Ascetics and society in Nilus of Ancyra: Old Testament imagery as a model for personal and social reform

This study examines Nilus of Ancyra's use of Old Testament material, particularly the prophets. Such allusions, by the late fourth century, are to be expected in the ascetic movement; but Nilus goes beyond simply referencing certain stories, and uses the Old Testament to define the ascetic process of conquering the passions, to encourage personal transformation and ultimately to convert society to a way of life based on Old Testament models. This dependence on Old Testament themes and imagery has far-reaching consequences for Nilus's asceticism and for his worldview. They help him to function as a prophet to various communities (ascetic, ecclesiastical, and secular) by bringing moral reform to each of them.; The first stage of Nilus's ascetic reform focuses on an ascetic's interior life. Here Nilus employs Old Testament imagery to call an ascetic away from the world, to describe basic disciplines, and to teach ascetics how to scrutinize their thoughts and memories in order to conquer the passions. This interior purification eventually transforms an ascetic into a prophet himself. We will investigate Nilus's use of literary forms of prophetic speech, their relationship to chreiai (in the sense of maxims or exemplary anecdotes), and how he adapts these forms for his purpose.; Having purified his nous, the ascetic prophet is able to refocus his attention on society. A prophet must have a community with which to interact. So, we will examine the roles ascetics should play, according to Nilus, in the larger Church and society. He continues the ascetic tradition in that he recommends several social functions, including those of mediator and moral teacher. He tries, however, to reform the late antique system of patronage, envisioning a different relationship between ascetic and society. As for his own relationship, it is his letters that link his literary formulations and his chosen audience. So, we will have to explore the many problems that the letter collections present. Finally, we will be brought full circle concerning literary elements and reform by investigating the manipulation of Nilus's own words by his students and the effects this practice had on Nilus's spiritual legacy and corpus.