Evagrius Ponticus

Monastic Theologian

Life | Corpus | Bibliography | Images | Online Resources

Literary Corpus of Evagrius Ponticus

Compiled by Joel Kalvesmaki

Updated December 2009

Identifying and editing Evagrius's works is an ongoing process. After his postumous condemnation, his writings often survived in anthologies; in Syriac, Armenian, or Latin translations; or in pseudonymous collections ascribed to other more acceptable figures (such as Ss. Basil or Nilus). This list aims to provide as comprehensive a list of Evagrius's writings as possible. Works are sorted by the number assigned from the Clavis patrum graecorum. The Clavis is used, too, for assigning certainty in authorship. Please note, even those works listed as secure may be suspected by some scholars as being either interpolated or altogether pseudepigraphal. For a list of modern translations and editions of Evagrius's work, please see my extensive bibliography. The Greek is rendered in Unicode. If you cannot read it, you will need to configure your browser.
If you are looking for the Syriac text by Frankenberg, it is now available online.

Abbreviations

* (No published edition exists)
1/2/3 (different editions of the same recension)
a/b/c (different recensions of the same text)
CCEL (Classic Christian Ethereal Library)
ex (excerpts)
fr (fragment)
ILP (Inner Light Productions)
OTH (Origenist Theology Homepage)

