And after many years Maryana, having prevailed mightily in the great labours of spiritual excellence, delivered his soul to our Lord, and none of the brethren had ever seen him laugh or smile ; on the contrary, he mourned all the days of his life. And when he was dead, the brethren drew nigh to anoint
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©n tbe ©uar&ing of tbe
him with oil, according to the custom, and then they saw that Marydna" was a woman. Then the brethren ran quickly and called the man who had made the accusation against Marydnd, and when he had come and seen her, great wonder laid hold upon him, and he besought God to forgive him the great sin and wrong which he had done to Marydnd; and all those who heard and saw this glorified God that His saints fight so bravely for His Name's sake.
Cbapter ££\>f * ZTbe tbistorg of a certain Sa^e anfc of tbe watcbtnQ of tbe flMnfc
THERE was a certain old man who lived in his cell and performed mighty ascetic works, and who, when soever the brethren of the Cells were gathered together for the vigil of the First Day of the week, would come to the general assembly, and would act in such a way as to make the brethren despise him, and indeed they regarded him as a man who had gone out of his senses, although he did every thing with discretion. Now God, the Good and Compassionate, did not wish the labours of the old man to be hidden, but He revealed and made known some of them for the benefit of the community, and He sent angels, who were in the forms of rich and honourable men, to the priest of the Cells, and they came and saluted him ; and when the priest saw them, he ran forward to meet them, for he thought that they who appeared to him were great and wealthy men, and he rose up immediately and saluted them. And after they had sat down and had held some converse with the old man, they besought him, saying, "O father, we beg of thee to allow us to go round the Cells "that we may be blessed by the Fathers"; and he accepted their petition, and permitted them to do whatsoever they wished, and they asked him to send to them one of the brethren. Then the priest called one of the brethren, and commanded him to go with them, and beckoning him aside he said unto him secretly, "Take heed lest thou take them to the "cell of that [mad] old man, for when they see that he hath "lost his reason they will be sorry they have met him." And when they had come out to go to the Cells, the honourable men fell down before the priest of the Cells, and said unto him, "O Father, give our brother orders to take us to see all the "fathers," and the priest said unto them, "I have commanded "him to take you to them all." And having gone to the fathers of the Cells, and visited them, they returned to the priest in his cell, and he said unto them, "Are ye gratified "now that ye have seen the fathers?" And they said unto him, "O father, we are gratified, but we are sorry about one thing,
TTbe parafcise of tbe Ifools ffatbers
" And having gone to the fathers of the Cells, and visited them, they returned to the priest in his cell, and he said unto them, "Are ye gratified "now that ye have seen the fathers? " And they said unto him, "O father, we are gratified, but we are sorry about one thing,
TTbe parafcise of tbe Ifools ffatbers
4 'that is to say, because thou didst command the brother "who went with us that we should not see all the fathers." Then the priest called the brother who had gone with them, and said in their presence, "Did I not tell thee to take the "brethren to all the cells?" And the brother said, "Yea, "father, thou didst tell me to do so, and I took them to all the "cells, and they have seen all the brethren." Then the honour able men said to the priest, "Forgive us, father, but there are "some of the fathers whom we have not seen, and we are ' * greatly grieved thereat ; but say a prayer on our behalf "so that we may depart."
" Then the honour able men said to the priest, "Forgive us, father, but there are "some of the fathers whom we have not seen, and we are ' * greatly grieved thereat ; but say a prayer on our behalf "so that we may depart. "
And after the priest had prayed over them, and they had departed from him, he called the brother who had gone with them, and said unto him, "How did these men know what I "ordered thee [to do]? Didst thou, perchance, reveal it unto ' ' them ? " And the brother made repentance, and said, * ' Forgive "me, father, but I did not reveal [thy orders] unto them." Then the priest knew that the matter was from God, and he rose up straightway and went to that old man whom he thought to be out of his mind, and he fell down on his face before him, and laid hold upon his feet, and besought him to reveal unto him his ascetic works and labours ; and he swore to the old man that he would not rise up from the ground, and would not let go his hold upon him until he had done so, saying to the old man likewise, "That I should come to thee "and that thou shouldst reveal thy labours unto me, are "matters from God." Now the old man was unwilling to reveal his works, because he did not wish to be held in honour because of them, nevertheless he was compelled to do so because the priest had told him that the matter was from God, and he promised the priest to reveal unto him one thing ; and when the priest heard the promise of the old man, he rose up from the ground, and seeing the old man in a gentle and tranquil frame of mind, he marvelled, because he had never before seen him as he was at that moment. Then the old man said unto the priest, "Depart, O father, I did not know that "I did even one good thing, but of such things which I have "the following is one : — I have by my side two baskets, one on "my right hand, and one on my left; for every good thought "which springeth up in my mind I take a pebble and throw it "into the basket which is on my right hand; and for every "hateful thought which riseth in me, I also take a pebble and "throw it into the basket which is on my left hand, and this I "do every day. And when the time for the evening meal hath "arrived, I take out the pebbles, and count them, and if the "number of those which are in the basket of good thoughts
252
ZTvvo Persian flfconfes
'on my right hand do not exceed those in the basket of evil
'thoughts on my left hand, I do not take any supper that
'evening; and if they do exceed, then I eat, and rejoice, for
'sometimes it happeneth that several days pass without my
'eating at all, because the pebbles of the good deeds do not
And when the time for the evening meal hath "arrived, I take out the pebbles, and count them, and if the "number of those which are in the basket of good thoughts
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ZTvvo Persian flfconfes
'on my right hand do not exceed those in the basket of evil
'thoughts on my left hand, I do not take any supper that
'evening; and if they do exceed, then I eat, and rejoice, for
'sometimes it happeneth that several days pass without my
'eating at all, because the pebbles of the good deeds do not
'exceed in number the pebbles of the bad ones. And when-
'soeveran abominablethoughtcometh tome, I pass judgement
"on myself, and say, 'Take heed, for thou wilt not eat to-
' ' ' day ! ' "And having heard these things the priest praised God,
the Lord of the universe, and he marvelled how the old man
could perform such works of righteousness and yet keep them
hidden from every man.
