Symbolic of the Numbers in the Works of Evagrius of Pontus

Abstract

Ioannis Kaminis, Symbolic of the Numbers in the Works of Eva-grius of Pontus. Evagrius Ponticus is not only one of the most famous Christian theologists who wrote on Christian asceticism and spirituality, but also one of the most educated scholars of Late Antiquity. This gives him the opportunity to present the meaning of prayer and his ascetical teaching in various ways based on numerical symbolism. Undoubtedly, this kind of symbolism has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy while Christian thinkers used it and adapted it to Christian teaching. An example of this is the book of Revelation of St. John the Theologian and also his Gospel where we can detect the symbolical meaning of numbers and hours. Evagrius Ponticus used and developed this tradition, something which is evident in his work Chapters on Prayer and is also confirmed by new research on his work as a whole.