Two Different Pathways

       The three hundred or so years before this new sect (Christianity) became the official religion of the Roman world, there were many difficult experiences. The call to follow Jesus began around Jerusalem ca. 33 AD.  and spread to Judea, then to Sameria, and then to Antioch in Syria, where they were first identified as Christians ca. 43-44 A.D. Considered aliens in the Roman world, they spread about in various directions often hiding themselves among the masses. One pathway went north, and another pathway went south. The northern route from Syria, to Derbe/Lystra, to Phrygia/Galatia, to Mysia and Macedonia took the more densely populated pathway. The southern route from Jerusalem, Alexandria and Libia, then to Cyrenaica, was much less occupied by dense populations.

      My Celtic ancestors came under the influence of the southern route. Far removed from the bustle of mankind, the first of this Alexandra influenced movement, (called Hellenistic), was an Egyptian named Antony. (d.356 A.D.) He sought solitude in the wilderness of upper Egypt. Ascetic it was called. Making isolation in caves first choice, he believed this was the best place for contemplation about this new religion. Of course he was soon joined by others which began to gain momentum, founding a system of societies called "Monks". Interestingly, the word comes from the Greek word monos meaning alone. Thus Antony has become known the father of all monks. A monastery became a cluster of these individuals which moved across the North African coast. 

     The following figure shows the two pathways looking down from above. The Mediterranean Sea is colored gray. The horseshoe shaped land is colored white. North is the top, and south is toward the bottom of the figure.