Sayings of the Desert Fathers (alphabetical collection) 105.1–108.1
Authorship disputed: Anonymous collection of sayings and stories of the Egyptian desert monks of the 4th and 5th centuries, arranged by the Greek alphabet of the monks' names and compiled in its present form in the late 5th or 6th century. The sayings are attributed to the named monks and were handed down orally and in smaller collections; the compiler is unknown.
Greek text: PG 65.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 105
105.1PG 65:391
Ἀδελφὸς ἀδικηθεὶς ὑπὸ ἑτέρου ἀδελφοῦ, ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἠδικήθην παρά τινος ἀδελφοῦ, κἀγὼ θέλω ἐμαυτὸν ἐκδικῆσαι. Ὁ δὲ γέρων παρεκάλει αὐτὸν, λέγων· Μὴ, τέκνον, κατάλειψον δὲ μᾶλλον τῷ Θεῷ τὰ τῆς ἐκδικήσεως. Ὁ δὲ ἔλεγεν· Οὐ παύσομαι ἕως οὗ ἐκδικήσω ἐμαυτόν. Εἶπε δὲ ὁ γέρων· Εὐξώμεθα, ἀδελφέ. Καὶ ἀναστὰς εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ὁ Θεὸς, οὐκ ἔτι σου ἔχομεν χρείαν φροντίζειν περὶ ἡμῶν· ἡμεῖς γὰρ τὴν ἐκδίκησιν ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦμεν. Τοῦτο οὖν ἀκούσας ὁ ἀδελφὸς, ἔπεσε παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ γέροντος, εἰπών· Οὐκ ἔτι δικάζομαι μετὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, συγχώρησόν μοι, ἀββᾶ,
Adelphos adikētheis hypo heterou adelphou, ēlthe pros ton abban Sisoēn, kai legei autǭ; Ēdikēthēn para tinos adelphou, kagō thelō emauton ekdikēsai. Ho de gerōn parekalei auton, legōn; Mē, teknon, kataleipson de mallon tǭ Theǭ ta tēs ekdikēseōs. Ho de elegen; Ou pausomai heōs hou ekdikēsō emauton. Eipe de ho gerōn; Euxōmetha, adelphe. Kai anastas eipen ho gerōn; Ho Theos, ouk eti sou echomen chreian phrontizein peri hēmōn; hēmeis gar tēn ekdikēsin heautōn poioumen. Touto oun akousas ho adelphos, epese para tous podas tou gerontos, eipōn; Ouk eti dikazomai meta tou adelphou, synchōrēson moi, abba,
A brother who had been wronged by another brother came to abba Sisoes and says to him, “I have been wronged by a brother, and I want to avenge myself.” The old man urged him, saying, “No, child, rather leave vengeance to God.” But he said, “I will not stop until I avenge myself.” The old man said, “Let us pray, brother.” And standing up the old man said, “O God, we no longer need you to take care of us; for we take our own vengeance.” Hearing this, the brother fell at the old man’s feet, saying, “I will no longer go to law with the brother; forgive me, abba.”
Rom 12:19 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes shames a vengeful brother by praying that God need no longer defend them.
- Cf. Rom 12:19.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter; OCR: stray mark; OCR: word split): τινος ὁ ἀδελφοῦ → τινος ἀδελφοῦ; και τάλειψον → κατάλειψον; περὶ᾿ ἡμῶν → περὶ ἡμῶν.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.1 (PG 65:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.2PG 65:391
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω; ὅτι ἀπαντῶ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πολλάκις γίνεται ἀγάπη, καὶ κρατοῦσί με. Λέγει αὐτῳ ὁ γέρων· Κόπον ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα. Λέγει οὖν Ἀβραὰμ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Ἐὰν γένηται ἀπάντησις ἐν σαββάτῳ ἢ ἐν Κυριακῇ, καὶ πίῃ ἀδελφὸς τρία ποτήρια, μὴ πολλά ἐστι; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν οὐκ ἔστι Σατανᾶς, πολλὰ οὐκ ἔστιν.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Ti poiēsō? hoti apantō eis tēn ekklēsian, kai pollakis ginetai agapē, kai kratousi me. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Kopon echei to pragma. Legei oun Abraam ho mathētēs autou; Ean genētai apantēsis en sabbatǭ ē en Kyriakę̄, kai pię̄ adelphos tria potēria, mē polla esti? Legei ho gerōn; Ean ouk esti Satanas, polla ouk estin.
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “What shall I do? For I go to church, and often there is a love-feast, and they keep me.” The old man says to him, “The matter is difficult.” So Abraham his disciple says, “If there is a gathering on Saturday or Sunday, and a brother drinks three cups, is it not much?” The old man says, “If Satan is not there, it is not much.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes says three cups at a feast are not too many unless Satan is present.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): πολ λάκις → πολλάκις.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.2 (PG 65:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-2
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-2) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.3PG 65:391
Ἔλεγεν ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη πρὸς αὐτόν· Πάτερ, ἐγήρασας, ἀπέλθωμεν ἐγγὺς τῆς οἰκουμένης, λοιπόν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι γυνή, ἐκεῖ ἀπέλθωμεν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Καὶ ποῦ ἔστι τόπος ὁ μὴ ἔχων γυναῖκα, εἰ μὴ ἡ ἔρημος; Λέγει οὖν ὁ γέρων· Εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἆρόν με.
Elegen ho mathētēs tou abba Sisoē pros auton; Pater, egērasas, apelthōmen engys tēs oikoumenēs, loipon. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Hopou ouk eni gynē, ekei apelthōmen. Legei autǭ ho mathētēs autou; Kai pou esti topos ho mē echōn gynaika, ei mē hē erēmos? Legei oun ho gerōn; Eis tēn erēmon aron me.
The disciple of abba Sisoes said to him, “Father, you have grown old; let us now go near the inhabited world.” The old man says to him, “Let us go where there is no woman.” His disciple says to him, “And where is there a place without a woman, except the desert?” So the old man says, “Take me to the desert.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Aged Sisoes refuses to leave the desert, the only place without women.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.3 (PG 65:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-3
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-3) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.4PG 65:391
Πολλάκις ἔλεγεν ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη· Ἀ̓ββᾶ, ἀνάστα, φάγωμεν. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν Οὐκ ἐφάγομεν, τέκνον; Ὁ δέ· Οὐχὶ, Πάτερ. Καὶ ἔλεγεν ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὐκ ἐφάγομεν, φέρε, καὶ ἐσθίομεν
Pollakis elegen ho mathētēs tou abba Sisoē; Abba, anasta, phagōmen. Ho de pros auton elegen Ouk ephagomen, teknon? Ho de; Ouchi, Pater. Kai elegen ho gerōn; Ei ouk ephagomen, phere, kai esthiomen
Often the disciple of abba Sisoes would say, “Abba, get up, let us eat.” And he would say to him, “Have we not eaten, child?” He said, “No, father.” And the old man would say, “If we have not eaten, bring it, and let us eat.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes was so absorbed that he could not remember whether he had eaten.
- Variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. Σισώι. ΑΙ. Σισόιν. ΑΙ. Σισώην τὸν Θηβαῖον. 'ΑΙ. τοῦ ὁ δεῖνα. ΑΙ. ὑπέρ. Αl. ἐσθίωμεν. → .
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.4 (PG 65:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-4
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-4) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.5PG 65:393
Εἶπέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης μετὰ παῤῥησίας· Θάρσει· ἰδοὺ τριάκοντα ἔτη ἔχω, μηκέτι δεόμενος τοῦ Θεοῦ περὶ ἁμαρτίας ἀλλὰ τοῦτο εὔχομαι, λέγων· Κύριε Ἰησοῦ, σκέπασόν με ἀπὸ τῆς γλώσσης μου καὶ ἕως νῦν καθ' ἡμέραν πίπτω δι' αὐτῆς καὶ ἀμαρτάνω.
Eipe pote ho abbas Sisoēs meta parrhēsias; Tharsei; idou triakonta etē echō, mēketi deomenos tou Theou peri hamartias alla touto euchomai, legōn; Kyrie Iēsou, skepason me apo tēs glōssēs mou kai heōs nyn kath' hēmeran piptō di' autēs kai amartanō.
Once abba Sisoes said with boldness, “Take courage: look, for thirty years I no longer pray to God about sin, but I pray this, saying, ‘Lord Jesus, protect me from my tongue’; and until now every day I fall through it and sin.”
Jas 3:2 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: For thirty years Sisoes has prayed only to be guarded from his tongue, by which he still sins daily.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.5 (PG 65:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-5
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-5) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.6PG 65:393
Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Σισόῃ· Πῶς οὐκ ἀναχωροῦσι τὰ πάθη ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τὰ σκεύη αὐτῶν ἔνδοθέν σού εἰσιν· δὸς αὐτοῖς τὸν ἀῤῥαβῶνα αὐτῶν, καὶ ὑπάγουσιν.
Adelphos eipe tǭ abbą Sisoę̄; Pōs ouk anachōrousi ta pathē ap᾿ emou? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ta skeuē autōn endothen sou eisin; dos autois ton arrhabōna autōn, kai hypagousin.
A brother said to abba Sisoes, “Why do the passions not leave me?” The old man says to him, “Their goods are inside you; give them back their pledge, and they will go.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The passions stay because one keeps their pledge; give it back and they leave.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.6 (PG 65:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-6
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-6) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.7PG 65:393
Ἐκάθητό ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου καὶ χρονίσαντος τοῦ διακονητοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἕως μηνῶν δέκα οὐκ εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον. Περιπατῶν δὲ ἐν τῷ ὄρει, εὑρίσκει Φαρανίτην ἀγρεύοντα ἄγρια ζῶα· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Πόθεν ἔρχῃ; καὶ πόσον χρόνον ἔχεις ὧδε Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Φύσει, ἀββᾶ, ἔχω ἕνδεκα μῆνας ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, καὶ οὐκ εἶδον ἄνθρωπον εἰ μὴ σέ. Ακούσας δὲ ὁ γέρων ταῦτα, εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ κελλίον, ἔτυπτεν ἑαυτὸν, λέγων· Ἰδοὺ, Σισόη, ἐνόμισας τίποτε πεποιηκέναι· καὶ οὐδὲ ὡς ὁ κοσμικὸς οὗτος ἀκμὴν πεποίηκας.
