Sabas, Leader of Palestinian Monasticism – A Comparative Study in Eastern Monasticism, Fourth to Seventh Centuries

The impact of the life of Sabas and his exceptional system of monastic life has endured from the fifth century to the present. The monastery of Mar Saba, suspended on cliff tops in a breathtaking location, is a monument attesting Sabas’s lasting influence. Sabas, Leader of Palestinian Monasticism is grounded in both literary sources from the fourth to seventh century, mainly in Greek, as well as in archaeological research conducted near the monastery. Joseph Patrich examines the historical framework and contributions Sabas made to Palestinian monasticism, from his role as founder and abbot to the theological struggles after his death.

Joseph Patrich is Emeritus Professor of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was the director of an excavation at Caesarea Maritima, Israel.