"
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/Balcbus tbe
Whilst then, I say, I was pondering upon these things in my mind, and was greatly afflicted thereby, I began to have sorrow concerning myself, because my lazy and sluggish mind lacked the great sense of order and arrangement which the ants possessed, and also the faculty of not being disturbed by thoughts of laziness, which the brethren possessed in common with the ants, and also because the Calumniator had hunted me down like a child, and had set me in captivity, and had hurled me into such [great] temptations. And I thought of those who were offering their souls with all their hearts to Christ, and who were being guided on their way in all the monasteries by submission and spiritual grace, through the righteous redemp tion of our Redeemer, and who were anxious to preserve their souls blameless, and who were labouring diligently and with out any hindrance and with all their strength to do their work, and to minister unto one another; and who were not saying about any possession which was theirs, "It is mine," and who had everything in common; and who carried out perfectly the manner of life, which is described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts iv, 32), according to which no man said about any pos session that it was his, and everything was in common; and who, though possessing nothing, yet possessed everything; and who enjoyed sufficiently that which they had for their [daily] needs, with all fear or with all praise, and glorified Him Who richly provided them with everything.
And having made my heart sad and low with such thoughts for many days, I went to that woman, who seeing how greatly my countenance was changed, entreated to be allowed to learn the cause thereof; and having confessed to her that it was be cause I had remembered the regular life of the brethren, and that I wished to escape and return to the monastery out of which the Enemy had made me to come, she advised me and besought me to take her [with me] and to place her also in a nunnery. And having together decided upon this plan, we wept and entreated our Lord to help us to carry out what we had determined and to deliver us from that wicked people. Now therefore, having firm hope in God's assistance, we took thought for our return, and I slew two large goats which I had with me, and made their skins into water bottles; and having loaded their flesh upon our shoulders, I took the woman, and we departed. And we travelled the whole night long, and came to an exceedingly great and wide river, and I blew up the water bottles, and I gave one to the woman and kept the other myself, and we laid hold upon them with our hands, and sitting astride of the skins we paddled with our feet, and crossed over the river. Then, seeing that we should
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Ube paradise of tbe 1bol£ ffatbers
have to cross a desert wherein there was no water, we drank abundantly of the water of the river, and rose up from that place and went on our way quickly; and we were turning round continually [to look] behind us because of our horrible expecta tion that there would be men pursuing1 us, and that even if we could escape from them we should fall [into the hands of] wicked men like unto them.
Then, seeing that we should
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Ube paradise of tbe 1bol£ ffatbers
have to cross a desert wherein there was no water, we drank abundantly of the water of the river, and rose up from that place and went on our way quickly; and we were turning round continually [to look] behind us because of our horrible expecta tion that there would be men pursuing1 us, and that even if we could escape from them we should fall [into the hands of] wicked men like unto them.
Now because of our fear lest this should happen, and be cause of the heat of the sun, we were obliged to travel by night, and urged by this great fear, and also by our great anxiety, we were looking behind us ceaselessly. And after [travelling for] five days, we turned round suddenly, and saw our master and one of his companions, riding upon camels, and holding drawn swords in their hands, and pursuing after us; and by reason of our fear the sun appeared to us to become dark. And whilst we were in this terrible state of fright, and did not know where to escape, through the Providence of Christ, the Hope of the hopeless, and the Help of the helpless, we peered about in that place and found a frightful cave in the ground, where in had gathered all the numerous kinds of snakes which are found in the desert, serpents, and asps, and vipers, and scor pions, which had gone therein because of the burning heat of the sun. Into this cave we tottered, and we hid ourselves in a corner, on the left hand side thereof, and we said, "If our 4 ' Lord help us this cave shall be unto us a house of deliverance ; but if He leave us to the sinners it will be our grave."
Now when our master and his companion following in our footprints had pursued us to the cave, they alighted from their camels, and stood by the mouth thereof, and when we saw our master, such great fear laid hold upon us that we were unable to move our tongue to utter a word; for owing to the great ness of our fear we were already [as] dead men, before the sword-stroke fell upon us. And when our master stood outside the cave and called to us, we were unable to speak to him be cause of our fear. And he took hold of the camels, and com manded his companion to go in and bring us out, whilst he stood [outside] waiting for us with his sword drawn, so that he might by means thereof quell his brutal madness. Now when the young man had gone into the cave for a distance of five paces he stood [still], and because he had come in from the outside, his eyes had become dazzled by the light of the sun, and he could not see. Now we being quite near him could see him standing [there], but because he was unable to see us he began to terrify us with [his] voice, saying, "Come out, O *' ye wicked slaves who deserve death, wherefore do ye delay? ** Behold, your master is outside expecting you." And as he
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flfoalcbus tbe
Now we being quite near him could see him standing [there], but because he was unable to see us he began to terrify us with [his] voice, saying, "Come out, O *' ye wicked slaves who deserve death, wherefore do ye delay? ** Behold, your master is outside expecting you. " And as he
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was saying these words, we saw a lioness rise up on the right hand side of the cave, and she sprang upon him, and whilst he was yet speaking, she seized him by the throat and strangled him forthwith, and then dragged him in and laid him on her lair, for she had a male cub; and when we saw our enemy ly ing [there] before our eyes, we glorified God with great joy. Now his master, not knowing what had happened, and think ing that the young man had been overcome by us, and being unable to contain himself for rage, ran forward, holding his drawn sword in his hand, and, standing at the mouth of the cave, cried out in his wrath to the young man, saying, "Quick, "quick, bring forth these [slaves] to me that they may die an " evil death." And whilst he was speaking, the lioness sprang upon him suddenly, and ripped him up, and threw him head long on the ground.
And we marvelled at all these unspeakable and inexplicable wonders of the Lord, and we gave thanks to Him, and we re joiced in the glory of Him Who in this tribulation had risen up, and by Whose command the wild beast had destroyed our enemies. Now when the lioness turned back and passed from one side to the other of the cave where we were, we thought that she would destroy us, but, because of the wonderful thing which had been wrought, we [continued] to praise the Lord, and we said, "Since the Lord hath delivered us from those " wicked men He can, if He willeth, hand us over to the lions; " but nevertheless let us praise Him and give thanksunto Him." Now whilst we were thus thinking in our minds, the lioness took up the cub in her mouth, and departed from the cave, and left the place to us; but after she had gone, because of the state of fear in which we were, we remained the whole of that day in the cave.
