Patience And Cure

Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσιδώρου τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου τῆς Σκήτεως, ὅτι εἴ τις εἶχεν ἀδελφὸν ἀσθενῆς , ἡ ὀλίγωρον, ἢ ὑβριστὴν , καὶ ἤθελε βαλεῖν αὐτὸν ἔξω, ἔλεγε· Φέρε μoι αὐτὸν ὧδε . Καὶ ἐλάμβανεν αὐτὸν, καὶ διὰ τῆς μακροθυμίας αὐτοῦ ἔσωσεν αὐτον Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.220c

It was said of Father Isidore, a priest of Scetis, that when anyone had a brother who was sick, or careless, or irritable, and they wanted to drive him away, he would say, 'Bring him here to me.' Then he received him and cured him by his patience. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Works And Pride

Εἴπε πάλιν· Οἴδα μοναχοὺς μετὰ πολλοὺς κόπους πεσόντας, καὶ εἰς ἔκστασιν φρενῶν ἐλθόντας, διὰ τὸ ἠλπικέναι ἐπὶ τὸ ἔργον αὐτῶν, καὶ παραλογισαμένους τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ εἰπόντος· Ἐπερώτησον τὸν πατέρα σου, καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ σοι. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.88b

Again Father Anthony said, 'I knew nine monks who fell away after many labours and went off with proud minds, for they trusted in their works and did not consider the commandment that says, 'Ask your father and he will tell you.' 1 Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 Deut. 32.7

Accusation And Forgiveness

Ἐσυκοφαντήθη ἀδελφὸς εἰς κοινόβιον περὶ πορνείας, καὶ ἀναστὰς ἤλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀντώνιον· καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινοβίου θεραπεῦσαι αὐτὸν καὶ λαβεῖν· καὶ ἤρξαντο ἐλέγχειν ὅτι Οὔτως ἐποίησας. Ὁ δὲ ἀπελογεῖτο ὅτι Οὐδὲν τοιοῠτον ἐποίησα. Εὐκαίρηε δὲ ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀββᾶς Παφνούτιος ὁ Κεφαλᾶς, καὶ εἶπε παραβολὴν τοιαύτην· Εἶδον εἰς τὴν ὄχθαν τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἄνθρωπον βληθέντα εἰς βόρβορον ἕως τῶν γονάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλθόντες τινὲς δοῦναι αὐτῷ χεῖρα κατεπόντισαν αὐτὸν ἔως τοῦ τραχήλου. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παφνουτίου· Ἰδοὺ ἄνθωπος ἀληθινὸς, δυνάμενος θεραπεῦσαι καὶ σῶσαι ψυχάς. Κατανυγέντες οὖν τῷ λόγῷ τῶν γερόντων, ἒλαβον μετάνοιαν τῷ ἀδελφῷ. Καὶ παρακληθέντες ὑπὸ τῶν Πατέρων ἔλαβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν εἰς τὸ κοινόβιον. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.85a-b

A brother in a monastery was falsely accused of fornication and he arose and went to father Anthony. The brethren also came from the monastery to discipline him and bring him back. They set about proving that he had done this thing, but he defended himself and denied that he had done anything of the kind. Father Paphnutius, who is called Cephalus, happened to be there, and he told them this parable, 'I saw a man on the bank of the river buried up to his knees in mud and some men came to give him a hand to help him out, but they only drove him deeper in up to his neck.' Then father Anthony said this to them about father Paphnutius, 'Behold a true man, who is able to care for souls and save them.' Those present were aggrieved by the words of the elders and they asked forgiveness of the brother, then admonished by the fathers they took the brother back to the monastery. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

On Not Returning Evil for Evil

Ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς, λέγων· Τί ἐστι, Μή ἀποδώσεις κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ γέρων· Τὸ πάθος τοῦτο τέσσαρας ἔχει τρόπους· πρῶτον ἀπὸ καρδίας, δεύτερον ἀπὸ ὄψεως, τρίτον γλώσσης, τέταρτόν έστι, τὸ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Ἐὰν δύνασαι καθαρίσαι τὴν καρδίαν σου, οὐκ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν ὄψιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ εἰς τὴν ὄψιν, φυλάττου τὸ μὴ λαλεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ λαλήσῃς, ταχὺ κόψον τοῦ μὴ μοιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Αποφθεγματα των ἀγιων γεροντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.332a-b

