Spiritual Meadow

The Spiritual Meadow is a 7th-century book by John Moschus. In Greek, it is titled Leimōn pneumatikos (also the Leimonarion Λειμωνάριον, or the "New Paradise") and in Latin, it is known as Pratum spirituale ("Spiritual Meadow"), occasionally abbreviated Prat. Spirit. John Moschus wrote the book during the 610s or 620s.[1] It contains a rich assortment of over 200 narratives, biographies, and collections of sayings.

Spiritual Meadow
AuthorJohn Moschus
LanguageGreek

Editions

It was first edited by Fronton du Duc in Auctarium biblioth. patrum, II (Paris, 1624), 1057–1159. A better edition was brought out by Cotelier in Ecclesiae Graecae Monumenta, II (Paris, 1681), which is reprinted in J.-P. Migne, Patrologia Graeca. LXXXVII, III, 2851–3112. A Latin translation, by Ambrose Traversari, is printed in Migne, Patrologia Latina, LXXIV, 121–240, and an Italian version made from the Latin of Traversari (Venice, 1475; Vicenzo, 1479).

Summary

In the Spiritual Meadow, John Moschus narrates his personal experiences with many great ascetics whom he met during his extensive travels, mainly through Palestine, Sinai and Egypt, but also Kilikia and Syria, and repeats the edifying stories which these ascetics related to him.[2][1]

The Spiritual Meadow contains stories of various patriarchs and bishops such as Theodotus of Antioch, Elias I of Jerusalem, Ephraim of Antioch, Gennadius of Constantinople, Eulogius of Alexandria, Patriarch Amos of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Pope Gregory I, Patriarch Apollinarius of Alexandria, Synesius, and Athanasius of Alexandria. There are also stories of Byzantine emperors such as Anastasius I Dicorus and Zeno.[3]

The work teems with miracles and ecstatic visions and it gives a clear insight into the practices of Eastern monasticism, contains important data on the religious cult and ceremonies of the time, and acquaints us with the numerous heresies that threatened to disrupt the Church in the East.

Chapters

John Wortley's 1992 translation of the Spiritual Meadow contains the following 240 chapters.[3]