Ekathēto pote ho abbas Sisoēs eis to oros tou abba Antōniou kai chronisantos tou diakonētou autou elthein pros auton, heōs mēnōn deka ouk eiden anthrōpon. Peripatōn de en tǭ orei, heuriskei Pharanitēn agreuonta agria zōa; kai legei autǭ ho gerōn Pothen erchę̄? kai poson chronon echeis hōde Ho de ephē; Physei, abba, echō hendeka mēnas en tǭ orei toutǭ, kai ouk eidon anthrōpon ei mē se. Akousas de ho gerōn tauta, eiselthōn eis to kellion, etypten heauton, legōn; Idou, Sisoē, enomisas tipote pepoiēkenai; kai oude hōs ho kosmikos houtos akmēn pepoiēkas.
Once abba Sisoes was living on the mountain of abba Antony, and since his servant was slow in coming to him, he did not see a man for up to ten months. Walking on the mountain, he finds a Pharanite hunting wild animals; and the old man says to him, “Where do you come from? And how long have you been here?” He said, “Truly, abba, I have been eleven months on this mountain, and I have not seen a man except you.” When the old man heard this, he went into his cell and beat himself, saying, “Look, Sisoes, you thought you had done something; and you have not yet done even as much as this layman.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes, proud of ten months’ solitude, meets a hunter who has seen no one for eleven.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.7 (PG 65:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-7
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-7) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.8PG 65:393
Ἐγένετο προσφορὰ εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, καὶ εὑρέθη ἐκεῖ κνίδιον οἶνου καὶ λαβὼν εἷς τῶν γερόντων μικρὸν ἀγγεῖον καὶ ποτήριον, ἀπήνεγκε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔπιεν. Ὁμοίως καὶ δεύτερον, καὶ ἐδέξατο. Παρέσχεν αὐτῷ καὶ τρίτον, καὶ οὐκ ἔλαβεν, εἰπών Παῦσαι, ἀδελφὲ, ἢ οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι ἔστι Σατανᾶς;
Egeneto prosphora eis to oros tou abba Antōniou, kai heurethē ekei knidion oinou kai labōn heis tōn gerontōn mikron angeion kai potērion, apēnenke pros ton abban Sisoēn, kai edōken autǭ, kai epien. Homoiōs kai deuteron, kai edexato. Pareschen autǭ kai triton, kai ouk elaben, eipōn Pausai, adelphe, ē ouk oidas hoti esti Satanas?
There was an offering on the mountain of abba Antony, and a jar of wine was found there; and one of the old men took a small vessel and a cup, brought it to abba Sisoes, and gave it to him, and he drank. Likewise a second, and he accepted. He offered him a third too, and he did not take it, saying, “Stop, brother; or do you not know that there is Satan?”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes accepts two cups of wine but refuses a third, warning of Satan.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.8 (PG 65:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-8
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-8) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.9PG 65:393
Παρέβαλέ τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου καὶ λαλούντων αὐτῶν, ἔλεγε τῷ ἀββᾷ Σισόῃ· "Ἄρτι οὐκ ἔφθασας εἰς τὰ μέτρα τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, Πάτερ; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ εἶχον ἕνα τῶν λογισμῶν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, ἐγινόμην ὅλος ὡς πῦρ· πλὴν οἶδα ἄνθρωπον, ὅτι μετὰ καμάτου δύναται βαστάσαι τὸν λογισμὸν αὐτοῦ.
Parebale tis tōn adelphōn pros ton abban Sisoēn, eis to oros tou abba Antōniou kai lalountōn autōn, elege tǭ abbą Sisoę̄; "Arti ouk ephthasas eis ta metra tou abba Antōniou, Pater? Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei eichon hena tōn logismōn tou abba Antōniou, eginomēn holos hōs pyr; plēn oida anthrōpon, hoti meta kamatou dynatai bastasai ton logismon autou.
One of the brothers visited abba Sisoes on the mountain of abba Antony; and as they talked, he said to abba Sisoes, “Have you not now reached abba Antony’s measure, father?” And the old man says to him, “If I had one of abba Antony’s thoughts, I would become wholly like fire; but I know a man who with labor can bear his own thought.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes says that one of Antony’s thoughts would set him wholly on fire.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.9 (PG 65:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-9
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-9) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.10PG 65:393–395
Ἦλθέ ποτέ τις τῶν Θηβαίων πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην θέλων γενέσθαι μοναχός. Καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων, εἰ ἔχει τινὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Ἔχω ἕνα υἱόν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὕπαγε, ῥίψον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν, καὶ τότε γίνῃ μοναχός. Ὡς οὖν ἀπῆλθε ῥίψαι αὐτὸν, ἔπεμψεν ὁ γέρων ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κωλῦσαι αὐτόν Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Παῦσαι, τί ποιεῖς; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ὁ ἀββᾶς μοι εἶπε ρίψαι αὐτόν. Λέγει οὖν ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀλλὰ πάλιν εἶπε, μὴ ῥίψῃς αὐτόν. Καὶ καταλιπὼν αὐτὸν, ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα· καὶ γέγονε δόκιμος" μοναχὸς διὰ τὴν ὑπακοὴν αὐτοῦ.
Ēlthe pote tis tōn Thēbaiōn pros ton abban Sisoēn thelōn genesthai monachos. Kai ērōtēsen auton ho gerōn, ei echei tina en tǭ kosmǭ. Ho de ephē; Echō hena huion. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Hypage, rhipson auton eis ton potamon, kai tote ginę̄ monachos. Hōs oun apēlthe rhipsai auton, epempsen ho gerōn adelphon tou kōlysai auton Legei ho adelphos; Pausai, ti poieis? Ho de eipen; Ho abbas moi eipe ripsai auton. Legei oun ho adelphos; Alla palin eipe, mē rhipsę̄s auton. Kai katalipōn auton, ēlthe pros ton geronta; kai gegone dokimos" monachos dia tēn hypakoēn autou.
Once a man from the Thebaid came to abba Sisoes wanting to become a monk. And the old man asked him whether he had anyone in the world. He said, “I have a son.” And the old man says to him, “Go, throw him into the river, and then you will become a monk.” As he went to throw him in, the old man sent a brother to stop him. The brother says, “Stop, what are you doing?” He said, “The abba told me to throw him in.” So the brother says, “But he has said again, ‘Do not throw him in.’” And leaving him, he came to the old man; and he became a proven monk because of his obedience.
Gen 22:10 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A father ready to drown his son at Sisoes’ command is stopped and becomes a proven monk through obedience.
- The command, recalling Abraham’s sacrifice (Gen 22), is a test of obedience, withdrawn before it is carried out; translated as written. A stray word is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter; OCR: stray letters and breathing lost; stray word and letters from Migne’s notes): ἔχει τινὰ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ → ἔχει τινὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ; αὐτόν. κνίδιον, ΑΑ Λέγει → αὐτόν. Λέγει; μὴ ρίψης Ει αὐτόν → μὴ ῥίψῃς αὐτόν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.10 (PG 65:393–395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-10
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-10) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.11PG 65:395
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Ἆρα οὕτως ἐδίωκεν ὁ Σατανᾶς τοὺς ἀρχαίους; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Ἄρτι πλέον, ὅτι ὁ καιρὸς αὐτοῦ ἤγγισε, καὶ ταράσσεται. «β΄. Ἐπειράσθη ποτὲ Ἀβραὰμ ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββα Σισόη ἀπὸ δαίμονος· καὶ εἶδεν ὁ γέρων ὅτι πέπτωκεν, καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐξέτεινε τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, λέγων· Θεὸς, θέλεις, οὐ θέλεις, οὐκ ἀφῶ σε, ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸν θεραπεύσῃς. Καὶ εὐθέως ἐθεραπεύθη. ιγ'. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Ὁρῶ ἐμαυτὸν, ὅτι ἡ μνήμη τοῦ Θεοῦ παραμένει μοι Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ ἔστι μέγα, τὸ εἶναι τὸν λογισμόν σου μετὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ· μέγα δέ ἐστι, τὸ ἑαυτὸν ὁρᾷν ὑποκάτω πάσης τῆς κτίσεως. Τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ὁ σωματικὸς κόπος ὁδηγεῖ εἰς τὸν τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης τρόπον
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Ara houtōs ediōken ho Satanas tous archaious? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Arti pleon, hoti ho kairos autou ēngise, kai tarassetai. «b΄. Epeirasthē pote Abraam ho mathētēs tou abba Sisoē apo daimonos; kai eiden ho gerōn hoti peptōken, kai anastas exeteine tas cheiras eis ton ouranon, legōn; Theos, theleis, ou theleis, ouk aphō se, ean mē auton therapeusę̄s. Kai eutheōs etherapeuthē. ig'. Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Horō emauton, hoti hē mnēmē tou Theou paramenei moi Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ouk esti mega, to einai ton logismon sou meta tou Theou; mega de esti, to heauton horąn hypokatō pasēs tēs ktiseōs. Touto gar kai ho sōmatikos kopos hodēgei eis ton tēs tapeinophrosynēs tropon
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “Did Satan persecute the ancients like this?” The old man says to him, “More now, for his time has drawn near, and he is troubled.” [12] Once Abraham, the disciple of abba Sisoes, was tempted by a demon; and the old man saw that he had fallen, and standing up he stretched out his hands to heaven, saying, “God, whether you will or not, I will not let you go unless you heal him.” And at once he was healed. [13] A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “I see that the remembrance of God stays with me.” The old man says to him, “It is not great that your thought is with God; but it is great to see oneself beneath all creation. For bodily labor too leads to the way of humility.”
Rev 12:12 (echo, medium confidence) · Gen 32:26 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes says Satan rages more as his time nears; then he wrestles God in prayer for his fallen disciple, and teaches that humility is greater than constant remembrance of God.