Cbapter ££\?ij. ©f two Brotbers wbo fcwelt in a J>et> sian Monastery
A CERTAIN history, which is full of pain and profit, Omy beloved, came to me by chance, that is to say, through conversation and speech with the brethren, and I have thought much about it, and have determined that it is right for me to narrate it, and to set it down in writing, so that many from the reading of the same may acquire spiritual profit, and may watch against enmity, and may not have bitter hatred of one another for any reason whatsoever, and that each [of us] may be at peace with the other, and so that each [of us] may forgive the other any cause for murmuring or anger, and may remem ber the words of our Lord, and God, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. There were two brethren who dwelt in one abode in a certain Persian monastery, and it happened that one of them had cause for dispute with the other, and they separated, each from the other, the one leaving the monastery altogether, and the other remaining in the abode wherein they had lived hitherto. And it came to pass that he who remained behind was seized, and bound, and shut up in prison, for [giving] testimony con cerning our Lord, and he was brought before the judge, and was questioned by him once, twice, and a third time, and he bore severe stripes and did not deny Christ, and he was again fast bound in the prison house. Now when his companion heard [this] he repented in his soul, and he thought, " It is right " that I should go and be reconciled with my brother, for per- " haps through this testimony which he persisteth in giving, he " may depart from the world and go away, each of us keeping ' * wrath against the other, and through this we both shall suffer no " small loss, and probably I more than he." And when the bro ther had meditated thus, he came to the prison and enquired for his companion who was imprisoned there, and he went into his presence and fell down at his feet, and besought and entreated
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Ube ifraraMse of tbe 1bol$ ffatbers
" And when the bro ther had meditated thus, he came to the prison and enquired for his companion who was imprisoned there, and he went into his presence and fell down at his feet, and besought and entreated
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Ube ifraraMse of tbe 1bol$ ffatbers
him to be reconciled to him ; but the brother who was in fetters would not be persuaded to do this, and continued in his wrathful condition, and when the brother saw this he left him and departed in sorrow.
And on the following day the judge commanded and they brought in before him the man who was bound and in prison, and he asked him if he would be persuaded to deny his God and to worship the sun, and he would not agree to do either; and the judge gave orders that he was to be laid out and beaten, and to be smitten with rods, and when they had laid him out, and the strokes were being laid on by two [men] at a time, he denied Christ. Now when the judge saw this, he commanded the men to stop beating him, and he called him to him, and asked him, saying, "What aileth thee? I caused thee to bear "severe stripes on three previous occasions, and thou wast "neither overcome nor didst play the coward's part, and "yet now, whilst they are coming near thee, thou dost deny " [thy God]." And the brother said, "I have acted thus because "I have sinned and treated with contempt the command- " ments of the Lord my God, Who commanded us to forgive " each his offences. I had once a brother in our Lord, and we lived " together in one monastery, and it happened that some cause " for anger rose up between us, and we separated from each " other in enmity. Yesterday he came to me in prison, and fell " down before me and begged for peace from me, and I would " not consent to be reconciled unto him, and therefore the good- * ' ness of God was cut off from me, and He did not help me this " day as He hath always done before, and I denied [Him]. Dur- ' * ing the stripes which I received formerly I usedto seeHim spread " out about a hand's breadth above me, and He did not permit * * me to suffer, but to-day He forsook me, and at a small amount "of pain I was terrified and I denied [Him]." Now when the judge had heard these things from him, he commanded that his fetters should be loosed from off him, and that he should be dismissed ; and the brother, feeling disgrace and shame at the fall which had come upon him, went forth from the presence of the judge, and directed his way straight to his companion, and he fell down on his face at his feet, and wept and cried out bitterly, and entreated for mercy and peace ; and when his companion looked upon him, he also suffered great grief, and he received him, and they were reconciled, andheprayed for him, and though the thing was bitter to him, they separated one from the other.
Then the brother who had denied his God straightway re turned to the door of the judge, and he began to cry out and to curse the king, so that they might again bring him before the judge for examination ; but the judge did not wish to say
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TOe HMstotE of a Dirgin
anything- to him. And when the brother saw this, he departed from thence, and through penitence and grief for what had hap pened to him, and also through the pain and anguish of his soul, he threw himself, body and soul, into a fire temple; and he began to cast dust and everything else which came to his hands on the fire ; and he cursed the king mightily, saying, ' 'God will receive those who have been tripped up and have " fallen, if they repent and turn unto Him." And he departed from thence also, and he wandered about and went hither and thither, and he threw stones at every magian or pagan whom he met, and he never ceased from reviling the king; and he never ceased or kept silent concerning the compassion of our Lord, which is laid out for those who repent, and he cried out, saying, "Verily, there is no god except our Lord Jesus Christ, " although I, through my sins, and my negligence of His mercy, " have denied Him." Now when the judge heard these things, he feared lest he would suffer a penalty and be condemned to death as one who had heard the king reviled, and had been neglectful ; and straightway he sent forth a decree concerning him, and ordered that his head should be cut off quickly with the sword. And when they had seized the monk, and had taken him outside the city, he cried out with a loud voice, and said, " Blessed art Thou, O our Lord Jesus Christ, for ten thousand " times ten thousand sins are too few for Thy mercy to forgive '* in one hour" ; and having said this they made him kneel down, and he was smitten by the sword and received mercy. Glory be to the Power Who maketh strong His saints to do His Will, and may we have mercy shewn unto us through their prayers, for ever and ever. Amen.
