Segregati a credentium turbis Historical and theological reflections on ecclesial aspects of monastic origins

In his eighteenth conference John Cassian seems to describe the origin of monasticism as a "reform" movement in reaction to the growing laxity of the church, a reform that he places, however, close to the apostolic age. His phrase, " they gradually separated themselves from the crowds of believers " in its context of a description of the growing laxity of the early church seems to suggest that the early monks were the true church over against the crowds of believers. Cassian was primarily a theologian rather than a historian. Nevertheless this passage raises very interesting questions both of history and historiography as well as questions of theology and ideology. This article seeks to examine the questions of history and historiography as well as those of theology and ideology.