---
title: "H7131 Early Monasticism & Literature · St Cyril’s"
url: https://stcyrils.edu.au/units/h7131-early-monasticism-literature
description: "This undergraduate unit introduces students to the historical context of an important movement in church history that continued to shape Christian…"
---

1. [Home](https://stcyrils.edu.au/)
2. [Study](https://stcyrils.edu.au/study)
3. [Units](https://stcyrils.edu.au/units)
4. H7131

H7131

# Early Monasticism & Literature

Code

H7131

Level

Undergraduate

Weighting

9 credit points

Type

Foundational

Discipline

Church History

On this page

1. [Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions](#prerequisites-corequisites-or-exclusions)
2. [Attendance Requirements](#attendance-requirements)
3. [Academic Staff](#academic-staff)
4. [Curriculum Objectives](#curriculum-objectives)
5. [Learning Outcomes](#learning-outcomes)
6. [Content](#content)
7. [1) Monastic origins and motivations 2) Monastic settlements and their ways of life 3) Key monastic figures who helped shape monastic spirituality 4) Monastic text and archaeological sites in light of its historical context 5) Understanding monastic spirituality](#1-monastic-origins-and-motivations-2-monastic-settlements-and-their-ways-of-life-3-key-monastic-figures-who-helped-shape-monastic-spirituality-4-monastic-text-and-archaeological-sites-in-light-of-its-historical-context-5-understanding-monastic-spirituality)

Check the [timetable](https://stcyrils.edu.au/timetable) to see when this unit is next offered, then[enrol online](https://stcyrils.edu.au/enrol).

## Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions

Nil

## Attendance Requirements

During the Semester, students must attend four scheduled tutorials **live online,** so long as time zone permits.

## Academic Staff

Rev. Dr. Anthony St. Shenouda; BE, University of New South Wales, MA (Coptic Studies) MQ, PhD (Coptic Studies) MQ.

## Curriculum Objectives

This undergraduate unit introduces students to the historical context of an important movement in church history that continued to shape Christian spirituality and theology, particularly in the Christian East until present.

## Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to: 1) Analyse the cultural background that gave rise to the monastic movement 2) Assess the significance of the various monastic settlements, figures, texts, and spiritual teachings in shaping the monastic movement in the first seven centuries. 3) Critically engage with primary sources in light of their historical context 4) Integrate secondary sources into the critical study of early monasticism 5) Apply aspects of monastic spirituality in personal and contemporary parish life

## Content

## 1) Monastic origins and motivations 2) Monastic settlements and their ways of life 3) Key monastic figures who helped shape monastic spirituality 4) Monastic text and archaeological sites in light of its historical context 5) Understanding monastic spirituality

---
St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College · 6/252–254 West Street, Carlton NSW 2218, Australia · +61 2 9546 6411 · registrar@stcyrils.edu.au
Site guide for AI agents: https://stcyrils.edu.au/llms.txt