Cbapter ££\nij, ZTbe fbtstors of a certain IDirain wbo grew olfc in tbe worfes of tbe jfear of <3ofc
Glory be to the Power Who maketh strong His saints to do His Will, and may we have mercy shewn unto us through their prayers, for ever and ever. Amen. Cbapter ££\nij, ZTbe fbtstors of a certain IDirain wbo grew olfc in tbe worfes of tbe jfear of <3ofc
IT was related by a certain old man who said : — There was a virgin who was far advanced in years, and who had grown old in the fear of God, and having been asked by me to tell me the reason why she left the world, she began, with sighs, to speak to me as follows: — Great and marvellous things have happened unto me. When I was a young girl I had a father, who was a pleasant man, and who was modest in his dis position; now he was a delicate man in health, and he was al ways suffering from some kind of sickness, and he lived entirely to himself, and never interfered in the affairs of other people, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he could be induced to see the people of his village. When he was in good health he devoted his attention unceasingly to the care of his estate, and he occupied himself at all seasons with the cultivation of
255
ITbe paradise of tbe 1bol$ jfatbers
his fields ; but finally he was obliged to pass many long days of his life laid out on a bed of sickness, and he was so quiet that those who were not acquainted with him would have thought that he was deaf. And I had a mother, who, in all her ways and manners, was the opposite of my father, and she used to do things which were beyond her capacity; her words to every one were many, and she poured out her speech uselessly to every one, and she talked so much that every one imagined that her body was composed wholly of tongues. Moreover, she had quarrels with her neighbours continually, and she was always in a state of drunkenness, and she drank shamelessly at all times with wanton folk, and she managed the affairs of her house badly, after the manner of a harlot; and at length, though the house was well furnished with goods of every kind, it was with the greatest difficulty that the people could find enough to supply our wants. She was very lax in the care for the things which my father required in his illness, but she displayed the utmost attention in providing for her own body in a disgrace ful manner, and the people of the village atlength fled before her shameless appearance. Noillnessevercameuponher, andshehad never been ill in the whole course of her life, from the day she was born, and she was healthy in body until her death.
When therefore, I, a wretched girl, had lived for some time in such circumstances as these, it happened that, after struggling against a long illness, that is to say, my father was obliged to pass every day of his life in the infirmity of sickness, at length he departed from the world. Now at the very moment of his death the weather changed, and the rain poured down in torrents, and lightnings and thunders were tearing through the air, and disturbing it violently, and it was impossible to tell whether it was day or whether it was night; for this reason my father lay dead on his bier for three days, for the weather did not permit him to be buried. And, moreover, it made the people of the village to shake their heads, and they wondered, and said, ' * Perhaps great wickednesses were committed by this " man secretly, and he may have been found to be such an " enemy of God that even the earth will not permit his burial"; but, in order that his body might not go wholly to corruption, even though the weather was gloomy and threatening, and the rain had not ceased, by some means or other we carried him [to the grave], and laid him therein. Now my mother, as one who had found great relief, forthwith fulfilled unreproved her wanton lusts to the utmost, and she straightway turned my father's house into an abode of harlots, and she lived there in such a state of luxury and lascivious pleasure that soon ofi all the goods in it only a mere remnant was left, and that!
356 '
1bt0tor$ of a Dtrgin
remnant she left to me when I was very young. Then with difficulty came death to my mother, and in my opinion, he was afraid to approach her, for great worms grew in her, and with much trouble she was buried, the weather by its serenity, and the sun by his splendour helping [in the work].
356 '
1bt0tor$ of a Dtrgin
remnant she left to me when I was very young. Then with difficulty came death to my mother, and in my opinion, he was afraid to approach her, for great worms grew in her, and with much trouble she was buried, the weather by its serenity, and the sun by his splendour helping [in the work].
Now after the death of my mother, and whilst I was still a little girl, I left the world. During the period when I was a young woman the lusts of the body were stirred up within me, and they goaded me severely, and I used to rise up in the evening (or night) that I might lie down again and find a little relief from the disturbance of my mind. And a struggle went on in my thoughts, for I wondered what manner of life I should choose for myself, and how I should end the days of my life, and whether they would be passed in quietness and happiness, and fair chastity, even as they were during my father's lifetime. Then my thoughts spake unto me thus : — 44 Behold, in this world thy father did not enjoy any happiness 44 whatsoever, but he passed all his life in sickness and wretch- "edness, and he departed from this world of trouble under "the same circumstances, and even the earth was unwilling 44 to receive his body; are [men] to receive such a life as this 44 from (?) God, and why did my father deserve such treat - 44 ment ? On the other hand, supposing I chose to lead a life 44 like that of my mother, will that be any better to deliver my 44 body over to fornication, and lasciviousness, and the gratifi- 44 cation of [my] lusts? For, behold, my mother left no kind of 44 abominable wickedness which she did not commit, and she 44 destroyed her whole life with her depravity, and yet she de- 44 parted from this world having enjoyed health and prosperity <4 every day [of her life]! What then? Is it not then right for 44 me to live even as she lived? For it is better that I should 44 believe with mine own eyes, and that they should see for 44 themselves the variety and the ending of such matters, for 44 there is nothing better than to understand thoroughly what- 44 soever we see openly before our eyes."
And I, the wretched girl, vainly imagined that such thoughts were the thoughts of truth, and for this reason I de termined to prepare myself to live even as my mother had lived. Now when the night had overtaken me, and immediately sleep had fallen upon me after thinking thoughts of this kind, a certain man, of huge stature, stood up above me; and his appearance was frightful, and his form made me tremble and terrified me, and his face was hard, and in a stern voice he asked me, saying, 44Tell me, so and so, what are these 44 thoughts which are in thy heart?" And, because I was terri fied by his appearance and form, I scarcely dared to look upon
257 *7
Ube paraMse of tbe 1bol£ jfatbers
" And, because I was terri fied by his appearance and form, I scarcely dared to look upon
257 *7
Ube paraMse of tbe 1bol£ jfatbers
him, and in a voice which was sterner than before, he com manded me to reveal to him the things which I had settled in my own mind to do. And being stupefied with fear I forgot all my thoughts and I said unto him, " My lord, I know not what "thou sayest," and having thus denied that I knew, he re minded me of everything which I had thought out in my mind, one after the other. Therefore, having rebuked myself, I turned and begged and entreated him that I might be held worthy of forgiveness, and I related unto him the reason for such thoughts. Then he straightway said unto me, " I am about to tl shew thee both thy father and thy mother, and the [different] " manner of life which they lead, and the things which each " doeth, and thou shalt choose which life thou wilt lead." And he took me by my hands, and drew me away, and carried me to an exceedingly great plain, wherein there were many paradises, and thick trees heavily laden with fruits, which for appearance and beauty surpassed description. Now when I had entered into that plain, my father met me, and embraced me, and kissed me, and he held converse with me and called me "my daughter," and whilst I was in his embrace I be sought him that I might remain with him, but he said unto me, " At present it is impossible, but if thou desirest to walk "chastely in my footsteps thou shalt come hither after no " great time."
