Nilus of Ancyra was one of the most significant theologians and spiritual guides of the fifth century. His Scriptural commentaries include a truly distinctive interpretation of the Song of Songs, his treatises such as On Voluntary Poverty and Monastic Asceticism comprise invaluable and unique evidence of fifth spirituality and theology precisely when Christian teaching was reaching a definite and consensual form in the fifth century, and his letters, with their all-inclusive range of correspondents, from slaves to emperor, provide a unique window into the politics, controversies, and daily life in the later Roman Empire. And his style, featuring humor, wit, word play, and his own invented vocabulary, make Nilus one of the most, if not the most, creative and innovative writers of the early church. Long neglected because his name was used to protect the works of his predecessor, Evagrius Pontikos, Nilus’ work is unquestionably valuable in its own right. This translation offers a modern and accurate selection from his innovative, deeply spiritual, and delightfully poetic ouvre.
Chapter One. Nilus of Ancyra: A General Introduction .............. 1
Nilus’ Life .......................................................................... 2
Nilus’ Era .......................................................................... 4
Nilus’ Correspondents ........................................................ 7
Rufinus the Scholar (1.76) ................................................. 7
Gaina the Major General (1.79) ......................................... 7
Eugene the Deacon (1.83) ................................................. 7
Isisdore the Excubitor (2.322) ........................................... 8
Timothy the Subdeacon (1.26) .......................................... 8
Nemertius the Silentarius (2.12-13) ................................... 8
Hippasius the Tribune (2.28) ............................................. 8
Simplicius the Secretary (2.200), Hipponicos the Scrinarius
(1.327-8) ........................................................................... 8
Zosimus the Administrator (1.32 ff.) .................................. 9
Socrates, Count (2.200) ..................................................... 9
Epiphanes, Asterios Reader (2.8-11, 2.241) ....................... 9
Cyprian, Delegator (2.243) ................................................ 9
Meletius the Chancellor ..................................................... 9
Apollodorus the Rhetor ................................................... 10
Demetrios the Domestic (2.312) ...................................... 10
Nilus’ Dogmatic Theology: Return to Irenaeus ................. 10
Nilus’ Ascetical Theology: Mindfulness of Mind ............... 14
Monastic Ascesis:............................................................. 16
Nilus’ Style: Christian Eloquence ..................................... 19
Nilus’ Vocabulary ............................................................ 22
1. Coined words (Neologisms) ......................................... 22
2. Etymologial: ................................................................ 22
General Bibliography....................................................... 25
Nilus Bibliography........................................................... 25
About the translation....................................................... 30
Chapter Two. The Peristeria as Hagiodicy ............................... 31
Text ................................................................................ 33
Chapter Three. Monastic Asceticism ...................................... 109
1. True Philosophy: Nilus’ Theme in the Treatise ........... 109
2. Style .......................................................................... 110
3. Evagrian Asceticism .................................................. 112
4. Text ........................................................................... 113
Chapter Four. On Monastic Superiority, or, that those who
dwell in quiet or silence in the deserts are superior to
those who live in cities, even though it may seem
otherwise to the inexpert ............................................... 159
Introduction .................................................................. 159
Text .............................................................................. 160
Chapter Five. Poverty in Paradise: On Holy Poverty ............... 179
1. Introduction .............................................................. 179
Nilus’ Thesis: Poverty in Paradise .................................. 179
2. Text (PG 79) .............................................................. 188
Chapter Six. Nilus’ Letters ..................................................... 219
1. 1-3 To Ptolemy Sincleticus ........................................ 223
1.4-5 To Marcellus the Monk ......................................... 224
11.8.9-19 To Ptolomy Syncliticus .................................. 225
1.22 To Marcian ............................................................ 227
1.25 To Abraham the Priest ........................................... 227
1.26. To Timothy the Subdeacon ................................... 228
1.32-33 To Zosimus the Administrator .......................... 228
1.34 To Sophronius the Monk........................................ 228
1.41 To Heliodorus the Monk ........................................ 229
1.43 To Faustianus ........................................................ 229
1.50 To Theodorian ....................................................... 230
1.59-61, 70 To Melitius the Chancellor .......................... 230
1.75 To the Rhetor Apollodorus .................................... 231
1.76 To Rufinus, Scholar ............................................... 232
1.79 To Gaina the Major General................................... 233
1.80, 81 To Flavian ....................................................... 234
1.83 To Eugene the Deacon ........................................... 234
1.85, 86, 87, 88 To Philagrius the Priest ........................ 235
1.98, 102 To Silvanus, Bishop ....................................... 236
1.104 To Capitonus, Deacon .......................................... 237
1.107 To Zosimus, Monk ............................................... 238
1.246 To Euphrasius, Bishop ......................................... 238
1.272 To Ptolomeus ...................................................... 238
1.305-6 To Calocyrus .................................................... 239
1.307 To Silvanus the Cenobite ..................................... 239
1.317. To Athanasius the Public Defender ..................... 239
1.327-328 To the Srinarius Hipponicus ......................... 239
2.1 To Athenogene ........................................................ 240
2.2 To Timon, Bishop .................................................... 240
2.8-11 To the Reader Asterios ....................................... 240
2.12-13 To Nemertius the Silentiarus ............................ 241
2.21 To The Reader Isidore ........................................... 241
2.22. To Nicodemus ...................................................... 242
2.24-27 To Charis the Bishop ........................................ 242
2.312 To Demetrius the Domestic .................................. 242
2.322 To Isidore the Excubitor ...................................... 243
2.293 To Zendorus the Deacon ...................................... 243
2.25 To Hermolaus the Monk ........................................ 244
2.28 To Hippasius the Tribune ...................................... 244
2.33 To Chrysogonus the Priest-Abbot ........................... 244
2.34-35 To Socrates the Recorder .................................. 244
2.39 To the famous Auxentius ....................................... 245
2.46-48 To Heliodore the Monk ..................................... 245
2.49 To Alexander the Monk, from a Good Grammarian 245
2.50 To Aristoclus the Monk .......................................... 246
2.51 To Vincent the Ascetic ........................................... 246
2.74 To Pisimius the Monk ............................................ 246
2.75 To Zoza the Ascetic ............................................... 246
2.76 To the Monk Theodore .......................................... 247
2.77 To Neadius, Olympius, Andromachus, Julius, and
Chimasius, Contentious Monks............................... 247
2.78 To Cyricos the Monk ............................................. 248
2.84 To Onesimus, Monk ............................................... 249
2.137-8 To Euphemius the Monk ................................... 249
2.171 To Aristarchus the Priest...................................... 250
2.174 To Therinus, Primate ........................................... 250
2.175 To Firminus, the Priest ........................................ 250
2.197 To Simplicius the Secretary ................................. 251
2.200 To Socrates, Count ............................................... 251
2.204-5 To Valens the Imperial Officer .......................... 251
2.241 To Epiphanies, Reader ......................................... 252
2.242 To Julian, Canon Lawyer ..................................... 253
2.243 To Cyprian, the Delegator .................................... 253
2.325 To Gentilius the Public Advocate ......................... 254
2.327 To Draconius the Imperial Tax Collector .............. 254
3.14 To Faustiniano....................................................... 255
3.50 To Eleutherius, Monk ............................................ 256
3.71 To Pharismanimus, born in December ................... 256
3.94 To Macedonius, Deacon ......................................... 257
3.213 To Rodominus the Priest ...................................... 257
3.270 To Pergamus the Reader ...................................... 258
3.283 To Eucthemius the Bishop ................................... 258
3.371 To Eugene the Monk ............................................ 259
3.142 To Polychron the Priest ....................................... 259
3.143 To Demetrius the Monk ....................................... 260
3.144 To Domninus the Priest ....................................... 260
3.150-151 To Bilillus the Monk ..................................... 261
3.153 To Nilus the Scholar ............................................ 262
3.154 To Damian the Monk ........................................... 262
3.215 To Agathus the Deacon ........................................ 262
4.14 To Chionius the Silentius ....................................... 263
4.25 To Theodore, Monk ............................................... 263
4.33 To Aquila .............................................................. 265
Chapter Seven. The Prostitute Who Became a Princess: Nilus
on the Song of Songs ..................................................... 267
A. The Strategy of the Song of Songs: a New Approach ... 267
B. An Allegory of the Icon of Christ ............................... 269
C. A Link in a Chain: Recovering the Commentary ........ 270
Format of the Translation of the Commentary ................ 271
Text .............................................................................. 271