- The scan runs Sisoes 12 and 13 (numbered in the print) into this saying; marked [12] and [13]. Cf. Rev 12:12; Gen 32:26.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.11 (PG 65:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-11
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-11) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.14PG 65:395
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη, ὅτι ὅτε ἔμελλε τελευτᾷν, καθημένων τῶν Πατέρων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλαμψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος· καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος ἦλθε. Καὶ μετὰ μικρὸν λέγει· Ἰδοὺ ὁ χορὸς τῶν προφητῶν ἦλθε. Καὶ πάλιν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ περισσῶς ἔλαμψε· καὶ εἶπεν· Ἰδοὺ ὁ χορὸς τῶν ἀποστόλων ἦλθε. Καὶ ἐδιπλασίασε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πάλιν· καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὸς ὡς μετά τινων λαλῶν. Καὶ ἐδεήθησαν αὐτοῦ οἱ γέροντες, λέγοντες· Μετὰ τίνος ὁμιλεῖς, Πάτερ; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Ἰδοὺ ἄγγελοι ἦλθον λαβεῖν με, καὶ παρακαλῶ ἵνα ἀφεθῶ μετανοῆσαι μικρόν. Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ γέροντες· Οὐ χρείαν ἔχεις μετανοῆσαι, Πάτερ. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων Φύσει οὐκ οἶδα ἐμαυτὸν ὅτι ἔβαλον ἀρχήν. Καὶ ἔμαθον πάντες ὅτι τέλειός ἐστι. Καὶ πάλιν ἄφνω ἐγένετο τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος· καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν πάντες. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Βλέπετε, ὁ Κύριος ἦλθε, καὶ λέγει· Φέρετέ μοι τὸ σκεῦος τῆς ἐρήμου. Καὶ εὐθέως παρέδωκε τὸ πνεῦμα. Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀστραπή· καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὅλος ὁ οἶκος εὐωδίας.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē, hoti hote emelle teleutąn, kathēmenōn tōn Paterōn pros auton elampse to prosōpon autou hōs ho hēlios; kai legei autois; Idou ho abbas Antōnios ēlthe. Kai meta mikron legei; Idou ho choros tōn prophētōn ēlthe. Kai palin to prosōpon autou perissōs elampse; kai eipen; Idou ho choros tōn apostolōn ēlthe. Kai ediplasiase to prosōpon autou palin; kai idou autos hōs meta tinōn lalōn. Kai edeēthēsan autou hoi gerontes, legontes; Meta tinos homileis, Pater? Ho de ephē; Idou angeloi ēlthon labein me, kai parakalō hina aphethō metanoēsai mikron. Kai legousin autǭ hoi gerontes; Ou chreian echeis metanoēsai, Pater. Eipe de autois ho gerōn Physei ouk oida emauton hoti ebalon archēn. Kai emathon pantes hoti teleios esti. Kai palin aphnō egeneto to prosōpon autou hōs ho hēlios; kai ephobēthēsan pantes. Kai legei autois; Blepete, ho Kyrios ēlthe, kai legei; Pherete moi to skeuos tēs erēmou. Kai eutheōs paredōke to pneuma. Kai egeneto hōs astrapē; kai eplēsthē holos ho oikos euōdias.
They said of abba Sisoes that when he was about to die, while the Fathers were sitting with him, his face shone like the sun; and he says to them, “Look, abba Antony has come.” And after a little he says, “Look, the choir of the prophets has come.” And again his face shone more brightly; and he said, “Look, the choir of the apostles has come.” And his face doubled its brightness again; and look, he was as if speaking with someone. And the old men begged him, saying, “With whom are you speaking, father?” He said, “Look, angels have come to take me, and I am asking to be left to repent a little.” And the old men say to him, “You have no need to repent, father.” And the old man said to them, “Truly I do not know that I have made a beginning.” And all knew that he was perfect. And again suddenly his face became like the sun; and all were afraid. And he says to them, “See, the Lord has come, and says, ‘Bring me the vessel of the desert.’” And at once he gave up his spirit. And there was as it were lightning; and the whole house was filled with fragrance.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Acts 9:15 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: At his death Sisoes’ face shines as Antony, the prophets, the apostles, and Christ come for him.
- Variant notes are removed. “Vessel of the desert” echoes “chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus inside a word): λέγονΑΙ. δοκιμώτατος. ΑΙ. μου τῷ Θεῷ παραμένει. ἀπέδωκε. ΑΙ. τόπος. τες → λέγοντες.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.14 (PG 65:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-14
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-14) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.15PG 65:395–397
Παρέβαλεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀδέλφιος ἐπίσκοπος Νειλουπόλεως πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου. Καὶ ὡς ἤμελλον ἐξελθεῖν, πρὶν αὐτοὺς ὁδεῦσαι, ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς γεύσασθαι ἀπὸ πρωΐ· ἦν δὲ νηστεία. Καὶ ὡς ἔθηκαν τράπεζαν, ἰδοὺ ἀδελφοὶ κρούουσιν. Εἶπε δὲ τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ· Δὸς αὐτοῖς μικρὰν ἀθήραν, ὅτι ἀπὸ κόπου εἰσί. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀδέλφιος· Ἄφες τέως, ἵνα μὴ εἴπωσιν ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ἀπὸ πρωῖ ἐσθίει. Καὶ προσέσχεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων, καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀδελφῷ· Ὕπαγε, δὸς αὐτοῖς. Ὡς οὖν εἶδον τὴν ἀθήραν, εἶπον· Μὴ ξένους ἔχετε; μὴ ἄρα καὶ ὁ γέρων μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐσθίει; Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀδελφός· Ναί. Ἤρξαντο οὖν θλίβεσθαι, καὶ λέγειν Συγχωρήσῃ ὑμῖν ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι τὸν γέροντα ἀφήκατε φαγεῖν ἄρτι. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας ἔχει κοπιάσαι; Καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτῶν ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, καὶ ἔβαλε μετάνοιαν τῷ γέροντι, λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ἀββᾶ, ὅτι ἀνθρώπινόν τι ἐλογισάμην· σὺ δὲ τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐποίησας. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης· Ἐὰν μὴ ὁ Θεὸς δοξάσῃ ἄνθρωπον, ἡ δόξα τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐδὲν ἐστιν.
Parebalen ho abbas Adelphios episkopos Neiloupoleōs pros ton abban Sisoēn, eis to oros tou abba Antōniou. Kai hōs ēmellon exelthein, prin autous hodeusai, epoiēsen autous geusasthai apo prōï; ēn de nēsteia. Kai hōs ethēkan trapezan, idou adelphoi krouousin. Eipe de tǭ mathētę̄ autou; Dos autois mikran athēran, hoti apo kopou eisi. Legei autǭ ho abbas Adelphios; Aphes teōs, hina mē eipōsin hoti ho abbas Sisoēs apo prōi esthiei. Kai proseschen autǭ ho gerōn, kai legei tǭ adelphǭ; Hypage, dos autois. Hōs oun eidon tēn athēran, eipon; Mē xenous echete? mē ara kai ho gerōn meth᾽ hymōn esthiei? Kai eipen autois ho adelphos; Nai. Ērxanto oun thlibesthai, kai legein Synchōrēsę̄ hymin ho Theos, hoti ton geronta aphēkate phagein arti. Ē ouk oidate hoti epi pollas hēmeras echei kopiasai? Kai ēkousen autōn ho episkopos, kai ebale metanoian tǭ geronti, legōn; Synchōrēson moi, abba, hoti anthrōpinon ti elogisamēn; sy de to tou Theou epoiēsas. Kai legei autǭ ho abbas Sisoēs; Ean mē ho Theos doxasę̄ anthrōpon, hē doxa tōn anthrōpōn ouden estin.
Abba Adelphius, bishop of Nilopolis, visited abba Sisoes on the mountain of abba Antony. And when they were about to leave, before they set out, he made them eat in the morning; and it was a fast day. And as they set the table, look, some brothers knock. And he said to his disciple, “Give them a little gruel, for they are tired.” Abba Adelphius says to him, “Leave it for now, so that they may not say that abba Sisoes eats in the morning.” The old man looked at him and says to the brother, “Go, give it to them.” When they saw the gruel, they said, “Do you have guests? Is the old man eating with you too?” And the brother said to them, “Yes.” So they began to be distressed and to say, “May God forgive you for letting the old man eat now. Do you not know that he will have to labor for many days?” And the bishop heard them, and made a prostration to the old man, saying, “Forgive me, abba, for I thought in a human way; but you did what is of God.” And abba Sisoes says to him, “Unless God glorifies a man, the glory of men is nothing.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes breaks his fast for guests despite a bishop’s concern for his reputation.
- Variant notes and a saying of Poemen printed in Migne’s notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) and another saying from Migne’s notes inside the sentence): ὁ ΑΙ. περισσότερον. τῆς ἐκλογῆς. ΑΙ. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπεν τῷ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένι· Ὁρῶ ἐμαυτὸν δια παντὸς μετὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἀφιστάμενον ὅλως, μέγα ἐστὶ, Πάτερ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Οὐχὶ· ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν ἴδῃς ἑαυτὸν ἐλάττονα πάντων, τότε εἰς τὸ μέγα ἔφθασας. Ἀββᾶς → ὁ ἀββᾶς.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.15 (PG 65:395–397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-15
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-15) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.16PG 65:397
Παρέβαλόν τινες πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην ἀκοῦσαι παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ λόγον, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησε· πάντα δὲ ἔλεγε· Συγχωρήσατέ μοι. Ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτοῦ τὰ σπυρίδια, εἶπον τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ Ἀβραάμ· Τί ποιεῖτε τὰ σπυρίδια ταῦτα; Ὁ̔ δὲ εἶπεν· Ὧδε κἀκεῖ ἀναλίσκομεν αὐτά. Ακούσας δὲ ὁ γέρων, εἶπε· Καὶ Σισόης ἔνθεν κἀκεῖθεν ἐσθίει. Οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες, πάνυ ὠφελήθησαν· καὶ ἀπῆλθον μετὰ χαρᾶς, οἰκοδομηθέντες εἰς τὴν ταπείνωσιν αὐτοῦ.