And as I remained and was making my supplication unto him, he who had brought me to this place drew me on, and I was lifted up in his hands, and he said unto me, " Come and " see thy mother also in the fire which is blazing fiercely, so " that thou mayest know how to choose what is good, and " towards which manner of life it will be useful and beneficial " for thee to incline." Then he showed me a fiery furnace which was burning fiercely, and every kind of thing of cruel wrath surrounded the furnace, and I heard proceeding there from the sound of weeping and of gnashing of teeth. And having looked down into the furnace I saw my mother sunk in fire up to her neck, and she was weeping and gnashing her teeth, and she was being consumed in the fire, and she was being gnawed by a multitude of worms ; and when she saw me she cried out with tears in a loud voice and, addressing me with the words, " My daughter," she said, " woe is me, " O my daughter, for these things have come upon me be- 4 'cause of my evil deeds, and because I held to be madness "the things which were said unto me concerning chastity, " and the punishments which were declared to fall upon those "who committed fornication and adultery. And, behold, in " return for my lascivious pleasure I have to suffer torture,
Ibteton? of a
And, behold, in " return for my lascivious pleasure I have to suffer torture,
Ibteton? of a
" because I did not think that vengeance was laid up there- 4 'for! And, behold, in return for a little pleasure and the "momentary gratification of my desire, what everlasting 44 punishment I have to endure, and what penalty is there 44 which I am not compelled to pay? And consider, moreover, 44 that in return for the short-lived happiness which I, O 44 wretched woman, enjoyed, I have to pay a prolonged 44 penalty. And because I despised God what evil wages I have 44 to receive! All these things have overtaken me because I be- 44 haved rebelliously, but, behold, now is the time for helping 44 me, O my daughter. Remember now with what anxious care 44 and attention thy bringing up was carried out, and the 44 helpful things which I brought thee, and to speak briefly, 44 all the good things which I did for thee. Have mercy upon 44 the woman who burneth in the fire. Have mercy upon the 44 woman who hath been cast into such tortures as these. 44 Havepityuponme,Omy daughter, and stretch out thy hand, 44 and lift me up out of this place." Now I excused myself from doing this on account of him that stood by my side, and again she wept and cried out to me, saying, 44 O my daughter, help 44 me. O my daughter, have pity upon me, and come to me. 44 Neglect not thy mother who gnasheth her teeth [in pain], and 44 treat not with indifference her who suffereth torment in 4 'Gehenna."
Now as, after the nature of a human being, I felt pain be cause of her tears and her mournful voice, I began to cry out loudly, and to sigh and moan bitterly, and then all those who were sleeping in our house awoke, and when they had risen up, they questioned me and I told them the reason of the out cry and disturbance, and I narrated unto them everything which had appeared unto me. These are the things through which, by the rich mercy of God, I chose to follow the life and works of my father, and I was persuaded to be governed, and through Divine Providence I am confirmed in my belief that such punish ments are laid up for those who desire to live an evil life.
Such are the things which we heard from the virgin who is worthy of blessing, and from them we may know what delights, according to the things which appeared unto her in the revela tion, are laid up for those who wish to live in a state of spiri tual excellence, and what punishments are prepared for those who choose to live a wicked and wanton life. And because of these things it is meet that we should strive to the utmost to live a life of virtue, and to excel therein, so that, by the help of God, we may through our life and deeds merit the happiness [of heaven]. Amen.
259 170
Ube paradise of tbe fbols jfatbers
Gbapter ££i£. ©f Stepbana, a jflfcan wbo fell Wantonness
And because of these things it is meet that we should strive to the utmost to live a life of virtue, and to excel therein, so that, by the help of God, we may through our life and deeds merit the happiness [of heaven]. Amen. 259 170
Ube paradise of tbe fbols jfatbers
Gbapter ££i£. ©f Stepbana, a jflfcan wbo fell Wantonness
THERE was a certain man in Scete whose name was Stephdna", who had dwelt in the desert for twenty-nine years; his apparel was made of palm leaves, and he lived in such a strict state of self-denial, and persisted to such a de gree in ascetic abstinence that he never had the least inclina tion for the meats which are usually desired, and which are pleasant to the taste; and he greatly condemned those who, because of sickness, either ate cooked food or drank cream. Now the gift of healing had been given to him to such a de gree that he could cast out devils by a word. And it came to pass that on one occasion a man in whom was an unclean spirit came to Scete, and he wished to be healed, and when the monk saw that he was vexed sorely by the devil he made a prayer and healed him. But at length this monk was rejected by Divine Providence because of his immeasurable arrogance and haughtiness, for he imagined himself to be more excellent in his life and works than the other fathers; first of all he separ ated himself from the brotherhood, and then he went and be came archimandrite in one of the Alexandrian monasteries, " For," he said in his pride, "am I to be in subjection to Ma- " carius? And are not my life and works better than his?" And this man arrived at such a state of madness that he went to Alexandria, and gave himself up to gluttony, and drunkenness, and to the eating of more flesh than rational beings are wont to eat, and finally he fell and settled down into the pit of the lust for women; and he was always going about in the houses of harlots, and in the taverns of ill-fame, and he hung closely to the whores, and gratified his lusts in a filthy manner with out shame, and he became a laughing-stock to all who knew him. But the spirit went forth to those who knew him, say ing, "The law was not made for the perfect," and he himself said, "I do not act [thus] because of passion and fornication, " neither do I do anything which is abominable, for it is not " a sin to go with women, for male and female were created "by God."
