The Desert Mothers Lives Sayings The Desert Mothers

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples

“Amma Theodora said that a teacher ought to be a stranger to the Desire for domination, vainglory and pride. One should not be able to fool that person by flattery, nor blind that person by gifts…Rather, the teacher should be patient, gentle and humble as far as possible; the teacher must also be tested and be without favoritism, full of concern for others, and a lover of souls. ” -Theodora 5

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: )

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: ) -Flight from World -Assumption of Male Attire -Discovery & Recognition -Repentance

St. Mary of Egypt 18 th-century Russian icon

St. Mary with Abba Zosimas

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: ) -Flight from World -Assumption of Male Attire -Discovery & Recognition -Repentance III. Wisdom from the Desert: Sayings of the Mothers

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: ) -Flight from World -Assumption of Male Attire -Discovery & Recognition -Repentance III. Wisdom from the Desert: Sayings of the Mothers A. Ammas Sarah, Syncletica, Theodora

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: ) -Flight from World -Assumption of Male Attire -Discovery & Recognition -Repentance III. Wisdom from the Desert: Sayings of the Mothers A. Ammas Sarah, Syncletica, Theodora B. Significance of their Inclusion

“One day, Abba Poemen went with Abba Anoub to the district of Dioclos. Arriving at the cemetery, they saw a woman in great sorrow, weeping bitterly. Standing there, they watched her. Going a little further, they met someone and Abba Poemen asked him: ‘Why is this woman weeping so bitterly? ’ He replied: ‘Because her husband is dead, as well as her son and her brother. ’ Abba Poemen told the brother: I tell you, if a person does not mortify all one’s carnal desires and acquire compunction like this, then that person cannot become a monk. Truly, the whole of this woman’s life and soul are turned to compunction. ” -Poemen 72

“Amma Sarah said to the brothers: ‘It is I who am a man; and you are the women!’” -Sarah 9

The Desert Mothers: Lives & Sayings I. The Motif of the Desert in Christian Spirituality A. Biblical Significance: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus 1. In Old Testament 2. In New Testament B. Meaning of the Desert in Monastic Experience C. The Desert for Women: Ammas & Disciples II. Spiritual Themes in Desert Mother’s Lives (Look for these: ) -Flight from World -Assumption of Male Attire -Discovery & Recognition -Repentance III. Wisdom from the Desert: Sayings of the Mothers A. Ammas Sarah, Syncletica, Theodora B. Significance of their Inclusion