A History of the Monks of Syria - by Theodoret of Cyrrhus

A History of the Monks of Syria (also known as Historia Religiosa), written by Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, in the mid-5th century, is a collection of thirty biographies of Christian ascetics living in the regions of Antioch and Cyrrhus from the early 4th to mid-5th centuries. Composed in Greek, this hagiographic work provides a vivid portrait of Syrian monasticism, emphasizing the extreme ascetic practices and spiritual devotion of these holy men and women. Theodoret, who served as bishop from 423 to 457, wrote from personal experience, having interacted with many of the ascetics he describes, either through childhood visits with his mother or during his episcopal duties. The text, framed by a prologue and an epilogue on divine love, offers both a historical record and a theological defense of the ascetic lifestyle, contrasting sharply with the Greco-Roman culture of the time.