CPG	Title (English, Greek, Latin)	Description	Editions	Modern Translations	Web
2430	*Praktikos* *Λόγος πράκτικος* Practicus et epistula ad Anatolium	First of three works (along with Gnostikos and the Kephalaia Gnostica, below) considered one of Evagrius's more important works. This treatise comprises 100 chapters discussing praktika-the preliminary disciplines of the ascetic life, dealing with the passions of the body.	Greek Syriac* Armenian* Ethiopian Georgian^fr Arabic	English (a/b/c/d) Flemish French German (a/b) Italian Polish Spanish (a/b)	English (Bresard^ex/ Dysinger / Theophanes) Greek (Patrologia Graecae / Dysinger / PG)
2431	*Gnostikos* *Γνωστικὸς ἢ Πρὸς τὸν καταξιωθέντα γνώσεως* Gnosticus	Second part of the trilogy (see Praktikos, above), comprising 50 chapters. In this treatise gnostika-the mental or spiritual front of the ascetic life-is discussed.	Greek^fr Syriac (a/b/c) Armenian	English Flemish French Greek retroversion Italian Polish	English (Dysinger / Theophanes) Greek (Patrologia Graecae / Dysinger)
2432	*Kephalaia Gnostica* *Ἑξακόσια προγνωστικὰ προβλήματα* Kephalaia gnostica	Third part of the trilogy (see Praktikos, above), comprising 540 chapters (90 chapters in each of six "centuries") discussing gnostika further.	Greek (a^fr/b^fr Syriac Armenian Arabic*	English (a^ex/b^ex/c) French Greek retroversion	English (OTH^ex/ Dysinger / Theophanes) Greek (Dysinger)
2433	**Skemmata or Reflections Σκέμματα** Capita cognoscitiua	These 65 sentences fall into three sections: 39 taken from the Gnostic Chapters, 23 from On Thoughts, and 3 unparalleled (and so termed a supplement). The number 65 is derived from textual criticism; the Greek, Armenian, and Syriac versions of this text differ in sequence and selection. This text, according to Mar Babai (569-628), who wrote an extensive commentary on the Kephalaia gnostica, was a supplement to the 540 chapters of the 600 promised in the Kephalaia gnostica (Mar Babai's version of Reflections contained only 60 chapters).	Greek (a/b) Syriac Armenian	English (a/b/c) Flemish Greek retroversion Polish	English (Dysinger / Theophanes) Greek (Dysinger)
2434	*Antirrheticos* Ἀντιῤῥητικός Antirrheticus	Lists of Scriptures that are effective in combatting the eight passions. The text is organized according to the eight passions with scriptures listed according to their biblical order.	Syriac Armenian Georgian Sogdian^fr (a/b)	English (a^ex/b) German^ex (a/b) Greek retroversion Polish	English (Dysinger) German (Tesserae) Syriac (Frankenberg, part one and two)
2435	Πρὸς τοὺς ἐν κοινοβίοις ἢ συνοδίαις μοναχούς Sententiae ad monachos	137 chapters on the monastic life, written in distychs, in imitation of the Proverbs, directed probably to a monastic community in Jerusalem associated with Melania and Rufinus. Evagrius discusses matters foundational to the coenobitic monastic life, so the material resembles, in some ways, a rule. Often associated with CPG no. 2436 under the designation "The Mirrors."	Greek (a/b) Latin (a/b) Syriac Armenian (a/b/c) Coptic Ethiopian (a/b) Georgian*	English (1/2/3/4) Flemish French (a/b) Italian Polish Spanish (a/b)	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2436	*Sentences to a Virgin* *Παραίνεσις πρὸς παρθένον* Sententia ad Virginem	56 sentences of spiritual instruction addressed to a virgin (unnamed, but probably , an associate of Melania and Rufinus), written in distychs, in imitation of the Proverbs. Evagrius discusses matters foundational to the coenobitic monastic life for women, so the material resembles, in some ways, a rule. Often associated with no. 2435 under the designation "The Mirrors."	Greek Latin (a/b) Syriac Armenian (a/b)	English (1/2) Flemish Greek retroversion Italian Polish Spanish (a/b)	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2437	*62 Letters* Epistula lxii	62 letters of various lengths, all letters of spiritual counsel to various figures such as Rufinus, St. Melania the Elder, St. Gregory Nazianzus, Bp. John of Jerusalem.	Greek (a/b/c) Syriac Armenian (a/b)	English (a/b/c)(some) German Greek retroversion Italian Polish	English (Dysinger^ex) Greek (Dysinger^ex)
2438	*Letter to Melania* Epistula ad Melaniam	Evagrius's last (?) and longest extant letter. It deals extensively with Christology and the ministry of letter writing, as well as the apokatastasis. Although one Syriac ms describes the recipient as Melania the Elder, this is almost certainly false. See the arguments of Bunge, who considers Rufinus to be more likely.	Syriac (a/b)	English (1/2) Flemish German Greek retroversion Italian Latin Polish	English (OTH^ex)
2439	*Dogmatic Letter* Sermo sive dogmatica epistula de sanctissima trinitate	Evagrius's first extant letter, dealing with Trinitarian doctrine and his flight from Pontus, among other things. It was written around 380, when Evagrius was with Gregory of Nazianzus during the latter's stormy tenure in Constantinople. The letter was included in the first printed editions of Basil's letters, despite the mixed attributions in manuscripts. In 1923 Bousset and Melcher argued that it should be attributed to Evagrius.	Greek Syriac	English Flemish German Greek retroversion Italian	English (CCEL / OTH)
2440	*Protrepticus* Protrepticus et Paraeneticus	Twin treatises on prayer and other monastic disciplines. Some mss. have a 3d treatise, unedited, incipit Memento semper promissionum tuarum. See CPG, s.v.	Syriac	English Flemish Greek retroversion Polish
