Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents

John Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero, editors, with the assistance of Giles Constable

A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founders' Typika and Testaments

Translated by Robert Allison, Anastasius Bandy, George Dennis, Gianfranco Fiaccadori, Catia Galatariotou, Ilija Iliev, Patricia Karlin-Hayter, Robert Jordan, Leslie S. B. MacCoull, Timothy Miller, Joseph Munitiz, Stephen Reinert, Nancy Patterson Sevcenko, Alice-Mary Talbot, and John Thomas, with an administrative commentary by John Thomas

Published 2001

This book is currently unavailable in print.

Front Matter

Maps

Giles Constable, Preface

Chapter One: Traditional Private Religious Foundations

Introduction

Seventh Century

1. Apa Abraham: Testament of Apa Abraham, Bishop of Hermonthis, for the Monastery of St. Phoibammon near Thebes, Egypt (trans. Leslie S. B. MacCoull)

Eighth Century

2. Pantelleria: Typikon of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Pantelleria (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)

Ninth Century

3. Theodore Studites: Testament of Theodore the Studite for the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller)

4. Stoudios: Rule of the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller)

Tenth Century

5. Euthymios: Testament of Euthymios for the Monasteries of Psamathia and Ta Agathou (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)

6. Rila: Testament of John of Rila (trans. Ilija Iliev)

7. Latros: Testament of Paul the Younger for the Monastery of the Mother of God tou Stylou on Mount Latros (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)

Eleventh Century

8. John Xenos: Testament of John Xenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Antiphonetria of Myriokephala on Crete (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)

9. Galesios: Testament of Lazarus of Mount Galesios (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)

10. Eleousa: Rule of Manuel, Bishop of Stroumitza, for the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa (trans. Anastasius Bandy)

Chapter Two: Athonite Monasteries

Introduction

Tenth Century

11. Ath. Rule: Rule of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)

12. Tzimiskes: Typikon of Emperor John Tzimiskes (trans. George Dennis)

13. Ath. Typikon: Typikon of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)

14. Ath. Testament: Testament of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)

15. Constantine IX: Typikon of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (trans. Timothy Miller)

Chapter Three: The Protectorate

Introduction

Tenth Century

16. Mount Tmolos: Typikon of Nikephoros Erotikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God and the Old Age Home called Ta Derma on Mount Tmolos (trans. John Thomas)

17. Nikon Metanoeite: Testament of Nikon the Metanoeite for the Church and Monastery of the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Kyriake in Lakedaimon (trans. Anastasius Bandy)

Eleventh Century

18. Nea Gephyra: Testament of Nikodemos for the Monastery of Nea Gephyra near Lakedaimon (trans. Stephen Reinert)

19. Attaleiates: Rule of Michael Attaleiates for his Almshouse in Rhaidestos and for the Monastery of Christ Panoiktirmon in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

20. Black Mountain: Regulations of Nikon of the Black Mountain (trans. Robert Allison)

21. Roidion: Typikon of Nikon of the Black Mountain for the Monastery and Hospice of the Mother of God Tou Roidiou (trans. Robert Allison)

Chapter Four: Early Reform Monasteries of the Eleventh Century

Introduction

22. Evergetis: Typikon of Timothy for the Monastery of the Mother of God Evergetis (trans. Robert Jordan)

23. Pakourianos: Typikon of Gregory Pakourianos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Backovo (trans. Robert Jordan)

24. Christodoulos: Rule, Testament and Codicil of Christodoulos for the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)

Chapter Five: Imperial and Royal Monasteries of the Twelfth Century

Introduction

25. Fragala: Testaments of Gregory for the Monastery of St. Philip of Fragala in Sicily (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter and Timothy Miller)

26. Luke of Messina: Typikon of Luke for the Monastery of Christ Savior (San Salvatore) in Messina (trans. Timothy Miller)

27. Kecharitomene: Typikon of Empress Irene Doukaina Komnene for the Convent of the Mother of God Kecharitomene in Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan)

28. Pantokrator: Typikon of Emperor John II Komnenos for the Monastery of Christ Pantokrator at Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan)

29. Kosmosoteira: Typikon of the Sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Kosmosoteira near Bera (trans. Nancy Patterson Sevcenko)

Chapter Six: Early Reform Monasteries of the Twelfth Century

Introduction

30. Phoberos: Rule of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Phoberos (trans. Robert Jordan)

31. Areia: Memorandum and Typikon of Leo, Bishop of Nauplia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God in Areia (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

32. Mamas: Typikon of Athanasios Philanthropenos for the Monastery of St. Mamas in Constantinople (trans. Anastasius Bandy)

33. Heliou Bomon: Typikon of Nikephoros Mystikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God ton Heliou Bomon or Elegmon (trans. Anastasius Bandy)

Chapter Seven: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Thirteenth Century

Introduction

34. Machairas: Rule of Neilos, Bishop of Tamasia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God of Machairas in Cyprus (trans. Anastasius Bandy)

35. Skoteine: Testament of Maximos for the Monastery of the Mother of God at Skoteine near Philadelphia (trans. George Dennis)

36. Blemmydes: Typikon of Nikephoros Blemmydes for the Monastery of the Lord Christ-Who-Is at Ematha near Ephesos (trans. Joseph Munitiz)

37. Auxentios: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of the Archangel Michael on Mount Auxentios near Chalcedon (trans. George Dennis)

38. Kellibara I: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios of the Palaiologoi-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis)

39. Lips: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Lips in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