And in the morning we went forth and found the camels that were still laden with provisions which our master had brought for himself and his slave; and we ate and drank therefrom, and for all these things we gave thanks unto the Lord, Who had delivered us from our enemies. And we rode upon the camels, and having crossed that desert in ten days, we arrived at a Greek camp, and we drew nigh to the Tribune who was in command of it, and related unto him everything which had happened unto us; then he sent us on to Sabinus, who was at that time Duke of Mesopotamia, and he likewise learned all our affairs and took the camels and gave us their price, and he dismissed us to depart to our country in peace. Now before our return it happened that my spiritual father fell asleep. And the woman who had been [my] helper, and who had given [me] excellent advice, and had counselled good actions, I placed in
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TTbe jparaMse of tbe 1bol£ ff atbers
an abode of virgins, and I returned to my own monastery and to my spiritual brethren, where at the beginning- the Lord directed me. And I related unto that blessed brotherhood the story of all the things which had happened to me, and I confessed that it was because I had not hearkened unto the admonition of that holy father that the Lord left me so that all these trials might come upon me; and He did this for the correction of many.
Now therefere, O my son, all these trials, which came upon me because of my disobedience, and which I have narrated before thee, are [intended] for the edification and the protection of thy soul; get thou possession of them, because, by the help of God, patient endurance and implicit obedience will deliver a man from all temptations. Obedience to the commandments of God is everlasting life, and the patient endurance which is perfect produceth everlasting life in us; for "he who endureth 4 ' unto the end shall live " (St. Matthew x, 22). These things did the old man Mark [Malchus] himself relate unto me whilst I was a young man, and on account of the lawr of brotherly love I have written them down because they befit the chaste life of holy old men, and tend to [their] edification and admonition; do ye then relate them unto those who are young, so that they may learn that those who have drawn nigh to the venerable estate of pure chastity, and who have preserved the same for Christ's sake even unto the end, and who are protected by His power, shall overcome all the temptations of the Enemy. And neither captivity, nor the sword, nor any temptation, shall be able to overthrow those who have preserved in all purity and holiness the temple of Christ without spot and blemish, even unto death, and they shall become holy temples, and the Spirit of God shall dwell in them, and notwithstanding all the words of the Calumniator, He shall bestow victory upon them, for ever and ever. Amen.
Cbapter spj, ©f two of tbe jfatbers wbo went nafceb
ABBA Macarius, the Egyptian, once came from Scete to the mountain of Nitria to the Offering of Abba Pambo, and the fathers said unto him, "Speak with the brethren, O father." And he said, "I am not yet a monk, but I have seen monks. For once when I was sitting in my cell at Scete my thoughts said unto me, 'Go forth, get thee gone 'into the desert, and consider intently what thou wilt see 'there'; and I remained five years in struggling with my thought, and trying it, lest it might be from Satan. And since the thought continued with me, I rose up and jour neyed into the inner desert, and I found there a fountain of
234
IRaftefc
And since the thought continued with me, I rose up and jour neyed into the inner desert, and I found there a fountain of
234
IRaftefc
" water with an island in the middle of it, and the beasts of " the desert used to drink therefrom, and I saw in the midst " of the beasts two naked men; then fear took up its abode in " my limbs, and I thought that they were perhaps spirits. Now " when they saw that I was afraid they spoke unto me and " said, ' Fear not, we also are men.' And I said unto them, " 'Whence are ye? And how have ye come to this desert?' " And they said unto me, 'We were once in a large monastery, " 'and the desire of both of us was the same, and we went forth " 'and came here, where we have been for forty years. One of " 'us is an Egyptian and the other is a Libyan.' And they also "questioned me, saying-, 'What news is there in the world? " 'Do the waters of the river come as usual? And is the world " 'flourishing?' And I said unto them, 'Yes, 'and I also asked " them, 'How can I become a monk?' And they said, 'Except " 'a man make himself to be remote from everything- which is " 'in this world he cannot be a monk.' And I said unto them, " ' I am feeble and I am not able to do as ye do ' ; and they said " unto me, 'If thou canst not [do as we do] sit in thy cell, and " 'weep for thy sins.' And I asked them, 'When it is winter " 'are ye not frozen? And in the season of the heat are not " 'your bodies consumed?' And they answered me, saying-, " 'God in His Providence hath made us to be so that in the " 'winter we do not freeze and in the summer we are not " 'burnt up.' And it was because of this that I said, 'I am not " 'yeta monk, but I have seen monks.' Permitmeftobe silent]."
Gbaptev £\>ja. ©f a certain ©to /ifcan wfoo went nafocfc
' And they answered me, saying-, " 'God in His Providence hath made us to be so that in the " 'winter we do not freeze and in the summer we are not " 'burnt up. ' And it was because of this that I said, 'I am not " 'yeta monk, but I have seen monks. ' Permitmeftobe silent]. "
Gbaptev £\>ja. ©f a certain ©to /ifcan wfoo went nafocfc
AND they used to speak of a certain solitary monk who went out unto the desert carrying his apparel on his shoulder, and having gone a journey of three days, he climbed a rock, and saw belowr him an old man who was graz ing like the beasts, and he came down secretly and gave chase to him. And the old man was naked, and his soul had dimi nished to such a degree that he could not bear the smell of men, and he was able to remove himself from them and to make his escape by flight. And having taken to flight that brother pursued him, and he cried out to him and said, "I am " following after thee; for God's sake wait for me." Then the old man answered and said unto him, " And I, for God's sake " also, am fleeing from thee"; and finally, casting away from him the garment which was on his shoulder, he pursued him with all his might. Now as soon as the old man saw that he had cast away his garments he waited for him, and when the brother came up with him the old man said,. "As thou didst "cast away from thee the things of the world I waited for
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Ube paraMse of tbe 1fool£ tfatbers
" thee." Then that brother entreated him, saying, "Speak to " me a word [of advice] that I may be redeemed thereby"; and the old man said unto him, "Flee from the children of " men, and keep silence, and thou shalt live."
