A Abraham, 55, 111 abstinence, 63, 94, 96, 192 n.27; moderation in, 98–100 acedia, 98, 100, 132, 149 Adam, 3. See also Life of Adam and Eve Ambrose, Bishop, 78 Ammonius, 18 Amundsen, Darrel W., 33–34 Andrew of Thavatha, 13–14, 139–40, 142, 170, 210 n.72; conflict with fellow monks, 158–63; illnesses of, 145–57, 163–65, 211 n.103 Antonius, 87 Antony, 1, 48–58, 115, 167; attempts to emulate, 104, 106; contrasted with Pachomius, 121; contrasted with Paul, 68–71; demons and, 99; described as feeble, 135–36; Eulogius and, 159; extreme asceticism of, 60–66, 100; good health of, 64–66, 110, 117; longevity of, 134; Origenist theology of, 48–49, 51; sayings of, 27; theology of illness, 51–54, 56–58. See also Letters of Antony; Life of Antony apatheia, 150, 152, 210 n.73 Apocryphon of James, 15 Apophthegmata patrum, 6, 51, 85, 102, 105. See also Sayings of the Desert Fathers Aristides, Aelius, 88 asceticism, 23–24, 156–57; of Antony, 60–64; Basil on, 94–95; definition of, 153; demons and, 103–6; excessive asceticism leading to illness, 86, 93, 95–100, 102–6, 118–19, 121–22, 124, 168–70; extraordinary health of ascetics, 4, 13, 37–41, 59–70, 76–80, 101, 111, 154, 167–68, 194 n.83, 202, 882; goal of, 152; illness and, 1–2, 5, 13, 24, 27–30, 35, 81, 156, 164; illness as ascetic practice, 24–28, 88, 101–2, 106–8, 117, 120, 140, 155, 170; martyrdom and, 111; medical view of, 63; of Pachomius, 112, 121–24, 131–32; spiritual direction and, 138; in Syncletica's teachings, 103–6; utility of illness in, 18, 21, 28–29, 92, 102 ascetic pendulum, 23–24, 39 Asella, 81–82, 84 Athanasius of Alexandria, 101; as author of Life of Antony, 1, 8–10, 13, 38, 59–67, 71; as author of Life of Syncletica, 10 athumia, 151, 209 n.67 Augustine of Hippo, 78 Avalos, Hector, 33

B Bacht, Henrich, 110 Barash, David, 29 Barsanuphius of Thavatha, 13–14, 28, 139; correspondence with Andrew, 145–65; good health of, 154–55; life of, 141–42. See also Letters of Barsanuphius and John Basil of Caesarea, 10–11, 13, 87–96, 102, 105–7, 132, 167–68; as spiritual director, 138 Benjamin, 16–19, 21, 31, 82 Bitton-Ashkelony, Brouria, 141 Blesilla, 81–85, 107 Brakke, David, 8, 101 Brown, Peter, 40, 110 Burrows, Mark, 110 Burrus, Virginia, 18 Burton, Robert, 171

C Cassian, John, 11, 20–23, 79, 93 Chadwick, Henry, 110 Chrysostom, John, 19–23, 31, 79, 93 Cicero, 140 Cioran, E. M., 1–2, 5, 29 Clark, Gillian, 40 Clement of Alexandria, 50 Climacus, John. See John Climacus Cobb, Stephanie, 115 Copres, 38–39 Correspondence of Barsanuphius and John. See Letters of Barsanuphius and John Council of Chalcedon, 141 Council of Gangra, 93–94 cross/resurrection model, 31–32 cultural meanings, 2–3, 44 cultural models, 30–32, 34, 147–49, 151, 184 n.72, 185 n.89 cultural mythology, 143–44

D Daniel, 100 David, King, 129 demonic illness, 34, 52, 103–6, 121, 131–32, 148–49, 151–53, 184 n.67; extreme asceticism and, 99–100; in Origenist theology, 49 demonic thoughts, 121, 149, 154–55, 161–62, 168 Desert Fathers, 84, 96, 168 Didymus the Blind, 151 Dioscorus, 16 disability, 4, 32, 176 n.17, 192 n.80. See also illness disease. See illness Donne, John, 171 Dorotheus of Gaza, 11, 26, 85, 87, 139 Dow, James, 143 Drijvers, H. J. W., 4 dropsy, 16–17

