Who were the Desert Ascetics, and how do they fit into the larger history of the monastic movement? Unlike the early Christian martyrs, whose commitment to Christ was exhibited in the public arenas and courts of the urban landscape, the daily martyrdom of Desert Ascetics was performed on the margins. Ascetics, as soldiers of Christ, moved to the desert to battle against demons both external and internal. They also went to the margins of society to focus on their relationship with God. While Desert Ascetics were apart from the world, they were still very much a part of the world. Today, we might understand the boldness of their choices as a decision to go “off the grid.” But, remarkably, the move to the Egyptian desert was not a fad but a movement that eventually expanded around the globe. Today the movement is known as monasticism; one who practices a life apart is known as a monk. The early Christian monastic movement focused on being alone with God. Exactly how monks lived out their asceticism differed from person to person, as the movement carried a high level of independence and was not regulated. As time progressed, rules governing monastic life did develop, but not in all communities. The fierce independence of the first monks of Egypt was later celebrated by subsequent generations of monks who regarded the Desert Ascetics as real monks. But who were these early Christian heroes?

Desert Ascetics were the first Christian celebrities: their lives were admired with regard to how they ate, how they prayed, how they slept, and how they responded to the challenges of seeking a holy life. Some built tiny homes for shelter in the desert, where they began new lives as servants of God. A small house with a courtyard, a kitchen, a garden, and a place to sleep also served as a place to host visitors who travelled across the Mediterranean simply to see and pray with the famous desert dwellers. Other ascetics clustered their homes together, sometimes living with a few other monks to form larger communities. Together they each helped one other on their personal journeys in mindfulness.

Who Were the Desert Ascetics?

The physical and mental distance from their villages and cities helped monks cultivate a life of self-reflection and total reliance upon God. To prepare for this work, monks trained both their bodies and their minds.