Gbapter £\>ij, ©f a certain IRafeefc ©16 /IDan wbo fe6 vvttb tbe Beasts
AND a certain brother came to the monks who lived in that spot wherein there were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, where Moses and the people [of Israel] encamped when they went forth from Egypt, and that brother told them the following- story, saying: — I once had it in my mind to go into the inner desert and see if there was any man living therein, and I went a journey of four days and four nights, and found a certain cave; and having approached it I looked in side it and saw a man sitting therein, and I knocked at the door according to the custom of the monks, so that he might come out to me, and I might salute him, buthe nevermoved, forhe was dead. Now I did not hesitate or draw back, but I went inandlaid my hand upon his shoulders, and he crumbled into dust and be came nothing at all; and in wonderment I came out of that place and journeyed on again in the desert.
And I saw another cave by the side of which were traces of men, and I plucked up courage, and drew nigh to it, and though I knocked no man answered me; then I went inside and found no man, and I rose up [and came] outside, and said within my self, ' ' The holy man will soon come here. " Now when it was the season of evening, I saw a number of beasts, which are called "buffaloes," and the servant of God was in their midst, naked; and his hair had been made into a covering for his shame. And when he saw me he stood up in prayer, for he thought that I was a spirit, and he was greatly vexed by an evil spirit, as he subse quently told me; and I understood this matter, and said unto him, "I am a man, O holy one. Look at my footprints, and " touch me, for I am flesh and blood." And after he had prayed, and I had answered "Amen," he looked at me and took heart, and brought me into his cave, and asked me, * ' Why didst thou " come here?" Then I said unto him, "That I might be blessed " by the servants of God have I come into this desert, and He "hath not deprived me of my desire"; and I also asked him, " How didst thou come here? and how dost thou live?" And he began to speak unto me thus : — I was once in a monastery, where my work was [to weave] linen, and the thought came to me that I would leave it and dwell by myself, and [my mind said], " Thou wiltbe able to live in seclusion, and to entertain strangers " with the results of thy labour, and thy wages will be more than
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/Ifeonfe anfc tbe Beasts
" And he began to speak unto me thus : — I was once in a monastery, where my work was [to weave] linen, and the thought came to me that I would leave it and dwell by myself, and [my mind said], " Thou wiltbe able to live in seclusion, and to entertain strangers " with the results of thy labour, and thy wages will be more than
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/Ifeonfe anfc tbe Beasts
*' enough for thee" ; and I agreed with my thoughts, and I car ried them into effe6l. So I built me an habitation, and took up my abode therein, and men used to come to me and carry away my work. Now whilst I was doing thus, and was giving my work for the benefit of strangers and the poor, Satan, the Enemy, with his wonted envy cast his arrows at me, and instead of the reward of my labours wherewith I expected to be rewarded, he flattered me by causing a certain virgin to come to me, with the excuse that she wished to buy the labour of my hands, and I gave her that which she wanted. And he stirred her up, moreover, and with one excuse or the other she was always coming to me; and when she had been accustomed to come, and had acquired free dom of speech with me, she began to come near me, and she would take hold of my hands, and laugh, and she was so bold as to eat with me; and subsequently we conceived and brought forth iniquity. And having lived with her in this fallen condition for six months I thought in my mind that whether it was to-day, or to-morrow, or at some future time, however far off that time might be, I should be delivered over to everlasting torment. The man who taketh out [of her house] the wife of another man, and seduceth her, is delivered over to the punishment of the Law; how much greater then will be the punishment of the man who hath seduced a woman who hath been betrothed to Christ? Then straightway I determined to come to this desert, and leaving everything I had behind me I went forth secretly, and I came and found this cave, and this fountain, and this palm which is in front of it, which produceth twelve clusters of dates each year, and thus yieldeth each month that which is sufficient for me for the whole month. Now after some time the hair of my body grew long, and my clothes wore out, and my hair covered my bodily shame; I have now been here for thirty years, and the air (or climate) always supplieth me in moderation with what is necessary.
And I questioned him further, saying, "Was thy mind dis turbed about anything during the first years of thy life here?" And he said unto me, "I was greatly afflicted at first, and I used ' to throw myself upon the ground by reason of pain in my liver,
* and I could not stand up to say my prayers, but was obliged to
* make my supplications unto God lying on the ground. Now
* whilst I was in this tribulation I saw a man who came, and
" And he said unto me, "I was greatly afflicted at first, and I used ' to throw myself upon the ground by reason of pain in my liver,
* and I could not stand up to say my prayers, but was obliged to
* make my supplications unto God lying on the ground. Now
* whilst I was in this tribulation I saw a man who came, and
* stood by my side, and said unto me, * What is thy pain ? ' And at 'these words I gained a little strength, and I said unto him, 4 * My liver troubleth me and causeth me pain ' ; and he said to
*' me, 'Shew me where the place is.' And having shewn him, 4( he spread out his fingers and his hands, and slit up my body " as with a sword and he took my liver and shewed me the sore on " it; thenhe removed the pain, and having made the place whole
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ZTbe parafcise of tbe Ibols jf atbers
" again, he said unto me, ' Behold, thou art healed. Serve thou " 'Christ, thy Lord, as is meet for Him'; and I havebeen healed " since that, and have lived here without any pain. Then I en- 4 ' treated him to permit me to live in the first cave, wherein I had " seen the dead monk, and he said unto me, 'Thou art not able to " endure the attack of the devils' ; and knowing- that what he had " said unto me was right, I entreated him to pray for me and "to dismiss me." I have narrated this story unto you, O my brethren, so that we may be zealous in the spiritual life and its works of excellence, and may attain to everlasting life; may our Lord in His grace and goodness make us worthy to receive it !