But the spirit went forth to those who knew him, say ing, "The law was not made for the perfect," and he himself said, "I do not act [thus] because of passion and fornication, " neither do I do anything which is abominable, for it is not " a sin to go with women, for male and female were created "by God. "
And it fell out that one day I and the blessed man Evagrius went to Alexandria on some business which called us thither. And we had with us four brethren; and as we were passing through the city market that monk met us accidentally, and he was talking with a harlot about his filthy lust; and when the blessed Evagrius saw him, he wept, and fell down at his feet and made obeisance unto him, but the man did not incline his head in the smallest degree, and with infinite arrogance and
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haughtiness he made answer to him, saying, "What do hypo- " crites and deceivers seek here?" Then the blessed Evagrius entreated him to go with us to the place where we were lodg ing, but he did not by any means wish to go; and when, with the greatest difficulty, he had been persuaded to go with us, so soon as we had entered in and prayed, the blessed Evagrius fell upon his neck and kissed him, and with tears said unto him, "Verily, O my beloved, from all that divine service of ' angels thou hast been brought down to this depth of wicked- 'ness; and thou hast turned thyself from converse with God 1 to converse with harlots; and instead of the life and service
* of angels thou hast chosen the life of devils ! But I beseech ' and entreat thee not to cut off the hope of thy redemption,
* but arise, and come with us to the desert, for by my hands " God the Merciful is able to restore thee to thy former grade. " Now his understanding had been so blinded by Satan that he did not know how to listen to what was said unto him, nor did he know what he answered. And he said unto Evagrius, " Up to the present I have certainly been wandering about, " but now I have found the path of truth," and he began to make a mock of the fathers, and to say, "Ye certainly wander "about [i.e., err], and ye dwell in the desert under a false " character, for the sake of men, and not for the sake of God, "and ye are to the spectators as idols whom men decorate, " and to whom they pay worship"; and thus, being full of the. pride and boasting of Satan, he spurned the fathers and went forth and departed, and the blessed Evagrius and the brethren wept and groaned over him greatly.
Then that man carried off a certain virgin, who was an or phan and a nun living by herself, with a foul design to his monastery, and though he did this with the excuse that he was going to help her by means of alms of which she was in need, it was in reality that he might fulfil his wanton desire. And having lived with her in this degraded state for about two years, at length there came to him thieves by night, who first tied him with cords, and then smote him with hard and cruel blows, until he brought out whatsoever he had in his dwelling and laid it before them ; and last of all they shut him up with the woman with whom he used to work out his wantonness in a house wherein there was straw, and, both of them being bound with cords, the thieves set fire to the house, and thus the two were consumed, and they died a bitter death. And in them was fulfilled that which was spoken by the teacher of the Gentiles, who said, "Because they did not decide with- " in themselves to know God, God delivered them over to the " knowledge of vanity, that they might disgrace their bodies
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trbe fcarabise of tbe 1bols jf atbers
" therewith, and they received the reward which befitted their "error in their own persons (Romans i, 28); that is to say, " the burning of the fire which is here is a pledge of that fire "which tormenteth all the wicked." Now the things which happened to Stephana took place because he separated him self from the brotherhood, and because he was [unduly] exalted in his mind, and because he imagined that he was perfect.
Cbapter m** ©f JEucarpus
" Now the things which happened to Stephana took place because he separated him self from the brotherhood, and because he was [unduly] exalted in his mind, and because he imagined that he was perfect. Cbapter m** ©f JEucarpus
AND there was also in the desert a certain man whose name was Eucarpus, who had passed eighteen years shut up in his cell; and the food which was necessary for his wants was brought by others. He had lived in seclu sion for fifteen years, and he never spoke to any man [during that period] except when he was in need of something. He used to write upon paper [what he wished to say], and would give it to those who ministered unto him, and he also did thus when any man asked him a question or spoke to him; his food consisted of vegetables soaked in water, and pounded garden herbs, and he carried out his rule of life with infinite labour. Finally, however, the devils made him a laughing-stock also, because of the vain opinion which he had concerning himself. First of all he separated himself from mingling with the bre thren and conversing with them, and next he ceased to medi tate on the Holy Scriptures, and he did nothing except pray continually; for he was proud and haughty in his mind, and he thought that he was perfect, and that on account of the purity of his heart, forsooth, he was always seeing God in his mind, for he that tempteth tempted him also, even as he had tempted the blessed man Job. And one night Satan appeared unto him in the form of an angel of light, and said unto him, "I am Christ"; and when Eucarpus saw him, he thought that the appearance was a real person, and he fell down, and wor shipped him, and said unto him, "Master, what commandest " thou thy servant [to do]?" And he who had appeared unto him said unto him, "Since thou hast excelled many in thy " works, and hast kept all my commandments, I desire greatly "to make my abode with thee; but since thou art perfect, it " is not necessary for thee to shut thyself up, and it is no "longer right that thou shouldst live in seclusion, but thou " must teach all the brethren not to destroy their souls with " the reading of the Scriptures and the reciting of the Psalms. " And they must not labour in the toil of the body, and they "must not vex their souls with fasting, and hunger, and " thirst, but they must labour with the labour of the soul, for " by these means they shall be able speedily to be lifted up to
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©f lEucarpus
" And they must not labour in the toil of the body, and they "must not vex their souls with fasting, and hunger, and " thirst, but they must labour with the labour of the soul, for " by these means they shall be able speedily to be lifted up to
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©f lEucarpus
"the highest grade, and they must always look at me with " their minds, and I will shew them my glory. And as for thee, "since thou hast raised thyself above all the monks by thy " works, behold, I make thee this day a chief and a governor " over all the monks who dwell in Scete. For Macarius is not " of as much use as a governor as thou art." Then Eucarpus was more lifted up in his mind than before, and he was far more proud, and he believed truly the error of the Crafty One, and his understanding was taken away from him, and he was smitten in his mind immediately he had worshipped the Ca lumniator.
