How did Egyptian monasticism influence the Christian world?

Egyptian monasticism, the strongest movement of spiritual revival in the history of the Church, attracted monks from many countries. Greeks, Romans, Cappadocians, Libyans, Syrians, Nubians, Ethiopians, and others came to Egypt. In short, Coptic monasticism had its influence on the Christian world through the following:

St. Athanasius spread monastic thought during his exile in Trier (336–337 A. D.) and when he fled to Rome in 339 A. D. He also wrote “The Life of Anthony,” which spread to the entire world in 357 A. D.

“The Rule of St. Pachomius” was translated into Greek by Palladius and into Latin by St. Jerome. St. Basil visited the Pachomian monasteries (337–358 A. D.) and was touched and influenced by them.

“The Rule of Saint Benedict” (480–550 A.D.) was inspired by the Pachomian order.

When St. John Cassian lived in Egypt for seven years, he wrote his two famous books about Coptic monasticism: “The Institutes” and “The Conferences.”

Evagrius Ponticus (346–329 A. D.) who is a central figure in the history of the Roman Church, lived as a monk in Nitria for two years, and in Kellia for fourteen years.

St. Jerome (342–450 A. D.) and Rufinus of Aquileia (345–410 A. D.) visited Egypt.

Palladius of Helenopolis is the historian who documented early monasticism, spent many years with the Egyptian monks, and became the disciple of Evagrius Ponticus. He wrote “The Lausiac History” around 419 A. D.

Mar Awgin was a disciple of St. Pachomius, and he founded a monastery in Nusaybin (or Nisibis) in Persia. He also translated the Pachomian rules to Persian and Syriac in mid-fourth century. According to the Chaldean tradition, it is said that seventy Egyptian monks helped him to build many monasteries there.

St. Hilarion of Gaza was a disciple of St. Anthony, and when he returned to his country, he practiced the life of asceticism.

St. Epiphanius of Salamis in Cyprus (315–403 A. D.) was influenced by Coptic monasticism.

Sulpicius Severus’¹⁸¹⁶ dialogues written in 430 A. D. and Postumianus¹⁸¹⁷ pilgrim’s account of his visit to Egypt in 399 A. D., offered a great description of Coptic monasticism.

The Spanish nun Etheria (Egeria) visited Egypt in the fourth century.

St. Melania the Elder, the Roman, visited Egypt’s wilderness.

St. John Chrysostom lived in one of the Pachomian monasteries in Upper Egypt from 373 to 381 A. D.

1816 Sulpicius Severus, was a Christian ascetic born 363 A. D. in France and died 420 A. D. His notable works are “Chronical” “Dialogues” and “Life of St. Martin”

1817 In Sulpicius Severus’ first dialogue, “Concerning the Virtues of the Monks of the East,” he talked about what his dear French friend, Postumianus, told him about his visit to the monks of Egypt.