Peter of Damascus and early christian spiritual theology

Abstract

This article investigates the spiritual theology of the early Christian sources that influenced the twelfth-century Byzantine spiritual writer Peter of Damascus. In addition, attention is given to the state of twelfth-century monasticism as well as to contemporary literature to situate Peter in his historical, social, religious and literary environment. A brief explanation of intertextuality is also given with suggestions for how this literary technique may help modern scholars profitably read the works of Peter.