Now on another day there was a congregation in the church, and Satan appeared unto Eucarpus a second time, and said unto him, "Go thou this day, for all the brethren are gathered "together, and teach them everything which I commanded " thee yesterday in the night season." Then Eucarpus opened the door of the house wherein he secluded himself, and de parted to go to the church; and it happened that Abba John was sitting by the side of the church, and the brethren were round about him, and were asking him about their thoughts. And when Eucarpus came, and saw John with the brethren surrounding him, he was filled with envy of him, and he an swered and said unto John with haughtiness and wicked wrath, " Why dost thou adorn thyself and dost sit down, like a whore, "who wisheth to multiply her friends? Or, who commanded " thee to be a corrector of others, seeing that it is I who am "the governor of the monastery?" Now when the brethren heard [these words], they were greatly moved, and said unto him, " And who made thee a governor in Scete?" And Eucar pus said unto them, "Yesterday in the night I was made
* governor by Christ, therefore turn ye to me, and I will teach 4 you the way, whereby ye shall easily ascend to the high grade 1 of the vision of glory; and moreover, go not ye astray after
* the writings of Evagrius, neither hearken ye unto the words 4 of John, for ye have wandered far enough into error already."
Then he began to revile the fathers, and he called Macarius a "painted idol" whom those who err worship, for he knoweth not how to lead the brethren on the path towards heavenly things; and Evagrius he called "a hewer of words" who hath led the brethren into error by following his writings, and hath made them to cease from spiritual service. And the devils made a mock of Eucarpus until they were able to lift him up and to dash him down upon the earth, but all these things which fell upon him took place because he condemned the brethren, and because through his pride and arrogance he held them in con tempt, and because he did not desire to meditate upon the
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Holy Scriptures, and on the doclrine of the fathers. And finally, when the fathers saw that he was smitten in mind, they threw iron fetters on him and bound him therewith, and he lived with them upon him; and the holy fathers offered up prayer on his behalf for eleven whole months, and then his mind returned to him, and he was so thoroughly cured of his pride that he perceived his weakness, and recognized his disease whereby he had been made a mock of by the devils. And in him was fulfilled that which was said, "Old blains (or wounds) are "cured by burnings," and,t"Thou who didst exalt thyself to " heaven shalt be brought down even unto Sheol" (Isaiah xiv, 13-15). Now Eucarpus lived after he had been cured of his ar rogance one year and one month; and the fathers commanded that he should minister unto the sick, and that he should wash the feet of strangers, and thus he died.
Gbapter xxsJ* ©f a certain famous Deacon wbo fcwelt In a Coenobium In Bg^pt
A CERTAIN brother asked an old man and said unto him, "If it should happen that a man fell into tempta- "tion, by the permission of God, for the benefit of his "soul, what is it right for those to do who are made to stum- "ble by the same temptation?" The old man answered and said unto him, "If he repent in very truth, and with all his "heart, and make confession unto God in his repentance, [say- "ing,] 'I have been rightly humbled,' and shall say unto God, " 'It is good for me that I have been humbled, so that I might "' learn Thy commandments,' God is able to heal the con- " sciences of those who have already offended Him." And the old man spake and narrated the following:
There was a certain deacon in a coenobium in Egypt, and a rich man, who had been driven out and had departed from the presence of a governor who had dominion over him, came with his household to that coenobium ; and the deacon stum bled and fell into adultery with the wife of one of those who were with him, and he became a laughing-stock unto every man. And he went to a certain man who was his friend, and revealed unto him the matter, and he said unto him, "Let no man know where I am'"; for he hid himself in a secret part of the cell of him that loved him, and he said unto him, "Here bury thou me during my lifetime"; and having gone down into the darkness of that hidden place he repented unto God in very truth. And after a certain time, the river, which was nigh unto the place in the region wherein the deacon had hidden himself, did not rise accord ing to its wont, and the people of the country having prayed
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Hbba ipoemen's IRetgbbonr
and made supplication it was revealed unto one of the saints that, "Unless that deacon who is hidden among us come "forth, the waters will not rise." So they went and brought him out from the place where he was hidden, and when he had come, and had made a prayer, straightway the river rose, and those who had been formerly offended by him were now edified the more, and they profited through him greatly and glorified God.
Cbapter £j£ij. ©f a certain excellent Bisbop wbo fell into fornication- anb tbe people baling walfeefc npon bim be was foroiven
" So they went and brought him out from the place where he was hidden, and when he had come, and had made a prayer, straightway the river rose, and those who had been formerly offended by him were now edified the more, and they profited through him greatly and glorified God. Cbapter £j£ij. ©f a certain excellent Bisbop wbo fell into fornication- anb tbe people baling walfeefc npon bim be was foroiven
THERE was a certain bishop in one of the cities, who through the working of the Calumniator fell into fornica tion ; and one day when the congregation was in the church, although no one knew of the Bishop'ssin, he voluntarily confessed it before all the assembly, and said, "I have fallen into " fornication." Then he took off the vestments which were on him, and laid them upon the altar, and said, "I cannot, hence- " forward, be your Bishop." And all the people cried out with tears, saying, " Let this sin be upon us; only remain thou in " thine episcopate." And he answered and said unto them, "If '* ye wish me to remain in my episcopate, do ye that which I " shall say unto you"; and he commanded, and all the doors of the church were shut with the exception of one, and he threw himself down upon his face, and said, "The man who " goeth out from the church without walking upon me shall " have no portion with God"; and they did according to his word, and when the last man had gone out, a voice was heard which said, "Because of his great humility I have forgiven " him his sin."