Another brother questioned Father Poimen, saying, 'What is it not to return evil for evil?' 1 The elder said, 'This passion has four stages, first from the heart, second from appearance, third from the tongue, fourth from the act of not returning evil for evil. If you can keep your heart pure it will not come to appearance, if it comes to appearance, guard against speaking, if you speak, quickly stop yourself less you return evil for evil.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 1 Thess. 5.15

Wheat And Reward

Ἔλεγον περι τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἠσαιου, ὅτι ποτὲ ἕλαβε θαλλιον, και ἀπῆλθεν εις τὴν ἅλωνα, και λέγει τῷ γεούχῳ· Δος μοι σἶτον. Και λέγει αὐτῷ· Και σὺ ἐθερισας, ἀββᾶ; Λέγει· Οὐχι. Και λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γεούχος· Πῶς οὖν θέλεις σἶτον λαβειν, μὴ θερισῃ; Και λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκοῦν ἐὰν μή τις θερισῃ, οὐ λαμβάνει μισθον; Λέγει ὁ γεοῦχος· Οὐχι. Και οὔτως ἀνεχώρησεν ὁ γέρων. Ὁι δ' ἀδελφοι, ιδόντες τι ἐποιησεν, ἔβαλον αὐτῶ μετάνοιαν, παρακαλοῦντες μαθειν τι τοῦτο ἐποιησε. Λέγει ἀυτοις ὁ γέρων· Ὑπόδειγμα αὐτὸ ἐποιησα, ὅτι ἐὰν μή τις ἐργάσηται, οὺ λαμβάνει μισθὸν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ.  Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.181b

It was said of father Isaiah that he once took a small branch and went out to the threshing floor and said to the farmer, 'Give me some wheat.' The farmer replied, 'Have you harvested it, father?' He said, 'No.' And so the farmer said to him, 'How, then, do you wish to have wheat if you do not harvest it?' The elder said to him. 'If I will not harvest, I will not have the reward?' The farmer said, 'You will not.' And thus the elder went away. The brothers, learning of what he had done, were puzzled and they came to him and asked him why he had acted in such a way. He said to them, 'To give an example, that if you do not labour, you will not gain any reward from God.' Sayings of the Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

First Humility

Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης τῆς Θηβαῗδος· Ὀφείλει ὁ μοναχὸς πρὸ πάντων τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην κατορθῶσαι. Αὕτη γὰρ ἐστιν ἡ πρώτη ἐμτολὴ τοῦ Σωτῆρος, λέγοντος· Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.233d

Father John of the Thebaid said, 'Before everything a monk should improve himself with humility. For this is the first commandment of the Lord, He who said: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' 1 Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 Mt 5.3

Death And Judgement And Perfection

Εἴπε πάλιν· Μέμνησο διαπαντὸς τῆς ἐξόδου σου, καὶ μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ κρίσεως αἰωνίου· καὶ οὐκ ἔσται πλημμέλεια ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.173d

Again Father Evagrius said: 'Always be mindful of your death and do not forget eternal judgement, and there will be no defect in your soul' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Fighting Demons

Ἠρώτησεν Ἀβραὰμ, ὁ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀγάθωνος, τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Πῶς οἱ δαίμονες πολεμοῦσί με; Καὶ εἰπεν ἀυτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Σὲ πολεμοῦσιν οἱ δαίμονες; Οὐ πολεμοῦσι μεθ' ἡμῶν, ἐφ' ὅσον τὰ θελήματα ἡμῶν ποιοῦμεν. Τὰ γὰρ θελήματα ἡμῶν δαίμονες γεγόνασι· καὶ αὐτοί εἰσιν οἱ θλίβοντες ἡμᾶς, ἵνα πληρώσωμεν αὐτά. Εἰ δὲ θέλεις ἰδεῖν μετὰ τίνων ἐπολέμησαν οἱ δαίμονες μετὰ Μωϋσέως, καὶ τῶν ὁμοὶων αὐτοῦ. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.337c

Abraham, the disciple of Father Agathon, questioned Father Poemen, saying, 'How do the demons fight against me?' Father Poemen said to him, 'The demons fight against you? They do not fight against us as long as we are doing our own will. For our own wills become demons and they attack us so that that we may fulfil them. But if you wish to see those with whom the demons do fight, it is with Moses and those like him.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Work Superior And Inferior