Gbapter piij* ©f anotber Ibolp /Ifoan
" I have narrated this story unto you, O my brethren, so that we may be zealous in the spiritual life and its works of excellence, and may attain to everlasting life; may our Lord in His grace and goodness make us worthy to receive it ! Gbapter piij* ©f anotber Ibolp /Ifoan
A CERTAIN old man, who was held worthy to be the Bishop of a city in Egypt, told the following story (which he tried to make one think he had heard from another man, but he himself had actually done the things which he described), and he said: — Once there came to me the thought that I would go into the inner desert which is over against Usa (Ovov;), that I might see if I could find therein [any] holy men who worshipped Christ, and taking with me food and water for four days I set out on my journey; and after four days my food came to an end, and I wondered what I should do [for more], and I plucked up courage and committed myself to God. Then I went on for another four days, when I became so weak that I could not stand up any longer, because through hunger and exhaustion I had no strength in me; and I became sick in spirit and threw myself on the ground. And a certain man came and drew his finger across my lips, and forthwith I became so strong that I thought that neither fatigue nor hunger had ever drawn nigh me; and as soon as I perceived the strength which had come to me I rose up again and continued my journey for four days more. Then once more I became weary, and stretched out my hands to heaven, and behold, that man who had given me strength before, drew nigh to my lips and made me strong, and I continued my journey in the desert after this for seven days more, when I found a booth, with a palm tree and water by the side of it; and there was standing [there] a man, the hair of whose head was quite white, and he had made clothing for himself, and his face was awesome [to look upon]. Now on seeing me he stood up in prayer, and when he had prayed and I had answered "Amen, "he knew that I was a man. Then he took hold of my hands and questioned me, and said, " How didst thou come "hither? Doth everything in the world still exist? Are the " Christians being persecuted?" And I said unto him, "By the
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c 0rass*eattn0
Now on seeing me he stood up in prayer, and when he had prayed and I had answered "Amen, "he knew that I was a man. Then he took hold of my hands and questioned me, and said, " How didst thou come "hither? Doth everything in the world still exist? Are the " Christians being persecuted? " And I said unto him, "By the
238
c 0rass*eattn0
" help of your prayers, for in truth ye serve God, I have tra- " veiled and come into this desert; and, by the power of Christ, " the persecution of the Christians is at an end." And in turn I said unto him, ''Father, tell me how thou didst come hither." And with sighs and tears he began to say unto me: "I was a " bishop, and during the period of the persecution many suf- " ferings came upon me, but finally, because I could bear the "tribulations no longer, I sacrificed [unto idols]. And having " come to my senses I recognized the wickedness which I had " committed, and I made myself come to this desert that I " might die here. And I have passed forty-nine years here in " making supplication to God for my folly, and in entreating " Him to forgive me the sin which I sinned; now God gave me " life from this palm tree, but I did not receive any encourage- " ment to hope for the forgiveness of my sins until the comple- " tion of forty-eight years."
And after he had said these things to me, he rose up sud denly and went outside the booth and stood up for many hours in prayer; and when he had finished his prayer he came to me, and as I looked upon his face fear and wonder fell upon me, for it was a face as of fire. And seeing that I was afraid he said unto me, "Fear not, for the Lord hath sent thee to me "that thou mayest bury my body," and as soon as he had finished speaking, he stretched out his hands and his feet and died. Then I took the garment which I had on me [and tore it in two], and in one half of it I rolled him up and laid him in it in the earth, and the other half formed my apparel. Now as soon as I had buried him the palm tree dried up, and the booth fell down. Then I made many entreaties unto God, and I prayed unto Him to leave me the palm tree, so that I might pass the rest of my life there, but as this did not take place, I perceived that it was not the will of God that I should remain here; so I prayed, and returned to the habitation of the children of men. And behold, that man who had given me strength be fore came again to me and gave me courage, and thus I ar rived and came to the brethren; and having related unto them these things I encouraged them not to be in despair about their souls, but [to feel] that in patient endurance they would find our Lord.
Cbapter £i£. ©f a certain solitary flftoufe wbo usefc to feet) on (Brass by tbe Jordan
A CERTAIN monk was feeding on grass by the Jordan, and at noontide he went into a cave to rest, and he found there a lion which began to roar; and he said to the lion, "What vexeth thee? There is room enough here both
239
ZTbe paraMse of tbe 1bol$ tf atbers
" for thee and for me, and if thou dost not wish [for a com- " panion], get up and go out;" and because the lion could not bear [him], he rose up, and went out.
Cbapter ££. <W a certain 1bol£ ItHrgin
ONCE certain of the great sages of Scete were travelling along a road in the desert when they heard a sound, like the groan of asick person, [rise up] from the ground; and they searched, and found a path which led into a cave, and when they had descended into it they discovered [there] a certain holy virgin. Then they said unto her, "O mother, when " didst thou come here? And who ministereth unto thee?" For they saw nothing in the cave except the holy woman herselr who was lying on the earth. And she said unto them, "Behold, " I have passed eight and thirty years in this cave, and I have " satisfied my wrants with grass, for I labour for Christ. And " I have never seen a man except this day, and God hath sent "you to me this day to bury my body" ; and having said these words, she died. And when the fathers saw [this], they glorified God, and they buried her body, and prayed, and departed from the place.
Cbapter ££j. ©f tbe two Jj?oun0 /Ifcen wbo were witb
And " I have never seen a man except this day, and God hath sent "you to me this day to bury my body" ; and having said these words, she died. And when the fathers saw [this], they glorified God, and they buried her body, and prayed, and departed from the place. Cbapter ££j. ©f tbe two Jj? oun0 /Ifcen wbo were witb
ABB BYTINIUSsaid: — The disciple of Macarius once told me the following story, and said: — Abba Macarius oncesaid tome whilst I was living in Scete: — Twoyoung men, who are strangers, have gone down there, and one of them hath a few hairs as a beard, and the other hath the be ginning of a beard. And these young men came and said unto me, "Where is the cell of Abba Macarius?" And I said unto them, "What seek ye with him?" And they said, "We have " heard of his life and deeds, and we have come to see him." And I said unto them, "I am he "; and they offered me repen tance, and said unto me, "We wish to abide here." Now, see ing that they were proud because of [their] riches, I said unto them, "Ye will not be able to dwell here"; and the elder of them said unto me, "If we are unable to dwell here, we will "go to another place." Then I said to myself, "Why should "I be an occasion of stumbling to them, for the labour itself " will make them flee?" And I said unto them, " Come, make "ye a cell for yourselves if ye can"; and they replied to me, "Only shew us how to do it, and we will do it." So I gave them an axe, and a tool for digging up the ground, and a sack of bread and salt, and I shewed them a rock wherefrom they might [hew] stone, and I said to them, "Hew your stone from " here, and then bring wood from the forest and roof over [the
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Disciples of flfcacarius
" place], and then take up your abode." Now I thought that they would straightway take to flight, but they said unto me, "What is your work here?" And I said unto them, "The " weaving of palm leaves," and I plucked some leaves from the palms in the grove, and shewed them how to begin to work to plait baskets, and I said unto them, "Give them to the guar- " dians, and they will give you bread." And from that hour I left them, and everything which I had said unto them they performed with great persistence and diligence, and they re mained there for three years and never came to me; and I con tinued to debate in my thoughts, saying, "What kind of work "* is theirs that they never come in to me to ask me for any- ' thing? The people that are afar off come to me, but these ' who are close by do not come to me, and they have gone no- ' where else, except to the church to receive the Offering when 4 they have leisure."
