St. Isaac of Nineveh… • Without silence, St. Isaac teaches, the Christian experience remains anemic, without the intense intimacy with God, the repentance, the spiritual calm, or the wonder that should characterize it. Christian life without silence becomes flat and lacks richness.
• Why does inward calm elude us? Perhaps St. Isaac of Syria tells us why. Perhaps it is because we have not cultivated enough silence in our lives.
• “If you pile up on one side of the scales all the rest of spiritual efforts and practices,” St. Isaac tells us, “and on the other — silence, you will find that the latter outweighs them all” (par. 84, p. 206).
Father Theodore Pulcini Word Magazine May 1986, p. 7
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This is the story of four ascetics who chose silence…
• St. Euthymius the Great
• St. Theodosius
• St. Sabas
• St. Sophronius
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Byzantium
Moutalaska/Caesarea Mogarissos /Comana Home of St. Sabas Home of St. Theodosius
Armenia II Cappadocia
Melitene Home of St. Euthymius Persia
Syria
Damascus Mediterranean Sea Home of St. Sophronius
Palestine
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Damascus Jericho Desert of Philadelphia Plain Phasael Mediterranean Sea
Jericho
Capernaum Kursi Jerusalem Tiberius Bethany Desert of Nazareth Mt. Tabor Coutila Kefar Otnai Bethlehem Mar Desert of Caesarea Scythopolis Pella Sabas Machaerus
Sabaste Tekoa Dead Neapolis Sea Joppa Desert of Hebron Capar Philadelphia Jericho Baricha Jerusalem 2 Chron 20 Bethlehem Mar Sabas Desert of Tekoa Rouba Hebron Desert of Maon
Desert of Desert of Moab the Lissan
Desert of Palestine II Arad Judean Desert
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5 The desert fringe…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 6 The desert plateau and escarpment and the Dead Sea…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 7 All three, the hill country, desert plateau and the escarpment…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. St. Euthymius…
Born in Melitene, Armenia in 377. His biography is found in the Lives of the Monks in Palestine composed by Cyril of Schythopolis. He is responsible for the founding of 3 monasteries (the first coenobia) in the Judean desert, they are the monasteries of Theoctistus, Caparbaricha and the laura (lavra) of Euthymius. He mentored both Sabas and Theodosius and represented the ascetics at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 standing firm against the heretics. He was admired by all in the area and he led Saracens (Arabs), nomads and villagers to the faith. He was of short stature, a round face, sharp eyes and a long flowing beard. He reposed on the 20th of January 473 A.D. and his relics remained in the monastery that bore his name.
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Southern Patriarchal Ridge
Capar-baricha
Ma’ale Ziz/Amos Jerusalem Monastery of Theoctistus Bethel
Monastery of Euthymius
Dead Sea Ma’ale Adamah Jericho
Perea Jordan River Monasteries of St. Euthymius…
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10 Euthymius’ Monastery in the middle of industrial park…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 11 Oblique of monastery as it is today
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 12 Plot plan with NW wall and ceramic floors…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 13 Burial crypt below where St. Euthymius was laid…
In the area south of the inn (seen in the top-left corner, and beyond) there are remains of two large gardens. Their total area is 2500 m2, and they were surrounded by low walls. In these gardens the monks grew fruit trees and vegetables. Beyond them, there are scarce remains of some of the hermits' cells which were part of the first stage of the monastery (the Laura, 428-482).
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 14 Passage and stairs that lead to St. Euthymius’ crypt…
The burial crypt with the grave of Euthymius "the Great” the founder of this Monastery. Pilgrims came here to venerate and honor this great monastic.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 15 Water in the desert is essential
One of the major problems in the Judean desert is the lack of water. With only a few rainy days per year, the waters must be collected and stored so they can be used throughout the year. In Euthymius monastery there were four huge reservoirs which supplied the water for the monks, the pilgrims and the gardens. The largest on these cisterns is located east of the monastery walls (as indicated on the plan) Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 16 Water in the desert is essential…
The entrance to the underground structure is from the south side, via a modern staircase. The reservoir is rectangular, 12m x 18m, and is more than 12m deep. Its total capacity is over 3000 m3. Here, too, there are water channels that bring rain water from the rooftops of the Monastery, enter a collecting pool where they are filtered, then flow into the reservoir.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. St. Theodosius the Great… An ascetic born 423 A.D. in Mogarissus, a village in Cappadocia near the infamous pagan center of Comana. His biography is also found in the Lives of the Monks in Palestine by Cyril of Schythopolis. At an early age, he was appointed a Reader in the Church in Comana. He arrived in Jerusalem in 451 and spent 20 yrs. at the Monastery of Cathisma. He became responsible for the coenobetic monks in the Judean desert and in about 479 A.D. founded a monastery named after him and he was known as the coenobiarch. He was a close companion of St. Savas. He reposed in 529 at his monastery at a ripe old age.
