Critical Study of Eastern Christianity monasticism until the end of the fourth century AD

In the history of Christianity, the definitions of Christian monasticism has been widened because of its large changes. For early Christians, monasticism was companionship and following of Christ in moral perfection and purity, poverty and self-despise. And there were no celibacy, hard asceticism, the monastery and desert. As time went on, asceticism in the desert was considered as a sign of monasticism. By the beginning of the fourth century, presence in the monastery also became a sign of monasticism. There are so many causes and roots for the formation and expansion of monasticism. Non-Christian thoughts like: Hellenism thoughts, the schools of Gnosticism, Manichaeism, Eastern Esoteric ideas and Essenes are known as the roots of monasticism. The Causes of monasticism can be expressed in two types of inter-religious and outer-religious factors and also can critically be analyzed. For proving monasticism, some Christian scholars argued about sayings and acts of Jesus and Paul but most cases has nothing to do with the monastic system or only similarity is in the case with some monastic teachings. Outer-religious factors in the formation of monasticism contain Roman non-Christian emperors’ pressures and oppressions before Constantine, which causes the choice of monastic hard life. The corruption of the church and theological conflicts also were Outer-religious causes of being separated from Christianity. As time went on, they made laws or an independent theologies under the title of “monasticism. Two important things in Christian monasticism that could only draw monasticism in that atmosphere, were the monastery and desert. And this was an innovation after first and second centuries in Christianity, which over time, in the eyes of monks and Christians became holy. Of the most important factors in the spread of monasticism are the monastic schools which encompasses Anthony, Pachomius, St. Basil’s monastic schools. Monasticism developments in these three schools in less than one century, shows that it is a new and newborn system. So if the monastic system in Eastern tradition, acts upon the teachings of Christ and the Apostles and if the issues of the next era such as sanctity of the desert and monastery and false teachings like: celibacy, hard asceticism, Prohibition of study are removed and eliminated, it (religious tradition) can be show the more acceptable face of monasticism.