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The Conferences

St. John Cassian · 5th century

St. John Cassian · image, public domain

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St. John Cassian and his friend Germanus spent years among the monks of Egypt. Later, in Gaul, he wrote down what the elders had taught them, as twenty-four conversations: on the goal of the monk's life, discernment, the passions, chastity, friendship and unceasing prayer.

The ninth and tenth conferences, on prayer, are among the most important things ever written on the subject.

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About this edition

Translated by Edgar C. S. Gibson, in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 11 (1894), edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace.

This translation is in the public domain. We took the text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library and left out the editors’ footnotes.

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