The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Evagrius Ponticus
345 – 399 · Monk of the Cells · Theologian of the spiritual life · Pontus → Constantinople → Kellia
The Nicene Age
Who Evagrius Ponticus was
A brilliant deacon ordained by Gregory of Nazianzus and a star of Constantinople society, who fled a dangerous love affair to the desert and became the great intellectual of Egyptian monasticism — codifying its psychology in works on prayer and the eight “evil thoughts” (logismoi) that Cassian would carry west as the root of the seven deadly sins. His Praktikos and Chapters on Prayer are the first systematic mystical theology of the monastic life. Because he transmitted Origen’s speculation, parts of his teaching were later condemned, and much survives only in Syriac and Armenian — yet his analysis of the passions shaped all subsequent Christian spirituality, East and West.
Also listed in desert fathers & mothers.
Common questions
When did Evagrius Ponticus live?
Evagrius Ponticus is dated 345 – 399 in the archive, which places Evagrius Ponticus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
What did Evagrius Ponticus write?
Evagrius Ponticus has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Praktikos (On the Monastic Life).
Which early sources mention Evagrius Ponticus?
Evagrius Ponticus is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Palladius, Socrates Scholasticus, The desert tradition and Gennadius of Marseilles. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Evagrius Ponticus from?
The archive associates Evagrius Ponticus with Pontus, Constantinople, Kellia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
The Praktikos (On the Monastic Life)
c. 390Prayer is the ascent of the mind to God… If you are a theologian, you will pray truly; and if you pray truly, you are a theologian.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (4)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Lausiac History 38
c. AD 420Evagrius… became a most skilful discerner of thoughts and of the passions, and wrote three books for monks… He attained such grace in impassibility that he was reckoned among the great fathers.Palladius · 38 · source text
Ecclesiastical History IV.23 (the long notice of the philosopher-monk)
c. AD 440Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Evagrius)
c. AD 450Gennadius, On Illustrious Men 11 (catalogued — and translated — by Gennadius himself)
c. AD 480Connected in the archive
People
- Gregory of Nazianzus
- Macarius of Alexandria
- Macarius the Great (of Egypt)
- Amun of Nitria
- Abba Pachon
- Innocent of the Mount of Olives
- John of Lycopolis
- Ammonius the Tall
Events in this lifetime
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
- AD 381 · The Council of Aquileia, AD 381
- AD 384 · The Altar of Victory petition, AD 384
- AD 390 · Thessalonica and the penance of Theodosius, AD 390
- AD 397 · Carthage confirms the canon, AD 397
Place
Places served
The 3 places the sources put Evagrius Ponticus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.
- 1Pontusprovince only
- 2Constantinople
- 3Kellia