Social and Spiritual Intercession in the Fourth Century Monastic Archives of Late Antique Egypt Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

This dissertation examines the practice of social and spiritual mediation by Christian monks in late antique Egypt. In order to understand the origins of this practice, the investigation focuses on the documentary and literary evidence from the fourth century. This includes a heavy emphasis on the letters written to Christian monks that are preserved on Egyptian papyrus, as well as the hagiographic narratives written about these monks during the same time period. In an effort to provide a synthetic portrait of the thought and activity that comprised this monastic discipline, this study examines each of the five surviving monastic archives from fourth century Egypt. Within this structure, the inquiry centers upon on one particular fourth-century monastic archive, the Apa Iohannes Archive, which preserves a unique preponderance of petitions for social and spiritual intercession. The investigation adds historical support to the identification of Apa Iohannes with the famous John Lycopolis by analyzing his letters within the context of the five monastic papyrus archives that survive from the same time period. After devoting roughly one chapter to a thorough analysis of each archive, the study concludes by considering the historical influence of this monk’s ministry of mediation before God and humankind, as presented in the papyri and in the literary sources. 

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter One: Monastic Mediation in the Apa Paieous Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16

Chapter Two: Monastic Mediation in the Nepheros Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72

Chapter Three: Monastic Mediation in the Apa Papnouthios and Sansnos Archives . . . . . . . . 117

Chapter Four: Monastic Mediation in the Apa Iohannes Archive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	History
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	History, General Language, Ancient Religion, History of
Palabra Clave	Apa Iohannes Early Christian Monasticism Nepheros Papyrology Hagiography Ancient History Apa John John of Lycopolis Apa Paieous Apa Papnouthios Late Antiquity Late-Antique Egypt Apa Sansnos
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Judith Evans Grubbs, Emory University
Committee Members	Kevin Corrigan, Emory University Anthony Briggman, Emory University

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