Ὁ αὐτός ποτε παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ ἀπὸ γεννήσεως εὐνούχῳ· καὶ λαλούντων αὐτῶν, εἶπεν· Ὅταν ἤμην εἰς Σκῆτιν, τὰ ἔργα τῆς ψυχῆς ἦν τὸ ἔργον ἡμῶν, τὸ δὲ ἐργόχειρον ὡς πάρεργον εἴχομεν· νῦν δὲ γέγονε τὸ ἔργον τῆς ψυχῆς ὡς πάρεργον, καὶ τὸ πάρεργον ἔργον. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.189b

The same father Theodore came to father John who was a eunuch from birth, and in their talk he said: 'When I came to Scetis, our work was the work of the soul, and manual work we had as a subordinate activity, but now the work of the soul is subordinate and the subordinate is the work.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Weakness And Aid

Ἔλεγον περι τοῦ ἀββᾶ Μακαρίου τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου, ὅτι ἀναβαίνων ἀπὸ Σκήτεως, καὶ βαστάζων σπυρίδας, κοπιάσας ἐκαθέσθη· καὶ ηὔξατο λέγων, Ὁ Θεος, συ οἶδας ὅτι οὐκ ἰσχύω. Καὶ εὐθέως εὑρέθη ἐπὶ τὸν ποταμόν. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.269a

They say concerning Father Macarius the Egyptian, that once going up from Scetis bearing a heavy load of baskets, he sat down exhausted and began to say to himself, 'O God, you know that I am not strong enough.' And immediately he found himself at the river. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

The Qualities Of A Teacher

Εἶπε πάλιν ἡ αὐτὴ, ὅτι ὁ διδάσκαλος ὀφείλει εἶναι ξένος φιλαρχίας, καὶ ἀλλότριος κενοδοξίας, μακρὰν ὑπερηφανίας, μὴ ὑπὸ κολακείας ἐμπαιζόμενος μὴ ὑπὸ δώρων τυφλούμενος, μὴ ὑπὸ γαστρὸς νικώμενος, μὴ ὑπὸ ὀργῆς κρατούμενος· ἀλλὰ μακρόθυμος, ἐπιεικὴς, πάσῃ δυνάμει ταπεινόφρων· ἔγκριτος εἶναι καὶ ἀνεκτικός· κηδεμονικὸς καὶ φιλόψυχος. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.204a

Again mother Theodora said that a teacher should be a stranger to the love of domination, and to vainglory, and even more distant from pride. He should not be one who is deluded by flattery, nor blinded by gifts, nor conquered by the stomach, nor ruled by anger. He should be patient and gentle, and humble as best he can be. He should be proven and enduring, full of care, and a lover of souls. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