40. Anargyroi: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Sts. Kosmas and Damian in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

Chapter Eight: Later Private Religious Foundations

Introduction

Twelfth Century

41. Docheiariou: Rule of Neophytos for the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel of Docheiariou on Mount Athos (trans. Robert Allison)

42. Sabas: Founder's Typikon of the Sabas Monastery near Jerusalem (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)

43. Kasoulon: Rule of Nicholas for the Monastery of St. Nicholas of Kasoulon near Otranto (trans. Timothy Miller)

44. Karyes: Typikon of Sabbas the Serbian for the Kellion of St. Sabbas at Karyes on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)

Thirteenth Century

45. Neophytos: Testamentary Rule of Neophytos for the Hermitage of the Holy Cross near Ktima in Cyprus (trans. Catia Galatariotou)

Fourteenth Century

46. Akropolites: Testament of Constantine Akropolites for the Monastery of the Resurrection (Anastasis) in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

47. Philanthropos: Typikon of Irene Choumnaina Palaiologina for the Convent of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

48. Prodromos: Testament of Neilos for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos (trans. Stephen Reinert)

49. Geromeri: Testament of Neilos Erichiotes for the Monastery of the Mother of God Hodegetria in Geromeri (trans. George Dennis)

50. Gerasimos: Testament of Gerasimos for the Small Monastery of St. Euthymios in Jerusalem (trans. George Dennis)

51. Koutloumousi: Testaments of Chariton for the Monastery of Christ Savior of Koutloumousi on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)

52. Choumnos: Rule and Testament of Makarios Choumnos for the Nea Mone of the Mother of God in Thessalonike (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

53. Meteora: Canonical Rule of Athanasios the Meteorite for the Monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) (trans. George Dennis)

Fifteenth Century

54. Neilos Damilas: Testament and Typikon of Neilos Damilas for the Convent of the Mother of God Pantanassa at Baionaia on Crete (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

Chapter Nine: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries

Introduction

Fourteenth Century

55. Athanasios I: Rule of Patriarch Athanasios I (trans. Timothy Miller)

56. Kellibara II: Typikon of Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis)

57. Bebaia Elpis: Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

58. Menoikeion: Typikon of Joachim, Metropolitan of Zichna, for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Mount Menoikeion near Serres (trans. Timothy Miller)

Fifteenth Century

59. Manuel II: Typikon of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos for the Monasteries of Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)

60. Charsianeites: Testament of Patriarch Matthew I for the Monastery of Charsianeites Dedicated to the Mother of God Nea Peribleptos (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)

61. Eleousa Inv.: Inventory of the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa in Stroumitza (trans. Anastasius Bandy, with Nancy Sevcenko)

Glossary

Appendix A: Concordance with Previous Lists

Appendix B: The Regulation of Diet in the Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents

Appendix C: Topical Interrelationships of the Families of the Typika of the Byzantine Monastic Reform Movement

General Bibliography

Indexes

People and Places

General Index

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Document

EL MONACATO PRIMITIVO EN PALESTINA.

Los primeros 40 años de existencia de la Iglesia,y hasta los años 70,constituye el período de la llamada Iglesia Apostólica,ya que muchos de los Apóstoles de Jesucristo estaban aun con vida y marcó la primera experiencia misionera de la Iglesia ..Los años que siguen fueron el gran período de los mártires,"Testigos de Cristo",que dieron supremo testimonio,entregando su vida como Él mismo había hecho....Esta situación duró hasta principios del S.IV.Durante los siglos siguientes vino el desarrollo del poder temporal de la Iglesia,gracias a la conversión de gobernantes y emperadores,y en especial al establecimiento del cristianismo como religión oficial del Imperio Romano...Esto podría acarrear un riesgo importante,el potencial olvido de la dimensión espiritual del cristianismo.Para ello supo el Espíritu Santo suscitar una nueva forma de espiritualidad,mediante la abnegación,la renuncia,la soledad,el silencio,la penitencia y la mortificación.Renuncia al mundo para dedicarse a la oración y el contacto con Dios.Esto fue el monacato movimiento monástico,que tuvo en Oriente,especialmente en Egipto y en Palestina,su desarrollo más notable.

Es un tema apasionante que he estudiado en profundidad y recomiendo efusivamente a toda persona interesada en el mismo...

La Laura de San Eutimio es uno de los primeros cenobios de Palestina.Está excabada en la roca en la región de Masado.Se pueden ver las celdas colgadas en la pared de la foto.

MONASTERIO DE SAN SABAS

La Gran Laura de San Sabas, conocida en árabe como Marcha Saba (hebreo: el מנזרמרסבא), es un monasterio ortodoxo griego excavado en la ladera de una montaña con vistas al valle del Cidrón en Cisjordania al este de Belén. Fue fundado por San Sabas de Capadocia en el año 439 y hoy alberga alrededor de 20 monjes. Se considera uno de los monasterios habitados más viejos del mundo, y todavía mantiene muchas de sus tradiciones antiguas.

Es uno de los monasterios cristianos más antiguos que están habitados.El monasterio ha ido creciendo a través de la historia de una forma libre,adaptándose al terreno los grandes contrafuertes que solucionan la aparición de algunos de los planos horizontales sobre los que se ha ido construyendo.Alguno de estos contrafuertes es de tal tamaño que se convierte en característica de este singular monasterio.Tiene aspecto de fortaleza.Es importante el desarrollo histórico de la liturgia de la Iglesia Ortodoxa en este cenobio.