The people that are afar off come to me, but these ' who are close by do not come to me, and they have gone no- ' where else, except to the church to receive the Offering when 4 they have leisure. "
Then I prayed to God and fasted for a whole week that He might shew me their work, and straightway I rose up and went to them that I might see how they were; and when I had knocked, they opened the door to me, and they saluted me, and then held their peace; and I prayed, and sat down. Then the elder of the men motioned to the younger, who went out side, and sat down, and he plaited ropes, and said nothing; and at the season of the ninth hour he knocked at the door, and the younger man came and made a sign to him, and he went forth and cooked a little food. And he made another sign to him, and he prepared a table with three bread cakes upon it, and then stood by in silence. Then I said, "Arise, let us eat"; and they drew nigh and we ate, and one of them brought an earthenware pitcher of water, and we drank. And when the evening had come, they spake to me, and said, "Art thougo- "ing away?" and I said, "No, I am going to pass the night " here." Then they laid down a palm-leaf mat for me on one side [of their cell], and they threw themselves down upon the bare earth on the other side of the cell by themselves. And when I had prayed to God to inform me concerning their toil, the roof was opened, and the place became as light as it was in the daytime, but they did not see that light. Then, think ing that I was asleep, the elder man smote the younger, and they rose up, and girded up their loins, and spread out their hands to heaven; and I saw them, but they did not know that I could see them. And I saw the devils hovering about over the young man like flies, and some of them wished to settle on his eyes, and some on his mouth, and behold, the angel of the Lord was going round him, and was driving away from him the devils with a sword of fire; now the devils did not dare to
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Iftarabise of tbe 1bol$ ff atbers
And I saw the devils hovering about over the young man like flies, and some of them wished to settle on his eyes, and some on his mouth, and behold, the angel of the Lord was going round him, and was driving away from him the devils with a sword of fire; now the devils did not dare to
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Iftarabise of tbe 1bol$ ff atbers
approach the elder man. And about the time of morning the two men threw themselves on the ground and I made myself to appear like one who had just woke up from sleep, and they likewise feigned to have only then become awake. And the elder man spake unto me these words only: "Dost thou wish us to " recite twelve Psalms only?" And I said unto him, "Yes," and the younger man recited five Psalms out of [each of the] six Pethgdmd, and one Huldld; and at every Pethgdmd a lamp of fire came forth from his mouth, and went up into heaven; and similarly, when the elder man stood up and recited the Psalms there went forth from his mouth as it were a rope of fire, which ascended into heaven. Now I could only recite the Psalms littleby little. And I came forth and said unto them, "Pray ' ' ye for me"; but they excused themselves, and were silent. And I learned that the elder man was perfect, but that the Enemy still waged war against the younger man. And after a few days the elder man died, and three days later the other man died also; and whensoever the fathers came to Abba Macarius he used to take them to the cell of those brethren, and say unto them, "Behold ye the martyrium of these little strangers."
Cbapter n\\. ©f Hbba Bessarion
And after a few days the elder man died, and three days later the other man died also; and whensoever the fathers came to Abba Macarius he used to take them to the cell of those brethren, and say unto them, "Behold ye the martyrium of these little strangers. "
Cbapter n\\. ©f Hbba Bessarion
THE disciples of Abba Bessarion used to relate the story of his life and deeds in the following words : — The mode of life of the old man was that of the bird of the heavens, and of the things which are in the waters, and of the creeping things of the earth, and he passed the whole period of his life in peace, and in tranquillity ; for no anxiety [as to the condition] of his cell was ever present with him ; and his soul was never occupied with the desire to live in certain places ; and he never ministered during the whole course of his career to the satisfying of himself with food ; and he never gathered together or laid up for himself possessions in clothes or books ; but he was free from care about everything which concerned the body, and he rejoiced in the hope of the good things which were to come ; and he was firm and immovable in the foundation of his faith; and he followed the ascetic life strenuously. He wandered hither and thither like one possessed, in the season of frost [he went] naked, and he was consumed with heat under the fierce rays of the sun, and at one time he lived among the rocks and at another in the desert. And if it fell out and happened that he came to districts which were settled, or to a place where a congregation of monks passed their whole lives together in the fulfilment of the rules of monasticism, he would take his seat contentedly outside the door of the monastery.
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Hbba Bessarfon
And if it fell out and happened that he came to districts which were settled, or to a place where a congregation of monks passed their whole lives together in the fulfilment of the rules of monasticism, he would take his seat contentedly outside the door of the monastery. 242
Hbba Bessarfon
Now on one occasion, having arrived at a certain monastery, he sat down outside the door, and he wept and wailed aloud after the manner of one who had been saved from a storm [at sea] ; and when one of the brethren had gone forth, he found him [sitting there] like any ordinary poor man or beggar, and having drawn nigh unto him compassionately he said unto him, ''Wherefore weepest thou, O man? If thou hast need of " any of the necessaries of life, so far as in my power Heth, I " will give it unto thee. Rise up, then, and get thee inside the " monastery, and comfort thyself with the blessed companion- " ship of the table with us." Then the blessed Bessarion made answer unto him, and said, "Until I find the possessions of " my house which I have lost, and the numerous goods of "the house of my fathers which I have lost in sundry and "divers ways, I cannot live under a roof. For pirates fell " upon me at sea, and a storm rose up against me, and I have "been shorn of my riches, and from being a man of high "degree I have become the object of contempt." Now that brother was astonished at these words, and was grieved thereat, and he went in and brought out some bread, and gave it unto him, saying, "Father, take this, and the other things "which thou hast mentioned, that is to say, country, and "family, and riches, God shall restore unto thee." But Abba Bessarion cried out the more, and with louder cries, and lifted up his voice and said, "I know not if I shall be able to find that which I have lost, and that which I seek, for as far as I can see they will be removed from me still farther. And I am afflicted daily, and am brought nigh unto death by reason of the violent storm of wickednesses innumerable which surround me, and I endure them and [rest] upon hope that, peradventure, I may be worthy of mercy in the day of judgement."