A Monk's Repentance

Ὁ μακάριος ἀββᾶς Παῦλος ὁ ἁπλοῦς ὁ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀντωνίου μαθητὴς, διηγήσατο τοῖς Πατράσι πρᾶγμα τοιοῦτον· ὅτι ποτὲ παραγενόμενος ἐν μοναστηρίῳ ἐπισκέψεως ἕνεκεν καὶ ὠφελείας χάριν ἀδελφῶν, μετὰ τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους αὐτῶν συνήθη διάλεκτον, εἴσεισιν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ τὴν συνήθη σύναξιν ἐπιτελέσαι. Ὁ δὲ μακάριος Παῦλος, φησὶ, προσέσχεν ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰσιόντων εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ὁποίᾳ ἄρα ψυχῇ εἰσίασιν εἰς τὴν σύναξιν· εἶχε γὰρ καὶ ταύτην τὴν χάριν παρὰ Κυρίου δοθεῖσαν αὐτῷ, ὥστε ὁρᾷν ἕκαστον ὁποῖός ἐστι τῇ ψυχῇ, ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς βλέπομεν ἀλλήλων τὰ πρόσωπα. Πάντων δὲ εἰσιόντων λαμπρᾷ τῇ ὄψει καὶ φαιδρῷ τῷ προσώπῳ, τόν τε ἑκάστου ἄγγελον χαίροντα ἐπ΄ αὐτῷ· ἕνα, φησὶν, ὁρᾷ μέλαντα καὶ ζοφώδη ὅλον τὸ σῶμα, δαίμονας δὲ παρ΄ ἑκατέρᾳ τοῦτον συνέχοντας καὶ ἕλκοντας αὐτὸν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς, φορβειὰν ἐπὶ τὴν ῥῖνα αὐτοῦ βάλλοντας· τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἀκολουθοῦντα σκυθρωπὸν καὶ κατηφῆ. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος δακρύσας, καὶ τῇ χειρὶ τὸ στῆθος πλήξας, ἐκαθέζετο πρὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας, ἀποκλαιόμενος σφόδρα τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Οἱ δὲ θεασάμενοι τὸ παράδοξον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς, τήν τε ὀξεῖαν αὐτοῦ μεταβολὴν, πρὸς δάκρυα καὶ πένθος κινήσαντα, ἠρώτων αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντες τὸ διατί κλαίει εἰπεῖν, νομίζοντες μήτι καταγνοὺς ἁπάντων τοῦτο ποιεῖ· παρεκάλουν τε αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν σύναξιν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰσιέναι. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀποσεισάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐκαθέζετο ἔξω, ἀποδυρόμενος πάνυ τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Μετ΄ οὐ πολὺ δὲ τῆς συνάξεως ἀπολυθείσης, καὶ πάντων ἐξιόντων, πάλιν κατεμάνθανεν ὁ Παῦλος ἕκαστον, βουλόμενος γνῶναι οἷοι ἐξέρχονται· καὶ ὁρᾷ τὸν ἄνδρα ἐκεῖνον, τὸν μέλαν καὶ ζοφῶδες ἔχοντα τὸ πρὶν ὅλον τὸ σῶμα, ἐξερχόμενον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας λαμπρὸν τῷ προσώπῳ, λευκὸν τῷ σώματι, καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας μακράν που ἀκολουθοῦντας, τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ παρεπόμενον καὶ χαίροντα ἐπ΄ αὐτῷ σφόδρα. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀναπηδήσας μετὰ χαρᾶς, ἐβόα εὐλογῶν τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ λέγων· Ὢ τῆς ἀφάτου τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας καὶ ἀγαθότητος. Δραμὼν δὲ καὶ ἀναβὰς ἐπὶ βαθμοῦ ὑψηλοῦ, μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἔλεγε· Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὡς φοβερὰ καὶ πάσης ἐκπλήξεως ἄξια. Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὸν θέλοντα πάντας ἀνθρώπους σωθῆναι, καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. Δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσω μεν αὐτῷ, καὶ εἴπωμεν· Σὺ μόνος δύνασαι ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας. Συνέτρεχον δὲ πάντες μετὰ σπουδῆς, τῶν λεγομένων ἀκοῦσαι βουλόμενοι. Καὶ συνελθόντων πάντων, διηγεῖτο ὁ Παῦλος τὰ ὁραθέντα αὐτῷ πρὸ τῆς εἰσόδου τῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πάλιν, καὶ ἠξίου τὸν ἄνδρα ἐκεῖνον λέγειν τὴν αἰτίαν δι΄ ἣν αὐτῷ τὴν τοσαύτην μεταβολὴν αἰφνιδίως ὁ Θεὸς ἐχαρίσατο. Ὁ δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἐλεγχθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου, ἐνώπιον πάντων ἀνυποστόλως διηγεῖτο τὰ καθ΄ ἑαυτὸν, λέγων· Ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ἁμαρτωλὸς, φησὶ, καὶ ἐκ πολλοῦ τοῦ χρόνου πορνείαις συνέζων μέχρι τοῦ νῦν· εἰσελθὼν δὲ νῦν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἤκουσα τοῦ ἁγίου προφήτου Ἡσαΐου ἀναγινωσκομένου, μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ λαλοῦντος δι΄ αὐτοῦ· Λούσασθε, καθαροὶ γένεσθε, ἀφέλετε τὰς πονηρίας ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν· ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου μάθετε καλὸν ποιεῖν. Καὶ ἐὰν ὦσιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ὑμῶν ὡς φοινικοῦν, ὡς χιόνα λευκανῶ. Καὶ ἐὰν θέλητε καὶ εἰσακούσητέ μου, τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς φάγεσθε. Ἐγὼ δὲ, φησὶν, ὁ πόρνος, ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ προφήτου κατανυγεὶς τὴν ψυχὴν, καὶ στενάξας ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ μου, εἶπον πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ὅτι Σὺ ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι, ἃ νῦν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου σου ἐπηγγείλω, ταῦτα καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ πλήρωσον τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν καὶ ἀνάξιον. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν δίδωμί σοι λόγον, συντάσσομαι δὲ καὶ ἐκ καρδίας ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, ὅτι οὐ μὴ πράξω ἔτι τι τῶν κακῶν· ἀλλὰ ἀποτάσσομαι πᾶσαν παρανομίαν, καὶ δουλεύσω σοι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει. Σήμερον, ὦ Δέσποτα, καὶ ἐκ τῆς ὥρας ταύτης, δέξαι με μετανοοῦντα, καὶ προσπίπτοντά σοι, καὶ ἀπεχόμενον τοῦ λοιποῦ πάσης ἁμαρτίας. Ἐπὶ ταύταις, φησὶ, ταῖς συνθήκαις ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας, κρίνας ἐν τῇ ἐμαυτοῦ ψυχῇ, μηκέτι μηδὲν φαῦλον πρᾶξαι ἀπέναντι τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ πάντες ἀνεβόων μιᾷ φωνῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου, Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας. Γινώσκοντες τοίνυν, ὦ Χριστιανοὶ, ἐκ τῶν θείων Γραφῶν, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἁγίων ἀποκαλύψεων, ὅσην ἔχει ὁ Θεὸς ἀγαθότητα περὶ τοὺς εἰς αὐτὸν γνησίως καταφεύγοντας, καὶ διὰ μετανοίας τὰ πρότερον αὐτοῖς ἐπταισμένα διορθουμένους, καὶ ὅτι ἀποδίδωσι πάλιν τὰ ἐπηγγελμένα ἀγαθὰ, οὐκ εἰσπραττόμενος δίκας ὑπὲρ τῶν προτέρων ἁμαρτιῶν, μὴ ἀπελπίσω μεν τῆς ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίας. Ὥσπερ γὰρ διὰ Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου ἐπηγγείλατο, τοὺς ἐν ἁμαρτίαις βεβορ βορωμένους πλύνειν, καὶ ὡς ἔριον καὶ ὡς χιόνα λευκαίνειν καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν τῆς ἐπουρανίου Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀξιοῦν· οὕτως αὖθις διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου προφήτου Ἰεζεκιὴλ, μεθ΄ ὅρκου ἡμᾶς πληροφορεῖ μὴ ἀπολλύειν· Ζῶ γὰρ, φησὶ, λέγει Κύριος, ὅτι οὐ βούλομαι τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ὡς τὸ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ ζῇν αὐτόν. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.381c-385b

