Philosophical and Christian asceticism: Differences and Similarities between the Stoics and Evagrius Ponticus

Ioannis Kaminis, Dr.

Sofia University "St. Kiiment Ohridski"

23 March 2021, 5 PM

ZOOM https://zoom.us/j/93415907103

        Meeting ID  93415907103

Asceticism is characterized by abstinence, self-control, and self-denial with the goal of connecting with God or attaining a higher form of virtue (ἀρετή). Various ascetic practices were practiced by pagans and Christians during the Late Antiquity. During that era, many people chose to abstain from food, drink, sexual intercourse, sleep, and wealth in order to transform their attitude toward the world or to connect with a higher metaphysical order. The aim of the present study is to examine how the philosophical asceticism of the Stoics influenced the thought of a famous representative of Christian asceticism, Evagrius of Ponticus, and how philosophical education continued to exist in a different form in Christianity.

You can watch the lecture in Youtube Philisophical and Christian asceticism