Evagrius Ponticus

Evagrius Ponticus (Εὐάγριος), monk and ascetic writer, was born at Iberis, on the Black Sea, about A.D. 345. He was made deacon by Gregory of Nyssa or Gregory of Nazianzum, and received his theological culture to some extent under the latter, who took him to Constantinople in 379 or 380, and made him archdeacon. In the Origenistic controversies he took the side of Origen. After some experience of the dangers of personal beauty and vanity, he renounced the world, assumed the monastic garb, and departed for Egypt in 383 or 384, where he lived as an ascetic up to the day of his death in (probably) 399. Socrates speaks very highly (H.E. 4:23) of his character and writings, of which there remain, 1. Μοναχός (in Cotelerius, Mon. Groc. 3:68): — 2. Α᾿ντιῤῥητικός (in Pallad. Vita Chrysost. page 349): — 3. Rerum Monachalium rationes; and a few other tracts, collected in Galland. Bibl. Patrol. 7:553; also in Migne, Patrol. Graec. 40:1219 sq. See Tillemont, Memoires, 10:368; Socrates, Hist. Eccl. 3:7; 4:23; Sozomen, Hist. Eccl. 6:30; Cave, Hist. Lit. Anno 380.