An imperative of longing : apprehending God in the "Kephalaia gnoÌstika r" of Diadochos of Photike
The Kephalaia gnoÌstika rhas been very influential in the history of Orthodox monasticism, not least because it is the earliest detailed articulation of the practise of using the monologic prayer 'Lord Jesus' to achieve interior stillness and so be able to contemplate God without distraction. It is however a work of technical density and grammatical subtlety, and details of the precise theology of prayer which it contains have never been grasped with precision. What is clear is that it utilises, repeatedly and apparently with specific intent, terminology of the ascetical traditions associated with Evagrios Monachos on the one hand, and pseudo-Makarios on the other. These two traditions are usually characterised as that of the 'intellect' and that of the 'heart' respectively. It has always been assumed that in adopting both sorts of terminology Diadochos was attempting to synthesise the best of each without any heretical associations. Modern scholarship has been interested to determine the nature and extentof Diadochos's dependence on each tradition. This dissertation argues that before this question can be resolved the precise theological content of the Kephalaia gnoÌstika r must be clarified by undertaking
Rutherford, Janet Elaine
Orthodox monasticism
An imperative of longing : apprehending God in the "Kephalaia gnoÌstika r" of Diadochos of Photike. The Kephalaia gnoÌstika rhas been very influential in the history of Orthodox monasticism, not least because it is the earliest detailed articulation of the practise of using the monologic prayer 'Lord Jesus' to achieve interior stillness and so be able to contemplate God without distraction. It is however a work of technical density and grammatical subtlety, and details of the precise theology of prayer which it contains have never been grasped with precision. What is clear is that it utilises, repeatedly and apparently with specific intent, terminology of the ascetical traditions associated with Evagrios Monachos on the one hand, and pseudo-Makarios on the other. These two traditions are usually characterised as that of the 'intellect' and that of the 'heart' respectively. It has always been assumed that in adopting both sorts of terminology Diadochos was attempting to synthesise the best of each without any heretical associations. Modern scholarship has been interested to determine the nature and extentof Diadochos's dependence on each tradition. This dissertation argues that before this question can be resolved the precise theological content of the Kephalaia gnoÌstika r must be clarified by undertaking
imperative god influential history orthodox monasticism least early detailed articulation practise use monologic prayer lord jesus achieve interior able contemplate god without however work technical density grammatical subtlety detail precise theology prayer contain never grasp precision clear utilises repeatedly apparently specific intent terminology tradition associate one_hand pseudo other tradition usually characterise intellect heart respectively always assume adopt sort terminology attempt synthesise best without heretical association modern_scholarship interested determine_nature dependence tradition argues question resolve precise theological content must clarify undertaking