Cbapter xjJtf J. <S>f a certain Brotber wbo was a IReiob* bour ot Hbba poemen
WHEN Abba Poemen came into the countries of Egypt to dwell there, it happened that he took up his abode by the side of a brother who had a wife, and though the old man knew of this he did not rebuke him. And when the time had come for the woman to bring forth, and this was known to the old man, he cried out to a younger brother, and said unto him, "Arise, take this jar of wine and carry [it] to " our neighbour, for he will have need thereof this day." Now the matter was not known to that brother, but he did as the old man commanded him. And the brother [who had a wife] groaned and repented in his mind, and after a few days he dis missed the woman, and gave her whatsoever he happened to
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Ube parabise of tbe 1bols 3f atbers
" Now the matter was not known to that brother, but he did as the old man commanded him. And the brother [who had a wife] groaned and repented in his mind, and after a few days he dis missed the woman, and gave her whatsoever he happened to
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Ube parabise of tbe 1bols 3f atbers
have by him ; then he came to Abbi Poemen, and said unto him, "Behold from this day onwards I repent, O father, but I " entreat thee to pray to God on my behalf so that He may re- " ceive my repentance." And Abb& Poeman said unto him, "If * ' thou repentest with all thy heart, I believe that God will bestow " forgiveness upon thee ; and do not despair of thy redemption." And the brother went and built for himself a place of retreat, and he made therein an entrance through which he used to come to visit the old man ; and he would go to Abbd Poemen thereby, and the old man would reveal unto him the way of God, and thus he profited spiritually. And the brother laboured in fasting, and in prayer, and he wept and sighed, and grieved sorely for his sin ; and [at length] it was revealed unto the old man on behalf of the brother that God had accepted his re pentance.
Cbaptet xjjfv* ©fa certain ^Stotber wbo fceniefc [Cbrist] because of tbe Daugbter of a fbeatben priest
And the brother laboured in fasting, and in prayer, and he wept and sighed, and grieved sorely for his sin ; and [at length] it was revealed unto the old man on behalf of the brother that God had accepted his re pentance. Cbaptet xjjfv* ©fa certain ^Stotber wbo fceniefc [Cbrist] because of tbe Daugbter of a fbeatben priest
ONCE a certain brother was engaged in a war against fornication, and he happened to pass through a village in Egypt where he saw the daughter of a heathen priest, and he loved her, and he said to her father, " Give her to me "to wife." And the priest answered and said unto him, " I "cannot give her to thee before learning from the god [his " will in the matter]"; and he went to his devil, and said unto him, " Behold, a certain monk wisheth to take my daughter " to wife; shall I give her to him or not?" And the devil made him answer, saying, "Seek out and enquire if he will deny his " God, and his baptism, and the vows which he made before " entering the monastic life." And having gone to the brother the priest told him that he would accept him [as his daughter's husband] if he would deny both these things (sic), and the priest also said unto him, "Wilt thou deny the baptism where- "with thou wast baptized?" And the brother answered and said, " Yea, I will "; and straightway he saw the Spirit of God go forth from his mouth in the form of a dove, and ascend in to heaven. Then the priest went to the devil and told him what the brother had said, " Behold, he hath promised to deny all "three things"; and the devil answered and said unto him, " Thou shalt not give [him] thy daughter, for his God hath not "departed from him, for He is still helping him, and will " accept him if he repenteth." And the priest came and said to that brother, " I cannot give her to thee, for thy God is with 1 * thee, and He will not leave thee, but will help thee. " Now when the brother heard this he said within himself, "So God keepeth " such great grace as this for thee, and will still help thee!"
266
H Sa0e of Scete
" And the priest came and said to that brother, " I cannot give her to thee, for thy God is with 1 * thee, and He will not leave thee, but will help thee. " Now when the brother heard this he said within himself, "So God keepeth " such great grace as this for thee, and will still help thee! "
266
H Sa0e of Scete
Then that brother, having come back to his senses, made strong his mind, and fortified his will, and went forth to a certain old man in the desert, and related the matter unto him. And the old man answered and said unto him, " Sit thou down "here with me in [this] cave, and fast for three weeks, only 1 'eating once every two days, and I will make supplication "on thy behalf unto God." And the old man laboured with the brother, and he made entreaty and supplication unto God, saying, " I beseech Thee, O Lord God, to grant me the soul "of this brother, and to accept his repentance." And when the first week was fulfilled, the old man came to the brother, and asked him, saying, "Hast thou seen anything?" and the brother answered and said, "Yes, I have seen a dove fly- " ing about in the heights of heaven, and standing before my " head," and the old man said unto him, " Take heed to thy self, and pray unto God with groans and sighs"; and the fol lowing week he came again to the brother, and asked him the same question, saying, "Hast thou seen anything?" And the brother made answer, saying, "I saw a dove which came and " drew near to my head," and the old man admonished him, saying, "Rouse up and pray unto God with abundant suppli- " cation." And when the third week was fulfilled the old man came to the brother and said unto him, "What hast thou " seen?" And he answered and said unto him, "I saw a dove " which came and stood upon my head, and I stretched out my " hand and took hold of it, but it fled away and entered into " my mouth." Then the old man gave thanks unto God, and said unto the brother, "God hath accepted thy repentance; " henceforward watch thyself and take heed to thyself." And the brother answered and said, "Behold, from this day on- " wards I shall live with thee, O father, even to the day of " my death."
Gbapter £££\>* ©f a certain ©Ifc /Ifoan in Scete
" Then the old man gave thanks unto God, and said unto the brother, "God hath accepted thy repentance; " henceforward watch thyself and take heed to thyself. " And the brother answered and said, "Behold, from this day on- " wards I shall live with thee, O father, even to the day of " my death. "
Gbapter £££\>* ©f a certain ©Ifc /Ifoan in Scete
THERE was a certain old man in Scete who, having become very sick indeed, was ministered to by the brethren, and he thought in his mind that they were tired of him, and he said, "I will go to Egypt, so that the " brethren may not have to labour on my account." And Abbd Moses said unto him, "Thou shalt not go, for if thou goest, "thou wilt fall into fornication"; and the old man was grieved and said, " My body hath long been dead, and sayest thou " these things unto me?" So he went up to Egypt, and men heard about him, and they brought many offerings unto him, and a certain believing virgin came in faith to minister unto him. And after a time, when the old man had been healed, the
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TOe parafcise of tbe 1bol£ jfatbers
young woman lay with him, and she conceived, and folk asked her, saying, " Whence hadst thou that which thou hast " conceived?" And she said unto them, " From the old man," and they believed her not. Now when the old man heard that they would not believe her, he said, "Yea, I have done this " thing; but protect ye for me the child which shall be born." And when the child had been born and was weaned, there was a congregation in Scete, and the old man went down carrying the child on his shoulder, and he went into the church before all the people; and when they saw him they all wept. Then the old man said unto the brethren, " Observe ye, O my brethren, " this is the child of disobedience; take heed, then, unto your- " selves, for I have committed this act in my old age, and pray " ye for me"; and the old man went to his cell, and dismissed the things wherewith he hath lived, and returned to his former deeds, and after a time he arrived [once more] at his old mea sure of ascetic excellence.
