Perfection in Late Antique Palestinian Monasticism: a Historical, Literary and Theological Analysis of Cyril of Scythopolis’ Lives

My research will focus on the Lives of the monks of the Judaean desert written by Cyril of Scythopolis, thus trying to find out the paradigm of monastic perfection, as it is canonised in them. The analysis will examine historical, literary and theological issues within the text. First of all, a stylistic and rhetorical study of Cyril’s Greek will be carried out, along with the discussion on literary genre and historical reliability. Then, the investigation will focus on historical themes: the Second Origenist Controversy; the relationship between imperial circles in Constantinople and local church in Palestine; the growing institutionalisation of the Judaean desert monasticism. Finally, my research will outline Cyril’s purpose in presenting saintly figures and a new idea of what is the universal and the local church, by shaping an ideal of moral and spiritual perfection that always coincides with what is considered to be orthodoxy in leading circles. It is the perfect way of life (that of a monk), on the correct doctrinal basis (that of orthodoxy) and lived at the perfect place (the Holy Land, near Jerusalem).