Parebalon tines pros ton abban Sisoēn akousai par᾿ autou logon, kai ouden autois elalēse; panta de elege; Synchōrēsate moi. Idontes de autou ta spyridia, eipon tǭ mathētę̄ autou Abraam; Ti poieite ta spyridia tauta? Ho de eipen; Hōde kakei analiskomen auta. Akousas de ho gerōn, eipe; Kai Sisoēs enthen kakeithen esthiei. Hoi de akousantes, pany ōphelēthēsan; kai apēlthon meta charas, oikodomēthentes eis tēn tapeinōsin autou.
Some people visited abba Sisoes to hear a word from him, and he said nothing to them, but to everything said, “Forgive me.” Seeing his baskets, they said to his disciple Abraham, “What do you do with these baskets?” He said, “We use them here and there.” Hearing this, the old man said, “Sisoes too eats from here and there.” Hearing this, they were greatly helped, and went away with joy, edified by his humility.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes says he lives off others like his baskets, and visitors are edified by his humility.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.16 (PG 65:397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-16
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-16) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.17PG 65:397
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμὼν ὁ τῆς Ῥαϊθοῦ τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην· Ὅταν ἀναγινώσκω Γραφὴν, θέλει ὁ λογισμός μου φιλοκαλῆσαι λόγον, ἵνα ἔχω εἰς ἐπερώτημα. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ ἔστι χρεία ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐκ τῆς καθαρότητος τοῦ νοὸς κτῆσαι σεαυτῷ καὶ τὸ ἀμεριμνεῖν καὶ τὸ λέγειν.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Ammōn ho tēs Rhaïthou ton abban Sisoēn; Hotan anaginōskō Graphēn, thelei ho logismos mou philokalēsai logon, hina echō eis eperōtēma. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ouk esti chreia alla mallon ek tēs katharotētos tou noos ktēsai seautǭ kai to amerimnein kai to legein.
Abba Ammon of Raithou asked abba Sisoes, “When I read Scripture, my thought wants to polish a word so that I may have it ready for questions.” The old man says to him, “There is no need; rather acquire for yourself, from purity of mind, both freedom from care and the power to speak.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes tells Ammon not to prepare clever answers from Scripture but to gain purity of mind.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.17 (PG 65:397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-17
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-17) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.18PG 65:397
Παρέβαλέ ποτε κοσμικὸς ἔχων τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου· καὶ κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν συνέβη ἀποθανεῖν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἐταράχθη, ἀλλ᾽ ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν γέροντα πίστει, καὶ προσέπεσε μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ ὡς μετάνοιαν ποιῶν, ὥστε εὐλογηθῆναι παρὰ τοῦ γέροντος., Καὶ ἀναστὰς ὁ πατὴρ κατέλιπε τὸ παιδίον πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ γέροντος, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἔξω Ὁ̔ δὲ γέρων, νομίζων ὅτι μετάνοιαν αὐτῷ βάλλει, λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀνάστα, ἔξελθε ἔξω· οὐ γὰρ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀπέθανε. Καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνέστη καὶ ἐξῆλθε. Καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, ἐξέστη· καὶ εἰσελθὼν προσεκύνησε τῷ γέροντι, καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ γέρων, ἐλυπήθη· οὐ γὰρ ἤθελε τοῦτο γενέσθαι. Παρήγγειλε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ, μηδενὶ εἰπεῖν, ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς τοῦ γέροντος.
Parebale pote kosmikos echōn ton huion autou pros ton abban Sisoēn, eis to oros tou abba Antōniou; kai kata tēn hodon synebē apothanein ton huion autou; kai ouk etarachthē, all᾽ elaben auton pros ton geronta pistei, kai prosepese meta tou huiou hōs metanoian poiōn, hōste eulogēthēnai para tou gerontos., Kai anastas ho patēr katelipe to paidion pros tous podas tou gerontos, kai exēlthen exō Ho de gerōn, nomizōn hoti metanoian autǭ ballei, legei autǭ; Anasta, exelthe exō; ou gar ę̄dei hoti apethane. Kai parachrēma anestē kai exēlthe. Kai idōn auton ho patēr autou, exestē; kai eiselthōn prosekynēse tǭ geronti, kai anēngeilen autǭ to pragma. Akousas de ho gerōn, elypēthē; ou gar ēthele touto genesthai. Parēngeile de autǭ ho mathētēs autou, mēdeni eipein, heōs tēs teleutēs tou gerontos.
Once a layman with his son came to abba Sisoes on the mountain of abba Antony; and on the way his son happened to die; and he was not troubled, but took him to the old man in faith, and fell down with his son as if making a prostration, so as to be blessed by the old man. And getting up, the father left the child at the old man’s feet and went outside. The old man, thinking that he was making a prostration to him, says to him, “Get up, go outside”; for he did not know that he was dead. And at once he got up and went out. And seeing him, his father was amazed; and going in he bowed down to the old man and told him the matter. Hearing it, the old man was grieved; for he did not want this to happen. And his disciple charged him to tell no one until the old man’s death.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes unknowingly raises a dead boy by telling him to get up, and is grieved at the miracle.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.18 (PG 65:397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-18). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-18
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-18) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.19PG 65:397–399
Τρεῖς γέροντες παρέβαλον τῷ ἀββᾷ Σισόῃ, ἀκούσαντες τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ πρῶτος· Πάτερ, πῶς δύναμαι σωθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρίνου ποταμοῦ; Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ δεύτερος Πάτερ, πῶς δύναμαι σωθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ βρυγμοῦ τῶν ὀδόντων, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ σκώληκος τοῦ ἀκοιμήτου; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ τρίτος· Πάτερ, τί ποιήσω, ὅτι ἡ μνήμη τοῦ ἐξωτέρου σκότους φονεύει με; Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ γέρων εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐγὼ οὐδενὸς τούτων μέμνημαι· φιλεύσπλαγχνος γὰρ ἂν ὁ Θεὸς, ἐλπίζω ὅτι ποιεῖ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔλεος. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ τὸν λόγον τοῦτον οἱ γέροντες ἀπῆλθον λυπούμενοι. Μὴ θέλων δὲ ὁ γέρων ἐᾶσαι αὐτοὺς λυπουμένους ἀπελθεῖν, ὑποστρέψας αὐτοῖς εἶπε· Μακάριοί ἐστε, ἀδελφοί· ἐζήλωσα γὰρ ὑμᾶς. Ὁ πρῶτος γὰρ ὑμῶν εἶπε περὶ τοῦ πυρίνου ποταμοῦ, καὶ ὁ δεύτερος περὶ τοῦ Ταρτάρου, καὶ ὁ τρίτος περὶ τοῦ σκότους. Εἰ οὖν τοιαύτης μνήμης κυριεύει ὁ νοῦς ὑμῶν, ἀδύνατον ὑμᾶς ἁμαρτῆσαι. Τί δὲ ποιήσω ἐγὼ ὁ σκληροκάρδιος, μὴ συγχωρούμενος εἰδέναι ὅτι κἄν ἐστι κόλασις τοῖς ἀνθρώποις καὶ ἐκ τούτου, ἐν πάσῃ ὥρᾳ ἁμαρτάνω; Καὶ μετανοήσαντες αὐτῷ εἶπον· Καθάπερ ἠκούσαμεν, οὕτως καὶ εἴδομεν.
Treis gerontes parebalon tǭ abbą Sisoę̄, akousantes ta peri autou. Kai legei autǭ ho prōtos; Pater, pōs dynamai sōthēnai apo tou pyrinou potamou? Ho de ouk apekrithē autǭ. Legei autǭ ho deuteros Pater, pōs dynamai sōthēnai apo tou brygmou tōn odontōn, kai ek tou skōlēkos tou akoimētou? Legei autǭ ho tritos; Pater, ti poiēsō, hoti hē mnēmē tou exōterou skotous phoneuei me? Apokritheis de ho gerōn eipen autois; Egō oudenos toutōn memnēmai; phileusplanchnos gar an ho Theos, elpizō hoti poiei met᾿ emou eleos. Akousantes de ton logon touton hoi gerontes apēlthon lypoumenoi. Mē thelōn de ho gerōn easai autous lypoumenous apelthein, hypostrepsas autois eipe; Makarioi este, adelphoi; ezēlōsa gar hymas. Ho prōtos gar hymōn eipe peri tou pyrinou potamou, kai ho deuteros peri tou Tartarou, kai ho tritos peri tou skotous. Ei oun toiautēs mnēmēs kyrieuei ho nous hymōn, adynaton hymas hamartēsai. Ti de poiēsō egō ho sklērokardios, mē synchōroumenos eidenai hoti kan esti kolasis tois anthrōpois kai ek toutou, en pasę̄ hōrą hamartanō? Kai metanoēsantes autǭ eipon; Kathaper ēkousamen, houtōs kai eidomen.
Three old men visited abba Sisoes, having heard about him. And the first says to him, “Father, how can I be saved from the river of fire?” And he did not answer him. The second says to him, “Father, how can I be saved from the gnashing of teeth and from the sleepless worm?” The third says to him, “Father, what shall I do, for the remembrance of the outer darkness kills me?” And the old man answered them, “I remember none of these things; for since God is compassionate, I hope that he will show me mercy.” Hearing this word, the old men went away grieved. Not wanting to let them go away grieved, the old man turned back and said to them, “You are blessed, brothers; for I have envied you. The first of you spoke of the river of fire, the second of Tartarus, and the third of the darkness. If your mind is mastered by such remembrance, it is impossible for you to sin. But what shall I do, hard of heart as I am, not allowed to know even whether there is punishment for men, and for this reason I sin every hour?” And making a prostration they said, “As we have heard, so we have seen.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Dan 7:10 (echo, medium confidence) · Mark 9:48 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 8:12 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes, who trusts God’s mercy, envies monks kept from sin by fear of hell.
