Arabic, and Ethiopic monastic libraries. * Jonathan Loopstra, Review of Biblical Literature * The book tells one particular story of how a Syriac tradition of contemplative reading developed in Mesopotamia among the Christian monastic communities of the Church of the East in the sixth and seventh centuries. * Catalin-Stefan Popa, Vigiliae Christianae * David Michelson's monograph, The Library of Paradise, offers a compelling look into monastic spirituality in the late antique Church of the East. Focusing on a less-studied region and tradition of a still under-studied subfeld-Syriac Christianity-this book has much to offer historians of Christianity broadly. * Philip A. Lindia, Fides et Historia * One does not need to be a scholar to appreciate the significance of Michelson's efforts to ensure that our knowledge of East Syriac monasticism and its reading practices continues to grow. ... Not everyone will choose (or be able) to learn Syriac, but through the work of scholars like Michelson we are exposed to unfamiliar ideas and practices that potentially enrich our perspectives while deepening our spiritual lives. * Andrew J. Pottenger, Current * Library of Paradise is undoubtedly a valuable reference work that profoundly contributes to scholarship, offering a new view on Syriac ascetic reading and inviting further research. It is a must-read for scholars and students interested in ascetic monastic reading and anyone seriously interested in reading history. I highly recommend it for purchase. * Francisco Barros, Texas Baptist Institute & Seminary *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
5 black and white maps and images
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
702 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-883624-7 (9780198836247)
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
David A. Michelson
The Library of Paradise
A History of Contemplative Reading in the Monasteries of the Church of the East
E-Book
09/2022
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€62.99
Available for download
David A. Michelson
The Library of Paradise
A History of Contemplative Reading in the Monasteries of the Church of the East
E-Book
09/2022
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€62.99
Available for download
Person
David A. Michelson is Associate Professor of the History of Christianity at Vanderbilt University. He earned his PhD from Princeton University in 2007. His research is focused on Christianity in Late Antiquity with a particular interest in monasticism, Christianity in the Middle East, and the transmission of Syriac literary and manuscript culture. Michelson is the author of The Practical Christology of Philoxenos of Mabbug (OUP, 2014). He is also the co-editor of The Syriac Gazetteer and other digital research tools published by Syriaca.org.
Content
- 1: Introduction: Framing Questions for the Study of Contemplative Reading in the Church of the East
- 2: Manuscripts without Readers? Perspectival Obstacles to the Study of Syriac Ascetic Reading
- 3: Was there a Syriac Lectio Divina? Models and Definitions for the Study of Contemplative Reading in the Church of the East
- 4: Contemplative Reading on the Banks of the Euphrates: The Establishment of a Tradition From Ephrem the Syrian to Abraham of Kashkar
- 5: "Cloak, Tunic, Book, Cell": Babai the Great's Articulation of an (East Syrian) Evagrian Theology of Ascetic Reading
- 6: Reading in the Library of Paradise, Dense with Every Kind of Fruit: The Harvest of East Syrian Contemplative Reading
- 7: Conclusions: Trajectories and Legacies of East Syrian Contemplative Reading