#Amma syncletica medieval free

Schaffer concludes about Syncletica’s thoughts on this topic: ‘human will is both free and dwells in grace’ (p. Later on Syncletica discusses at length Free Will.

Evil features after that, discussed in the forms of ‘logismoi’ or ‘thoughts’. First in her teachings, Syncetica understands that she comes on this quest for spiritual knowledge via Grace. Syncletica bases herself thoroughly on Scriptures. All parts of the Vita are thus interconnected.īefore concluding, Mary Schaffer discusses the theological approach of Syncletica in her life as an ascete. The outer circle consists of Prologue and Epilogue, the second of Syncletica’s early life and Passion, the third cycle contains her teachings, and finally we come to Christ in the middle. 60 the author illustrates her argument by drawing a schema for the text in which Christ is the innermost of four concentric circles. I would like to suggest that the Vita Syncleticae is quite carefully and deliberately crafted, and that its shape and use of language function to convey its message’ (p.

36), Schaffer instead writes that ‘closer reading reveals form and content of the work to be harmonious. For example, compared to other similar ascetical writings, we find no mention of a mentor for the young Syncletica, neither is there direct mention of ‘Mary, Mother of Christ, as Model for Virginity’.įorm and content of the Vita are commented upon with an interesting opinion of Schaffer: whereas others, like Elizabeth Castelli 2, who commented upon the text as being ‘not presented as a coherent argument but rather as something of a haphazard collection of statements with Syncletica expounding upon a variety of topics’ (p. Then the author continues exploring the context of the Vita Syncleticae. This ‘slight modification’ of the text discusses the dating of the Vita (from the mid-fifth century), the authorship (‘someone lettered in Greek, most possibly dwelling in the environs of Alexandria’), audience and purpose (women, more in general: anyone who is sincerely eager for growth in the spiritual life’), subject (Syncletica’s biography framing her teachings) and genre of this text (bios and politeia, biography and regimen). John’s University, Minnesota’ as a thesis. Mary Schaffer originally ‘submitted it in partial fulfillment of a Master’s degree in Theology at St. In 1995 the English translation the Life and Regimen of the Blessed and Holy Teacher Syncletica by Pseudo-Athanasius 1 was published by Peregrina Publishing (Toronto), and this volume is the study that accompanies the translation. This study is what has since long been missing among those who are interested in the rather obscure Life of Syncletica of Alexandria, a virgin whose life was written somewhere halfway the fifth century. – Toronto: Peregrina Publishing, 2001.- 167 pp., ills., select bibliography and notes. The Life of the Blessed & Holy Syncletica, by Pseudo-Athanasius, Part two: A Study of the Life, by Mary Schaffer.

Amma syncletica medieval