Definitions of the Passions of the Rational Soul
Chapters 33 (Definitions of the passions of the rational soul) of Evagrius the Monk, in order. 1. Idiosyncrasy is a disposition of the rational soul, by which it mistakenly perceives both God and the contemplation of things happening. 2. Retrogression is an evil of the rational soul, by which it becomes resistant toward virtue and the knowledge of God. 3. Agitation is a heat and a movement of the thymos, the rational part of the soul, unsettling it. 4. Blindness is an ignorance of the intellect, not applying itself upon practical virtues and the contemplation of things happening. 5. Paralysis is a sluggishness of the rational soul toward practical virtues. 6. Sloth is a listlessness of the rational soul, by which it is accustomed to cast away the words of spiritual teaching. 7. Deposition is an incapacity of the rational soul, by which it is accustomed to cast away the virtues that work toward the formation of Christ. 8. Leprosy is an unbelief of the rational soul, by which, feeling its way, it is not made certain of the words.
Greek
Capitula xxxiii (definitiones passionum animae rationalis) ΕΥΑΓΡΙΟΥ ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ ΛΓʹ ΚΑΤ' ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑΝ. Αʹ. Ἴκτερος, ἔστιν ἕξις χειρίστη ψυχῆς λογικῆς, καθ' ἣν ἐσφαλμένως Θεόν τε καὶ τὴν τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίαν ὁρᾷ. 40.1265 Βʹ. Ὀπισθότονος, ἔστι κακία φύσεως λογικῆς, καθ' ἣν δυσκαμπὴς γίνεται πρὸς ἀρετὴν καὶ γνῶσιν τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Γʹ. Σφακελλισμὸς, ἔστι ζέσις καὶ κίνησις θυμοῦ τὸ λογιστικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς ἐκταράττουσα. ∆ʹ. Τυφλότης, ἔστιν ἄγνοια τοῦ νοῦ, ταῖς πρακτικαῖς ἀρεταῖς καὶ τῇ τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίᾳ μὴ ἐπιβάλλουσα. Εʹ. Παράλυσις, ἔστι δυσκινησία λογιστικῆς ψυχῆς πρὸς τὰς πρακτικὰς ἀρετάς. ϛʹ. Γονόῤῥοια, ἔστι ῥᾳθυμία λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ' ἣν ἀποβάλλειν τοὺς τῆς πνευματικῆς διδασκαλίας εἴωθε λόγους. Ζʹ. Ἀποκάθισις, ἔστιν ἀδυναμία λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ' ἣν τὰς συντελούσας ἀρετὰς πρὸς τὴν μόρφωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἴωθεν ἀποβάλλειν. Ηʹ. Λέπρα ἀπιστία ἐστὶν λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ' ἣν οὐ πληροφορεῖται ψηλαφῶσα τοὺς λόγους.
About this text
Explore how Evagrius Ponticus defines 33 spiritual struggles that shape the soul's journey toward God.
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