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Evagrius Ponticus

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'''Evagrius Ponticus''' (c. 346-399) was an Egyptian monastic, and one of the earliest spiritual writers on [[asceticism]] in the Christian eremitic tradition. He is also called '''Evagrius of Pontus''' or '''Evagrius the Solitary'''. Some of his works are included Although condemned in proceedings associated with the ''[[PhilokaliaFifth Ecumenical Council]]''his writings, many passed under pseudonyms, exercised a very strong influence over Orthodox spirituality.
{{stub}}==Life==Evagrius was born in Pontus around the year 345 and studied under the [[Cappadocians|Cappadocian Fathers]]. St. [[Basil the Great]] tonsured Evagrius a [[reader]], and St. [[Gregory the Theologian]] elevated him to [[deacon|diaconate]]. As a deacon, Evagrius Ponticus would attend the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] (First Constantinople) in 381, which formulated the last portion of the [[Nicene Creed]] (the article dealing with the [[Holy Spirit]]). After visiting Jerusalem, where Evagrius became a [[monk]], he went to the Egyptian desert in 383. There his life would touch those of other [[saint]]s such as St. [[Macarius of Alexandria]], his mentor; and St. [[John Cassian]] ("Cassian the Roman"), his disciple. Many believe he also knew St. [[Macarius the Great]]. He died in Kellia, Egypt, in 399.
Evagrius passed on his firsthand knowledge of the [[Desert Fathers]] to many visitors and disciples, becoming particularly well known for his teaching on [[prayer]]. He exhorted his followers to practice the virtues, engage in regular Psalmody, and refrain from making any physical/mental images during prayer. However, like so many others, he became influenced by the teachings of [[Origen]], believing in the doctrines of [[apokatastasis]], the "restitution of all things" (including the reconciliation of [[Satan]]), and in the Platonic notion of the pre-existence of the soul.
==Life==The [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] (Second Constantinople) in 553 deemed both these doctrines (and Origen himself) [[heresy|heretical]]. Although never [[Glorification|glorified]] as a saint, Evagrius' teachings on [[asceticism]], prayer, and the spiritual life had a profound impact upon both Christian East and West. Two of his works are included in the ''[[Philokalia]]'', one (''Praktikos'') under his name, the other (''Chapters on Prayer'') under Nilus of Ancyra's.
Evagrius was born in Pontus around the year 345 and studied under the Cappadocian Fathers. St. Basil tonsured Evagrius a reader, and St. Gregory Nazianzus elevated him to the diaconate. As a deacon, Evagrius Ponticus would attend the Second Ecumenical Council (First Constantinople) in 381, which formulated the last portion of the Nicene Creed (the article dealing with the Holy Spirit). After visiting Jerusalem, Evagrius became a monk in the Egyptian desert in 383. There his life would touch those of two other saints==Select Works==Certainly authentic works: St. Makarios of Alexandria, his mentor, and St. John Cassian ("Cassian the Roman"), his disciple. He died in Kellia, Egypt, in 399.
==Works==*The Praktikos*The Gnostikos*Kephalaia Gnostica (Problemata Gnostica)*On Asceticism and Stillness The Chapters on Prayer, preserved in the Solitary LifeGreek under the name of St [[Nilus of Sinai]].*On Discrimination Antirrheticos*Sentences for Monks*Exhortation to a Virgin*Hypotyposis*Treatise to the Monk Eulogius<ref>This is printed in respect PG 79:1093-1140, among the works of Passions St Nilus.</ref>*Treatise on Various Evil Thoughts (Capita Cognoscitiva)*Protrepticus and ThoughtsParaeneticus*Letters*On WatchfulnessScriptural Commentaries*On PrayerVarious Ascetic Treatises {{stub}}Works of doubtful authenticity: 153 Texts*De Malignis Cogitationibus*Collections of Sentences
==Quotations==
*Whether you pray with brethren or alone, try to pray not simply as a routine, but with conscious awareness of your prayer. Conscious awareness of prayer is concentration accompanied by reverence, compunction and distress of soul as it confesses its sin with inward sorrow. -unknown work
*If you are a [[theologian]], you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you are a theologian. - ''Treatise on Prayer'', 61.
*Bread is food for the body and holiness is food for the soul: prayer is food for the intellect. - Ibid., 101.
*Spiritual reading, vigils, and prayer bring the straying intellect to stability. Hunger, exertion, and withdrawal from the world wither burning lust. - ''Extracts from the Texts on Watchfulness'', 5.
 
==References==
<references/>
==See also==
*[[Origen]]
==External Linkslinks==*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evagrius_Ponticus Original Wikipedia article]
*[http://www.hermitary.com/solitude/evagrius.html Evagrius Ponticus: On Asceticism and Stillness in the Solitary Life]
*[http://studentswww.cuakalvesmaki.educom/16kalvesmakiEvagPont/EvagPont Evagrius Ponticus: Monastic Theologian]
*[http://www.ccel.org/w/wace/biodict/htm/iii.v.lix.htm Evagrius Ponticus] from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
*[http://home.versatel.nl/chotki/a_life_of_evagrius_of_pontus.htm A Life of Evagrius of Pontus]
*[http://www.evagrius.net Evagrian Scholarship Center]
*[http://www.ldysinger.com/Evagrius/00a_start.htm St. Evagrius Ponticus]: a collection of many Evagrian works in a Greek/English parallel format
[[Category:Asceticism]]
[[Category:Church Fathers]]
[[Category:Desert Fathers]]
[[Category:Hesychasm]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
 
[[ro:Evagrie Ponticul]]
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