Punishment in Late Antique Egyptian Monasticism: The cases of the Koinonia and the White Monastery

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

Abstract

This thesis examines the concept and practice of punishment in Late Antique Egyptian monasticism focusing on the evidence from two of the greatest monastic communities of the period: Pachomius’ Koinonia and Shenoute’s White Monastery. By utilising the evidence from the primary sources of the two communities and comparing it to other sources, like the Apophthegmata Patrum I intend to show the reasons behind punishing monks. I will also explore the ideology of monastic punishment and its actual practice, and how it relates to the ideology, while pointing out the similarities and the differences between the two communities. At the same time, a map of the disciplinary process is created by closely investigating each type of punishment separately. Disciplining monks commenced with admonitions, didactic moments during which a member of the hierarchy would teach the simple monk and explain what they did wrong in order to avoid similar future episodes. The following steps include rebukes, the first type of punishment with practical implications on the transgressor. A commonly used punishment was cursing a monk, utilised in various scenarios, which despite being dismissed by modern scholars, as impractical, had serious implications for the monk. Separation and fasting were imposed once the offender could not be disciplined and kept offending, along with instances of corporal punishment. Then, I present the only two punishments that altered the status of an individual: demotion and expulsion. Modern scholarship has portrayed Pachomius as a leader who cared about promoting ideals such as “peace and concord”, whereas Shenoute is viewed as an authoritarian figure, obsessed with spiritual purity and control over his subjects. My argument is that both communities despite their differences were interested in the same goals and followed similar procedures to achieve them. With the demonstration of the evidence from the Shenoutean corpus, I will showcase how the leader of the White Monastery was not hungry for control and power but rather cared to lead his congregation to salvation, the ultimate monastic goal. Punishment, in both communities, had in mind the ascetic ideal and the struggle for salvation. Through my thesis I aim to shed light on wider attitudes towards punishment in Late Antiquity and show how the examples of the Koinonia and the White Monastery can reshape to a certain extent our attitude towards offenders in our modern society.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationPh.D.
Awarding Institution
  • Royal Holloway, University of London
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Gwynn, David, Supervisor
Publication statusUnpublished - 22 Jan 2025

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