Published: 2025-04-30

The Making of Monastic Hamartiology I

Eastern Ascetics in Search of a Definition of Sin

Mariya Horyacha
Collectanea Theologica
Section: Articles
https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2025.95.2.01

Abstract

This paper considers the discussions led among Eastern ascetics of the fourth and fifth centuries about the concept of sin and focuses on two case studies that typify the voice of Eastern ascetics in theological controversy and their contribution to the ecclesiastical doctrine of sin. The first case study concerns the debate between Pseudo-Macarius and the Messalians, along with the later reworkings of Pseudo-Macarius by Mark the Monk and Diadochus of Photice. The second case study concerns the discussion of John Cassian with the Pelagian camp, on the one hand, and with the Augustinian camp, on the other. Together these case-studies reveal, in different ascetic milieus, a large variety of ascetic views about sin and considerable discrepancy in the terminology used to discuss it. The consideration of these two case-studies shows the discrepancy of approaches and lack of the definition of sin among ascetics.

Keywords:

monastic hamartiology, sin, Messalianism, Pelagianism, Pseudo-Macarius, Diadochus of Photice, Mark the Monk, John Cassian, Augustine, Jerome

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Citation rules

Horyacha, M. (2025). The Making of Monastic Hamartiology I: Eastern Ascetics in Search of a Definition of Sin. Collectanea Theologica, 95(2), 219–263. https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2025.95.2.01

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