- Variant notes are removed. The river of fire: Dan 7:10; the worm and gnashing of teeth: Mark 9:48; Matt 8:12.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray mark; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ἐλπίζω ΑΙ. ἔχετε. ἄλλοι. ΑΙ. πάντοτε. ΑΙ. τοῦ κελλίου. ὅτι → ἐλπίζω ὅτι; πυρί. νου → πυρίνου.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.19 (PG 65:397–399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-19
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-19) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.20PG 65:399
Ἠρώτησάν τινες τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγοντες Ἐὰν πέσῃ ἀδελφὸς, οὐ χρείαν ἔχει μετανοῆσαι ἐνιαυτόν; Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Σκληρόν ἐστι τὸ ῥῆμα. Οἱ δὲ φασιν· Ἀλλ' ἓξ μῆνας; Καὶ πάλιν εἶπε· Πολύ ἐστιν. Οἱ δὲ ἔφασκον· Ἕως τεσσαράκοντα ἡμερῶν; Πάλιν ἔφη· Πολύ ἐστι. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Τί οὖν; ἐὰν πέσῃ ἀδελφὸς, καὶ εὑρεθῇ εὐθὺς ἀγάπη γινομένη, καὶ αὐτὸς εἰσέλθῃ εἰς τὴν ἀγάπην; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων Οὐχί. Ἀλλὰ χρείαν ἔχει μετανοῆσαι ὀλίγας ἡμέρας. Πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ, ὅτι ὁλοψύχως ἐὰν μετανοήσῃ ὁ τοιοῦτος, καὶ εἰς τρεῖς ἡμέρας δέχεται αὐτὸν Θεός.
Ērōtēsan tines ton abban Sisoēn, legontes Ean pesę̄ adelphos, ou chreian echei metanoēsai eniauton? Ho de eipe; Sklēron esti to rhēma. Hoi de phasin; All' hex mēnas? Kai palin eipe; Poly estin. Hoi de ephaskon; Heōs tessarakonta hēmerōn? Palin ephē; Poly esti. Legousin autǭ; Ti oun? ean pesę̄ adelphos, kai heurethę̄ euthys agapē ginomenē, kai autos eiselthę̄ eis tēn agapēn? Legei autois ho gerōn Ouchi. Alla chreian echei metanoēsai oligas hēmeras. Pisteuō gar tǭ Theǭ, hoti holopsychōs ean metanoēsę̄ ho toioutos, kai eis treis hēmeras dechetai auton Theos.
Some asked abba Sisoes, saying, “If a brother falls, does he not need to do penance for a year?” He said, “The word is hard.” They say, “Then six months?” And again he said, “It is a lot.” They said, “Up to forty days?” Again he said, “It is a lot.” They say to him, “What then? If a brother falls, and a love-feast happens to be held at once, does he also go in to the love-feast?” The old man says to them, “No. But he needs to do penance for a few days. For I trust in God that if such a one repents with his whole soul, God accepts him even in three days.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes holds that wholehearted repentance is accepted by God even in three days.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.20 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-20). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-20
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-20) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.21PG 65:399
Ἐλθόντος ποτὲ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη εἰς τὸ Κλύσμα, παρέβαλον αὐτῷ κοσμικοὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν. Καὶ πολλὰ λαλησάντων αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς λόγον. Ὕστερον δὲ εἰς αὐτῶν εἶπε· Τί θλίβετε τὸν γέροντα; οὐκ ἐσθίει· διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ λαλεῖν δύναται. Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ ὅτε γένηταί μοι χρεία, ἐσθίω.
Elthontos pote tou abba Sisoē eis to Klysma, parebalon autǭ kosmikoi idein auton. Kai polla lalēsantōn autōn, ouk apekrithē autois logon. Hysteron de eis autōn eipe; Ti thlibete ton geronta? ouk esthiei; dia touto oude lalein dynatai. Apekrithē ho gerōn; Egō hote genētai moi chreia, esthiō.
Once when abba Sisoes came to Clysma, some laymen visited him to see him. And though they talked much, he did not answer them a word. Afterward one of them said, “Why do you trouble the old man? He does not eat; that is why he cannot even speak.” The old man answered, “I eat when I need to.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes answers chattering visitors only to correct their assumption that he never eats.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray Latin letters inside a split word): τὸν γέlοqυι.ροντα; οὐκ → τὸν γέροντα; οὐκ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.21 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-21). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-21
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-21) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.22PG 65:399
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Διὰ πόσου χρόνου ὀφείλει ἄνθρωπος ἐκκόπτειν τὰ πάθη; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Τοὺς χρόνους θέλεις μαθεῖν; Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσήφ· Ναί. Λέγει οὖν ὁ γέρων· Οἴαν ὥραν ἔρχεται τὸ πάθος, εὐθέως κόψον αὐτό.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Iōsēph ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Dia posou chronou opheilei anthrōpos ekkoptein ta pathē? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Tous chronous theleis mathein? Legei ho abbas Iōsēph; Nai. Legei oun ho gerōn; Oian hōran erchetai to pathos, eutheōs kopson auto.
Abba Joseph asked abba Sisoes, saying, “In how much time ought a man to cut off the passions?” The old man says to him, “Do you want to learn the times?” Abba Joseph says, “Yes.” So the old man says, “Whatever hour the passion comes, cut it off at once.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Cut off each passion the moment it comes.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.22 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-22). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-22
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-22) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.23PG 65:399
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην τὸν τῆς Πέτρας περὶ πολιτείας. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἶπε Δανιήλ Ἄρτον ἐπιθυμιῶν οὐκ ἔφαγον.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn ton tēs Petras peri politeias. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Eipe Daniēl Arton epithymiōn ouk ephagon.
A brother asked abba Sisoes of Petra about the way of life. And the old man says to him, “Daniel said, ‘I ate no bread of desire.’”
Dan 10:3 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes answers with Daniel’s fast from desirable food.
- Quotation of Dan 10:3 (Theodotion).
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.23 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-23). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-23
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-23) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.24PG 65:399
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη, ὅτι καθήμενος εἰς τὸ κελλίον πάντοτε τὴν θύραν ἔκλειεν.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē, hoti kathēmenos eis to kellion pantote tēn thyran ekleien.
They said of abba Sisoes that when he sat in his cell he always kept the door shut.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes always kept his cell door shut.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.24 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-24). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-24
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-24) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.25PG 65:399
Ἦλθόν ποτε Ἀρειανοὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, καὶ ἤρξαντο καταλαλεῖν τῶν ὀρθοδόξων. Ὁ δὲ γέρων οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς οὐδὲν· καὶ φωνήσας τὸν ἑαυτοῦ μαθητὴν, εἶπεν· Ἀβραὰμ, φέρε μοι τὸ βιβλίον τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀθανασίου, καὶ ἀνάγνωθι αὐτό. Καὶ σιωπώντων αὐτῶν, ἐγνώσθη ἡ αἵρεσις αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς μετ' εἰρήνης.
Ēlthon pote Areianoi pros ton abban Sisoēn eis to oros tou abba Antōniou, kai ērxanto katalalein tōn orthodoxōn. Ho de gerōn ouk apekrithē autois ouden; kai phōnēsas ton heautou mathētēn, eipen; Abraam, phere moi to biblion tou hagiou Athanasiou, kai anagnōthi auto. Kai siōpōntōn autōn, egnōsthē hē hairesis autōn. Kai apelysen autous met' eirēnēs.
Once some Arians came to abba Sisoes on the mountain of abba Antony, and began to speak against the orthodox. The old man answered them nothing; but calling his disciple, he said, “Abraham, bring me the book of holy Athanasius, and read it.” And as they fell silent, their heresy was exposed. And he sent them away in peace.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes answers Arians only by having a book of Athanasius read aloud.
- Variant notes are removed. The book of Athanasius is not identified.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter; variant notes (“Al.”) inside a word): Σισόην ῃ εἰς → Σισόην εἰς; καταΑΙ. πόσων χρόνων. ΑΙ. ἀββᾶ. λαλεῖν → καταλαλεῖν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.25 (PG 65:399; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-25). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-25
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-25) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.26PG 65:399–401
Ἦλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμοῦν ἀπὸ Ῥαϊθοῦ εἰς τὸ Κλύσμα, παραβαλεῖν τῷ ἀββᾷ Σισόῃ· καὶ βλέπων αὐτὸν θλιβόμενον, ὅτι ἀφῆκε τὴν ἔρημον, λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί θλίβῃ, ἀββᾶ; τί γὰρ ἡδύνω ἀπάρτι ποιῆσαι εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ούτως γηράσας; Ὁ δὲ γέρων προσἐσχεν αὐτῷ μετὰ στυφότητος, λέγων· Τί μοι λέγεις, Ἀμοῦν; οὐκ ἤρκει γάρ μοι ἡ ἐλευθερία μόνη τοῦ λογισμοῦ μου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ,
Ēlthe pote ho abbas Amoun apo Rhaïthou eis to Klysma, parabalein tǭ abbą Sisoę̄; kai blepōn auton thlibomenon, hoti aphēke tēn erēmon, legei autǭ; Ti thlibę̄, abba? ti gar hēdynō aparti poiēsai eis tēn erēmon, outōs gērasas? Ho de gerōn proseschen autǭ meta styphotētos, legōn; Ti moi legeis, Amoun? ouk ērkei gar moi hē eleutheria monē tou logismou mou en tę̄ erēmǭ,
Once abba Amoun came from Raithou to Clysma to visit abba Sisoes; and seeing him distressed because he had left the desert, he says to him, “Why are you distressed, abba? What could you do now in the desert, having grown so old?” The old man looked at him severely, saying, “What are you saying to me, Amoun? Was not the freedom of my thought alone in the desert enough for me?”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Aged Sisoes grieves at leaving the desert, where freedom of thought alone sufficed him.
