John Cassian and the Creation of Monastic Subjectivity

John Cassian (360-435 CE) was a monk who traveled to the Egyptian desert to learn from the Desert Fathers and establish a monastery in Gaul. He advocated for a separation between monastics and the institutional Church, citing quotes and stories from earlier, venerated monks. Cassian argued for a separate monastic authority based on apostolic praxis and formed a closed discursive system, excluding the hierarchical institutional Church. This study supplements Cassians writings with Michel Foucaults analysis of the creation of subjects to examine Cassians formation of a specifically Egyptian form of monastic subjectivity for his audience.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

John Cassian, a prominent figure in the early Christian church, embarked on a remarkable monastic journey that began in Bethlehem and took him to the heart of the Egyptian desert. There, he lived as a monk, seeking wisdom and guidance from the revered Desert Fathers. For approximately fifteen years, he immersed himself in their teachings, learning invaluable insights into the essence of monastic life.

However, Cassian's journey did not end there. He later traveled to the region of Gaul, where he played a crucial role in establishing a monastery. To accomplish this, he wrote seminal monastic manuals, including the Institutes and the Conferences. These writings represent the earliest known attempt to bring the idealized monastic traditions from Egypt, long considered the cradle of monasticism, to the Western world.

In his Institutes, Cassian made a peculiar comment that suggests a detachment from women and bishops. He stated, "A monk ought by all means to flee from women and bishops" (Inst. 11.18). This statement appears to portray bishops as adversaries rather than role models for Christian living. However, this book argues that Cassian advocated for a separation between monastics and the institutional Church in his writings.

Throughout his works, Cassian consistently referred to earlier, venerated monks as authorities rather than early Church fathers such as Irenaeus or Tertullian. This suggests that monastic discourse, as expressed by Cassian, formed a closed discursive system, deliberately excluding the hierarchical institutional Church. Moreover, Cassian proposed a distinct monastic authority based on apostolic praxis, rather than apostolic succession. He believed that monastic practices, such as prayer and asceticism, could be traced back to the primitive church and held that these practices should be the foundation of monastic life.

To further explore Cassian's formation of a specifically Egyptian form of monastic subjectivity for his audience, the monks of Gaul, this study is supplemented with Michel Foucault's analysis of the creation of subjects. Foucault's concepts of discipline and governmentality provide valuable insights into how power relations and social structures shape individuals and communities. By examining Cassian's writings within the context of Foucault's theories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which monasticism was shaped and transmitted in the early Christian church.

In conclusion, John Cassian's monastic career was marked by a profound quest for wisdom and a commitment to establishing monastic communities that upheld the ideals of ancient Egypt. His writings, particularly the Institutes and the Conferences, played a significant role in shaping the monastic tradition in the West. Through his advocacy for a separation between monastics and the institutional Church, his emphasis on apostolic praxis, and his creation of a distinct Egyptian form of monastic subjectivity, Cassian left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and influence contemporary monasticism.

Weight: 3756g
Dimension: 234 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800501485