A collection of old booksGreat Lent is taken by many as a time of increase in spiritual reading, and it presents an ideal opportunity to further one's reading in the early Fathers of the Church. In what follows, we present two day-by-day patristic reading plans for the forty days of Great Lent (exclusive of Sabbaths and Sundays), which some may find helpful in immersing themselves in the early Fathers during the great fast. The first is a 'heavier' plan, with extensive readings each day; the second is a 'lighter' plan, with shorter readings that those in the world with busy schedules may find more manageable. Both will provide the diligent reader with an extensive exposure to some key texts in the early Fathers in the period leading to Pascha, and which touch on themes relevant to the Lenten ascesis.These plans do not originate with Monachos.net; they have been circulating on the internet for some time and seemed good to reproduce here for our readers.

Lenten patristic reading plan 1: Lengthier readings



Day of Great Lent Reading
1 The Didache, complete text
2 Epistle to Diognetus, 1-6
3 Epistle to Diognetus, 7-12
4 St Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians, complete text
5 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, complete text
6 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Magnesians, complete text
7 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, complete text
8 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, complete text
9 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Philadelphians, complete text
10 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, complete text
11 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Polycarp, complete text
12 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 1-11
13 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 12-23
14 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 24-35
15 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 36-47
16 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 48-59
17 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 60-68
18 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 1-9
19 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 10-18
20 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 19-27
21 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 1-10
22 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 11-20
23 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 21-30
24 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 31-40
25 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 41-50
26 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 51-60
27 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 61-70
28 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 71-80
29 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 81-94
30 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 1 (Oration 19)
31 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 2 (Oration 20)
32 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 3 (Oration 21)
33 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 4 (Oration 22)
34 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 5 (Oration 23)
35 St Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Mysteries, 1-4
36 St Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Mysteries, 5-9
37 St Leo the Great, The Tome to Flavian, complete text
38 St Leo the Great, Sermon 21 (On the Feast of the Nativity, 1), complete text
39 St Leo the Great, Sermon 49 (On Great Lent, 11), complete text
40 St Leo the Great, Sermon 72 (On the Lord's Resurrection), complete text

 

Lenten patristic reading plan 2: Shorter readings

 

Day of Great Lent Reading
1 Epistle to Diognetus, 1-6
2 Epistle to Diognetus, 7-12
3 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Ephesians, 1-7
4 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Ephesians, 8-14
5 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Ephesians, 15-21
6 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Magnesians, 1-5
7 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Magnesians, 6-10
8 St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle To the Magnesians, 11-15
9 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 1-7
10 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 8-14
11 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 15-21
12 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 22-29
13 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 30-37
14 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 38-45
15 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 46-53
16 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 54-60
17 St Justin Martyr, First Apology, 61-68
18 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 1-9
19 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 10-18
20 St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I), 19-27
21 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 1-9
22 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 10-16
23 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 17-25
24 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 26-33
25 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 34-41
26 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 42-49
27 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 50-58
28 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 59-66
29 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 67-73
30 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 74-81
31 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 82-89
32 St Athanasius, Life of St Anthony, 90-94
33 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 2 (Oration 20)
34 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 4 (Oration 22)
35 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 5 (Oration 23), 1-11
36 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 5 (Oration 23), 12-23
37 St Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Mysteries, 1-4
38 St Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Mysteries, 5-9
39 St Leo the Great, Sermon 49 (On Great Lent, 11), complete text
40 St Leo the Great: Sermon 72 (On the Lord's Resurrection), complete text

 


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