Cbapter sstij. ®f tbe wonderful tbinss wbicb Hbba Bessarion wroAUObt
And I am afflicted daily, and am brought nigh unto death by reason of the violent storm of wickednesses innumerable which surround me, and I endure them and [rest] upon hope that, peradventure, I may be worthy of mercy in the day of judgement. "
Cbapter sstij. ®f tbe wonderful tbinss wbicb Hbba Bessarion wroAUObt
ABBASHA6L(^Dulas),thediscipleof Abba Bessarion, used to say : — We came once to the bank of a lake and I was athirst, and I said unto Abba Bessarion, "I am thirsty." And the old man prayed, and said unto me, " Take water from the lake, and drink," and I went, and drank, and I found the water to be sweet ; and I drew therefrom and filled all the water vessels which I had with me, for I thought that peradventure I should be thirsty again when I continued my journey. Then the old man seeing me do this, said, "Why fillest thou [these vessels with] water? " And I said unto him, " Forgive me, father, but I did so lest,
243 i6a
ZTbe paraMse of tbe 1bols jf atbers
" peradventure, as we continue our journey, I may become " thirsty again"; and he said to me, " May God forgive thee, " for here, and there, and everywhere, God directeth us."
And on another occasion he was travelling along a road, and he came to the river Chrysoroan, and there was nothing wherewith it might be crossed, and he stretched out his hands, and prayed, and crossed over to the other side. Now I was astonished, and I offered unto him repentance, and said, " Father, when thou wast passing over the river how far up 44 thy legs didst thou feel the water?" And he said unto me, " As far as my ankles I felt the water, but all the rest of it was solid beneath my feet."
And on another occasion we were journeying to a certain great sage, and the sun was nigh to set, and the old man prayed, and said, " I beseech Thee, O Lord, to let the sun 4< abide in his place until I come to Thy servant"; and it was so.
"
And on another occasion we were journeying to a certain great sage, and the sun was nigh to set, and the old man prayed, and said, " I beseech Thee, O Lord, to let the sun 4< abide in his place until I come to Thy servant"; and it was so.
And on another occasion I came to him in his cell that 1 might speak with him, and I found him standing up in prayer, with his hands stretched out to heaven, and he remained standing up in this position for four days and four nights ; and afterwards he called me, and said unto me, " Come, my son," and we went forth and set out on the road. And being athirst I said unto him, " My Father, I am athirst." Then he removed himself from me about the distance of a stone's throw, and prayed and came to me, and he brought with him his garment filled with water from the air, and I drank, and we travelled on our road until we came to Lycus, to Abba John. And after each had saluted the other, he prayed, and sat down, and he discoursed concerning the vision which he had seen, and Abba Bessarion said, " A decree of judgement hath gone 44 forth from the Lord, that all the temples of the idols be 44 blotted out" ; and this actually came to pass, for at that time they were all uprooted.
And there was in Egypt a certain man who had a son that was a paralytic, and he took him on his shoulders, and brought him to Abba Bessarion and left him by the door of his cell weep ing, and he departed and went to a place some distance off. Now the old man heard the sound of the weeping of the young man, andhelookedout,andseeinghim,saidunto him, " Who artthou 44 that art here?" And the young man said, " My father brought 44 me here and then went away, and I weep." Then the old man said unto him, " Rise up, hasten after him, and overtake him"; and straightway the young man was made whole, and he went to his father, who took him and departed.
And on another occasion there came to the church a man who had a devil, and prayer was made on his behalf in the
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" Then the old man said unto him, " Rise up, hasten after him, and overtake him"; and straightway the young man was made whole, and he went to his father, who took him and departed. And on another occasion there came to the church a man who had a devil, and prayer was made on his behalf in the
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Ube /l&onfc wftb IRinc Dfrtues
church, but the devil did not go forth, for he was difficult [to cast out]; and the clergy said, "What shall we do about this 4 'devil, for no man can cast him out except Abb£ Bessarion? 14 Let us entreat him concerning the man, and even though he 4 ' cometh not to the church, let us act thus. Behold, the old "man cometh to the church early in the morning before every - 4 'one else. Let us make the sick man to occupy the seat "wherein the old man sitteth usually, and when he cometh in, "let us stand up in prayer, and say unto him, 'O father, make "4to rise up this man also'"; and they did so. And when the old man came [into the church] in the morning, they rose up in prayer, and said unto him, " Father, make to rise up that brother"; and Abbi Bessarion went and struck him with his fist, and said, "Rise up and get thee forth"; and straightway that devil went forth from the man, and he was made whole immediately.
Cbapter ££tv>. ZTbe HMstors of a Ifools /l&an wbo [pos* sessefc] IRtne IDtrtues
THE fathers used to say concerning a certain brother who lived in a large monastery that, having contended mightily, and having been helped by God, he had made himself master of nine virtues, and that he was exceedingly desirous of making them ten, but that in spite of many con- tendings he was unable [to do so]. Then the Enemy, according to his custom, cast his arrows at him, and both by day and by night he vexed him and troubled him in order that he might depart from the monastery wherein he was, and he advised him, saying, " In another monastery thou wilt be able to com plete the ten [virtues]." Now the brother, not understanding the cunning of the Evil One, was led by his thoughts, which seemed to incite him to [further] spiritual excellence, and he departed and went to another monastery with the expectation that he would find that which he sought. And having been received into the monastery to which he had gone, after a very short time, through the contending of the Calumniator, he lost one virtue. And once again the Calumniator cast into his mind the thought that he would depart from that monastery, al though he remembered his promise, and said, "Thou hast not 4 'only not found that which thou didst seek, but thou hast also "lost that which thou hadst." Then the brother, being sad and sorry about that which had happened unto him, departed and went to another monastery, with the expectation that he would be able to acquire the virtue which he had lost, and also that he would be able to add another thereto. And whilst the brother was working and contending to acquire that virtue
245
" Then the brother, being sad and sorry about that which had happened unto him, departed and went to another monastery, with the expectation that he would be able to acquire the virtue which he had lost, and also that he would be able to add another thereto. And whilst the brother was working and contending to acquire that virtue
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ZTbe paraMse of tbe 1bol2 3f atbers
which he had lost and that which he had coveted, the Calum niator, through his wicked craftiness, made him lose another, and he did the same thing- to him on several occasions ; and he made him to go out from one monastery, and brought him into another so often that the brother at length lost four virtues.
