Chapter 9

ROCK MONASTERIES

The hermits self-excommunicate--Liability to create a schism--S. Paul-- S. Mary of Egypt--S. Anthony--Enormous number of solitaries compels organisation into monasteries--Causes inducing flight to the desert--S. Athanasius at Trèves--Writes the "Life of S. Anthony"--Impulse given to flight from the world in the West--S. Martin--Desires to imitate the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert--At Poitiers--Founds Ligugé--Rock cells--Later history and ruin--Martin becomes Bishop of Tours--Founds Marmoutier--History and ruin--Martin and the masqueraders--Present state--Baptistry--The Seven Sleepers--Brice elected bishop--Obliged to fly the see--Return and penance--Cave of S. Leobard--Abbey of Brantôme --Underground church--Other caves--"Papists' Holes" at Nottingham--Rock monastery of Meteora--Der el Adra--Inkermann