BBC: Extreme Pilgrim - Ascetic Christianity

Sep 19, 2019
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Extreme Pilgrim - Wikipedia

Extreme Pilgrim is a British television series, first broadcast by the BBC in January 2008. The series is presented by the Anglican vicar, Pete Owen-Jones, who researches and attempts to practice a variety of the world's methods of enlightenment and spirituality, which he sees as having been lost by those in the West.

The third and final episode is set in Egypt and looks to gain insight into the teachings of St Anthony of the Desert, the Desert Fathers and the Hermit lifestyle. He visits Coma, the birthplace of Anthony, and the church where he spent 20 years in relative solitude. From there he travels into the desert with a group of Bedouin camel herders to trace Anthony's steps to the site where he established the Monastery of Saint Anthony.

After a stay with the Coptic monks at the monastery Peter goes into one of the hermit caves where St Anthony spent his final 43 years. Under the stewardship of an Australian coptic hermit, Father Lazarus, he is introduced into one of the caves and goes on to spend 21 days there in solitude.
 

DamianWarS

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Extreme Pilgrim - Wikipedia

Extreme Pilgrim is a British television series, first broadcast by the BBC in January 2008. The series is presented by the Anglican vicar, Pete Owen-Jones, who researches and attempts to practice a variety of the world's methods of enlightenment and spirituality, which he sees as having been lost by those in the West.

The third and final episode is set in Egypt and looks to gain insight into the teachings of St Anthony of the Desert, the Desert Fathers and the Hermit lifestyle. He visits Coma, the birthplace of Anthony, and the church where he spent 20 years in relative solitude. From there he travels into the desert with a group of Bedouin camel herders to trace Anthony's steps to the site where he established the Monastery of Saint Anthony.

After a stay with the Coptic monks at the monastery Peter goes into one of the hermit caves where St Anthony spent his final 43 years. Under the stewardship of an Australian coptic hermit, Father Lazarus, he is introduced into one of the caves and goes on to spend 21 days there in solitude.

an early quote about the Christian hermits in the desert, "Men who spend entire lives shut away from humanity for the love of God" I think these hermits have missed the point. Community is an integral part of Christian living as well as showing others the glory and love of God. Did they miss the memo?
 
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Sep 19, 2019
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an early quote about the Christian hermits in the desert, "Men who spend entire lives shut away from humanity for the love of God" I think these hermits have missed the point. Community is an integral part of Christian living as well as showing others the glory and love of God. Did they miss the memo?
We all have a different calling, such as celibate vs marriage and raising a family.
 
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dzheremi

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an early quote about the Christian hermits in the desert, "Men who spend entire lives shut away from humanity for the love of God" I think these hermits have missed the point.

No.

Community is an integral part of Christian living as well as showing others the glory and love of God. Did they miss the memo?

No.

The monastic life is a special calling which some receive and some do not, as our friend John P. Alexander notes above. Furthermore, there are forms of the monastic life which are lived in community, such as in the Cenobitic model of Abba Pachomius. Not every monk is an anchorite. It just so happens that Fr. Lazarus is, living in the cave of St. Anthony near the monastery.
 
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ArmyMatt

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an early quote about the Christian hermits in the desert, "Men who spend entire lives shut away from humanity for the love of God" I think these hermits have missed the point. Community is an integral part of Christian living as well as showing others the glory and love of God. Did they miss the memo?

no. by withdrawing from the world, they draw world into the heart through prayer. the desert dwellers, though separated by geography, usually have a deep sense of love and communion.

plus, they still gather for Church.

so no, no memos lost.
 
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ArmyMatt

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Extreme Pilgrim - Wikipedia

Extreme Pilgrim is a British television series, first broadcast by the BBC in January 2008. The series is presented by the Anglican vicar, Pete Owen-Jones, who researches and attempts to practice a variety of the world's methods of enlightenment and spirituality, which he sees as having been lost by those in the West.

The third and final episode is set in Egypt and looks to gain insight into the teachings of St Anthony of the Desert, the Desert Fathers and the Hermit lifestyle. He visits Coma, the birthplace of Anthony, and the church where he spent 20 years in relative solitude. From there he travels into the desert with a group of Bedouin camel herders to trace Anthony's steps to the site where he established the Monastery of Saint Anthony.

After a stay with the Coptic monks at the monastery Peter goes into one of the hermit caves where St Anthony spent his final 43 years. Under the stewardship of an Australian coptic hermit, Father Lazarus, he is introduced into one of the caves and goes on to spend 21 days there in solitude.

this was a great episode. the one where he gets naked with a witch's coven, not so much.
 
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I had to laugh when the Bedouin elder asks him what direction he thinks the monastery is in and when he points in the wrong direction they all laugh and point in an entirely different direction. It was such a simple demonstration of innocence concerning the journey he was on.
 
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