And the brother wandered about hither and thither in a state of great agitation, and coming to a certain monastery he rested himself, and leaned against the door thereof, in dejec tion of spirit, and he cried over himself, and wept because of what had happened unto him. Then, having rested a little, he determined to go into that monastery in order to be received into it. And he told himself of all the things which had hap pened unto him, and all the trials which had attacked him in the monasteries wherein he had been ; and he passed judgement upon his soul and said, " Art thou able to bear all the [trials] "which are in this monastery?" And his soul made answer, saying, "I place my trust in the mercy of our Lord that He "will give strength to my weakness, and that I shall endure "[them]." Then, having decided these things in his thoughts, the brother wrote them all down on a piece of paper, and placed them in his girdle, and he strengthened his thoughts to go into the monastery that he might be received therein.
" And his soul made answer, saying, "I place my trust in the mercy of our Lord that He "will give strength to my weakness, and that I shall endure "[them]. " Then, having decided these things in his thoughts, the brother wrote them all down on a piece of paper, and placed them in his girdle, and he strengthened his thoughts to go into the monastery that he might be received therein.
Now after he had been received, and had lived in the monas tery for a short time, he began to have freedom of speech with the brethren, and with the archimandrite, and temptations also began to assail him ; then he took out the written paper which was placed in his girdle, and read it, and felt relieved, and this he continued to do whensoever temptation assailed him. And the brethren marvelled because he was not perturbed when they were, for on several occasions, when the brethren of that monastery were in a state of excitement, he had not permitted himself to be agitated with them in the smallest de gree, and they wished to know the reason of this. And one day when the monks were agitated and disturbed by a quarrel which was so serious that the matter nearly came to murder, that brother took the paper, and looked at it, and as he was reading it one of the brethren watched him. And when the tumult was over, and the brethren saw that he was not agi tated, they marvelled, and said, "What is the meaning of this "thing? And why is not that brother as excited as we are?" Then the brother who had watched the monk [read his paper] revealed to them the matter, saying, "He hath something in "his girdle, and on account of it he remaineth undisturbed"; and the brethren enquired into the matter, and they found that it was even as the brother had said.
Then they approached the archimandrite, and said unto him,
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/IDonfc witb IRtne Virtues
" Then the brother who had watched the monk [read his paper] revealed to them the matter, saying, "He hath something in "his girdle, and on account of it he remaineth undisturbed"; and the brethren enquired into the matter, and they found that it was even as the brother had said. Then they approached the archimandrite, and said unto him,
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/IDonfc witb IRtne Virtues
"If thou dost not expel this brother, we will not remain here, ' ' and we will go forth, because he is a sorcerer, and behold, his " sorceries are in his girdle"; and the archimandrite promised to expel him. Now the archimandrite delayed the expulsion of that brother, and one night, whilst he was asleep, the archi mandrite went to him and took the paper from his girdle, and he read it and rejoiced with a great joy ; and having read the paper he put it [back] into the girdle of the brother, who knew not what had been done, and no other man knew. And after a short time the brethren, through the agency of Satan, were greatly disturbed by a very serious quarrel, and that brother was in no wise agitated; and when they saw that he was not disturbed at all and that he was wholly tranquil, they rose up against the archimandrite, saying, "If thou dost not expel "this brother we will all depart forthwith." Then the archi mandrite called the brother and said unto him, "What is this " that thy brethren are saying against thee? They are bring- " ing an accusation against thee." And the brother expressed regret, saying, "Yes, father, all [their words] are true; but " permit me to repent." And the archimandrite said unto him, " But they say that thou art a sorcerer"; and the brother said, " Yes, I am even as they say, but I beseech thy piety, O father, " that thou wilt allow me to repent here." Then the archiman drite said unto him, "But they say that thy sorceries are in " thy girdle." And the brother, being unwilling that his spiri tual excellence should be revealed, fell upon his face before the archimandrite and took hold of his feet, and made suppli cation to him, and wept with groans and sighs, saying, "Ex- " pose me not, O father, but forgive me for this once only, " and I will repent with all my soul." Then the archimandrite, who knew that great advantage would accrue to the whole brotherhood, would not be persuaded by him, but he com manded that his girdle should be loosened, and he himself took it and brought out therefrom the paper; and he then ordered that all the brethren should be gathered together, and that the paper should be read in a prominent place, so that all of them might hear. And after the paper had been read the brethren repented, and fell upon their faces before that brother, and they entreated him, saying, "Forgive us, father, for we have " sinned against thee." Thus that brother benefited the whole brotherhood, and they regarded him as a father.
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parafcise of tbe 1fool2 ffatbers Gbapter ££\>, ®t tbe Blessefc Woman /Ifoaria
And after the paper had been read the brethren repented, and fell upon their faces before that brother, and they entreated him, saying, "Forgive us, father, for we have " sinned against thee. " Thus that brother benefited the whole brotherhood, and they regarded him as a father. 247
parafcise of tbe 1fool2 ffatbers Gbapter ££\>, ®t tbe Blessefc Woman /Ifoaria
THERE was a certain worldly man who wished to be come a monk, and he had a little daughter who be sought him to take her with him to the monastery; now she was a maiden, and he entreated her, saying, "If thou " wishest to become a nun let me take thee to a house for " virgins," but she said to him, "I cannot be separated from " thee." And her father, being much distressed about her be cause she wept by night and by day and begged that she might not be separated from him, made up his mind to take her with him, and he changed her name that it might not be known that she was a maiden. Now her name had been "Mdrid," but her father gave her the name of "Maryana "as if she had been a boy; then he committed the matter to God, and took her and went into a monastery without anyone perceiving that Marydn& was a girl, and after several years Marydna's father died per forming the excellent works of the monastic life. Now the archimandrite saw that Maryand was working [hard], and was excelling in spiritual excellence, and he rejoiced in him, not knowing that he was not a boy, and he commanded that he should not be sent out on the highways [to beg] because he was a child; and the brethren were envious against Maryana because he did not go out on the highways with them.
