Selected Discourses of Shenoute the Great
Community, Theology, and Social Conflict in Late Antique Egypt

Shenoute the Great (c.347–465) led one of the largest Christian monastic communities in late antique Egypt and was the greatest native writer of Coptic in history. For approximately eight decades, Shenoute led a federation of three monasteries and emerged as a Christian leader. His public sermons attracted crowds of clergy, monks, and lay people; he advised military and government officials; he worked to ensure that his followers would be faithful to orthodox Christian teaching; and he vigorously and violently opposed paganism and the oppressive treatment of the poor by the rich. This volume presents in translation a selection of his sermons and other orations. These works grant us access to the theology, rhetoric, moral teachings, spirituality, and social agenda of a powerful Christian leader during a period of great religious and social change in the later Roman Empire.

Reviews & endorsements

'The book includes footnotes, a valuable bibliography, and a useful index of names, subjects, maps, and figures. Brakke and Crislip's book is a modern and accurate translation of Shenoute's Discourses, so that it is an important contribution in the spirituality of Shenoute and his form of monasticism. Meticulously researched, this competent book provides a starting point for new investigations of the role of Shenoute in the history of Egyptian asceticism. Undoubtedly, Selected Discourses of Shenoute the Great will become a significant landmark for researchers in the field.' Daniel Lemeni, Tealogia

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Product details

• Date Published: August 2019
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9781107606678
• length: 340 pages

• dimensions: 230 x 153 x 20 mm
• weight: 0.45kg
• contains: 7 b/w illus. 2 maps
• availability: Available