The blessed father Paul the Simple, the disciple of Father Anthony, told the Fathers about a certain affair. One day he came to a monastery to observe it and to make himself useful to the brethren. After the customary conference, the brothers entered the holy church of God to perform the usual prayers. The blessed Paul looked closely at each of those who went into the church, considering the state of the soul of those who entered into prayers, for he had this grace given to him by the Lord, that he could see the state of each man's soul, just as we see the faces of others. When all had entered with sparkling eyes and shining faces, and with each one's angel rejoicing over him, he said, 'I see one who is black and dark in his whole body, and the demons come with him, dominating him, drawing him to them, and leading him by the nose, and his holy angel following at a distance is sad and his head is cast down.' And Paul wept and beat his breast with his hand, and sitting down in front of the church, he cried bitterly over the man he had seen. The brethren, seeing this strange conduct and the sudden change that had moved him to tears and grieving, questioned him, calling on him to tell them why he was weeping, thinking that he might be doing it as an accusation against all of them, and then they asked him to go to the prayers with them. But Paul refused them and remained sitting outside, lamenting over him whom he had seen. A little after the end of prayers, with everyone was coming out, Paul again studied each one of them, wishing to know in what state they were coming away, and he saw the man, who had been black and dark in his whole body before, coming out of the church with a shining face and a white body, and now the demons followed at a distance and his holy angel was close to him, rejoicing greatly over him. Paul leapt up for joy, crying out blessings to God, saying 'O the unspeakable love and goodness of God!' Then running up to an elevated place, he said with a great voice, 'Come, see the works of the Lord, how awesome they are and worthy of all wonder! Come and see Him who wishes that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! Come, let us prostrate ourselves and throw ourselves down before Him and say, 'You alone can take sins away!' 1 Everyone ran together in haste, wanting to hear what was being said. When they were all assembled, Paul told them what he had seen at the entrance to the church and what had happened afterwards, and then he asked that man to tell them why God had suddenly bestowed such a change on him. The man whom Paul addressed, standing there before everyone, told them what had happened to him, saying, 'I am a sinful man and for a long time I have lived in fornication, right up until today. But when I went into the holy church of God, I heard the holy prophet Isaiah being read, or rather, God speaking through him: 'Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the wickedness from your hearts, learn to do good before my eyes. Even if your sins are as scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. And if you will, and if you listen to me, you shall eat the good things of the earth.' 2 'And I, the fornicator,' the man said, 'because of this word of the prophet, was stunned in my soul and I groaned in my mind, and said to God: 'God, you who came into the world to save sinners, what you now proclaim through your prophet, fulfill in me who am a sinner and an unworthy man. For from now on, I give my word to you, and am firmly resolved in my heart to confess to you, that I will not do evil any longer, but I renounce all unrighteousness, and henceforth I will serve you with a pure conscience. Today, O Master, and from this hour, receive one who repents and throws himself down before you, he who shall abstain from every sin.' He continued, 'Having vowed these things, I came out of the church, determined in my soul that I would no longer commit any evil before God.' Hearing this, they all with one voice cried out to God, 'How manifold are your works, Lord, in wisdom you made them all.' 3 As Christians, then, who have learnt from the holy Scriptures and from holy revelations, let us know the great goodness of God for those who sincerely take refuge in Him and who correct their past faults by repentance, and let us not despair of salvation. For as it was proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah, God cleanses those who are foul with sin, and whitens them as wool and as snow, and makes them worthy of the good things of the heavenly Jerusalem, just as in the prophet Ezekiel He swore an oath to strengthen us and not to ruin us. 'As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, so turn and live. ' 4 Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 Ps 45,9, Ps 65.5, 1 Tim 2.4, Ps 94.6 2 Isaiah 1.16-19 3 Ps 104.24 4 Ezek 18.32

