Palladius: The Lausiac History
Overview
Comprised of biographical sketches of early monastics, Palladius has written an important collection on sixty holy men and women whom he had personally met. The work, dating from around AD 420, is dedicated to Lausus, the royal chamberlain at the court of Emperor Theodosius II.
Top Highlights
“Now drinking wine within reason is better by far than drinking water in arrogance.” (Page 26)
“For many of the brethren prided themselves on their labors and almsgiving and boasted of their celibacy or their virginity; they had every confidence in attention to divine prophecies and to acts of zeal, and still they never attained a state of quietude. Without making inquiry they leaped to false conclusions and are ill of restlessness of life. In your actions you give in to curiosity; this in turn leads to evil acts and sets back the good advancement which had already been achieved.” (Page 25)
“Infuriated, he ordered her stripped and cast into the cauldron. But she raised up her voice and cried out: ‘By the head of the king59 whom you fear, I beseech you, order me to be slowly submerged into the cauldron, if you really decide to punish me, so that you may know the endurance which is bestowed upon me by Christ, whom you know not.’ And being let down little by little over the space of an hour, she died as the boiling pitch reached her neck.” (Pages 34–35)
“He used to collect stones in the desert all day long in the burning heat along the sea and to build cells for those who could not build their own, finishing one each year. When I asked him: ‘What are you doing, Father, killing your body in such heat?’ he answered: ‘It kills me, I will kill it.’ He would eat six ounces of bread, a bunch of small vegetables, and a proportionate amount of water.” (Pages 32–33)
“‘ ‘And as many as escaped his head and hands were saved, but those that were cuffed by his hands fell into the lake. A great voice came to me saying: ‘Those are the souls of the just; the souls you see flying into paradise are saved. Those others which are swept into hell are those who followed the desires of the flesh and their own revenge.’ ’ ’” (Page 76)
- Title: Palladius: The Lausiac History
- Authors: Palladius of Galatia, Robert T. Meyer
- Series: Ancient Christian Writers
- Volume: 34
- Publisher: Paulist Press
- Print Publication Date: 1964
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Monasticism and religious orders › Egypt; Monasticism and religious orders › History--Early church, ca. 30-600
- ISBNs: 0809100835, 9780809100835
- Resource ID: LLS:PLLDSLSCHST
- Resource Type: text.monograph.church-history
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:37:59Z