E Eliot, Alison Goddard, 68 Ephrem, 6 epilepsy, 31, 184 n.75 Eulogius, 159 Eustathius of Sebaste, 93–94 Evagrian spirituality, 148, 161, 210 n.74 Evagrius of Pontus, 10–11, 13, 16, 18, 88, 96–100, 103–4, 150–51; condemnation of extreme asceticism, 106, 199 n.98; sickness of, 199 n.85; as spiritual director, 138 Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord (Papias), 16–17

F Ferngren, Gary B., 33–34 Foucault, Michael, 22 France, Anatole, 1–2, 5, 16–17, 175 n.1 Frank, Arthur, 29

G Garrett, Susan, 31–32, 148 Gazan monasticism, 141–42 Genesis, 3, 76 Good, Byron, 25–27, 29 Gorovitz, Samuel, 27 Great Coptic Life of Pachomius, 7–8, 13, 109–37, 168; Antony in, 135–36; apologetics in, 132– 36; contrasted with Greek Vita Prima, 113–14, 117–19, 125, 128, 137, 203 n.44; illness in, 110, 113–14, 116–22, 124–34, 136–37; translation of, 201 n.7. See also Pachomius Great Old Men. See Barsanuphius and John of Thavatha great wound, 51–53, 66 Greek Vita Prima, 8, 113–14, 117–19, 125, 128, 137; demonic illness in, 131–32; translation of, 201 n.7. See also Great Coptic Life of Pachomius; Pachomius Gregory of Nazianzus, 21

H Hadot, Pierre, 22, 28, 108 Harnack, Adolf, 4 Harpham, Geoffrey Halt, 2, 5 Harvey, Susan Ashbrook, 25 Hathor monastery, 7, 12, 40–44, 45, 56, 170, 177 n.38–45 health: exceptional health of ascetics, 4, 13, 37–41, 59–70, 76–80, 82, 101, 111, 154, 167–68, 194 n.83, 202 n.83 Hilarion, 141 Historia religiosa (Theodoret), 14. See also History of the Monks of Syria History of the Monks of Egypt (Paphnutius), 10, 36–41, 57–58, 67, 79; contrasted with Great Coptic Life, 119–20; longevity in, 134 History of the Monks of Syria (Theodoret), 86. See also Historia religiosa Homily on the Statues (Chrysostom), 19–20 Horsiese, 8, 125

I Iamblichus, 65 Ignatius of Antioch, 50 Iliad, 22 illness, 23–35, 167; ambiguous meanings of, 12, 19–21, 84; Antony's theology of, 51–54, 56–58; asceticism and, 1–2, 5, 13, 24, 27–30, 35, 81, 156, 164–65; as ascetic practice, 24–28, 88, 101–2, 106–8, 117, 120, 140, 155, 170; Basil on, 88–96; caused by demons, 34, 102–6, 121, 131–32, 148–49, 151–53, 184 n.67; "choosing" of, 85–87, 93–96, 100–103, 107–8; Christianity and, 4–5; cultural meanings and, 2–3; as effect of humanity's fall, 89–91; in Great Coptic Life, 110, 113–14, 116–22, 124–34, 136–37; healing of, 143–44; of holy people, 15–21, 23, 73, 93, 116–19, 132–34, 167; in Letters of Pachomius, 44–48; making meaning of, 30–35; martyrdom and, 5, 125–27, 137; meaning and function of, 23–24, 144–57; in monastic correspondence, 41–44, 56, 139, 145–65; mortality and, 43; of Pachomius, 120–22, 124–32, 134–37; patient suffering of, 159; as punishment from god, 3, 12, 32–33, 35, 90, 107, 171; as result of excessive asceticism, 86, 93, 95–100, 102–6, 118–19, 121–22, 124, 168–70; self-control and, 29, 35, 90–91, 93, 168, 171; social discord and, 145, 158–64; as spiritual exercise, 140, 146; of Syncletica, 103–6; as test, 147–48; time perspectives and, 26–27; usefulness in ascetic practice, 18, 21, 28–29, 92, 102; as visionary transcendence, 126–27, 137; as withdrawal, 24–26, 28; wounds as, 182 n.26 Isaiah of Scetis, 141, 150, 167