2441	*Hypotyposis* or Principles of the Monastic Life Ὑπωτύπωσις ἢ Τῶν κατὰ μοναχῶν πραγμάτων τὰ αἰτία, καὶ ἡ καθ᾿ ἡσυχίαν τούτων παράθεσις Rerum monachalium rationes	This treatise of eleven sections describes the basic disciplines for living the monastic life. At the forefront is a concern to cultivate hesychia-stillness or tranquility-and the fight against evil powers. Advice centers on diet, dress, work, companionship, dwelling, visitation habits, wealth, possessions, commence, fasting, vigils, and prayer. Evagrius enjoins the constant contemplation of death, of hades and its torments, of the day of judgment, of the punishments in store for the wicked, and of rewards for the righteous, all as a weapon against harmful thoughts.	Greek (1/2) Syriac	English (1/2/3) Italian Latin Polish	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2442	*Thirty-Three Chapters* *Κεφάλαια λγʹ κατ᾿ ἀκολουθίαν* Capitula xxxiii (definitiones passionum animae rationalis)	33 chapters relating physical and spiritual ailments to each other. The last 17 appear to be drawn from a Commentary on Proverbs he wrote.	Greek	English Flemish Latin Polish	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2443	*Paraeneticus* Κεφάλαια ἢ παραίνεσις Capita paraenetica	Three works, CPG nos. 2443 through 2445, are very similar, comprising 24, 24, and 26 proverbs, respectively. These brief texts resemble other ancient Christian collections of proverbs, many of which are originally by non-Christian authors, but now adapted to a Christian context.	Greek Syriac* Armenian	English Flemish French Latin Polish
2444	*Spiritual Chapters Alphabetized* *Γνῶμαι κατ᾿ ἀλφάβητον* Spiritales sententiae per alphabeticum dispositae	See CPG no. 2443.	Greek Syriac	English Flemish Latin Polish	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2445	*Assorted Chapters* Aliae sententiae	See CPG no. 2443.	Greek Syriac	English (1/2) Latin Polish
2446	*Six Chapters* Sententiae sex	Inedited except for the first sentence.	Greek	Polish
2447	*Treatise to the Monk Eulogius* or *To Eulogius on the Confession of Thoughts and Counsel in Their Regard* *Λόγος πρὸς Εὐλόγιον μοναχόν* Tractatus ad Eulogium	Lengthy treatise (thirty-two sections in Sinkewicz's new numbering) discussing in introductory fashion ascesis. The wide array of topics concern primarily the practical life, but the gnostic is certainly not neglected. Subjects include voluntary exile, virtue, humility, battle with the thoughts (not enumerated here), cultivation of godly thoughts, work, poverty, spiritual direction, gossip, jealousy, demons prayer, and communal life. The preface indicates that this treatise was also a letter sent to a monk Eulogios, the recipient of CPG 2448. The Greek text has been greatly enhanced by Sinkewicz's edition, which publishes for the first time the longer rescension of Lavra Γ ʹ 93.	Greek (a/b) Syriac* Armenian Ethiopian* Georgian Arabic*	English French Latin Polish	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2448	*On the Vices Opposed to the Virtues* *Περὶ τὰς ἀντιζήλους τῶν ἀρετῶν κακίας* De vitiis quae opposita sunt virtutibus	Addressed to the monk Eulogios (the recipient of CPG 2447, Eulogios), this brief treatise concisely describes the evil thoughts and the virtues opposed to them. Each of the nine chapters epitomizes the characteristics of a vice, then that of its antithetical virtue. The sequence is: (1) gluttony versus abstinence, (2) fornication versus chastity, (3) avarice versus freedom from possessions, (4) sadness versus joy, (5) anger versus patience, (6) acedia versus perseverance, (7), vainglory versus freedom from vainglory, (8) jealousy vesus freedom from jealousy, (9) pride versus humility. This departs from the traditional eight vices, because Evagrius inserts jealousy, a subject he normally does not discuss extensively (although he does so in Eulogios).	Greek Syriac* Arabic* Georgian	English Flemish Latin Polish	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2450	*On the [Evil] Thoughts* *Περὶ διαφορῶν πονηρῶν λογισμῶν* De malignis cogationibus	In this relatively lengthy treatise of 43 sections, Evagrius analyzes closely the tactics of demons and the counterattacks available to the ascetic. He explains the interrelationships between the various evil thoughts, and provides a glimpse into the epistemic, anthropological, and cosmological notions that undergird his advice on spiritual warfare.	Greek Syriac*	English (a/b/c) French Italian Latin Polish (1/2)	English (Dysinger / Theophanes) Greek (Patrologia Graecae / Dysinger)
2451	*The Eight Spirits of Wickedness* Περὶ τῶν οκτῶ πνευμάτων τῆς πονηρίας De octo spiritibus malitiae	In this brief but rich treatise, Evagrius devotes each of eight chapters to the evil thoughts, in this sequence: gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness, acedia, vainglory, pride. Each chapter contains mostly brief aphorisms, frequently set in pairs, occasionally punctuated by longer discursive paragraphs. Evagrius's advice, on how to combat the evil thoughts, is ripe with metaphorical imagery, intended to be read slowly and contemplated.	Greek (1/2) Syriac Armenian Arabic* Coptic^fr (a/b) Latin (a/b*) Ethiopian (1/2/3/4) Georgian^ex (a/b) Old Russian	English Flemish Italian Latin Polish	German (Nigisch^ex) Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2452	*On Prayer* *Περὶ προσευχῆς ἢ Λόγος εἰς ρνγʹ κεφαλαῖα διειλημμένος* De oratione	This treatise, a prologue and 153 chapters on prayer, was shown in the 1930s to be by Evagrius, despite its attribution in the Greek manuscript tradition to St. Nilus.	Greek (1/2/3/4) Syriac Arabic Ethiopian Georgian* Armenian	Dutch English (1/2/3/4/5) Flemish French (1/2/3/4/5) Italian Latin Polish Spanish (1/2)	English (ILP^ex / Bresard^ex / Dysinger) French (Soyer) Greek (Patrologia Graecae / Dysinger)
