The lives of the Desert Fathers: The Historia monachorum in Aegypto

by Norman Russell

Eyewitness accounts of the lives and teachings of the fourth-century Desert Fathers from the Historiamonachorum in Aegypto.

Genres: History, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Biography, Christian, Nonfiction

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Norman Russell is an Orthodox translator and patristic scholar of partial Greek descent. He holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and is an Honorary Research Fellow of St Stephen’s House of the same university.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the year 395, a group of seven monks from a monastery on the Mount of Olives went on a trip to Egypt to see some of the Desert Fathers. They worked their way from Lycopolis (Asyut) to Diolcopolis (Diolcos). They stopped at various locations to visit monks and hermits, attending worship services, listening to sermons, gathering edifying tales and enjoying the hospitality and charity of the fathers. Ten years later, an anonymous Greek text was produced by one of the travelers. It was almost immediately translated (rather freely in places) into Latin by Rufinus of Aquileia. There was also a version in Syriac produced by a 7th century Nestorian monk named Ananisho. The text, known by its Latin title, Historia monachorum in Aegypto, is what is offered to us here.

The book is very well edited, containing introductory essays, copious endnotes and the most important variants from the Latin and Syriac versions. The only error I could find was that a miracle in which the sun stands still at the behest of one of the fathers is compared to the biblical story of Gideon; in fact what the editor is alluding to is a miracle that takes place during the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 10:12-14).

The text itself contains stories of monks who performed amazing feats of virtue. They repelled and exorcised demons. They controlled and befriended beasts. They healed illnesses by their prayers. They read the hearts and discerned the secret sins of less virtuous brethren. Having left the world and sometimes lives of crime behind, they exhorted sinners to repentance and attracted disciples to emulate them. Above all, they disciplined their bodies, minds and souls, practicing virtues such as abstinence, silence, humility and obedience.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many stories from the desert fathers that I find edifying. This collection however is not so much stories from the desert fathers as their history and lives as they lived them in the desert. While I do find some very important lessons here, for me these lives are not easily translated into a Christianity that can be imitated. In fact for me, these lives are inimitable and thus of limited importance to my life. In almost any generation of Christians the writings talk of some previous generation who did so much better and so much more. You find this to be as true of 20th Century writings as 4th Century writings or 2nd Century writings. For me, this collection speaks of some impressive past which is exactly past or passed away. I need help in learning how to live the life today but I don't find these lives to be helpful as their world is long passed away. And obviously it was not able to sustain itself beyond their limited time and place.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of traveling up and down the Nile area visiting monks who were very advanced in their asceticism, collectively known as the Desert Fathers.
The accounts are somewhat repetitive and have a feeling of tall tales but are perhaps true, at least in part.

[Sean Nemecek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a hard time believing most of this book. It's just a bunch of monks in a humility contest.

[Maxwell Ladhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handful of monks from Jerusalem travel to Egypt to witness the desert fathers firsthand, and share their account of their journeys.

[Navel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing journey of 4th century Palestinian monks traveling through the Egyptian monastic communities and the stories and advice of those they encounter throughout.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, highly readable edition with useful and helpful apparatus. Fascinating work on the early desert fathers; reminded me somewhat of Gurdjieff's Meetings with Remarkable Men.

[Bowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very edifying book. Can’t recommend enough.

[JoséMaría BlancoWhite · Rating 3 out of 5]

A most interesting and inspiring read

I like these guys. Didymus was said to be a man of `charming countenance'; Apollo told people that happiness was not an option but an obligation for Christians: "He used to say: `Those who are going to inherit the kingdom of heaven must not be despondent about their salvation. The pagans are gloomy [is this a reference to Al Gore's apocalyptic ideas?], and the Jews wail, and sinners mourn, but the just will rejoice ... we who have been considered worthy of so great a hope, how shall we not rejoice without ceasing?".

This book has a very good introduction of about 45 pages, then the text is some 80 pages, and a few more pages of notes. It's a very interesting read for Christians and those interested in the early days (or centuries) of Christianity. I have to admit I was a little prejudiced against these folk, more than anything because of ignorance, but also because I had this idea that these Christians were `faking it' by going into the desert in Egypt to live an ascetic life. I maliciously thought it had to be an excuse in order to `get something', even if it was only vainglory. True, there are bad apples in our churches, and that's the devil trying to infiltrate wherever to do more damage to the true Gospel, and that happened in those early times just as today. Only think of the number of people who went into the religious `business' in the Middle Ages, not to die of starvation, and you'll understand what I'm talking about. But that doesn't refute the basic truth: that there were, and are, real honest folk who love Christ and try as sincerely as they can to follow Him.

