Évagre le Pontique

v. 345-399 4th century

Attention as work: what goes on in the head while one prays.

Who was Évagre le Pontique?

Born in Pontus, a much-noticed deacon at Constantinople, he left the city and a passion for a married woman, became a monk in Palestine, then reached the cells of the Egyptian desert. He lived there sixteen years by copying manuscripts, eating once a day, and wrote down what the fathers had passed on by word of mouth: the mechanics of thoughts, the struggle of attention. Two councils condemned his speculations; his pages on prayer went on circulating under other names.

In their own words

Prayer is the conversation of the mind with God.

On Prayer, ch. 3 (Greek text, PG 79), translated from the Greek by the Manna team

Prayer is the ascent of the mind to God.

On Prayer, ch. 35 (Greek text, PG 79), translated from the Greek by the Manna team

If you are a theologian you will pray truly; and if you pray truly you are a theologian.

On Prayer, ch. 60 (Greek text, PG 79), translated from the Greek by the Manna team

Do not pray for your own will to be done: it does not always agree with God's. Pray rather as you were taught: let your will be done in me.

On Prayer, ch. 31 (Greek text, PG 79), translated from the Greek by the Manna team