Euchites

Messalians ( Syrian worshipers, also Massalianer, Euphemiten, enthusiast or Euchiten ) were the followers of different monk similar spiritualistic communities.

Asia Minor

The earliest such movement began in Asia Minor of the fourth century. It was a non- Christian community that used a special and mutilated form of Zoroastrianism.

Symeon / Makarios

Another joined by 350 to Syria and later in Asia Minor. Its spiritual leader was Symeon of Mesopotamia, whose writings have been preserved under the name of Makarios. They wanted to fend off the indwelling of the devil baptized Christians through constant prayer. The teaching of Messalians is from the Syrian Christian tradition grow up, but was influenced as a Manichean and was sentenced to 390 the Synod of Side and 431 at the Council of Ephesus.

However, the monastic rule of St. Basil the Great is broadly the Messalians. So the constant reading of Scripture comes in addition to praying, fasting and work, Basil calls, already in the third homily of Macarius / Symeon ago. About this mediation there is messalianisches thought their way into monastic traditions of the East and the Rule of St. Benedict and the West. Perhaps the Syrian monks, in which Basil studied, Messalians were.

The first German translation of the writings of Macarius / Symeon by Gottfried Arnold was of decisive influence on Pietism.

In the research were Symeon and Makarios long time as different people, with Makarios was considered orthodox and depending on Gregory of Nyssa. Only Hermann Dorries managed to identification.

Late Middle Ages

In the late Middle Ages to the 12th century Messalians found together with the Bogomils.