The monastic experiment had started in the mid 4th century, and it had flourished in a way that population in the desert (delta of the Nile) equaled that of the towns by 394. It was the boom of anachoresis -so goes Benedicta Wards's introduction. An account of the life of Antony the Great, who died in 365, written by Athanasius, spurred even more the enthusiasm of visitors to undertake the journey and learn from the monks at first hand. One of the journeys through Egypt at the end of the 4th century produced the `Historia Monachorum in Aegypto', which was chosen as the basis for this book. The original text was written in Greek and its author remains anonymous.

How must we view these early monks? If we travel back in time we'll see that there already were two different opinions about the monks: one of outsiders and one of the monk himself. From outside they were considered sort of a talisman (that's my word), "a peace-maker between men, and a friend of God; the one who had influence at the court of heaven. He was, at least, good luck for those fortunate enough to be near him." But the monk defined himself as a sinner, a weak man. Both opinions -the one society had, and the one formed by their visitors from Palestine- form the contents of the book. Personally, I couldn't help loving these characters. That the Devil used the originally good intentions of monasticism to corrupt its ideals, as it happened later on, is another issue.

A key to understanding this early monastic experiment is the following quote: "It is not the exercise of asceticism in itself which is fundamental to this way of life, but repentance, metanoia, the turning from the cultivation of the ego."

What kind of people were these monks? They were sinners, prodigal sons returning from a far country (a return at first physical but an ultimately spiritual one); some had been robbers and murderers, and some had a more mundane background. But all of them turned away from their sin, and looked to Christ resurrected.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding examination by Benedicta Ward of the reasons why the Desert Fathers went into the Egyptian desert. Equally fine translation + notes by Norman Russell of the original Greek text, Rufinus' additional notes, and the Syriac version.

[Adam]

A group of monks from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, eclectic in their backgrounds and roots, embark together on an epic journey. The year is situated sometime in the mid-390's, and their destination is not one but numerous places. They journey together to seek to meet the Desert Fathers of legend face-to-face, to sit with these ancient anchorites of caves and the wild places, to listen to them speak and pray, and most importantly, to watch how it is that these men live their lives in emulation of Christ. It is not an easy journey, but it is a memorable one, with them floating down rivers, crossing dusty, barren plains, and even facing robbers, brigands, and thieves. It is a journey that will forever change their lives. Through the singular monk among them who works diligently to chronicle their steps and experiences after all is said and done, the story of their journey served to change the lives of many others who lived in the years and centuries to follow, as well.
Written well before Cassian's Conferences, the Historia Monachorum in Aegypto was read widely and fervently in the ancient world, with Christians far and wide yearning to understand and experience the closeness with God that these Fathers of the desert shared so freely in their stories, sayings, and teachings.
I'm working my way through this slowly. It's bedrock, and I want to savor it.

[Richard Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great and accessible edition of the Historia Monachorum in Aegypto. There is a solid introduction, the text is laid out nicely, the translation is fluid and clear, and there are sufficient scholarly notes to follow up references and quotations. There is also a wonderful section providing the additions that Rufinus made to the text, and comments on the Syriac verision. There is very little of the original language(s) contained in this edition.

The text itself is an account of group of Christians travelling around Egypt to visit monks, hermits and anchorites of renown so that they might learn from their examples. Many astounding reports are related of inhuman ascesis, miracles of healing and protection, and of spiritual purity. The world of these individuals and communities is described with many illuminating incidental details that make this an involving read. The length of each account is by no means equal - some are very short (a few lines) and others quite long (several pages).

[Aaron Gruenthal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what it is. I’m not here to judge the writing style, or the authenticity of the stories contained in this book. I just was not personally moved or inspired by these other-worldly stories about the monks of Thebaid. If these monks were real, they were some crazy dudes that really put us contemporary Christians to shame. But, not many of their extreme disciplines were not backed up by scripture and they seemed to condemn the physical world (I believe that the physical world is not inherently evil).

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a combination of primary and secondary sources about the monks and hermits in the desert of Egypt in 4th CE. Sister Benedicta Ward provides a comprehensive introduction explaining who these monks were and how they got the desert. She also introduces the reader to the various types of visitors to the desert including the author of the primary source the Historia Monachorum that records the trip of 7 monks who meet many of the desert fathers and tell their stories of lives.