Week 14 – The monks

A bit shorter than usual today.

What kinds of contributions did the monks make to European society?

There were many important contributions from the monks made, especially in education.

They copied manuscripts, many were good writers and philosophers. St. Justin Martyr wrote First Apology, which is an analogy between the death of Socrates and death of Christ. MInucius Felix taught that God can be known from the reason. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote a Greek philosophy and taught Plato’s moral teaching. In 4th century there were the “Capaddocian Fathers”, consisting of St. Gregory of Nyssa, who was a poet and historian, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, who taught that classical rhetorical skills can be placed in service of the Church and St. Basil the Great, who was St. Gregory of Nyssa’s brother and taught what is the best way to use the classics and tried to bring more people back to it, saying that it is flawed but everyone can still see the beauty in it.

Other than that they also helped people in need, like shipwrecked or lost people. Some worked in hospitals to help those in need.

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