Monasticism
What is monasticism?
A way of life where Christians dedicate themselves completely to God
Who is known as the Father of Christian Monasticism?
St. Anthony the Great
Where did St. Anthony go to dedicate his life to God?
The Egyptian Desert
Which country is known as the birthplace of Christian monasticism?
Egypt
What are men who live the monastic life called?
Monks
What country was St. Anthony from?
Egypt
Why did many early monks choose to live in the desert?
To focus on God without distractions.
People traveled from many countries to Egypt for what reason?
To learn from the monks and Desert Fathers
What are women who live the monastic life called?
Nuns
What happened that made St. Anthony leave everything behind?
He heard Jesus' words in Matthew 19:21 telling the rich young man to sell what he had and follow Him.
True or False: The desert was always easy and comfortable for St. Anthony.
False
After learning from the Egyptian monks, what did many visitors do when they returned home?
They started monasteries and spread monasticism.
Name three things monks dedicate their lives to
Prayer
Worship
Reading Scripture
Fasting
Serving others
Living simply
What did St. Anthony do with his wealth before going to the desert?
He sold everything and gave money to the poor
Name two challenges St. Anthony faced in the desert
Loneliness
Temptation
Fear
Why is Egypt considered one of the most important countries in Christian history?
Because Christian monasticism began in Egypt and spread throughout the world.
True or False: Monasticism is only about living alone.
If False, what is true
False. It is about dedicating your life completely to God.
Besides praying, name two things St. Anthony did while living in the desert.
Read and memorized Scripture
Fasted
Worked with his hands
Lived simply
Spent time in silence
Why is the desert an important place in Coptic Church history?
It was where Christian monasticism began and where many monks dedicated their lives to God.
If St. Anthony had never gone into the desert, how might Christian history have been different?
Monasticism may not have begun in the same way, and monasteries around the world may not have developed as they did.