- A variant note is removed; τί γὰρ ἡδύνω is corrupt and translated by sense.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant note (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. Αμμοῦν. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.26 (PG 65:399–401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-26). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-26
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-26) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.27PG 65:401
Ἐκάθητό ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ κρούσαντος τοῦ μαθητοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἔκραξεν ὁ γέρων, λέγων· Φύγε Ἀβραάμ, μὴ εἰσέλθῃς, ἄρτι οὐ σχολάζει τὰ ὧδε.
Ekathēto pote ho abbas Sisoēs en tǭ kelliǭ autou; kai krousantos tou mathētou autou, ekraxen ho gerōn, legōn; Phyge Abraam, mē eiselthę̄s, arti ou scholazei ta hōde.
Once abba Sisoes was sitting in his cell; and when his disciple knocked, the old man cried out, saying, “Flee, Abraham, do not come in; I have no time for things here now.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes forbids his disciple to enter while he is occupied with God.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.27 (PG 65:401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-27). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-27
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-27) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.28PG 65:401
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Πῶς κατέλιπες τὴν Σκῆτιν μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ὢρ ὢν, καὶ ἦλθες καὶ ἐκάθισας ὧδε; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων. Ἐν τῷ ἄρξασθαι πληθύνεσθαι τὴν Σκῆτιν, καὶ ἀκούσας ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐκοιμήθη ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος, ἀνέστην καὶ ἦλθον ὧδε εἰς τὸ ὄρος καὶ εὑρὼν τὰ ὧδε ἡσυχάζοντα, μικρὸν ἐκάθισα χρόνον. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Πόσον χρόνον ἔχεις ὧδε; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰσὶν ἑβδομηκονταδύο
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Pōs katelipes tēn Skētin meta tou abba Ōr ōn, kai ēlthes kai ekathisas hōde? Legei autǭ ho gerōn. En tǭ arxasthai plēthynesthai tēn Skētin, kai akousas egō hoti ekoimēthē ho abbas Antōnios, anestēn kai ēlthon hōde eis to oros kai heurōn ta hōde hēsychazonta, mikron ekathisa chronon. Legei autǭ ho adelphos; Poson chronon echeis hōde? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Eisin hebdomēkontadyo
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “How did you leave Scetis, where you were with abba Hor, and come and settle here?” The old man says to him, “When Scetis began to grow crowded, and I heard that abba Antony had fallen asleep, I got up and came here to the mountain; and finding things here quiet, I settled for a little while.” The brother says to him, “How long have you been here?” The old man says to him, “Seventy-two [years].”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes left crowded Scetis for Antony’s mountain, where he stayed seventy-two years.
- The last word (“years”) is lost in the scan.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray letters inside a split word): ἡσυχά-rεχι, ζοντα → ἡσυχάζοντα.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.28 (PG 65:401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-28). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-28
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-28) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.29PG 65:401
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης· Ὅταν ἡ ἄνθρωπος τὴν φροντίδα σου ποιούμενος, οὐ δεῖ σε διατάξαι.
Eipen ho abbas Sisoēs; Hotan hē anthrōpos tēn phrontida sou poioumenos, ou dei se diataxai.
Abba Sisoes said, “When there is a man taking care of you, you must not give him orders.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not command one who cares for you.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.29 (PG 65:401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-29). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-29
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-29) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.30PG 65:401
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην λέγων· Ἐὰν περιπατῶμεν ἐν ὁδῷ, καὶ πλανηθῇ ὁ ὁδηγῶν ἡμᾶς, χρεία εἰπεῖν αὐτῷ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐχί. Λέγει οὖν ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀλλ᾿ ἀφῶμεν αὐτὸν πλανῆσαι ἡμᾶς; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τί οὖν; λαβεῖν ἔχεις ῥάβδον δεῖραι αὐτόν; Ἐγὼ οἶδα ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι περιεπάτουν, καὶ ὁ ὁδηγῶν αὐτοὺς ἐπλανήθη τὴν νύκτα· ἦσαν δὲ δώδεκα, καὶ πάντες ᾔδεισαν ὅτι ἐπλανῶντο· καὶ ἡγωνίσαντο ἕκαστος τοῦ μὴ εἰπεῖν. Ἡμέρας δὲ γενομένης, μαθὼν ὁ ὁδηγῶν αὐτοὺς ὅτι ἐπλανήθησαν τὴν ὁδὸν, λέγει αὐτοῖς· Συγχωρήσατέ μοι, ὅτι ἐπλανήθην. Καὶ εἶπον πάντες· Καὶ ἡμεῖς ᾔδειμεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐσιωπήσαμεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ἐθαύμασε, λέγων, ὅτι Ἕως θανάτου ἐγκρατεύονται οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ μὴ λαλεῖν. Καὶ ἐδόξασε τὸν Θεόν. Τὸ δὲ μῆκος τῆς ὁδοῦ ἧς ἐπλανήθησαν, μίλια δώδεκα.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn legōn; Ean peripatōmen en hodǭ, kai planēthę̄ ho hodēgōn hēmas, chreia eipein autǭ? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ouchi. Legei oun ho adelphos; All᾿ aphōmen auton planēsai hēmas? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ti oun? labein echeis rhabdon deirai auton? Egō oida adelphous hoti periepatoun, kai ho hodēgōn autous eplanēthē tēn nykta; ēsan de dōdeka, kai pantes ę̄deisan hoti eplanōnto; kai hēgōnisanto hekastos tou mē eipein. Hēmeras de genomenēs, mathōn ho hodēgōn autous hoti eplanēthēsan tēn hodon, legei autois; Synchōrēsate moi, hoti eplanēthēn. Kai eipon pantes; Kai hēmeis ę̄deimen, all᾽ esiōpēsamen. Ho de akousas ethaumase, legōn, hoti Heōs thanatou enkrateuontai hoi adelphoi tou mē lalein. Kai edoxase ton Theon. To de mēkos tēs hodou hēs eplanēthēsan, milia dōdeka.
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “If we are walking on a road and the one guiding us goes astray, must we tell him?” The old man says to him, “No.” So the brother says, “Then shall we let him lead us astray?” The old man says to him, “What then? Will you take a stick and beat him? I know some brothers who were walking, and the one guiding them went astray at night; there were twelve, and all knew that they were going astray; and each struggled not to say so. When day came, the guide, learning that they had lost the way, says to them, ‘Forgive me, I went astray.’ And all said, ‘We knew too, but we kept silent.’ Hearing this he marveled, saying, ‘The brothers keep themselves from speaking even to death.’ And he glorified God. The length of the way they had gone astray was twelve miles.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes tells of twelve monks who walked twelve miles astray rather than shame their guide.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.30 (PG 65:401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-30). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-30
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-30) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.31PG 65:401
Ἦλθόν ποτε Σαρακηνοί, καὶ ἐξέδυσαν τὸν γέροντα καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἵνα εὕρωσί τι βρώσιμον, εὗρεν ὁ γέρων βόλβιτα καμήλων, καὶ κλάσας εὗρε κοκκία κριθῶν· ἔτρωγε δὲ ἓν κοκκὶν, καὶ τὸ ἓν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐτίθει. Ἐλθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ, εὖρεν αὐτὸν ἐσθίοντα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, ὅτι εὗρες βρώσιμον, καὶ μόνος ἐσθίεις, καὶ οὐκ ἐφώνησάς με; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης· Οὐκ ἠδίκησά σε, ἀδελφέ ἰδοὺ τὸ μέρος σου ἐν τῇ χειρί μου ἐτήρησα.
Ēlthon pote Sarakēnoi, kai exedysan ton geronta kai ton adelphon autou. Kai exelthontōn autōn eis tēn erēmon hina heurōsi ti brōsimon, heuren ho gerōn bolbita kamēlōn, kai klasas heure kokkia krithōn; etrōge de hen kokkin, kai to hen eis tēn cheira autou etithei. Elthōn de ho adelphos autou, euren auton esthionta, kai legei autǭ; Hautē estin hē agapē, hoti heures brōsimon, kai monos esthieis, kai ouk ephōnēsas me? Legei autǭ ho abbas Sisoēs; Ouk ēdikēsa se, adelphe idou to meros sou en tę̄ cheiri mou etērēsa.
Once Saracens came and stripped the old man and his brother. And when they went out into the desert to find something to eat, the old man found camel dung, and breaking it open he found grains of barley; and he ate one grain, and put one in his hand. His brother came and found him eating, and says to him, “Is this love, that you found something to eat and eat alone, and did not call me?” Abba Sisoes says to him, “I have not wronged you, brother; look, I kept your share in my hand.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Robbed by Saracens, Sisoes shares grains of barley from camel dung, keeping half for his brother.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.31 (PG 65:401; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-31). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-31
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-31) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.32PG 65:401–403
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη τοῦ Θηβαίου, ὅτι ἔμεινεν εἰς τὸν Καλαμῶνα τοῦ Ἀρσενοΐτου· καὶ ἄλλος γέρων ἠσθένει εἰς τὴν ἄλλην λαύραν. Καὶ ὡς ἤκουσεν, ἐθλίβη. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ δύο δύο ἐνήστευε, καὶ ἦν ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ οὐκ ἤσθιε· καὶ ὅτε ἤκουσε, λέγει τῷ λογισμῷ· Τί ποιήσω; ἐὰν ἀπέλθω, μήπως ἀναγκάσωσί με οἱ ἀδελφοὶ φαγεῖν· καὶ ἐὰν παραμείνω εἰς τὴν αὔριον, μήποτε τελευτήσῃ. Πλὴν τοῦτο ποιῶ, ὑπάγω καὶ οὐκ ἐσθίω. Καὶ οὕτως ἀπῆλθε νῆστις, πληρώσας τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ τὴν διὰ τὸν Θεὸν πολιτείαν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔλυσεν.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē tou Thēbaiou, hoti emeinen eis ton Kalamōna tou Arsenoïtou; kai allos gerōn ēsthenei eis tēn allēn lauran. Kai hōs ēkousen, ethlibē. Epeidē de dyo dyo enēsteue, kai ēn hē hēmera en hę̄ ouk ēsthie; kai hote ēkouse, legei tǭ logismǭ; Ti poiēsō? ean apelthō, mēpōs anankasōsi me hoi adelphoi phagein; kai ean parameinō eis tēn aurion, mēpote teleutēsę̄. Plēn touto poiō, hypagō kai ouk esthiō. Kai houtōs apēlthe nēstis, plērōsas tēn entolēn tou Theou; kai tēn dia ton Theon politeian autou ouk elysen.
