Videos by Paula Tutty
Several letters survive from the fourth and fifth centuries written by women to monks. Often the ... more Several letters survive from the fourth and fifth centuries written by women to monks. Often the discussion focuses on the recipient, but here, I examine these letters in order to ask what they can tell us about female agency in the late antique period. This paper was recorded for the 'Women in Ancient Cultures Conference' 2021 https://www.wacconference.net/conferences 239 views
Articles by Paula Tutty
Studies in Church History Vol. 60, 2024
Hagiographical writing promotes a vision of Egyptian monasticism in which pious ascetic figures a... more Hagiographical writing promotes a vision of Egyptian monasticism in which pious ascetic figures are isolated from the world. Peter Brown highlighted the role of the holy man as patron, but nonetheless reinforced a traditional view of Egyptian monasticism based on his readings of works such as the sixth-century Apophthegmata Patrum. Surviving monastic correspondence, in contrast, demonstrates that there was a highly individualized approach to the monastic vocation. In this article, I turn to documentary material to consider the complexities of the early development of the movement. As a case study, I use the Greek and Coptic correspondence of a fourth-century monk called Apa John. My conclusion is that activities and behaviours described in the texts do not always accord with any known typology or ideal, but they are invaluable for exploring aspects of the early monastic impulse and the role played by the movement in wider society.
Monastic Economies in Late Antique Egypt and Palestine, 2023
This chapter looks at the theme of travel in an early monastic setting and its impact on everyday... more This chapter looks at the theme of travel in an early monastic setting and its impact on everyday monastic life. Surviving documentation acts as a witness for the economic
Religious Identifications in Late Antique Papyri, 2022
Within the covers of the Nag Hammadi Codices, a collection of fourth-century letters was discover... more Within the covers of the Nag Hammadi Codices, a collection of fourth-century letters was discovered that had been written to and from a community of monks. The contents of the letters provide snapshots of the everyday activities of a group of people who were both identified and self-identifying as monks at a time when the norms associated with monasticism were not yet fully established. Using the theories developed in the work of Bernard Lahire, I examine these and other early monastic letters to seek out evidence for the possession of multiple social identities by people who labelled themselves, or were labelled, as monks. I then ask how this can give us an insight into plural belongings and role recognition as experienced by the monastic pioneers who played a pivotal role in creating and developing a new social field within a Christian framework.
T&T Clark Handbook of the Early Church, 2021
Chapter 31 in the T&T Clark Handbook of the Early Church (2021), edited by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, J... more Chapter 31 in the T&T Clark Handbook of the Early Church (2021), edited by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, J.A. McGuckin and Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski.
In the over seventy years since their discovery, the Nag Hammadi Codices have had a seismic impact on our understanding of the development of early Christianity. This chapter explores their continued interest for scholars and laypeople, and the controversy that still surrounds them.
"Books of the Dead or Books with the Dead? Interpreting Book Depositions in Late Antique Egypt." ... more "Books of the Dead or Books with the Dead? Interpreting Book Depositions in Late Antique Egypt." Pages 287-328 in The Nag Hammadi Codices and Late Antique Egypt (STAC 110). Edited by Hugo Lundhaug & Lance Jenott, Mohr Siebeck: Tübingen, 2018.
This article challenges the suggestion that certain Christian books, including the Nag Hammadi Codices, were discovered as grave goods and therefore might be interpreted as Christian ‘Books of the Dead’ for aiding the soul’s journey to the afterlife.
"The Political and Philanthropic Role of Monastic Figures and Monasteries as Revealed in Fourth-C... more "The Political and Philanthropic Role of Monastic Figures and Monasteries as Revealed in Fourth-Century Coptic and Greek Correspondence." Pages 353-63 in Studia Patristica XCI, Volume 17: Biblica; Philosophica, Theologica, Ethica; Hagiographica; Ascetica. Edited by Marcus Vinzent Stpatr 91. Leuven: Peters 2017.
