The Letters of Barsanuphius and John: Desert Wisdom for Everyday Life

by John Chryssavgis

Overview

Revealing unexpected truths about early desert spirituality, this volume argues that the lives of Barsanuphius and John relate closely to contemporary urban communities and how clergy tackle social challenges. The early Desert Fathers and Mothers have exercised a particular charm and appeal in recent years, but they have often been portrayed as inaccessible and eccentric figures in the history of monastic spirituality.

John Chryssavgis argues that the elders have an unusual capacity to reach into the depths of the heart to reveal the extraordinary in the very ordinary, and that the correspondence between Barsanuphius and John offers an unparalleled glimpse into the sixth-century religious, political, and secular world. It opens with an exploration into the historical context of Palestinian monasticism, followed by an evaluation of the fundamental principles and practices of Barsanuphius and John.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567704856
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/30/2022
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

John Chryssavgis is Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and theological advisor to the “green patriarch” Bartholomew. He studied in Athens and Oxford, and taught in Sydney and Boston. He lives in Harpswell, Maine, USA.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Kallistos Ware, Metropolitan of Diokleia
Introduction

PART ONE: THE DESERT BLOSSOMS:
Setting the Scene
1. Monasticism in Egypt and Palestine
A Historical Framework
2. Luminaries of Gaza
Prominent Personalities and Identities
3. Fundamental Concepts and Principles
Looking Through a Window Frame

PART TWO: THE DESERT BECKONS:
Sitting by the Cell
4. Spiritual Direction
Two Extraordinary Models
5. Fasting and Feasting:
Sustained by God in the Wilderness
6. Mourning and Tears:
The Way of Brokenness and Imperfection
7. Discernment and Compassion:
The Way of Awareness and Authenticity
8. Solitude, Silence, and Stillness
Echoes from the Barren Desert

Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The spiritual letters of Barsanuphius and John, two sixth century ascetics from the Gaza Strip, are extraordinary documents. They open a window into the heart of Early Christian monasticism. The exchange of question and answer touches on the hopes, fears and temptations of all kinds (even the most banal), experienced by every kind of persons—monks and laity alike. Here are the rugged rocks in which the honey drops of Desert Wisdom were distilled. John Chryssavgis does full justice to these unique letters of advice. Two wise and loving Christians speak from his pages. And as they do, the icy modern image of the monk as an exalted authority figure melts away to reveal a tenderness and a skill in one-to-one spiritual counsel that lifts the heart, even at distance of fifteen hundred years." - Peter Brown, Emeritus Professor of History Princeton University, USA


"John Chryssavgis has translated into English the vast correspondence of Barsanuphius and John, and so he writes in this book from an exact knowledge of their teaching. He is in deep sympathy with their spiritual outlook. While placing the two Old Men in their historical context, he shows also the timeless quality of their answers. As Chryssavgis rightly points out, their counsel is not “scripted or prescriptive,” but consistently situational, involved, and full of loving tenderness. I am particularly moved by the way he associates solitary contemplation with social consciousness. The message of these elders, as the author presents it, is both simple and yet full of hope" - Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Oxford, UK


"An insightful, encouraging, and challenging book! Dare one call a book these days “inspiring?” Indeed, yes. In this volume the Spirit is alive and well. Monasticism, early, medieval, modern, still has plenty to say to us today, but not only say—show rather than tell, live out in love rather than prescribe, teach embodied rather than lecture from a distant podium or pulpit. There is so much here! Barsanuphius and John guide us in the ways of true community, communion that offers transformation." - Tim Vivian, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies California State University (Bakersfield), USA

From the Publisher