They said of abba Sisoes the Theban that he lived at Calamon in the Arsinoite district; and another old man was ill in the other laura. And when he heard, he was distressed. Since he fasted two days at a time, and it was a day on which he did not eat, when he heard, he says to his thought, “What shall I do? If I go, perhaps the brothers will force me to eat; and if I wait until tomorrow, perhaps he will die. But I will do this: I will go and not eat.” And so he went fasting, fulfilling the commandment of God; and he did not break his way of life for God.
Matt 25:36 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes visits a sick elder on a fast day without breaking his fast.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.32 (PG 65:401–403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-32). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-32
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-32) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.33PG 65:403
Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββα Σισόη τοῦ Καλαμῶνος, ὅτι θέλων ποτὲ νικῆσαι τὸν ὕπνον, ἐκρέμασεν ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ κρημνοῦ τῆς Πέτρας· καὶ ἐλθὼν ἄγγελος ἔλυσε αὐτὸν, καὶ παρήγγειλεν αὐτὸν μηκέτι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι, μήτε ἄλλοις παραδοῦναι τὴν τοιαύτην παράδοσιν.
Diēgēsato tis tōn Paterōn peri tou abba Sisoē tou Kalamōnos, hoti thelōn pote nikēsai ton hypnon, ekremasen heauton apo tou krēmnou tēs Petras; kai elthōn angelos elyse auton, kai parēngeilen auton mēketi touto poiēsai, mēte allois paradounai tēn toiautēn paradosin.
One of the Fathers related of abba Sisoes of Calamon that once, wanting to overcome sleep, he hung himself from the cliff of Petra; and an angel came and released him, and commanded him not to do this any more nor to hand on such a practice to others.
Notes and citation
Summary: An angel forbids Sisoes to hang over a cliff to defeat sleep.
- The saying records an extreme ascetic practice forbidden by an angel; translated as written.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.33 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-33). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-33
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-33) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.34PG 65:403
Ἠρώτησέ τις τῶν Πατέρων τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Ἐὰν κάθημαι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καὶ ἔλθῃ βάρβαρος, φονεῦσαί με θέλων, καὶ δυνηθῶ πρὸς αὐτὸν, φονεύσω αὐτόν; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Οὐχὶ· ἀλλὰ παράδος αὐτὸν τῷ Θεῷ. Οἷος γὰρ ἂν πειρασμὸς ἔλθῃ ἀνθρώπῳ, λεγέτω, ὅτι Διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου τοῦτο συνέβη· ἐὰν δὲ ἀγαθὸν, Οἰκονομίᾳ Θεοῦ.
Ērōtēse tis tōn Paterōn ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Ean kathēmai en tę̄ erēmǭ, kai elthę̄ barbaros, phoneusai me thelōn, kai dynēthō pros auton, phoneusō auton? Kai eipen ho gerōn; Ouchi; alla parados auton tǭ Theǭ. Hoios gar an peirasmos elthę̄ anthrōpǭ, legetō, hoti Dia tas hamartias mou touto synebē; ean de agathon, Oikonomią Theou.
One of the Fathers asked abba Sisoes, saying, “If I am living in the desert and a barbarian comes wanting to kill me, and I am able to overcome him, shall I kill him?” And the old man said, “No; but hand him over to God. For whatever temptation comes to a man, let him say, ‘This happened because of my sins’; and if something good, ‘By the providence of God.’”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes forbids killing even an attacker, teaching to blame trials on one’s sins and credit good to God.
- An unwritten saying in Migne’s notes (“Where I find you, there I will judge you”) merged into the sentence is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (an unwritten saying from Migne’s notes merged into the sentence): συνέβη ἐὰν "Ενθα σ' ἕλω, κεῖθί σε κρινέω. Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἶπεν· Ἐν οἷς ἂν ὑμᾶς καδὲ → συνέβη· ἐὰν δὲ.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.34 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-34). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-34
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-34) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.35PG 65:403
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην τὸν Θηβαῖον, λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Καὶ λέγει· Τί σοι ἔχω εἰπεῖν; ὅτι εἰς τὴν Καινὴν Γραφὴν ἀναγινώσκω, καὶ εἰς τὴν Παλαιὰν ἀνακάμπτω.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn ton Thēbaion, legōn; Eipe moi rhēma. Kai legei; Ti soi echō eipein? hoti eis tēn Kainēn Graphēn anaginōskō, kai eis tēn Palaian anakamptō.
A brother asked abba Sisoes the Theban, saying, “Tell me a word.” And he says, “What have I to tell you? I read the New Scripture, and I turn back to the Old.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes answers that he reads the New Testament and returns to the Old.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.35 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-35). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-35
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-35) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.36PG 65:403
Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην τὸν τῆς Πέτρας, τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ὁ Θηβαῖος. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ εἰς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν κοιμῶμαι, καὶ εἰς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐγείρομαι.
Ho autos adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn ton tēs Petras, to rhēma ho eipen ho abbas Sisoēs ho Thēbaios. Kai legei ho gerōn; Egō eis tēn hamartian koimōmai, kai eis tēn hamartian egeiromai.
The same brother asked abba Sisoes of Petra about the saying abba Sisoes the Theban had spoken. And the old man says, “I lie down in sin, and I rise up in sin.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes of Petra says he lies down and rises in sin.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.36 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-36). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-36
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-36) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.37PG 65:403
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη τοῦ Θηβαίου, ὅτι ὡς ἀπέλυεν ἡ ἐκκλησία, ἔφευγεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἔλεγον· Δαίμονα ἔχει. Αὐτὸς δὲ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐποίει.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē tou Thēbaiou, hoti hōs apelyen hē ekklēsia, epheugen eis to kellion autou. Kai elegon; Daimona echei. Autos de to ergon tou Theou epoiei.
They said of abba Sisoes the Theban that when the church was dismissed, he fled to his cell. And they said, “He has a demon.” But he was doing the work of God.
John 10:20 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes hurried from church to his cell and was called possessed, though he was doing God’s work.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.37 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-37). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-37
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-37) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.38PG 65:403
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων Τι ποιήσω, ἀββᾶ, ὅτι πέπτωκα; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀνάστα πάλιν. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀνέστην, καὶ πάλιν πέπτωκα. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἀνάστα πάλιν καὶ πάλιν. Εἶπεν οὖν ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἕως πότε; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἕως ἂν καταληφθῇς εἴτε ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ, εἴτε ἐν τῷ πτώματι· ἐν ᾧ γὰρ εὑρίσκεται ἄνθρωπος, ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ πορεύεται
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn Ti poiēsō, abba, hoti peptōka? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Anasta palin. Legei ho adelphos; Anestēn, kai palin peptōka. Kai legei ho gerōn; Anasta palin kai palin. Eipen oun ho adelphos; Heōs pote? Legei ho gerōn; Heōs an katalēphthę̄s eite en tǭ agathǭ, eite en tǭ ptōmati; en hǭ gar heurisketai anthrōpos, en autǭ kai poreuetai
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “What shall I do, abba, for I have fallen?” The old man says to him, “Get up again.” The brother says, “I got up, and I fell again.” And the old man says, “Get up again and again.” So the brother said, “Until when?” The old man says, “Until you are taken either in the good or in the fall; for in whatever a man is found, in that he also departs.”
Prov 24:16 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes tells a fallen brother to keep rising, since one departs in the state in which one is found.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.38 (PG 65:403; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-38). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-38
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-38) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.39PG 65:405
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε γέροντα, λέγων Τί ποιήσω; ὅτι θλίβομαι διὰ τὸ ἐργόχειρον. Ἀγαπῶ γὰρ τὴν σειρὰν, καὶ οὐ δύναμαι αὐτὴν ἐργάσασθαι. Λέγει ὁ γέρων, ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ἔλεγεν, ὡς οὐ χρὴ τὸ ἀναπαῦον ἡμᾶς ἔργον ἐργάζεσθαι.
Adelphos ērōtēse geronta, legōn Ti poiēsō? hoti thlibomai dia to ergocheiron. Agapō gar tēn seiran, kai ou dynamai autēn ergasasthai. Legei ho gerōn, hoti ho abbas Sisoēs elegen, hōs ou chrē to anapauon hēmas ergon ergazesthai.
A brother asked an old man, saying, “What shall I do? For I am troubled about my handiwork. I love making rope, and I cannot do it.” The old man says that abba Sisoes used to say that one ought not to work at the work that pleases us.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes held that one should not do the work one enjoys.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.39 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-39). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-39
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-39) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.40PG 65:405
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης· Ζήτει τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ μὴ ζήτει ποῦ κατοικεῖ.
Eipen ho abbas Sisoēs; Zētei ton Theon, kai mē zētei pou katoikei.
Abba Sisoes said, “Seek God, and do not seek where he dwells.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Seek God himself, not his dwelling place.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong accent): κατοικεί → κατοικεῖ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.40 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-40). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-40
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-40) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.41PG 65:405
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι αἰδὼς καὶ ἀφοβία πολλάκις φέρει τὴν ἁμαρτίαν.
Eipe palin, hoti aidōs kai aphobia pollakis pherei tēn hamartian.
He also said that shame and fearlessness often bring sin.
Notes and citation
Summary: Shame and fearlessness often lead to sin.
- Cf. Sir 4:21.
Extrabiblical texts: Sir 4:21 (Sirach [in RC, EO, ETH canons]; echo)
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.41 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-41). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-41
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-41) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.42PG 65:405
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Τὸ πρᾶγμα ὁ ζητεῖς, τὸ σφόδρα σιωπᾶν, καὶ ταπείνωσις. Γέγραπται γάρ· Μακάριοι οἱ ἐμμένοντες ἐν αὐτῷ. Οὕτω δύνασαι στῆναι.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Ti poiēsō? Legei autǭ; To pragma ho zēteis, to sphodra siōpan, kai tapeinōsis. Gegraptai gar; Makarioi hoi emmenontes en autǭ. Houtō dynasai stēnai.