2453	*Three Chapters on Prayer* Capita tria de oratione	First chapter is taken from the Hypotyposis	Syriac	English (1/ 2) Polish
2454	*Counsel to Monks* *Παραίνεσις πρὸς μοναχούς* Institutio or Paraenesis ad monachos	The longer and shorter recensions combined, this text comprises 58 chapters in two sections (of 16 and 42 chapters). The chapters are generally proverbial admonitions to monks regarding the life of virtue and combat with the evil thoughts.	Greek (a/b) Syriac*	English Flemish Latin (a) Polish	English (Bresard^ex) Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2455	*Scholia on the Psalms* *Σχόλια εἰς τοὺς Ψάλμους* Scholia in Psalmos	Evagrius's comments on the Psalms come either from (1) catenae of scriptural commentary that incorrectly attributed them to Origen or Athanasius; (2) inedited mss. They stem apparently from an extensive, now lost, Commentary on the Psalms. Rondeau is preparing an edition.	Greek (1/2/3/ 4/5/6*)	Latin (1/2)	English (Dysinger^ex) Greek (Dysinger^ex)
2456	*Commentary on the Proverbs* Expositio in Proverbia Salomonis		Greek		Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2457	*Commentary on the Parables and the Proverbs* Expositio in Parabolas et in Proverbia Salomonis		Syriac^fr	German^fr
2458.1	*Scholia on Genesis, Numbers, and Kings* *Σχόλια εἰς τὸν Γένεσιν, Ἀρίθμους, καὶ Βασιλείους* Scholia in Genesim, Numeros et Reges	This, and the next five entries, are collections of sayings found in the later (esp. 9th-10th c.) compilations of patristic biblical exegesis. Much remains to be edited.	Greek*
2458.2	*Scholia on Job* *Σχόλια εἰς τὸν Ἰώβ* Scholia in Iob		Greek	English
2458.3	*Scholia on the Song of Songs* *Σχόλια εἰς τὸν ᾎσμα τῶν ἀσμάτων* Scholia in Canticum canticorum		Greek*
2458.4	*Scholia on the Proverbs* *Σχόλια εἰς τὰς Παροιμίας* Scholia in Proverbia		Greek	French	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2458.5	*Scholia on Ecclesiastes* *Σχόλια εἰς τὴν Ἐκκλησιαστὴν* Scholia in Ecclesiasten		Greek	English French	Greek (Patrologia Graecae)
2458.6	*Scholia on Luke* Scholia in Lucam		Greek	English
2459	*Commentary on the Cherubim* De seraphim		Syriac Armenian
2460	*Commentary on the Seraphim* De cherubim		Syriac
2461	*Commentary on the Lord's Prayer* Expositio in orationem dominicam		Coptic Arabic*	English French German
2462	*Apophthegmata* *Ἀποφθέγματα* Apophthegmata	7 stories and sayings attributed to Evagrius from the alphabetical collection	Greek	Latin
2463	*On the Imitation of the Song of Songs* Ad imitationem Cantici canticorum		Greek Arabic
2464	*On the Imitation of Ecclesiastes* Ad imitationem Ecclesiastae		Greek* Arabic
2464a	*On the Imitation of Proverbs* Ad imitationem Proverbiorum		Arabic
Dubious or Spurious Works
2465	*The Just and the Perfect* De iustis et perfectis		Syriac	French
2466	*Humility* De humilitate		Syriac	French
2467	*Fasting* De ieiunio		Syriac	French
2468	*Silence* De silentio		Syriac	French
2469	*Admonition on the Marks of Serenity* Admonitio de signis quietis	Each of the three recensions of this text is attributed to a different author: John Lycopolis, Epiphanius, Macarius (or Evagrius)	Greek (a/b*/c) Syriac (c)	French
2470	*Dialogue of a Master with his Student* Colloquium magistri cum discipulo eius		Syriac Armenian	French
2471	*The Defense of One Led by God* De tutelis eius qui a deo ducitur		Syriac	French
2472	*Instructive Admonition* Admonitio paraenetica		Syriac	French
2473	*Counsel of the Mind* Paraenesis mentis		Syriac	French
2474	*Teaching* Doctrina		Syriac	French
2475	*Counsel* Paraenesis		Greek^fr Syriac	French
2476	*Perfection* De perfectione		Syriac
2477	*Proverbs and their Interpretation* De proverbiis et eorundem expositionibus		Greek Syriac Armenian	French
2478	*Profession of Faith* Professio fidei		Syriac	French
2479	*Excerpt* Excerpt		Syriac	French
2480	*Chapters of Counsel* and *Instructive Sermon* Capitula paraenetica et Sermo papaeneticus		Syriac*
2481.1	*Syriac Fragments* Fragmenta syriaca		Syriac (a/b)
2481.2	*Armenian Fragments* Fragmenta armeniaca		Armenian
2481.3	*Coptic Fragments* Fragmenta coptica		Coptic
2481.4	*Ethiopic Fragments* Fragmenta aethiopica		Ethiopic
2481.5	*Georgian Fragments* Fragmenta georgica		Georgian*
2481.6	Doubtful Arabic Fragments Dubia arabica		Arabic*
2482a	Letter to a Bishop of Antioch Concerning Patience Epistula ad episcopum Antiochenum de patientia		Arabic
2483	*199 Chapters of Evagrius's Disciples* *Κεφάλαια τῶν μαθητῶν Εὐαγρίου* Capita cic auctoribus discipulis Evagrii	Not directly Evagrius, but a collection of his students.	Greek* Syriac

Compiled and maintained by Joel Kalvesmaki. Please report any errors or omissions to me by e-mail.

Evagrius Ponticus

Monastic Theologian

Life | Corpus | Bibliography | Images | Online Resources

Literary Corpus of Evagrius Ponticus

Compiled by Joel Kalvesmaki

Abbreviations

Dubious or Spurious Works