Evagrius Ponticus: Life, Works, and Legacy; Thought
Almost nothing is known about Evagrius Ponticus’s childhood. A devout Christian, he was appointed lector and then deacon in Constantinople. He chose, however, to embrace the monastic life and left behind a considerable body of work that served as the foundation for the ideas of John Cassian in particular, but also had a major influence on Rufinus of Aquileia and others…
Biography of Evagrius Ponticus
A native of Pontus, a region in northeastern Turkey on the Black Sea coast, Evagrius was born around 346 into a Christian family; his father was a chorepiscopus, that is, an assistant to the bishop in the countryside. Evagrius received an excellent education, possibly at the monastery founded byBasil of Caesarea and his brother Gregory of Nyssa. Basil then appointed him a lector, and Evagrius distinguished himself through his oratorical skills and brilliant intellect, particularly catching the attention of Gregory of Nazianzus, who ordained him a deacon and took him to Constantinople, where Gregory served as bishop.
Evagrius proved to be a brilliant orator and skillfully navigated the theological and philosophical controversies raging at that time. A man of the world, he moved in Constantinople’s high society until he fell deeply in love. Then, in a dream, he was warned that he must break away from that life and devote himself to the religious life. This was the answer he had been waiting for to the many questions that had been haunting his mind for some time.
He then left Constantinople for a monastery in Jerusalem where Rufinus of Aquileia and Melania the Elder were staying. But he was quickly drawn back into worldly life and subsequently fell ill. He confided in Melania, who assured him of her prayers and gradually advised him to adopt a solitary way of life, in accordance with the true inclinations of his heart. Evagrius then recovered and set out for Egypt, where he joined other Desert Fathers at the age of about 35. He first settled in the Nitrian Desert, where he became a disciple of Macarius the Great. Then he ventured further into the Desert of the Cells to lead a solitary life there. He lived there until his death at the age of 53. It was there that he wrote the bulk of his work. He quickly gained recognition for his scholarship and eloquence, and a small group of followers gradually gathered around him. He died in 399, shortly before theological disputes broke out between the followers of Origen—of whom Evagrius was one—and the “anthropomorphites,” supported by the bishop of Alexandria. The bishop then expelled the followers of Origen and Evagrius—including John Cassian—from the desert.
Works and Legacy
Because of this dispute and those that followed—in which Evagrius’s name was viewed as unfavorably as that of Origen—the works of Evagrius Ponticus were sometimes attributed to other authors or published under pseudonyms.
The bulk of his work consists of spiritual counsel intended for neophytes and monks. Notable works include the Treatise on Prayer, the Gnostic Treatise, the Treatise on Meditation, and the Antirrhetic. He also wrote biblical commentaries, such as the Scholia on Proverbs and the Scholia on Ecclesiastes. Also worth mentioning are The Active Life, a work intended for beginners, and The Contemplative Life for monks. He also maintained an extensive correspondence, notably including letters to Rufinus and Melania the Elder, as well as some written to Basil of Caesarea.
The legacy of his thought was preserved primarily by John Cassian, who drew upon his work to inform, in particular, his Conferences, which enjoyed immense success. His work exerted a profound influence on the development of Christian asceticism, more so in the East than in the West. Evagrius Ponticus is, moreover, recognized as a saint by the Syriac Orthodox Church, but not by the other Churches. We may also mention Maximus the Confessor, a Doctor of the Church, who drew heavily on the work of Evagrius Ponticus.
Theological Thought of Evagrius Ponticus
Deeply inspired by Origen, Evagrius strove throughout his work to link intellect and wisdom, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge. His writings reflect an authentic spiritual experience, with all that it entails: struggle, prayer, joy, perseverance, and an awareness of his own wretchedness.
He emphasizes the importance of healing the passions, which hinder our relationship with God, as well as with ourselves and those around us. He was the first to identify eight principal harmful thoughts: lust, gluttony, vainglory, sadness, anger, avarice, acedia, and pride. It was Gregory the Great who would later call them“deadly sins” after removing one from the list. He describes in particular how the harmful thoughts mentioned above can become obsessive during prayer and thus diminish its quality. He therefore advises practicing greater vigilance over one’s own thoughts: “Be the gatekeeper of your heart and do not let any thought enter without questioning it. Question each thought and ask it: ‘Are you one of us, or are you one of our adversaries?’” He emphasizes the importance of analyzing one’s thoughts and their origins, as well as the need to identify and name them in order to better combat them. In particular, he suggests countering certain negative thoughts that distance us from God with the Word of God, especially the Psalms.
He also discusses the importance of prayer, which is first and foremost a “conversation” with God, and the spiritual struggles one must endure to attain authentic prayer, “in the sacred place of prayer.”
A fundamental concept in the work of Evagrius Ponticus is “apatheia,” or impassivity—the inner peace attained through asceticism and prayer.
Pray with Hozana
On Hozana, discover many communities where you can pray and walk the spiritual path with the saints. Deepen your knowledge of the saints and your spiritual life.
- Following the example of Evagrius of Pontus, you too can pray to find this novena.
- Following in the footsteps of Saint John Cassian, pray for the unity of the Church with this .
- You can also pray for inner healing , so that Jesus may help you find peace and deep joy.
