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Start Date
17-9-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
17-9-2025 1:45 PM
Keywords
soul, evagrius, basil, gregory of nyssa, spiritual, body, monasticism, psychotherapy, athanasius
Description
Amid persecution, paganism, heresies and the first two ecumenical councils, there was also the rise of fervent monasticism. We know and study the writings of the Irenaeus, Athanasius, Cappadocian Fathers and their battles with heretics, especially Arianism. But we learn very little about the simultaneous great movement of monasticism and the writings of the Desert Fathers. Evagrius of Ponticus (345-399) is the least known of the Cappadocian “Rat Pack” (Basil the Great, his brother Gregory of Nyssa and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus), yet he became known as the Father of Psychotherapy. His monastic writings have given the church a rich history of the therapeutic science which focuses on hesychastic (stillness), neptic (vigilance) and philokalic (prayer focusing on love of the beautiful) facets of the contemplative tradition. This is especially true in the eastern church. All of this is intimately and intentionally connected to Baptism and the Eucharistic life of the church. The teachings, techniques and biblical principles found in these writings are vital tools given to the church and especially pastors as Seelsorgers to combat the sinful passions and acedia (soul-sickness, despondency) that plagues our culture and churches today.
Submission Type
Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep
Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)
Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Ephesians 4:17; Colossians 2:18;
Submission Audience
Laity; Ministers; Scholars
Submission Cost
Free
The Labor Pains of Nicaea and the Birth of Christian Psychotherapy
Amid persecution, paganism, heresies and the first two ecumenical councils, there was also the rise of fervent monasticism. We know and study the writings of the Irenaeus, Athanasius, Cappadocian Fathers and their battles with heretics, especially Arianism. But we learn very little about the simultaneous great movement of monasticism and the writings of the Desert Fathers. Evagrius of Ponticus (345-399) is the least known of the Cappadocian “Rat Pack” (Basil the Great, his brother Gregory of Nyssa and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus), yet he became known as the Father of Psychotherapy. His monastic writings have given the church a rich history of the therapeutic science which focuses on hesychastic (stillness), neptic (vigilance) and philokalic (prayer focusing on love of the beautiful) facets of the contemplative tradition. This is especially true in the eastern church. All of this is intimately and intentionally connected to Baptism and the Eucharistic life of the church. The teachings, techniques and biblical principles found in these writings are vital tools given to the church and especially pastors as Seelsorgers to combat the sinful passions and acedia (soul-sickness, despondency) that plagues our culture and churches today.
