St. Methodius: The Symposium: A Treatise on Chastity
Overview
A dialogue written to imitate Plato’s Symposium is a unique early Christian document written in beautiful poetic prose during the patristic period.
Top Highlights
“In the passage where He compares the wise man to a house built on good foundations, saying that he is unshakable because he cannot be thrown down by rains, floods, or winds.7 Here, I think, He compares the passions to storms, and by the rocks He means the immovable and unshaken attitude of the soul with regard to chastity.” (Pages 160–161)
“Take for instance, the sharp and fiery horn of fornication by which he throws the incontinent; consider adultery, lying, avarice, theft, and all the others which are akin and related to these, which naturally flourish on those death-dealing heads. But if, with the help of Christ, you tear them out by the roots, you will receive the divine heads, adorned with the diadems taken from the Dragon.” (Page 120)
“Should we not then say that, in like manner, the soul which does not give up though overwhelmed by the towering waves of the passions, but steers its ship, the body, courageously into the harbor of self-control—shall we not say that such a soul is better and more trustworthy than one that sails on calm seas?” (Page 160)
“Well, now, Gregorion, whom are we to call the better, those who are superior to concupiscence without experiencing it, or those who have concupiscence and yet practice virginity?” (Page 158)
“And do you not think that the Lord, too, makes it clear that a life of chastity with conflict is superior to the life of virginity without concupiscence?” (Page 160)
- Title: St. Methodius: The Symposium: A Treatise on Chastity
- Authors: Methodius of Olympus, Herbert Musurillo
- Series: Ancient Christian Writers
- Volume: 27
- Publisher: Newman Press
- Print Publication Date: 1958
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Chastity
- ISBNs: 0809101432, 9780809101436
- Resource ID: LLS:STMTHDSTRCHSTTY
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:58:03Z