And when the archimandrite saw that the brethren were envious against Maryana because he did not go out on the highways as they did, he called to Maryana and said unto him, " Since the brethren are envious against thee because thou " dost not perform the work on the high roads as do they, I " command thee to do so"; then Maryana fell down before the archimandrite and said unto him, " Whatsoever thou com- " mandest me to do I will do gladly, O father." Now the brethren of the monastery wherein lived Marydna, whensoever they went out on the high roads, visited a certain believer, in order to rest a little and to refresh themselves, and since Maryana was sent out, even according to what had been or dered by the archimandrite, the believing man whom the brethen visited saw him, (for he knew all the brethren of the monastery because he used to go to their monastery continu ally); and the believing man saw Maryana at the season of evening, and he took him and brought him to his house, so that he might rest there for the night. And the believing man had a daughter, and on the night wherein Maryand stayed with him a certain man seduced her, and he who had fallen upon her and seduced her commanded her, saying, "If " thy father saith unto thee, Who is he that hath seduced
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ZTbe Blessefc /l&aria
And the believing man had a daughter, and on the night wherein Maryand stayed with him a certain man seduced her, and he who had fallen upon her and seduced her commanded her, saying, "If " thy father saith unto thee, Who is he that hath seduced
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ZTbe Blessefc /l&aria
" thee? say thou unto him, It was Maryand the monk." And as soon as Marydna had departed from them, the father of the maiden knew that his daughter had been seduced, and he asked her, saying, "Who hath seduced thee?" And she said unto him, "Mary£n£, the monk, is he who hath seduced me." Then the father of the maiden rose up straightway, and went to the monastery, and with tears he spake before the archi mandrite and the whole brotherhood, and said, "What offence "have I committed against you that ye should seduce my " daughter?" Now when the archimandrite heard this he was greatly moved, and he said to him, "What sayest thou ? Who "hath seduced thy daughter? Tell me who he is that I may " expel him from the monastery forthwith"; and the man said unto him, "It is Maryand who hath seduced my daughter." Then the archimandrite commanded that Maryana should be called so that he might go forth from the monastery, but hav ing been sought for throughout all the building MaryAnS. could not be found, and then they knew that he was out on a journey for the monastery; and the archimandrite said unto the father of the maiden, "There is nothing further which I can do ex- " cept this: when Marydnd returneth from the highway I will " not allow him to enter the monastery," and he gave orders to all the brethren of the monastery, saying, "When Mary^nA " returns he is not to be allowed to enter the monastery."
And when MaryanA came back from the road they would not allow him to enter the monastery, and he wept at the door thereof and said, "What is my offence that I am not per- " mitted to enter the monastery?" Then the doorkeeper said to him, "[Thou art not permitted to enter] because thou hast " seduced the daughter of the believing man whom the monks "visit"; and Maryana entreated the doorkeeper, saying, "For "the Lord's sake go in and persuade the archimandrite to " permit me to enter the monastery, and whatsoever he order- " eth me to do because of my fall I will do." So the door keeper went in and told the archimandrite everything which Maryan& had said, and the archimandrite said to him, ' ' Go and "tell MaryAnA, [saying], 'Because thou hast done this thing " 'thou shalt never see my face again; get thee gone to what- " 'soever place thou pleasest.' " When Maryana" heard these things he was greatly afflicted, and he sat by the door of the monastery night and day, and wept because of what had hap pened to him; and he besought those who went in and those who came out to entreat the archimandrite on his behalf, and although very many folk did so, and begged him to let MaryanA come into the monastery, the archimandrite would not be per suaded [to do so].
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paraMse of tbe Ibols ffatbers
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paraMse of tbe Ibols ffatbers
And after that maiden, through whom Maryana had been trodden in the dust, had given birth to her child, her father took the boy to whom his daughter had given birth, and brought it to Mary£n£i, and said unto him, "Behold, here is "thy son, take him and rear him"; and Maryana took the child, saying, "Glory be to God Who can endure and bear "with sinners like myself." And each day he took the child and went up the mountain to the goats of the monastery, and suckled him with goats' milk, and when the child was suckled Maryan4 returned to the door of the monastery; now he never left the door of the monastery except when he went to give the child milk, and he besought those who went in and those who came out, with tears, to unite with him in making sup plication to God to forgive him his sin. And he sat by the door of the monastery for four years, and tears were never absent from his eyes, neither by night nor by day, and every one who heard the sound of his weeping was grieved for his sake. Now after Maryana had suffered affliction by the door of the monas tery for four years and had shewn the child to every man, say ing, "Pray ye for me, for I fell into fornication, and this child " is the result thereof," God moved the mind of the archiman drite to bring Maryana into the monastery, for His mercy was revealed upon him, and He commanded the archimandrite to bring Maryand in.
And as soon as Maryand heard that they were going to bring him into the monastery from the man who told him about it beforehand, he rose up straightway, and fell down before the Lord, and said, "Glory be to Thee, O Lord, Who "hath not been unmindful of such a [great] sinner as I am! "I give thanks unto Thee for all the goodness which thou hast "shewn unto me. What have I to give unto Thee in return "therefor? For Thou hast brought me into the monastery, by "the door of which I had decided in my mind that I must die." And as soon as those who had been sent to bring Maryana into the monastery had done so, Maryana fell down before the archimandrite, and before the whole brotherhood of the mo nastery, now he was carrying the child and was weeping, and sighing, and groaning, and he said unto them, "Forgive ye "me, O masters and fathers, for I have angered God with "[my] evil works, and you I have afflicted greatly; but pray "for me, that God may forgive me the fall wherewith I fell."