J Jacob of Cyrrhestica, 169–70 Jacob of Serug, 2 James, Henry, 1 Jerome, 107, 192 n.41; as author of Life of Paul of Thebes, 9, 12–13, 38, 60, 67–71, 103, 168; Letters of, 81–84 Jesus Christ, 32, 34, 47; as physician, 50–51, 53–55, 57, 74, 163 Job, 31, 33, 93, 147–48, 185 n.89 John Chrysostom. See Chrysostom, John John Climacus, 11 John of Lycopolis, 38 John of Thavatha, 158, 162. See also Barsanuphius of Thavatha; Letters of Barsanuphius and John John the Baptist, 100, 104 Joseph of Thebes, 28, 84–85, 87, 96, 107–8, 155, 157 Judas Iscariot, 16–17

K Kleinman, Arthur, 2–3, 22, 30, 143, 147 Kofsky, Aryeh, 141 Koinonia, 119, 129 Kuefler, Mathew, 116

L Lausiac History (Palladius), 10, 15–19, 85–86, 96–98, 159 Lazarus, 21, 93 leprosy, 83, 86, 195 n.17 Letters of Antony, 8, 12–13, 40–41, 48–58, 66, 150; authenticity of, 178 n.39; demons in, 153; Origenist influence in, 99. See also Antony Letters of Barsanuphius and John, 11, 13–14, 138–40, 144–65, 168, 206 n.4; as illness narrative, 144. See also Barsanuphius and John of Thavatha Letters of Jerome, 81–84 Letters of Pachomius, 7, 12, 40, 44–48, 56–58. See also Pachomius Life and Regimen of the Blessed and Holy Teacher Syncletica (Athanasius), 10, 13, 100–106, 115, 157. See also Syncletica Life of Adam and Eve, 3, 24, 37, 89 Life of Antony (Athanasius), 1, 8–9, 12–13, 59–66, 78–79, 136, 168; demons in, 99; emulation of saints and, 86; skepticism in, 38; texts influenced by, 67–78, 101, 109–10, 137, 168. See also Antony Life of Hilarion (Jerome), 70 Life of Onnophrius (Paphnutius), 9, 12–13, 60, 67, 71–79, 168, 193 n.54. See also Onnophrius Life of Pachomius. See Great Coptic Life of Pachomius; Pachomius Life of Paul of Thebes (Jerome), 9, 12–13, 38, 60, 67–71, 103, 168. See also Paul of Thebes Life of Pythagoras, 65 Life of Simeon (Antonius), 87. See also Simeon the Stylite Longer Rules (Basil), 10, 91–92, 96, 102, 106 longevity of ascetics, 38–39, 65, 67–71, 79, 111, 134, 168, 213 n.92

M Macarius the Alexandrian, 85–87 Macarius the Egyptian, 98 malaria, 128, 205 n.77 Malina, Bruce, 27 Marcella, 81 Martyr, Justin, 49 martyrdom, 5, 111, 115–16, 125–27, 130, 137 masculinity, 115–16 master-disciple relationship, 160–64 master narratives, 30, 32, 34, 71, 147, 184 n.72 Maximus Confessor, 11 medical Christology, 50–51, 53–54, 57 Melitian church, 7, 44–45 Miller, Patricia Cox, 39 monastic sickness, 42, 44–48, 56–57, 66. See also illness Moses, 53, 65, 111 mythic narratives, 143–44

N Nepheros, 40–44

O Onnophrius, 74–77. See also Life of Onnophrius On the Pythagorean Way of Life (Iamblichus), 65 On Virginity (Pseudo-Athanasius), 62 Origenist theology, 13, 48–51, 57, 99, 150–51; of Jerome, 83

