‘Stepping back’ is a recharge time to move forward... The balance between ‘being together’ and ‘being alone’ is important. The teachings of the Desert Fathers are the root of monastic spirituality... Presenting an ideal model for Christian life.
The term ‘Desert Fathers’ may sound somewhat unfamiliar. When we say Desert Fathers, we refer to the famous solitary monks who lived in the desert of northern Egypt (lower reaches of the Nile River) in the 4th century.
In the early church, the term ‘Church Father’ originally referred to a bishop, and it arose from the application of the father-son relationship between a teacher and a student. Generally, those who laid the foundation of Christian theology and had a significant influence on church life are called Church Fathers.
On the other hand, holy and great monks who laid the foundation of monastic life practically and academically are called Monastic Fathers. The Desert Fathers are considered the founders of Christian monastic life.
A new spiritual fatherhood gradually emerged among Christians who entered the Egyptian desert in the 4th century. This spiritual fatherhood was no longer connected to the public functions and hierarchy of the church but to ‘wisdom’ (discernment) and the ‘special gift of the word.’ Only those who acquired this gift could become spiritual teachers who guided others. A new arrival in the desert would receive teachings from his Abba (an elder who was a spiritual teacher). Therefore, the elders who led the hermits came to be called 'desert fathers'
Reason for going to the desert. The desert was a barren land where people could not live and the home of evil spirits. It was also a place of purification through all kinds of temptations and trials, and a place to experience God. When the persecution ended in the early 4th century, some of the zealous Christians left everything behind and entered the Egyptian desert. They did so to live according to the teachings of the Gospel and devote themselves to ‘the one thing necessary’, ‘seeking God’. This required freedom from the noise and disturbance of the world, from worries and concerns, and from deep solitude and silence.
This thorough and fundamental renunciation and withdrawal was also an expression of their will to better respond to the love that God showed us through his Son. They wanted to prove their love for God through fierce battles with new persecutors, evil spirits, and a strict ascetic life in the desert. This life itself was considered another martyrdom, self-renunciation, that is, participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. That is why the monastic life was called the continuation of martyrdom, and because it was martyrdom without shedding blood, it was also called ‘white martyrdom.
The lives of the Desert Fathers present an ideal model of Christian life. Since the Desert Fathers were Christians who tried to live the Gospel more thoroughly, their lives were not special, but simply a deepening of Christian life. In this sense, their lives and teachings are like the roots of monastic life and spirituality. Furthermore, monastic life is a way of life that fully realizes Christian life, and monastic spirituality can be said to be the foundation of Christian spirituality. Therefore, the exemplary lives and teachings of the Desert Fathers still have value and are important to us today because they provide many teachings for the lives and spirituality of modern Christians.
When we encounter the lives and teachings of the Desert Fathers, we do not intend to imitate their external life or methods. We intend to extract some value and spirit from them for us today. What is important is the spirit and value. The specific way of life is merely an external vessel that contains it. The external framework can and should always change depending on the time, place, and situation. Through the proverbs, we see the fierce fight against all human desires and vices, human weakness, God’s mercy, the unyielding will and courage to rise above frustration and despair, faith and hope, and other wise teachings for our lives.
The heroic lives and virtues of the desert fathers attracted countless people to the desert then. Just as bees smell the fragrance of flowers, people flocked to the holy lives and virtues of the monks. They went to famous elders to hear a word necessary for salvation. “Abba, tell me a word. What must I do to be saved?” This question was a typical question asked by those who went to the elders of the desert.
At the same time, it is a valid question for us living in the 21st century. We long for spiritual teachers. spiritual teachers. This is because we need visible examples. We need examples of true believers who tried to faithfully practice the teachings of the Gospel.
[The French philosopher Blaise Pascal is often quoted as saying: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone," We find it difficult to face our inner selves.]