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18 Mogarissus – a village close to the “polis” of Comana…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 19 The theater at Comana the Golden
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 20 …Comana was the cult center with great priestly holdings.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 21 Temple to Ma-Enyo, similar to Cyble
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. Southern Patriarchal Ridge
Monastery of Theodosius Ma’ale Ziz/Amos
Monastery of Theoctistus Jerusalem
Monastery of Euthymius Bethel
Ma’ale Adamah
Dead Sea Jericho
Perea Monastery of Gerasimus Jordan River Monastery of St. Theodosius…
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23 His first cell was a natural cave…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 24 Carrying a censor, he was waiting for it to glow…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 25 …East through the desert and
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 26 …all the way to the Dead Sea and back to present location.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 27 Restored, fully functioning and welcoming Pilgrims…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 28 The present-day and restored Monastery of St. Theodosius…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 29 The cenotaph of St. Theodosius over the crypt…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 30 The crypt below where the relics are of St. Theodosius…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. St. Sabas… An ascetic born 439 A.D. in Mutalaska, a village in Cappadocia near its capital Caesarea, the Cathedra of St. Basil the Great. His biography is also found in the Lives of the Monks in Palestine by Cyril of Schythopolis. He was left with an uncle at the age of 5 when his parents were called to Egypt on military business. Because of an abusive situation, he left to live with another uncle at the age of 8. He left for the nearby Flavian Monastery and convinced the Abbot to allow him to enter the monastic life (for the next 10 yrs.). At an early age, he was appointed a Reader in the Church. He was released to go to Jerusalem arriving there in the winter of 456-457 later transferring to the laura (lavra) of Euthymius. During his life, he founded at least 8 monasteries, was a close companion of St. Theodosius and was a most notable spiritual leader in Palestine. He reposed on the 5th Dec. 532 and was buried in the court yard of Mar Saba.
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Hebron
Scholarius Heptastomos New Laura Severianus Tekoa Bethlehem Jerusalem Zannus Jeremias Ma’ale Ziz/Amos Bethel
Great Laura of Mar Sabas Spelaion “the Cave” Marda
Dead Sea Castellion Ma’ale Adamah Jericho
Perea Gerasimus Jordan River Calamon Monasteries of St. Sabas…
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33 From Jerusalem down the Kidron Valley to Mar Sabas…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 34 The Kidron valley deepens as it continues to the Dead Sea…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 35 It meanders miles into the desert until it reaches…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 36 Mar Sabas with it ¼ mile stretch of monastic cells in the cliffs…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. Topo and section of Chapel of Joachim & Anna; St. Sabas 37 “hesychsterion” where he retreated from time to time.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. Elevation of St. Sabas Monastery with the Chapel of Joachim & 38 Anna; St. Sabas “hesychsterion” at the far left (red circle 24).
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 39 A full view of the monastery’s core…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 40 These are the present-day apartments of the Monks…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 41 The Tomb of St. Sabas…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 42 The Relics of St. Sabas…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. St. Sophronius…
Born in Damascus in 560 A.D., Sophronius was well educated and taught rhetoric and philosophy was received by Libanus (acquaintance of St. Basil). Fleeing the oppression of the Persians in the company of John Moscus (who dedicated The Spiritual Meadow to him), he finally returned to Jerusalem and was elevated to Patriarch of Jerusalem. He reposed in 638 A.D. after surrendering to the Muslims.
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Fleeing the Persians John Moschos & Sophronius Hebron sailed for Alexandria
New Laura Euthymias Severianus Tekoa Bethlehem Jerusalem
Ma’ale Ziz/Amos Bethel
Great Laura of Theodosius Mar Sabas Marda Dead Sea Ma’ale Adamah Jericho
Perea Gerasimus Jordan River Calamon The Sojourns of St. Sophronius…
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45 In 580 St. Sophronius entered the Monastery of St. Thodosius…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 46 Wadi Faran, Sinai - Egypt
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 47 Monastery of St. Anthony of Egypt
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. While in Alexandria he visited monasteries, the above ruins are 48 of the Monastery of St. Menas…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. After the Persian retreat, St. Sophronius returned to Jerusalem and was elected 49 Patriarch in 634…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. St. Sophronius composed inumerable “idiomela” & “Antiphons” as well as 50 recorded the “Life of St. Mary of Egypt” that is read during Holy Week.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. In 637 St. Sophronius conceded Jerusalem to Caliph Umar ibn 51 al-Khattab and toured the city giving the keys of the Church… of the Holy Sepulcher to him and he in turn to the Muslim family from Medina who still opens and closes the Church each day.
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. A psychiatrist’s view of our world… • Our society is a glory-seeking, pride-oriented dynamic system, which influences each family to influence each newborn child to predicate his or her self-acceptance on where he or she lands in the self- glorification hierarchy. Simply put, this means that we accept ourselves almost exclusively in terms of achievement and 'success’ as it is measured by money, prestige, power, sexual attractiveness, or youth.“
Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D., Reconciliations: Inner Peace in an Age of Anxiety. New York: Viking 1980
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Still relevant for our day…
• I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd.
Jesus the Christ our Lord The Gospel of John 10:10-11
• And he [Jesus] said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.
Jesus the Christ our Lord The Gospel of Mark 6:31
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54 Leaving the monastery for lent, where can one find the silence…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 55 You may choose to follow St. Euthymius for 40 days…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 56 You may choose to follow St. Sabas for 40 days…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 57 You may choose to follow St. Sophronius for 40 days…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 58 You may choose to follow St. Zossima for 40 days…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 59 You may choose to follow St. Mary of Egypt for 48 years…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 60 But above all, follow Christ to a lonely place with Him…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. …and find rest for your soul and recapture the conversation that 61 we lost in Paradise.
Historical Geography UHL 1082: Presentation 3.1 – Approaches to the CBP & Jerusalem …and finally,
•…“Jesus stood up and proclaimed, ‘If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me as the scripture has said, “Out of his inner most being shall flow rivers of living waters.” Now this he said about the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive…
Jesus the Christ our Lord The Gospel of John 7:37-39
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63 Water comes in season even in the desert…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 64 Water finds its way to flow all year round…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 65 …and living/spring water comes from between layers of rock…
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 66 Don’t be afraid of silence!
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 67 Thank you for coming!
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence. 68 Good evening!
Ascetics in the Judean Desert: Series 1 – Hearing God in the Silence.