Monastic letters of the fourth century constitute an important, but often neglected, body of evidence relating to early monasticism in Egypt. Collections include those written to the anchorites Apa Iohannes and Paphnoute, the correspondence of a Melitian monastery known as ‘Hathor,’ involving Apas Paieous and Nepheros, and the letters addressed to Sansnos found amongst the cartonnage fragments of the Nag Hammadi codices. These collections, written in both Coptic and Greek, contain primary evidence for the emergence of monasticism at this period, yet many nevertheless remain untranslated into English and, as a consequence, are overlooked as valuable source material. This paper examines these letters with a focus on the social and philanthropic activities demanded of these figures by their local communities and the role of monasteries and monastic figures in the provision of social welfare. It will be found that the letters contain further confirmation for the argument that monks and monasteries in Egypt in the fourth century played a far more significant role in influencing social and political life than has often hitherto been acknowledged.
Other Publications by Paula Tutty
The provenance of the Nag Hammadi Codices, famous for containing unorthodox texts like the Gospel... more The provenance of the Nag Hammadi Codices, famous for containing unorthodox texts like the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Secret Book of John, has been a point of contention among scholars ever since they were discovered in 1945. Recent research strongly supports the hypothesis that they were manufactured and read by monks belonging to one of the earliest monastic communities in Egypt, traditionally regarded as completely orthodox.
Papers by Paula Tutty
Routledge eBooks, Oct 6, 2022
Books by Paula Tutty
This work tells the story of a community of fourth-century monks living in Egypt. The letters the... more This work tells the story of a community of fourth-century monks living in Egypt. The letters they wrote and received were found within the covers of works that changed our understanding of early religious thought - the Nag Hammadi Codices. This book seeks to contextualise the letters and answer questions about monastic life. Significantly, new evidence is presented that links the letters directly to the authors and creators of the codices in which they were discovered.
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Videos by Paula Tutty
Articles by Paula Tutty
In the over seventy years since their discovery, the Nag Hammadi Codices have had a seismic impact on our understanding of the development of early Christianity. This chapter explores their continued interest for scholars and laypeople, and the controversy that still surrounds them.
This article challenges the suggestion that certain Christian books, including the Nag Hammadi Codices, were discovered as grave goods and therefore might be interpreted as Christian ‘Books of the Dead’ for aiding the soul’s journey to the afterlife.
Monastic letters of the fourth century constitute an important, but often neglected, body of evidence relating to early monasticism in Egypt. Collections include those written to the anchorites Apa Iohannes and Paphnoute, the correspondence of a Melitian monastery known as ‘Hathor,’ involving Apas Paieous and Nepheros, and the letters addressed to Sansnos found amongst the cartonnage fragments of the Nag Hammadi codices. These collections, written in both Coptic and Greek, contain primary evidence for the emergence of monasticism at this period, yet many nevertheless remain untranslated into English and, as a consequence, are overlooked as valuable source material. This paper examines these letters with a focus on the social and philanthropic activities demanded of these figures by their local communities and the role of monasteries and monastic figures in the provision of social welfare. It will be found that the letters contain further confirmation for the argument that monks and monasteries in Egypt in the fourth century played a far more significant role in influencing social and political life than has often hitherto been acknowledged.
Other Publications by Paula Tutty
Papers by Paula Tutty
Books by Paula Tutty
In the over seventy years since their discovery, the Nag Hammadi Codices have had a seismic impact on our understanding of the development of early Christianity. This chapter explores their continued interest for scholars and laypeople, and the controversy that still surrounds them.
This article challenges the suggestion that certain Christian books, including the Nag Hammadi Codices, were discovered as grave goods and therefore might be interpreted as Christian ‘Books of the Dead’ for aiding the soul’s journey to the afterlife.
Monastic letters of the fourth century constitute an important, but often neglected, body of evidence relating to early monasticism in Egypt. Collections include those written to the anchorites Apa Iohannes and Paphnoute, the correspondence of a Melitian monastery known as ‘Hathor,’ involving Apas Paieous and Nepheros, and the letters addressed to Sansnos found amongst the cartonnage fragments of the Nag Hammadi codices. These collections, written in both Coptic and Greek, contain primary evidence for the emergence of monasticism at this period, yet many nevertheless remain untranslated into English and, as a consequence, are overlooked as valuable source material. This paper examines these letters with a focus on the social and philanthropic activities demanded of these figures by their local communities and the role of monasteries and monastic figures in the provision of social welfare. It will be found that the letters contain further confirmation for the argument that monks and monasteries in Egypt in the fourth century played a far more significant role in influencing social and political life than has often hitherto been acknowledged.