The Asceticon ("ascetic discourses") by Abba Isaiah of Scetis is a diverse anthology of essays by an Egyptian Christian monk who left Scetis around 450 AD.
Contents Originally composed in Greek, the Asceticon consists of 30 essays ("logos" in singular, "logoi" in plural) on subjects including: advice for novice monks; precepts for those who have renounced the world; sayings and stories by Abba Isaiah; various letters, sermons, and sayings. Logos 30 includes several sayings that were also included in the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers), but in a different form, giving scholars some evidence on how those sayings evolved into their final form in the Apophthegmata Patrum. Abba Isaiah was also influential in bringing Christianity to Palestine.
The 29 discourses in John Chryssavgis's translation of the Asceticon are:Chryssavgis, John and Pachomios (Robert) Penkett (eds). Abba Isaiah of Scetis: Ascetic Discourses. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 2003.
Rules for the brothers who live with him On the natural state of the intellect On the condition of beginners and anchorites On the conscience of those who stay in their cells Faithful commandments for the edification of those who wish to live peacefully together On those who desire to lead a life of good silence On virtues Sayings Commands for those who have renounced (the world) Another discourse On the grain of mustard seed On wine On those who have struggled and reached perfection Acts of mourning On detachment On the joy that comes to the soul that desires to serve God On thoughts about renunciation and exile On forgiveness On passions On humility On repentance On the conduct of the new person On perfection On tranquillity To Abba Peter, his disciple Recorded by Isaiah's disciple, Abba Peter, who had heard it spoken by his master In which he says, "attend diligently" The branches of malice Lamentations
Sogdian fragments The Asceticon was read and translated by the Nestorians of Central Asia. A Sogdian fragment of the 4th discourse, translated from Syriac, was found in MC C2, along with part of a commentary on the 15th discourse by Dadisho Qatraya.
See also Apophthegmata Patrum Ethiopic Collectio Monastica Vitae Patrum
Bibliography Chryssavgis, John and Pachomios (Robert) Penkett (eds). Abba Isaiah of Scetis: Ascetic Discourses. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 2003. (English translation) de Broc, H. Isaïe de Scété: recueil ascétique, 2nd ed. Bégrolles-en-Mauges: Abbaye de Bellefontaine, 1985. (French translation) Draguet, René. Les cinq recensions de l'Ascéticon syriaque d'Abba Isaïe. Louvain: Secrétariat du Corpus SCO, 1968. [Pages 289–290 (Syriac text), 293–294 (Greek and Latin texts and French translation)]
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