Ancient Christian writers

"This latest volume in the Ancient Christian Writers series offers an English translation of Isidore of Seville's De Ecclesiasticis Officiis, an invaluable source of information ahout liturgical practice and church offices in the seventh century."--Jacket.

"John Cassian: The Conferences is the first complete English translation of the twenty-four dialogues between Cassian and the desert fathers of Egypt. A native of Dacia, Cassian (c. 360-430) joined a monastery in Bethlehem when he was in his early adult years. From Palestine, Cassian and Germanus, a companion, traveled several times to Egypt where they learned about the monastic tradition from the great desert masters or abbas. Cassian's writings here record twenty-four dialogues with fifteen abbas." "The Conferences have long been a key work in monastic circles and among scholars of spirituality. Ramsey's helpful introductions and annotations make them accessible to a new and broader readership. Careful attention to references, notes and appendices demonstrate the outstanding research and writing which helped produce this monumental volume."--Jacket.

"The Institutes is the first written work of John Cassian, a man who had an immense influence on Western monasticism and, by extension, on Western civilization. A native of Dacia, Cassian (c. 360-430) joined a monastery in Bethlehem in his early adult years. From Palestine, Cassian and his traveling companion, Germanus, visited Egypt several times.". "Although Cassian eventually settled in Marseilles, his experience of Egyptian monasticism left an indelible impression on his life. It is the wisdom he learned there that he shares in The Institutes as well as in his later "companion piece," The Conferences.". "The Institutes consists of two sections. In the first, Cassian deals with the institutes and rules of Egyptian monasteries, including monastic garb and forms of prayer. The balance of the work treats the eight principal vices (gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness, acedia, vainglory, and pride) and discusses strategies for countering their effects."--BOOK JACKET.