P Pachomius, 7–8, 40, 109–37; asceticism of, 112, 121–24, 131–32; death of, 130–31, 134–35; early life of, 111–14; Great Coptic Life as biography, 109–10; as healer, 120; illnesses of, 120–22, 124–32, 134–37; Letters of, 44–48, 56–58; martyrdom of, 115, 125–27, 130; near-death experiences of, 126–27, 137, 204 n.71; Palamon and, 116–19; poor health of, 110, 114–16, 131. See also Great Coptic Life of Pachomius; Letters of Pachomius paideia, 31, 148 Paieous, 41–44 Palamon, 112, 116–19, 121, 123–24, 132, 147 Palladius of Helenopolis, 10, 22–23, 38, 79, 182 n.19; as author of Lausiac History, 15–19, 85– 86; Evagrius and, 96–98 Paphnouti, 129 Paphnutius Cephalas, 40–44; as author of Life of Onnophrius, 9, 12–13, 60, 67, 71–79, 168 Papias, 16–17 Paul, Apostle, 20, 31–32, 118, 127, 147–48, 155–56 Paul of Concordia, 69–70 Paul of Thebes, 78, 134. See also Life of Paul of Thebes Petronius, 8, 125, 130 plague, 3, 22, 112–14, 128, 133, 209 n.67; death of Pachomius by, 110, 116, 137 Plutarch, 63 Ponticianus, 78 Porphyry, 65 psychic healing, 4, 50, 150 psychological care, 140

R R Regnault, Lucien, 156 Religious History (Theodoret), 10, 169–70. See also Historia religiosa; History of the Monks of Syria Rosenwein, Barbara, 19, 44 Rousseau, Philip, 89, 110, 116 Rubenson, Samuel, 8–9 Rules of Basil. See Longer Rules; Shorter Rules

S Sayings of the Desert Fathers, 28, 140–41, 146, 164–65. See also Apophthegmata patrum Scarry, Elaine, 3 Schultz, Alfred, 25–26 self-control, 63, 96, 103, 107; illness and, 29, 35, 90–91, 93, 168, 171 self-mortification, 24–28, 82, 169; condemnation of excessive, 96, 105; illness as, 5, 85–86 Seridus, 142 Shaw, Teresa, 3 Shenoute of Atripe, 6, 134, 141, 205 n.92 Shorter Rules (Basil), 10, 95–96 Simeon the Stylite, 86–87, 115, 132, 169 Simon of Taibutheh, 6, 98 Sontag, Susan, 28, 39, 86 Sophocles, 22 spiritual direction, 138, 140, 145, 165, 168, 206 n.1 spiritual exercises, 28, 108 Stephen, St., 17–19, 31 Stoicism, 21, 91, 148, 152; natural science of, 60–61 symbolic healing, 142–44, 145–52; interpersonal relations and, 158 Syncletica, 100–108, 115, 132, 138, 155, 168; contrasted with Pachomius, 121; on illness, 28, 200 n.110. See also Life and Regimen of the Blessed and Holy Teacher Syncletica Syriaic literature, 6

T Tears and Saints (Cioran), 2 Temkin, Owsei, 63 Thaïs (France), 1–2 That God is Not the Cause of Evil (Basil), 89, 91 Thavatha monastery, 11, 141–42, 150; master-disciple relationship in, 160–64 Theodore, 8, 122–23, 125, 130 Theodore of Pherme, 164 Theodoret of Cyrrhus, 10, 14, 86, 98, 169–70 Theophilus, 141 Timothy (monk), 20, 72–80

V vainglory, 20, 54, 95–96, 125, 154, 210 n.74 Valantasis, Richard, 27–28, 86, 153 Veilleux, Armand, 7–8, 117 venereal disease, 17–18 visionary journeys, 126–27, 137 Vivian, Tim, 9, 76

W Wilson, Edmund, 1

Y Yanney, Rodolph, 128