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E03327: Palladius of Helenopolis in his Lausiac History recounts the life of *Euagrios of Pontus (ascetic in Egypt, ob. 399, S01418), including his fights with demons. Written in Greek at Aspuna or Ankyra (both Galatia, central Asia Minor), 419/420.
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posted on 2017-07-18, 00:00 authored by erizosPalladius of Helenopolis, Lausiac History (BHG 1435-1438v; CPG 6036), 38
Summary
The chapter of the Lausiac History on Euagrios of Pontus, Palladios’ spiritual father, is one of the longest of the book and can be described as a full vita. Euagrios is the son of a chorepiskopos from Ibora in Pontus (northern Asia Minor). He is ordained reader by Basil of Caesarea, who is called a saint (hagios), and deacon by Gregory of Nazianzus. He follows Gregory to Constantinople, and stays there under his successor, Nektarios, to fight the heresies. When a woman falls in love with him, he has a vision of angels keeping him bound, and takes an oath to become a monk. He leaves for Jerusalem where he lives with Melania the Elder, and has second thoughts about his vocation. He falls ill and eventually confesses his sin to Melania. She makes him promise that he will become a monk, prays over him, and he is healed. He leaves for Nitria and later for Kellia (both in Lower Egypt), where he follows a strict regimen of fasting, vegetarianism, and prayer, for fourteen years. He has the charisma of knowledge about demonic spirits, and publishes three books about them (Antirrhetika). Three demons appear to him in the form of three heretical priests – Arian, Eunomian, Apollinarian. He confronts demons several times. He dies having achieved immunity from carnal desires.
Text: Bartelink et al. 1974. Summary: E. Rizos.
Summary
The chapter of the Lausiac History on Euagrios of Pontus, Palladios’ spiritual father, is one of the longest of the book and can be described as a full vita. Euagrios is the son of a chorepiskopos from Ibora in Pontus (northern Asia Minor). He is ordained reader by Basil of Caesarea, who is called a saint (hagios), and deacon by Gregory of Nazianzus. He follows Gregory to Constantinople, and stays there under his successor, Nektarios, to fight the heresies. When a woman falls in love with him, he has a vision of angels keeping him bound, and takes an oath to become a monk. He leaves for Jerusalem where he lives with Melania the Elder, and has second thoughts about his vocation. He falls ill and eventually confesses his sin to Melania. She makes him promise that he will become a monk, prays over him, and he is healed. He leaves for Nitria and later for Kellia (both in Lower Egypt), where he follows a strict regimen of fasting, vegetarianism, and prayer, for fourteen years. He has the charisma of knowledge about demonic spirits, and publishes three books about them (Antirrhetika). Three demons appear to him in the form of three heretical priests – Arian, Eunomian, Apollinarian. He confronts demons several times. He dies having achieved immunity from carnal desires.
Text: Bartelink et al. 1974. Summary: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E03327Saint Name
Euagrios of Pontus, ascetic in Egypt, 345-399 : S01418Saint Name in Source
ΕὐάγριοςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Monastic collections (apophthegmata, etc.)Language
- Greek