Contemplation And The Book

Ἔλεγε περί τινος τῶν Σκητιωτῶν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραὰμ, ὅτι γραφεὺς ἧν, καὶ οὐκ ἤσθιεν ἄρτον. Ἤλθεν οὖν ἀδελφὸς παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν γράψαι αὐτῷ βιβλίον. Ὁ οὖν γέρων ἔχων τὸν νοῦν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν θεωρίαν, ἔγραψε παρὰ στίχους, καὶ οὑκ ἔστιχεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀδελφὸς λαβὼν καὶ θέλων στίξαι, εὗρε παρὰ λόγους. Καὶ λέγει τῷ γέροντι· Παρὰ στίχους ἐστὶν, ἀββᾶ Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὕπαγε, πρῶτον ποίησον τὰ γεγραμμένα, καὶ τότε ἔρχῃ καὶ γράφω σοι καὶ τὴν λοιπάδα. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.132b-c

Father Abraham spoke of a man of Scetis who was a scribe and did not eat bread. A brother came to ask him to copy a book. The elder whose mind was engaged in contemplation, wrote, omitting some lines and with no punctuation. The brother, receiving the book and wishing to punctuate it, found that some sentences were missing. He said to the old man, 'Father, there are some omissions.' The elder said to him, 'Go away and first do what is written, then come back and I will write the rest for you' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Gifts And Suffering

Εἶπε ὁ ἀββᾶς Φορτᾶς· Εἰ θέλει με ὁ Θεὸς ζῇν, οἶδεν πῶς οἰκονομὴσει με· εἰ δὲ οὐ θέλει, ἵνα τί μοι τὸ ζῇν; Οὐ γὰρ παρὰ πάντῶν ἐδέχετό τι, καίτοι κλινήρης ὤν· ἐλεγε γάρ· Εἀν προσφέρῃ μοί τίς τί ποτε, καὶ οὐχὶ διὰ τὸν Θεὸν, οὔτε ἐγὼ ἔχω τι δοῦναι αὐτῷ, οὔτε παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ λαμβάνει μισθόν· οὐ γὰρ διὰ τὸν Θὸν προσήνεγκε· καὶ ἀδικεῖται ὁ προσενέγκας. Δεῖ γὰρ τοὺς ἀνακειμένους τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν βλέποντας μόνον, οὕτως εὐλαβῶς διακεῖσθαι, ὡς μήτε ὕβριν τινὰ ἠγεῖσθαι, κἂν μυριάκις ἀδικούμενοι τύχοιεν. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.436b

