Ealing Abbey Monastic Spirituality Group: Evagrius

Dr Monica Tobon

The Community of Nazareth, a monastic spirituality forum based at Ealing Abbey, met on Saturday, 12th December to study Evagrius under the guidance of Dr Monica Tobon, a lecturer at the Franciscan International Study Centre in Canterbury. During the talk Dr Tobon took the group through the main works by Evagrius such as the Praktikos and the Gnostikos. She spoke of impassibility and its importance within one's spiritual life, as well as the need to recognise when our appetites are misdirected and distracted away from God.

One participant commented that: "I had only really considered the ascetical teaching of Evagrius. But the talk by Dr Tobon has helped to see the implications of such teaching for our environment and the entire cosmos. There is a profound similarity between Evagrius and the teaching of Pope Francis in Laudato Si'."

The forum consisted of Benedictine monks, clergy, oblates and parishioners from Ealing Abbey. The forum was also pleased to welcome clergy from the Church of England, Rev Sam McNally-Cross and Rev Andrew Allen.

The next meeting of the forum will be in January 2016. Sir Richard Temple will be speaking about 'Icons and the Mystical Origins of Christianity'.

If you wish to attend please see the forum website: www.communityofnazareth.com