  1. The life of John the Elder and the cave of Sapsas
  2. The elder who fed lions in his own cave
  3. The life of Conon, priest of the community of Penthoucla
  4. The vision of Abba Leontios
  5. Abba Polychronios' story of the three monks
  6. Another story of Abba Polychronios
  7. The life and death of an elder who would not be higoumen of the lavra of the towers
  8. The life of Abba Myrogenes who had dropsy
  9. The wondrous charity of a holy elder
  10. The life of Barnabas the Anchorite
  11. The life of Abba Hagiodoulos
  12. A saying of Abba Olympios
  13. The life of Abba Mark the Anchorite
  14. A brother assailed by a lascivious spirit who was stricken with leprosy
  15. The wondrous deed of Abba Conon
  16. Abba Nicolas' story
  17. The life of a great elder
  18. The life of another elder at the monastery of the lavra who slept with lions
  19. Abba Elijah's story about himself
  20. The conversion of a soldier (whose life is briefly described) when God worked a miracle for him
  21. The death of an anchorite and of his slayer
  22. The life of another elder named Conon
  23. The life of Theodoulos the Monk
  24. An elder who lived at the cells of Choziba
  25. A brother at the monastery of Choziba, the words of <the prayer of> the holy offering and Abba John
  26. The life of Theophanes, his wondrous vision and concerning intercourse with heretics
  27. The life of the priest of the Mardardos Estate
  28. A wondrous deed of Abba Julian the Stylite
  29. A miracle of the most Holy Eucharist
  30. The life of Isidore the Monk of Melitene and another miracle of the most Holy Sacrament
  31. The conversion and life of Mary the Harlot
  32. The conversion and life of Babylas the Actor and of Cometa and Nicosa his concubines
  33. The life of the holy bishop Theodotos
  34. The life of the godly Alexander, Patriarch of Antioch
  35. The life of Elias, Archbishop of Jerusalem and concerning Flavian, Patriarch of Antioch
  36. The life of Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch and how he converted a Stylite monk from the impiety of the Severan heresy
  37. The life of a bishop who left his throne and came to the Holy City where he changed his clothes and became a builder's labourer
  38. The death of the impious Emperor Anastasios
  39. The life of a monk of the monastery of Abba Severian and how he was prudently restrained by a country-girl from sinning with her
  40. The life of Abba Cosmas the Eunuch
  41. the life of Abba Paul of Anazarbos
  42. The life of Abba Auxanon
  43. The horrible death of Thalilaios, the impious Archbishop of Thessalonica
  44. The life of an elder, a monk living near the city of Antinoë and concerning his prayer for a dead brother
  45. The life of a monk, a recluse on the Mount of Olives and concerning the veneration of an icon of the most Holy Mother of God
  46. The wondrous vision of Abba Cyriacos of the lavra of Calamon and concerning two books of the impious Nestorios
  47. A miracle of the holy mother of God against Gaianas the Actor who was blaspheming her in the theatre
  48. Another miracle of the Holy Mother of God by which Cosmiana, wife of Germanos, was compelled to return to the true faith from the Severan heresy
  49. The wondrous vision of the duke of Palestine by which he was compelled to renounce the aforementioned heresy and to enter into communion with the Church of Christ
  50. The vision and a saying of Abba George the Recluse
  51. The life of Abba Julian, the elder of the Egyptians' monastery
  52. A saying of Abba Elias the Solitary
  53. The life of Cyriacos the Elder from the monastery of Saint Sabas
  54. The life of the monks of Scete and concerning an elder <named> Ammonios
  55. The life of an elder who stayed at Scete and concerning Abba Irenaeus
  56. The life of John, the disciple of a great elder who lived in the village of Parasêma
  57. The death of Symeon the Stylite and concerning Abba Julian, another Stylite
  58. Concerning Julian again
  59. The life of Abba Thalilaios the Cilician
  60. The strange deed of an anchoress as a result of which a youth who loved her became a monk out of remorse; and concerning Julian again
  61. The life of Abba Leontios the Cilician
  62. The life of Abba Stephan, priest of the lavra of the Eliotes
  63. Concerning the same
  64. Concerning the same
  65. Concerning the same
  66. The life of Abba Theodosios the Solitary
  67. Concerning the same
  68. Concerning the same
  69. The life of Abba Palladios and of an elder of Thessalonica, a recluse named David
  70. The life of a Mesopotamian monk, Addas the Recluse
  71. The beautiful saying of a murderer to a monk who followed him when he was being led to execution
  72. Abba Palladios' story of an old man who committed murder and falsely accused a youth of the same crime
  73. The life of John the soldier of Alexandria
  74. A true saying of the same abba, Palladios, concerning heresies
  75. A miracle of the Lord for the wife and daughter of one of the faithful who was accustomed to entertaining monks
  76. The drowning of Mary
  77. The story of three blind men and of how they became blind
  78. The amazing miracle of a dead girl who detained her despoiler and would not let him go until he promised to become a monk
  79. A tremendous and stupendous miracle of the most holy sacrament under Dionysios, Bishop of Seleucia
  80. The spring conferred on the brothers of the monastery in Skopelos at the prayers of Theodosios, their abbot
  81. A well that filled with water when an icon of the same Abba Theodosios was let down into it