Father Phortas said, 'If God wants me to live, He knows how to treat me, but if he does not wish it, what is it to me to live?' He did not accept anything from anyone, even though he was bedridden, for he said, 'If at some time someone brings me something and it is not for the love of God, not only have I nothing to give to him, but he gains no reward from God because he did not bring it for the sake of God, and he who has brought it suffers a wrong. It is necessary that those who are dedicated to God and look to Him alone, are thus so piously disposed that they do not treat anything as an injury, not even if it happens that one is wronged a thousand times.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

A Failed Flight

Εἶπε πάλιν ἡ Ἀμμᾶς Θεοδώρα, ὅτι Ἥν τις μοναχός· καὶ ἀπὸ πλήθους τῶν πειρασμῶν λέγει· Ὑπάγω ἔνθεν. Καὶ ὡς ἔβαλεν ἑαυτοῦ τὰ σανδάλια, ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπον ἂλλον βάλλοντα καὶ αὐτὸν τὰ σανδάλια αὐτοῦ, καὶ λέγοντα αὐτῷ· Οὐ δι' ἐμὲ ἐξέρχῃ; ἰδοὺ ἐγώ προάγω ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.204b

Again Mother Theodora said, 'There was a monk, who, because of the great number of his trials said, 'I will go away from here.' As he put on his sandals, he saw another man who was also putting on his sandals, and this other man said to him, 'Are you leaving because of me? But see, I go before you wherever you may go.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Three Thoughts

Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Λογγῖνος τὸν ἀββᾶν Λούκιόν ποτε τρεϊς λογιμσοὺς, λεγων· Θέλω ξενιτεῦσαι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν μὴ κρατήσῃς τῆς γλώσσης σου, οὐκ εἶ ξένος, ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέλθῃς. Καὶ ὧδε οὖν κράτησον τῆς γλὼσσης σου, καὶ ξένος εἶ. Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν· Θέλω νηστεῦσαι. Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ γέρων· Εἶπεν Ἠσαῗας ὁ προφήτης· Ἐὰν κάμψῃς ὠς λοιὸν καὶ κρικον τὸν τράχηλόν σου, οὐδὲ οὕτως κληθήσεται νηστεία δεκτή· ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον κράτησον τῶν πονηρῶν λογισμῶν. Λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Θέλω φυγεῖν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον κατορθώσῃς μετὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οὐδὲ καταμόνας δύνασαι κατορθῶσαι. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.256c

One time father Longinus asked father Lucius about three thoughts saying, 'I wish be an exile.' The elder said to him, 'If you do not control your tongue, you will not be an exile anywhere you would go. Control your tongue here and you will be an exile.' Again he said to him: 'I wish to fast,' the elder replied, 'Isaiah the prophet said: 'If you bend your neck like a rope or a bulrush, that shall not be called an acceptable fast.' 1 Rather control your wicked thoughts.' A third time he said to him: 'I wish to flee men.' The elder replied: 'If you have not first lived rightly among men, you will not be able to live rightly alone.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 Isaiah 58.5

Death And The Commandments

Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσαὰκ, ὅτι μέλλοντος αὐτοῦ τελευτᾷν, συνῆλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ γέροντες, καὶ ἔλεγον· Τί ποιήσομεν μετὰ σὲ, Πάτερ; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἴδετε πῶς ἐπορεύθεν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν· ἐὰν θέλητε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀκολουθῆσαι, καὶ φυλάξαι τὰς ἐντολάς τοῦ Θεοῦ, πέμπει τὴν χάριν αὐτοῦ, καὶ φυλάσσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον. Ἐὰν δὲ μὴ φυλάξητε, οὐ μὴ μείνητε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ. Καὶ ἡμεῖς γὰρ ὅταν ἤμελλον ἀποθανεῖν οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἐλυπούμεθα· ἀλλα τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ αὐτῶν τὰς παραγγελίας τηροῦντες, ἐστήκαμεν, ὡς αὐτῶν ὄντων μεθ' ἡμῶν. Οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιήσατε, καὶ σώζεσθε. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.225d-228a

They said about father Isaac that when he was at the point of death the old men gathered to him, and said, 'What shall we do without you, father?' He said to them, 'See how I have walked before you. If you wish to follow me and guard the commandments of God, He will send his grace and protect this place. But if you do not guard His commandments, you cannot remain in this place. For we, when our fathers were dying, were full of grief, but, keeping the Lord's commandments and their admonitions, we have stood fast as though they were with us. Do likewise and you will be saved.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

