10% of the final mark is based on students' participation in discussion. 

For internal students, participation is assessed via discussion in the weekly seminars: this is not assessed on the quality or length of the contribution, but simply on  participation in our discussions. Active participation which demonstrates preparation and engagement with the themes of the tutorial is the best way of ensuring full marks for this task, which helps build crucial communication skills. It is naturally impossible to participate in the discussion if one does not attend the tutorial. Students will receive one mark for each seminar discussion contributed to.

For external students, participation takes place via the online discussions forums on the iLearn site. The standard, length, of content of weekly posts to the site are not assessed: all that is required is participation, to develop communication skills and the ability to discuss historical problems and issues about the sources with one's peers. Students will receive one mark for each online tutorial contributed to.

Compare the following Encyclopaedia entries on ‘monasticism’ (both available via Leganto under week 3):

Goehring, James E., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson, 2nd edition (New York 1999), pp. 769–775.

Gribomont, J. and  Sheridan, M., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity, ed. T. Oden et al  (Downers Grove 2014), pp. 821–823.

Briefly, in no more than one A4 page (circa 400 words) address the following points: this should be an impressionistic discussion, and does not have to be referenced or footnoted.

• What is the main historical and chronological focus of the article?

• What are major types of sources referred to in the article?

• What are major issues raised?

• How successful do you think the article is as an overview of monasticism? How well does it serve as an introduction? What else would you want to know?

Students must write a short (1000 word) paper on the topic of their choice from the topics listed below. The purpose of this assignment will be to lead the students to an in-depth reading of some of the most important ancient sources on Egyptian monasticism.

Topics

 (1) Life of Antony (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-antony.html, or http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf204.xvi.ii.ii.html)

Read the Life of Antony and discuss the presentation of the saint as saint by its author, (according to tradition, Athanasius of Alexandria):

·      As what type of saint does the author present Antony?

·      Which qualities does he highlight and why?

·      In which aspects does Antony emulate the life of Christ and of biblical figures?

·      In which important theological debates is Antony involved, and how do these sections reflect Athanasius’ own position?

Basic literature:

·      Coptic Encyclopedia, entries: Antony, Dayr Anba Antuniyus; Monasticism, Egyptian

·      Goehring, James E., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson, 2nd edition (New York 1999), pp. 769–775.

·      Rubenson, Samuel, Christian Asceticism and the Emergence of the Monastic Tradition, in: Asceticism, ed. Vincent L. Wimbush and Richard Valantasis, New York and Oxford 1995, pp. 49-57.

 (2) Discuss the monastic landscape in the Historia monachorum in Aegypto

 Russell, Norman, The Lives of the Desert Fathers. The Historia Monachorum in Aegypto, Kalamazoo 1981. The Latin translation of Rufinus is available on the iLearn page under "Useful Resources".

The Historia monachorum was written by an anonymous author in ~400. Seven Palestinian monks travel to Egypt in 394 to visit famous Egyptian fathers. The Historia Monachorum was translated into Latin by Rufinus of Aquileia (~345-410), a founder of a monastery in Jerusalem (together with Melania the Elder) and one-time friend of Jerome. Rufinus continued to be a supporter of Origen of Alexandria’s teachings even after Jerome started attacking him.

 Pay particular attention to the following questions:

• Which different monastic lifestyles does the text present?
• What is the role of numbers in the text?
• Name some of the biblical models used in the text for persons and places.

 Basic literature:

·      Coptic Encyclopedia, entries: Historia monachorum in Aegypto; Monasticism, Egyptian; Rufinus

·      Goehring, James E., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson, 2nd edition (New York 1999), pp. 769–775.

 (3) Discuss the Life of Abba Aaron (in Leganto from Vivian, Journeying into God) under the following aspects:

• How is Abba Aaron presented as a Holy Man?
• What are the qualities and actions that qualify him for the job?

 Consult Peter Brown, The Rise and Function of the Holy Man in Late Antiquity, The Journal of Roman Studies 61 (1971), pp. 80-101 (available via JSTOR in Multisearch) for a larger perspective on the Holy Man in Late Antique Christian societies of the Mediterranean.

 Basic literature:

·      Coptic Encyclopedia, entries: Monasticism, Egyptian

·      Goehring, James E., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson, 2nd edition (New York 1999), pp. 769–775.

 (4) Read the Testament of Horsiese (in Leganto from Veilleux, Pachomian Koinonia, vol. 3), give a short summary and discuss the following points, trying to integrate the information on the Pachomians you have gathered from other readings and sources:

·      What information about the Pachomian system do we obtain from this document?

·      What is Horsiese’s rhetoric chiefly based on?

·      In which points/arguments Horsiese uses does the text reflect the situation of the Pachomian order after the death of the charismatic founder?

Basic literature:

·      Coptic Encyclopedia, entries: Horsiesius; Monasticism, Egyptian; Monasticism, Pachomian; Pachomius, Saint

·      Goehring, James E., ‘Monasticism’, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson, 2nd edition (New York 1999), pp. 769–775.

The Major Essay must be 2500 words in length. As much bibliographical material as possible (and permitted by copyright law) has been placed in Leganto. The bibliography on monasticism available on the iLearn site will put this material in order according to subject. If you require directions in using this bibliography, please consult me as soon as you have chosen an essay topic. Please make use of the considerable electronic holdings of Macquarie University Library, e.g. JSTOR, and the Coptic Encyclopedia, available in its entirety online (see Delivery and Resources).

Students must write on one of the following essay topics:

(1)      Discuss the role of the physical environment in the Life of Antony, the Apophthegmata, the Historia monachorum and the Lausiac History, especially the role of nature (desert, river, animals).

(2)      Discuss the relations of the ascetics and cenobitic monks with laypersons and secular authorities. (Restrict the topic if necessary by concentrating on particular texts or groups of texts).

(3)      Give an outline of the various forms of female monasticism in Egypt. Discuss how the female ascetic experience – if at all to be grasped from our sources – would be different from the male one.

The Major Essay must be referenced according to the standards described in Requirements and Expectations, and be accompanied by a bibliography of works consulted, separated into Primary and Secondary (i.e. Ancient and Modern) sources.