Confused about various volumes of the Desert Fathers

[Rocks_91]

Hello, good people. I’ve read the ‘Sayings of the Desert Fathers’ by Dr Benedicta Ward by Penguin. Now I see there are three major documents of the Desert Fathers from which the books are translated. It’s (1) Aphophthegmata Patrum (2) the Paradise volumes and (3) the Ethiopian Collectio Monastica… am I right? So the book I read was from the first one? Is there overlap in the texts of these three documents or are they distinct? I’m asking because I’m considering buying the volumes of Paradise of the Holy Fathers translated by EA Wallis Budge two volumes which will cost me around 9$ each on Kindle. Does that sound good? And what books are written from the Ethiopic Collection? I couldn’t find one except an steeply priced volumes ‘Collectio Monastica’ Aeth 45 and 46 or some such thing by Victor Arras. I don’t understand what 'Aeth 45 and 46 are. Please tell me. I’m also considering getting a Monastic spiritual book called the Evergetinos, which I heard was recommended, but it’s not available at the moment in my country and there don’t appear to be Kindle ebooks. So much to read… Please help.

 

[Vico]

Hello, good people. I’ve read the ‘Sayings of the Desert Fathers’ by Dr Benedicta Ward by Penguin. Now I see there are three major documents of the Desert Fathers from which the books are translated. It’s (1) Aphophthegmata Patrum (2) the Paradise volumes and (3) the Ethiopian Collectio Monastica… am I right? So the book I read was from the first one? Is there overlap in the texts of these three documents or are they distinct? I’m asking because I’m considering buying the volumes of Paradise of the Holy Fathers translated by EA Wallis Budge two volumes which will cost me around 9$ each on Kindle. Does that sound good? And what books are written from the Ethiopic Collection? I couldn’t find one except an steeply priced volumes ‘Collectio Monastica’ Aeth 45 and 46 or some such thing by Victor Arras. I don’t understand what 'Aeth 45 and 46 are. Please tell me. I’m also considering getting a Monastic spiritual book called the Evergetinos, which I heard was recommended, but it’s not available at the moment in my country and there don’t appear to be Kindle ebooks. So much to read… Please help.

V. Arras, Collectio monastica (CSCO 238-239. Scriptores Aethiopici, 45-46; Louvain: Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 1963). In ge’ez the Isaian material is attributed to Macarius, Ephraim and Moses of Scetis

You can probably check them out if you are a library member, from WorldCat to see if they are what you expect.

 

[Rocks_91]

I’m not any library member. I just purchase books from Amazon.in for real books and Amazon.com for kindle books.

I want to know… is E.A. Wallis Budge’s work Paradise of Holy Fathers published by St Shenouda Monastery reliable? I’m not sure what his religious affiliation is, also one place on the internet says his work on Egyptology is ‘laughable’.

Anyway, where can I get a good reading plan for Desert Fathers? Because I intend to read many after I finish reading books on Church history. Thanks.

 

[Vico]

I’m not any library member. I just purchase books from Amazon.in for real books and Amazon.com for kindle books.

I want to know… is E.A. Wallis Budge’s work Paradise of Holy Fathers published by St Shenouda Monastery reliable? I’m not sure what his religious affiliation is, also one place on the internet says his work on Egyptology is ‘laughable’.

Anyway, where can I get a good reading plan for Desert Fathers? Because I intend to read many after I finish reading books on Church history. Thanks.

I don’t know how reliable that work is, it is historical accounts.

That one is available to read online here:

archive.org/details/theparadiseorgar01unkwuoft

Classic Readings:

The Philokalia, Volume 1, 1979
The Philokalia, Volume 2, 1982
The Philokalia, Volume 3, 1986
The Philokalia, Volume 4, 1999

 

[Tigg]

I don’t know how reliable that work is, it is historical accounts.

That one is available to read online here:

archive.org/details/theparadiseorgar01unkwuoft

Classic Readings:

The Philokalia, Volume 1, 1979
The Philokalia, Volume 2, 1982
The Philokalia, Volume 3, 1986
The Philokalia, Volume 4, 1999

I have two volumes of the Philokalia and they are wonderful. Absolute authentic spirituality on a depth not usually seen in more modern writings. However, they may be more beneficial to those who are in spiritual direction so that misinterpretations will not occur, although theology is not the focus, but prayer life and union with God.

 

[detoutcoeur]

Hello, good people. I’ve read the ‘Sayings of the Desert Fathers’ by Dr Benedicta Ward by Penguin. Now I see there are three major documents of the Desert Fathers from which the books are translated. It’s (1) Aphophthegmata Patrum (2) the Paradise volumes and (3) the Ethiopian Collectio Monastica…

If you check the Translator’s Note by Benedicta Ward in your copy of Sayings of the Desert Fathers, it should tell you what the source(s) was (or were).

Have a look at the good information in this link, especially Essential Texts.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Fathers

 

[Rocks_91]

I don’t know how reliable that work is, it is historical accounts.

That one is available to read online here:

archive.org/details/theparadiseorgar01unkwuoft

Classic Readings:

The Philokalia, Volume 1, 1979
The Philokalia, Volume 2, 1982
The Philokalia, Volume 3, 1986
The Philokalia, Volume 4, 1999

I gather the first volume of Paradise by Budge is historical accounts and the second one is ‘sayings’. I’ll check the online version, thanks. Until I know it’s reliable, I won’t buy a copy, though.

I had downloaded the free Philokalia from archive.org but the Kindle versions’ had no table of contents and minor formatting errors also. So I guess I’ll just pay amazon 10$ for Volume 1.

 

[Rocks_91]

If you check the Translator’s Note by Benedicta Ward in your copy of Sayings of the Desert Fathers, it should tell you what the source(s) was (or were).

Have a look at the good information in this link, especially Essential Texts.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Fathers

Yes, I’ll check. I think the book did mention being from ‘Apophthegmata Patrum’. But I’m (still) unclear whether those three documents are distinct sayings and wisdom or whether overlap, as I was looking into buying a translation of Paradise and Ethiopian Collection…

 

[SyroMalankara]

I don’t know how reliable that work is, it is historical accounts.

That one is available to read online here:

archive.org/details/theparadiseorgar01unkwuoft

Classic Readings:

The Philokalia, Volume 1, 1979
The Philokalia, Volume 2, 1982
The Philokalia, Volume 3, 1986
The Philokalia, Volume 4, 1999

I would recommend NOT reading the Philokalia, first have a spiritual elder, then ask them if they think it would be to your benefit. Only read it if they give you the reading, or if they instruct you while you read it.

 

[Beunos]

I must say that the wisdom of the Desert Fathers is truly amazing, it has changed my life in a profound way. Their teachings has also been wonderfully described by Christopher Jamison in “Finding Happiness: Monastic Steps For A Fulfilling Life”.

I must also say that I agree with SyroMalankara, it’s no walk in the park, really powerful stuff and some form of spiritual elder guidance along the way could be necessary.