Beta
You are viewing a draft
Not for citation.
  TEI/XML   RDF/XML  

Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2

   https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/489

Context

Cyril from Scythopolis (ca. 525-559 C.E.) was a monk who wrote detailed hagiographies of seven roughly contemporary or slightly earlier monks. His works are essential historical sources for Palestinian monasticism, theology, and political relationships during roughly the first half of the 6th century. He wrote one of his two major works about the Armenian Euthymius, at whose monastery in Jericho he served from 544 to 555 C.E. This passage records how Euthymius’ holy admirers considered him a strong opponent of Origenism, which was flourishing in his time around Caesarea.

Text

Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ ἐπίσκοπος καὶ ἡσυχαστὴς καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Θαλλέλαιος ὁ πρεσβύτερος οἱ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἐν τῆι λαύραι τοῦ μακαρίου Σάβα ἀγωνιζόμενοι διηγήσαντό μοι λέγοντες ὅτιπερ καὶ ὁ μακάριος Σάβας καὶ ἄλλοι πλεῖστοι γέροντες ἐθαύμαζον τοῦ μεγάλου Εὐθυμίου τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν δογμάτων θερμότατον ζῆλον καίπερ αὐτοῦ πολλῆι τῆι πραότητι καὶ φρονήματος μετριότητι συζῶντος, καὶ διεβεβαιοῦντο ὅτι πᾶσαν μὲν αἵρεσιν τῶι ὀρθῶι τῆς πίστεως λὸγωι ἐναντιουμένην ἀπεστρέφετο, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ τὰς ἓξ ταύτας αἱρέσεις τέλειον μῖσος ἐμίσει. τήν τε γὰρ Μανιχαικὴν βδελυρίαν ἐμυσάττετο καὶ τοῖς τὰ Ὠριγένους φρονοῦσιν πολλοῖς τότε οὖσιν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα περὶ Καισάρειαν τόποις καὶ σχήματι δῆθεν εὐλαβείας ἐρχομένοις πρὸς αὐτὸν διεμάχετο γενναίως τὴν παρ’ αὐτοῖς μυθευομένην τῶν νοῶν προύπαρξιν καὶ τὴν ταύτηι ἑπομένην τερατώδη ἀποκατάστασιν διασύρων παντοίως ἀνέτρεπεν καὶ τὰ ἐκ τούτων ἀναφυόμενα ἄθεα καὶ ἀσεβῆ ἐστηλίτευεν δόγματα.1

Textual Note

Ed. Schwatrz 1939

Translation

Abba John, bishop and solitary, and Abba Thallelaeus, priest, who presently pursue spiritual combat in the lavra of Blessed Savas, have told me that both Blessed Savas and many other Εlders admired the burning zeal for the teachings of the Church displayed by the great Euthymius, even though he was constitutionally with great gentleness and moderation of spirit. They asserted that he rejected every heresy opposed to the correct account of the faith, and that he hated with a perfect hatred these six heresies especially. He loathed the Manichaean abomination; and when those of Origen’s persuasion, numerous at that time especially in the region around Caesarea, came to him with a show of reverence, he courageously fought their myth of a preexistence of minds, he completely and with ridicule refuted the constant monstrosity of a general restoration, and he pilloried the godless and impious teachings that grew out of these (beliefs).2

Translation Note

Revised from Price and Binns 1990

Works Cited

  • 1 Cyril of Scythopolis, Kyrillos von Skythopolis, ed. Eduard Schwartz, Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, 49.2 (Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1939), ch: 26, p: 39.18-40.2.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record
  • 2 Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Our Father Saint Euthymius, in Cyril of Scythopolis: The Lives of the Monks of Palestine, trans. R. M. Price, Cistercian Studies 114 (Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1990), lii + 306 pp, p: 36.Link to Zotero Bibliographic RecordLink to Worldcat Bibliographic record
About This Text

 

How to Cite This Entry

Joseph L. Rife, “Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published June 30, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/489.

Bibliography:

Joseph L. Rife, “Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published June 30, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/489.

About this Entry

Entry Title: Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2

Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:

  • Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
  • Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
  • David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2”
  • Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2”

Additional Credit:

  • Testimonium edited by Joseph L. Rife
  • TEI record created by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium translated by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium transcribed by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium identified by Joseph L. Rife
  • Editorial review by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium edited by Joseph L. Rife
  • TEI record created by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium translated by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium transcribed by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonium identified by Joseph L. Rife
  • Editorial review by Joseph L. Rife
Show full citation information...