A Monk's Judgement

Ἦλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμονᾶς εἰς τόπον γεύσασθαι, και ἦν ἐκεῖ εἷς ἔχων φήμην κακήν· καὶ συνέβη ἐλθεῖν τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸ κελλίον τοῦ ἀδελθοῦ τοῦ ἔχοντος τὴν κακὴν φήμην. Μαθόντες οὖν οἱ οἰκοῦντες εἰς τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον, ἐταράχθησαν, καὶ συνήχθησαν, ὥστε διῶξαι αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου. Καὶ γνόντες ὅτι ὁ ἐπίσκοπος παρεκάλεαν αὐτὸν, ὅπως παραγένηται σὺν αὐτοῖς. Ὡς δὲ γνῶ ὁ ἀδελφὸς, λαβὼν τὴν γυναῖκα ἔκρυψεν εἰς πίθον μέγαν. Παραγενομένου δὲ τοῦ πλήθους, εἶδεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς τὸ γενόμενον, καὶ διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ἐσκέπασε τὸ πρᾶγμα· καὶ εἰσελθῶν ἐπάνω τοῦ πίθου, καὶ ἐκέλευσε ζητηθῆναι τὸ κελλίον. Ὡς οὖν ἐψηλάφησαν, καὶ οὐχ εὗρον τὴν γυναῖκα, εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς· Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; ὁ Θεὸς συγχωρήσει ὑμῖν. Καὶ εὐξάμενος ἐποίησε πάντας ἀναχωρῆσαι· καὶ κατασχὼν τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ, ἀδελφέ. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν, ἀνεχώρησεν. Ἀποφθέγματα Ἀγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.121d-124a

One time Father Ammonas came to eat in a place and there was a monk of evil repute there. It happened that a woman entered the cell of the brother of evil reputation. The monks that lived in that place, learning this, were troubled and gathered together so that they might drive the monk from his cell. And knowing that the bishop was there they asked him to come with them. The brother learnt of this and hid the woman in a large cask. The crowd of monks came and with them father Ammonas, who knew what was happening but for the sake of God kept the matter secret. He entered, sat on the cask and ordered the cell searched. So they searched and did not find the woman. Father Ammonas said, 'What is this? May God forgive you.' He prayed and made everyone go out, and then taking the hand of the brother, he said to him, 'Look to yourself, brother.' 1 And having said this, he left. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 cf Deut 15.9

Troubling Thoughts

Ἀδελφός τις ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, πολλοὺς λογισμοὺς ἔχω, καὶ κινδυνεύω ἀπ' αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐκφέρει αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων εἰς τὸν ἀέρα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἄπλωσον τὸν κόλπον σου, καὶ κράτησον τοὺς ἀνέμους. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οὐ δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ τοῦτο οὐ δύνασαι ποῆσαι, οὐδὲ τοὺς λογισμοὺς δύνασαι κωλῦσαι ἐλθεῖν· ἀλλὰ σόν ἐστι τὸ ἀντιστῆναι αὐτοῖς. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.329a

A brother came to Father Poemen and said to him, 'Father, I have many thoughts that trouble me.' The elder took him outside and said to him, 'Expand your chest and catch the winds.' And he said, 'I cannot do that.' The elder said to him, 'If you cannot do that, nor shall you be able to stifle thoughts, but it is for you to stand against them.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia

Testing A Monk

Ἐπῃνέθη τις μοναχὸς ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀντώνιον. Ὁ δὲ παραβαλόντα αὐτὸν ἐπείρασεν, εἰ φέρει ἀτιμίαν· καὶ εὐρὼν ὅτι οὐ βαστάζει, εἴπεν αὐτῷ· Ἒοικας κώμῃ τὰ ἔμπροσθεν κεκαλλωπισμένῃ, τὰ δὲ ὅπισθεν ὑπὸ λῃστῶν συλουμένῃ. Ἀποφθέγματα Των Ἁγίων Γερόντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.80c

A certain monk was praised to Anthony by the brothers. When the monk came to him, he tested him, to see if he would endure insults, and finding that he would not, he said to him, 'You seem like a village that is fair without, but within it has been plundered by bandits.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia