Manual Labor in Early Egyptian Monasticism

The purpose of manual labor was to bring the monk to perfection so that he may avoid the dangers of pride, excessive asceticism, and self-righteousness. The monastic leaders encouraged a moderate balance between the disciplines; excess was discouraged as it was seen to encourage bias towards one discipline at the expense of the other. So important were the practical and contemplative disciplines in monastic life that, when new comers would join the community, the elder would provide training in weaving baskets and prayer, which were considered the basics of monastic living. Hence, by combining practical disciplines with contemplative aspects, the monk progresses towards perfection and union with God. This book seeks to explore the social and spiritual aspects of manual labor in monastic practice in Egypt from the late third century to roughly the mid fifth century, as portrayed in the literary sources.