Ascetic

Christianity

Notable Christian authors of Late Antiquity such as Origen, Jerome, John Chrysostom, and Augustine of Hippo, interpreted meanings of the Christian Bible within a highly asceticized religious environment. Scriptural examples of asceticism could be found in the lives of John the Baptist, Jesus, the twelve apostles, and Paul the Apostle. The Dead Sea Scrolls revealed ascetic practices of the ancient Jewish sect of the Essenes, who took vows of abstinence to prepare for a holy war. An emphasis on an ascetic religious life was evident in both early Christian writings (e.g., the Philokalia) and practices (e.g., Hesychasm). Christian saints, including Paul the Hermit, Simeon Stylites, David of Wales, John of Damascus, Peter Waldo, Tamar of Georgia, and Francis of Assisi, practiced asceticism as well.