  82. The life of John, an elder at the Skopelos monastery
  83. Concerning the same
  84. The life and death of an anchorite of the same monastery, a servant of God
  85. How the wheat of the same monastery germinated because the customary almsgiving had been suspended
  86. Concerning another anchorite of the same monastery
  87. The finding of the corpse of the anchorite John the Humble
  88. The life of Abba Thomas, the steward of a community near Apamea and the miracle of his corpse after he died
  89. The finding of a holy anchorite on Mount Amanon
  90. The death of two anchorites on Mount Ptergion
  91. The life of Abba Gregory the Anchorite and of Thalilaios, his disciple
  92. The life of Brother George the Cappadocian and the finding of the body of Peter the Solitary of the Holy Jordan
  93. The life of Abba Sisinios (who declined a bishopric) and of his disciple
  94. The life of Abba Julian, the Bishop of Bostra
  95. The life of Patrick, an elder at the monastery of Skopelos
  96. Concerning the same <father> and also Julian, the blind Arab
  97. The life and death of two brothers who swore never to be separated from each other
  98. Concerning the surviving brother
  99. The life of Anthony, an elder at the monastery of Skopelos
  100. The life of Peter, the monk of Pontus
  101. The life of Pardos, the Roman monk
  102. The story of Sophronios the Sophist about what happened to him on the road
  103. The life and qualities of Abba Strategios
  104. The life of Abba Nonnos the Priest
  105. The life of a holy elder named Christopher, a Roman
  106. Abba Theodore's story of the Syrian monk, Severian
  107. The life of Abba Gerasimos
  108. The life of a virgin priest and of his wife, who was also a virgin
  109. The life of Abba George who was never perturbed
  110. Various sayings of an Egyptian elder
  111. The deed of a bald man dressed in sack-cloth
  112. The life and death of Leo, a Cappadocian monk
  113. An injunction of Abba John of Petra
  114. The life of Abba Daniel, the Egyptian
  115. Injunctions of Abba John, the Cicilian
  116. The brother who was falsely accused of taking a piece of gold
  117. A brother with a demon, cured by Abba Andrew
  118. The life of Menas the Deacon, a monk of Raithou
  119. The demon disguised as a monk which came at the call of an elder at Raithou
  120. Three dead monks found by fishermen at Paran
  121. The life and death of Gregory, the Byzantine, and of another Gregory, his disciple, from Paran
  122. Concerning two monks who went naked into church to make their communion and were not seen by anybody, except by Abba Stephan
  123. The life of Abba Zosimos the Cilician
  124. A story of the same <elder>
  125. The beautiful deed of Abba Sergios the Anchorite
  126. The unusual response of Abba Orentês of Mount Sinai
  127. The life of Abba George of the holy mountain of Sinai and of another person, one from Phrygian Galatia
  128. The life of Adelphios, Bishop of Arabessos and concerning the blessed John Chrysostom
  129. The life of a Stylite
  130. Admonitions of Abba Athanasios and his wondrous vision
  131. The life of Abba Zachaios of Holy Zion
  132. Concerning the same <elder>
  133. The holy monk who immobilised a Saracen hunter for two days
  134. The life of Theodore the Anchorite
  135. The virgins who wanted to leave the monastery and were possessed by demons
  136. The love of Abba Sisinios for a Saracen woman
  137. Abba John's story about Abba Calinicos
  138. Abba Sergios the Anchorite and a gentle monk who was baptised
  139. Abba Sergios' prophecy concerning Gregory, higoumen of the monastery of Paran
  140. The life of the same Gregory, Patriarch of Theoupolis
  141. The judicious reply of Abba Olympios
  142. Another judicious reply from Abba Alexander
  143. David, the robber-chief, who later became a monk
  144. Injunctions of one of the elders who were at the cells
  145. The life of the blessed Gennadios, Patriarch of Constantinople, and of his reader, Charisios
  146. The vision of Eulogios, Patriarch of Alexandria
  147. The wondrous correction of a letter written by the blessed Roman pontiff to Flaviano
  148. The vision of Theodore, Bishop of Dara, concerning the same most blessed Leo
  149. The amazing tale of Amos, Patriarch of Jerusalem concerning the most sacred Leo, the Roman pontiff
  150. The life and holiness of the Bishop of Romilla
  151. John the Persian's story of the most blessed Gregory, Bishop of the City of Rome
  152. The life and sayings of Marcellus the Scetiote, abba of the monastery of Monidia
  153. The answer of a monk of the monastery of Raithou to a secular brother
  154. The life of Theodore who lived in the world, a man of God
  155. Abba Jordanes' story of the Saracens who killed each other
  156. The reply of an elder to two philosophers
  157. The story of two monks of the Syrians' monastery at Soubiba about a dog who showed a brother the way
  158. An ass in the service of the monastery called Mardes
  159. The life of Abba Sophronios the Solitary and some injunctions of Menas
  160. How a demon appeared to an elder in the form of a very black boy
  161. The life of Abba Isaac of Thebes and how a demon appeared to him in the form of a youth
  162. The response of Abba Theodore of Pentapolis to the question of abstaining from wine
  163. The life of Abba Paul the Greek
  164. The reply of Abba Victor the Solitary to a faint-hearted monk
  165. The life of a robber named Cyriacos
  166. The life of a robber who became a monk and was later beheaded in lay clothes
  167. The life and death of Abba Poemen, the solitary
