Description
Book SynopsisPachomius, who died in 346, has long been regarded as the founder of monasticism. This reading of the available texts, first published in 1985, reveals that Pachomius's pioneering enterprise has been consistently misread in light of later monastic practices.
Trade Review"Masterful control of the sources and sympathy for the subject. . . . Pachomius has the additional interest of dealing with a classic instance of biographical and other material originally compiled rom oral tradition, with all the fascination and uncertainty that this brings to the interpretation of the story." * Times Literary Supplement *
"An impressive and readable study, well argued and admirably documented." * Journal of Theological Studies *
"[Rosseau] has made Pachomius a more understandable historical figure and has shown the uniqueness of the way of life he struggled to define." * American Historical Review *
"This very readable and well-documented work provides a needed corrective to the superficial treatment of Pachomius found in many monastic histories." * Church History *
