Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Church
“[This is] an interesting and thought-provoking attempt to map a significant development within the life of the church as it grappled with the pressures of mass religion on the one hand, and an individualized spirituality on the other.” —Journal of Theological Studies“Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Churchshows how, when monks left their monasteries to become priests and bishops in the cities of the late antique world, they were able to translate their spirituality into something appropriate for those who came under their pastoral care. . . . This is an extremely interesting book with a firm grasp of the scholarly literature.” —Commonweal“The strength of this publication clearly lies in the meticulous and respectful examination of the style and policy adopted by key ecclesiastical officers as they considered methods of advocating for Christian polity. . . . This book is of critical importance and deserves attention. It will long appeal to scholars of late antiquity and medieval theology, and to students of the history of monasticism and spirituality, as well as to those actively engaged in pastoral aspects of contemporary Christian ministry.” —Logos: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies“Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Churchputs spiritual direction on solid historical ground by showing its importance in the early centuries of the church as well as exploring the different ways spiritual direction was conceived by bishops and theologians. Using five prominent figures from the early church (Saints Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Augustine, John Cassian, and Gregory the Great), Demacopolous crafts a nuanced study that shows how the widening gulf between monasticism and laity in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries translated into different expressions of spiritual direction.” —Cistercian Studies Quarterly