Cbapter j££\>j. ©f tbe f>arlot wbom Setapion cower*
ABBA SERAPION once came and passed through a certain village in Egypt, and he saw a harlot standing in his cell, and the old man said unto her, " Remain " here until the evening, for I wish to come with thee, and to " pass this night with thee "; and the harlot said, " It is well, " O father." Then she made ready, and prepared her bed, and she awaited the old man with that which he required. Now when it was evening, Abba Serapion came, but he brought nothing with him, and he went into her cell, and said unto her, "Is thy bed ready?" And she said unto him, "Yea, "father"; and they shut themselves in. Then the old man answered and said unto her, "Wait a little, because I must "perform a certain thing which is a law unto us." And he began to recite the Book of the Psalms of David from the beginning, and with every Psalm he offered up a prayer on her behalf, and he made supplication before God that she might repent and live, and God hearkened unto him. Arid the harlot stood up in fear by the side of the old man and prayed also, and when Abba Serapion had finished all the Psalms she fell down upon the ground, and he began to repeat many verses from the [books of the] Apostles. When he had finished his service, God having opened the heart of that woman, she knew that Abba Serapion had not come unto her for the pur poses of sin, but that he might redeem her, and she fell on her face before him, and said unto him, "Perform an act of grace " for me, O father, and take me to anyplace whatsoever wherein
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©f a certain Ibarlot
When he had finished his service, God having opened the heart of that woman, she knew that Abba Serapion had not come unto her for the pur poses of sin, but that he might redeem her, and she fell on her face before him, and said unto him, "Perform an act of grace " for me, O father, and take me to anyplace whatsoever wherein
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©f a certain Ibarlot
* I can please God." And he took her to an abode ot nuns and placed her therein and he said to the mistress of the convent, "Take this sister, O mother, and lay not upon her the rules " and the yoke like the [other] sisters, but whatsoever she " requireth that give her; and in proportion as she findeth " rest let her submit to be led." And when the woman had dwelt in the nunnery for a few days, she said, "I am a sinful " woman, and I wish to eat only in the evening"; and after a few days more she said, "Many sins lie to my charge, and I " therefore beg that I may eat once every four days," and she did so; and after a few days more she besought the mistress of the nunnery, saying, "Do an act of grace for me. Since I " have made God exceedingly angry, take me into a cell and "wall it up, and through a small opening therein give me a " little bread and work for my hands [to do]." And the abbess of the nunnery hearkened unto her, and did thus, and in this wise that woman pleased God all the days of her life.
Cbapter m\>ij. ©f tbe fbarlot wbom a Subfceacon fcro\>e out of tbe Cburcb
A CERTAIN old man said: There was a harlot who was so beautiful and so rich that all princes flocked unto her. One day she went into the church and desired to pass inside the gates, but a subdeacon who was standing at the door would not allow her to do so, and he said, "Thou art " not allowed to enter into the house of God, because thou art " an unclean woman." Now whilst they were striving together, the Bishop heard the sound of the noise, and he went out to see [what was the matter]. And the harlot said unto him, "He "would not permit me to go into the church," and the Bishop said to her, "Thou art not permitted [to do so] because thou " art unclean." Then having repented within herself, she said, " I will never play the whore again." And the Bishop said unto her, "If thou wilt strip thyself of all thy possessions, I "shall know of a certainty that thou dost repent"; then she brought her possessions, and the Bishop took them, and divided them in the fear of God among the needy. And the woman went into the church, and wept and said, "If it hath " happened to me thus in this world, what would have hap- " pened to me in the next?" And she repented, and became a chosen vessel.
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ZTbe jparafcise of tbe 1fool£ ff atbers Cbapter £££\?iij. <W Hbba Hpollo wbo was in Scete
And the woman went into the church, and wept and said, "If it hath " happened to me thus in this world, what would have hap- " pened to me in the next? " And she repented, and became a chosen vessel. 269
ZTbe jparafcise of tbe 1fool£ ff atbers Cbapter £££\? iij. <W Hbba Hpollo wbo was in Scete
THEY say concerning- Abb£ Apollo, who lived in Scete, that he was originally a rude and brutish herdsman, and that he [once] saw in the fields a woman who was with child, and that, through the operation of the devil, he said, "I wish to know the condition of the child which is in "the womb of this woman," and that he ripped her open and saw the child in her belly; then straightway he repented, and he purged his heart, and having repented he went to Scete, and revealed unto the fathers what he had done. And when he heard them singing the Psalms, and saying, "The days of "our years are threescore years and ten, and with difficulty "[we come] to fourscore years" (Psalm xc, 10), he said to the old men, "I am forty years old this day, and I have never yet "made a prayer; and now, if I live for forty years more, I will "never rest, nor cease, nor refrain from praying to God continu- "ally that He may forgive me my sins." And from that time onwards he did even as he had said, for he never toiled with the work of his hands, but he was always supplicating God, and saying, " I, O my Lord, like a man, have sinned, and do Thou, "like God, forgive me"; and he prayed this prayer both by night and by day instead of reciting Psalms. And a certain brother who used to dwell with him once heard him say in his prayer, now as he spake he wept, and groaned from the bottom of his heart, and sighed in grief of heart, "O my Lord, I have "vexed Thee, have pity upon me, and forgive me so that I may "enjoy a little rest." Then a voice came to him, which said, "Thy sins have been forgiven thee, and also the murder of the "woman; but the murder of the child is not yet forgiven thee." And one of the old men said, "The murder of the child also "was forgiven to him, but God left him to work because this "would prove beneficial to his soul."
Cbapter n&& ©f Cosmas wbo was in /IDount Sinai