  168. Sayings of Abba Alexander the Elder
  169. The life of a blind elder at the monastery of Abba Sisoës
  170. The life of a holy woman who died in the wilderness
  171. The life of two remarkable men, Theodore the Philosopher and Zoilos the Reader
  172. The life of the above-mentioned Cosmas, the lawyer
  173. The wondrous deed of Theodore the Anchorite who made fresh water at sea by his prayer
  174. The deed of a religious ship-master who prayed to the Lord for rain
  175. A story about the Emperor Zeno who was much given to almsgiving
  176. The beautiful story of Abba Andrew about ten travellers, of whom one was a Hebrew
  177. The bad death of an Egyptian monk who wanted to occupy the cell of Evagrios, the heretic
  178. The life of an elder of the community of the Scolarii, a simple man
  179. The life of a woman religious <sanctimonialis feminae> who was from the Holy City
  180. The life of John the Anchorite who lived in a cave on the Socho Estate
  181. Concerning the same
  182. The life of Abba Alexander the Cilician who was besieged by a demon when he was near to death
  183. The wondrous deed of David, the Egyptian
  184. The life of Abba John the Eunuch and of a young man who resolved never to drink and of another elder greatly given to prayer
  185. The life of a faithful woman who, with wondrous wisdom, converted her gentile husband to the faith
  186. The life of Moschos, the merchant of Tyre
  187. The teaching of Abba John of Cyzicos on how to acquire virtue
  188. The life of two brothers who were Syrian money-dealers
  189. The life of a woman who remained
  190. The miracle of some wood given to Abba Brocha, the Egyptian
  191. A brief life of Saint John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople
  192. The story of a monk of the monastery of the godly Pope Gregory, and of how he was absolved of excommunication after death
  193. The wondrous deed of charity by the holy Abba Apollinarios, Patriarch of Alexandria, for a rich young man reduced to penury
  194. The exhortation of an elder who lived at Scete to a monk, not to enter taverns
  195. The life of Evagrios the Philosopher who was converted to the Christian faith by Synesios, Bishop of Cyrene
  196. The miracle which happened to the boys of Apamea who recited the prayer of consecration in a game
  197. Rufinus' anecdote of Saint Athanasios and other boys who were with him
  198. The reply of Saint Athansios, Bishop of Alexandria, to <the question of> whether one can be baptised without faith
  199. The story of a simple elder who used to see angels when he offered the Eucharist
  200. How a young goldsmith became the adopted son of a man of patrician rank
  201. The life of a most noble man of Constantinople whose father, when he was dying, left him the Lord Jesus Christ as his guardian
  202. The life of the servant of God, Abibas, the son of a worldly man
  203. The story of a jeweller who, by a wise decision, saved his life at sea
  204. How a religious woman who feared God restrained a monk from lascivious desire
  205. Concerning another wise woman who, by judicious advice, turned aside a monk who was harassing her
  206. A stratagem by which a great lady was taught humility
  207. The life of an Alexandrine girl who was received from the sacred font by angels
  208. The fine response of an elder to a brother besieged by depression
  209. The fine exhortation of a certain holy elder on the words of the Lord's Prayer: lead us not into temptation
  210. How a holy bishop overcame another one who was opposing him-by humility
  211. Concerning an elder of great virtues who got a brother who had stolen things from him out of prison
  212. Of two brothers who exercised marvellous patience in dealing with robbers
  213. Why there are signs and prodigies from God in the Holy Church
  214. The miracle of the baptismal font in the city of Cobana
  215. Another miracle: of the baptistry of the village of Cedrebat
  216. Some good advice about neither being obdurate nor remaining obdurate
  217. The best advice of an elder: that a monk should not go near a woman
  218. How Abba Sergios pacified a cursing farmer by patience
  219. How a brother was reconciled with a deacon who was aggrieved at him
  220. Theodor Nissen 1, BHG 1442b
  221. Theodor Nissen 2, BHG 1442c
  222. Theodor Nissen 3, Nau 342
  223. Theodor Nissen 4, BHG l440r
  224. Theodor Nissen 5, BHG 1440q
  225. Theodor Nissen 6, BHG 1440s
  226. Theodor Nissen 7, BHG l448i/1440kt
  227. Theodor Nissen 8, BHG l322n
  228. Theodor Nissen 9, BHG 1450ze
  229. Theodor Nissen 10, BHG 1442cb
  230. Theodor Nissen 12, BHG 1450p
  231. Theodor Nissen 13, BHG 1450u
  232. Elpidio Mioni 1
  233. Elpidio Mioni 2, BHG 1322b
  234. Elpidio Mioni 3, BHG 1448z
  235. Elpidio Mioni 4, BHG 1448z
  236. Elpidio Mioni 5, BHG l442m
  237. Elpidio Mioni 6, BHG l442mb
  238. Elpidio Mioni 7, BHG 1442f
  239. Elpidio Mioni 8
  240. Elpidio Mioni 9
  241. Elpidio Mioni 10
  242. Elpidio Mioni 11, BHG 2102d
  243. Elpidio Mioni 12, BHG 1076k

References
  1. Chadwick, H. (1974). "John Moschus and His Friend Sophronius the Sophist". The Journal of Theological Studies. 25 (1): 41–74. doi:10.1093/jts/XXV.1.41. JSTOR 23962231.
  2. "Johannes Moschos, Leimonarion". Greek Orthodox Books (in German). Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. Wortley, John, ed. (1992). The Spiritual Meadow. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, Saint Joseph's Abbey. ISBN 0-87907-439-6. OCLC 26591367.
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