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “What shall I do?” He says to him, “What you are seeking is to keep strict silence, and humility. For it is written, ‘Blessed are those who wait for him.’ So you can stand.”
Isa 30:18 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Silence and humility, with patient waiting on God, keep a monk standing.
- Quotation of Isa 30:18 (LXX).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.42 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-42). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-42
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-42) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.43PG 65:405
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης· Γενοῦ ἐξουδενωμένος, καὶ τὸ θέλημά σου ὀπίσω βάλε, καὶ γενοῦ ἀμέριμνος· καὶ ἕξεις ἀνάπαυσιν.
Eipen ho abbas Sisoēs; Genou exoudenōmenos, kai to thelēma sou opisō bale, kai genou amerimnos; kai hexeis anapausin.
Abba Sisoes said, “Become despised, put your will behind you, and become free of care; and you will have rest.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Accept contempt, renounce your will, and you will have rest.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.43 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-43). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-43
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-43) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.44PG 65:405
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω διὰ τὰ πάθη; Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· "Εκαστος ἡμῶν πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Ti poiēsō dia ta pathē? Kai legei ho gerōn; "Ekastos hēmōn peirazetai hypo tēs idias epithymias.
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “What shall I do about the passions?” And the old man says, “Each of us is tempted by his own desire.”
Jas 1:14 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Each is tempted by his own desire.
- Quotation of Jas 1:14.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.44 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-44). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-44
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-44) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.45PG 65:405
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην, λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Τί με ἀναγκάζεις λαλῆσαι ἀργῶς; Ἰδοὺ ὁ βλέπεις ποίησον.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Sisoēn, legōn; Eipe moi rhēma. Ho de ephē; Ti me anankazeis lalēsai argōs? Idou ho blepeis poiēson.
A brother asked abba Sisoes, saying, “Tell me a word.” He said, “Why do you force me to speak idly? Look, do what you see.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes tells a brother to imitate what he sees rather than ask for words.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.45 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-45). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-45
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-45) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.46PG 65:405
Απῆλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραὰμ ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη εἰς διακονίαν, καὶ ἐπὶ ἡμέρας οὐκ ἤθελε διακονηθῆναι ὑπὸ ἄλλου τινὸς, λέγων· Ἔχω ἀφεῖναι ἄνθρωπον ἄλλον ποιῆσαι συνήθειαν μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ἐκτὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου; Καὶ οὐ κατεδέξατο ἕως οὗ ἦλθεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ, ὑπομείνας τὸν κόπον.
Apēlthe pote ho abbas Abraam ho mathētēs tou abba Sisoē eis diakonian, kai epi hēmeras ouk ēthele diakonēthēnai hypo allou tinos, legōn; Echō apheinai anthrōpon allon poiēsai synētheian met᾿ emou, ektos tou adelphou mou? Kai ou katedexato heōs hou ēlthen ho mathētēs autou, hypomeinas ton kopon.
Once abba Abraham, the disciple of abba Sisoes, went away on an errand, and for days the old man would not be served by anyone else, saying, “Shall I allow another man to form a familiarity with me, besides my brother?” And he would not accept until his disciple came, enduring the hardship.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes refuses any other helper while his disciple is away.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.46 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-46). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-46
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-46) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.47PG 65:405
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη, ὅτι καθημένου αὐτοῦ, ἔκραξε μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ· Ὦ ταλαιπωρία Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Τί ἔχεις, Πάτερ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἕνα ἄνθρωπον ζητῶ λαλῆσαι, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκω.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē, hoti kathēmenou autou, ekraxe megalę̄ tę̄ phōnę̄; Ō talaipōria Legei autǭ ho mathētēs autou; Ti echeis, Pater? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Hena anthrōpon zētō lalēsai, kai ouch heuriskō.
They said of abba Sisoes that as he was sitting, he cried out with a loud voice, “O wretchedness!” His disciple says to him, “What is wrong, father?” The old man says to him, “I seek one man to speak with, and I do not find him.”
Jer 5:1 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes laments that he cannot find one man to speak with.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: repeated words): Ἕνα Ἔνα ἄνθ ἄνθρωπον → Ἕνα ἄνθρωπον.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.47 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-47). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-47
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-47) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.48PG 65:405
Ἐξῆλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, εἰς τὸ ἐξώτερον ὄρος τῆς Θηβαΐδος, καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐκεῖ. Ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ Μελιτιανοὶ οἰκοῦντες ἐν τῷ Καλαμῶνι τοῦ Ἀρσενοΐτου. Τινὲς δὲ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸ ἐξώτερον ὄρος, ἐπεθύμησαν αὐτὸν θεάσασθαι· ἔλεγον δέ· Τί ποιήσομεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος γάρ εἰσι Μελιτιανοί. Οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ὁ γέρων οὐ βλάπτεται ἐξ αὐτῶν· ἡμεῖς δὲ μήποτε θέλοντες συντυχεῖν τῷ γέροντι, ἐμπέσωμεν εἰς πειρασμὸν τῶν αἱρετικῶν. Καὶ ἕνεκεν τοῦ μὴ συναντῆσαι τοῖς αἱρετικοῖς, οὐκ ἀπῆλθον ἰδεῖν τὸν γέροντα.
Exēlthe pote ho abbas Sisoēs ek tou orous tou abba Antōniou, eis to exōteron oros tēs Thēbaïdos, kai ǭkēsen ekei. Ēsan de ekei Melitianoi oikountes en tǭ Kalamōni tou Arsenoïtou. Tines de akousantes hoti exēlthen eis to exōteron oros, epethymēsan auton theasasthai; elegon de; Ti poiēsomen eis to oros gar eisi Melitianoi. Oidamen de hoti ho gerōn ou blaptetai ex autōn; hēmeis de mēpote thelontes syntychein tǭ geronti, empesōmen eis peirasmon tōn hairetikōn. Kai heneken tou mē synantēsai tois hairetikois, ouk apēlthon idein ton geronta.
Once abba Sisoes went out from the mountain of abba Antony to the outer mountain of the Thebaid, and lived there. There were Meletians living there at Calamon in the Arsinoite district. Some, hearing that he had gone out to the outer mountain, wanted to see him; but they said, “What shall we do? For there are Meletians on the mountain. We know that the old man is not harmed by them; but we, wanting to meet the old man, may fall into temptation from the heretics.” And so as not to meet the heretics, they did not go to see the old man.
Notes and citation
Summary: Monks forgo visiting Sisoes rather than risk contact with Meletian schismatics.
- The Meletians were a schismatic church in Egypt from the early fourth century; the saying calls them heretics.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.48 (PG 65:405; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-48). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-48
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-48) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.49PG 65:405–407
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη, ὅτι ἡσθένησε· καὶ καθημένων γερόντων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐλάλησέ τισι. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Τί βλέπεις, ἀββᾶ; Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ὁρῶ τινας ἐλθόντας ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ, καὶ παρακαλῶ αὐτοὺς ἵνα ἐάσωσί με μικρὸν μετανοῆσαι. Λέγει αὐτῷ εἷς τῶν γερόντων· Καὶ ἐὰν ἐάσωσί σε, ἀπάρτι δύνασαι χρησιμεῦσαι εἰς μετάνοιαν Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ δὲ οὐ δύναμαι ποιῆσαι, ἀλλὰ στενάζω ἐπάνω τῆς ψυχῆς μου μικρὸν, καὶ ἀρκεῖ μοι.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē, hoti hēsthenēse; kai kathēmenōn gerontōn pros auton elalēse tisi. Legousin autǭ; Ti blepeis, abba? Kai legei autois; Horō tinas elthontas ep᾿ eme, kai parakalō autous hina easōsi me mikron metanoēsai. Legei autǭ heis tōn gerontōn; Kai ean easōsi se, aparti dynasai chrēsimeusai eis metanoian Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei de ou dynamai poiēsai, alla stenazō epanō tēs psychēs mou mikron, kai arkei moi.
They said of abba Sisoes that he fell ill; and while old men were sitting with him, he spoke with some beings. They say to him, “What do you see, abba?” And he says to them, “I see some who have come for me, and I beg them to let me repent a little.” One of the old men says to him, “And if they let you, can you now be of use for repentance?” The old man says to him, “Even if I cannot do it, I groan over my soul a little, and that is enough for me.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Dying, Sisoes asks the angels for time to repent, content even to groan a little over his soul.
- A passage of Migne’s notes (on the agraphon “In whatever I find you, in that I will judge you,” and on Ezekiel) inside the sentence is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong accent; passage of Migne’s notes merged into the sentence): Ἐν ᾧ γὰρ εὕρω σε, φησὶν, ἐν τούτῳ καὶ κρίνω σε. Εἰδότες ὅτι ἐὰν μίαν ἡμέραν ἀμελήσωμεν, οὐ διὰ τὸν παρελθόντα χρόνον ἡμῖν συγχωρήσει, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀμέλειαν ἀγανακτήσει καθ' ἡμῶν. Οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῷ Ἰεζεκιήλ ἠκούσαμεν. → ; τισῖ → τισι.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.49 (PG 65:405–407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-49). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-49
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-49) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.50PG 65:407
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη, ὅτι ὅτε ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ Κλύσμα, ἠσθένησε· καὶ καθημένου αὐτοῦ μετὰ τοῦ μαθητοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν κέλλαν, ἰδοὺ κροῦσμα γέγονεν εἰς τὴν θύραν. Καὶ νοήσας ὁ γέρων, λέγει τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ Ἀβραάμ· Εἰπὲ τῷ κρούσαντι Ἐγὼ Σισόης εἰς τὸ ὄρος, ἐγὼ Σισόης εἰς τὸ χαράδριον. Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē, hoti hote ēlthen eis to Klysma, ēsthenēse; kai kathēmenou autou meta tou mathētou autou eis tēn kellan, idou krousma gegonen eis tēn thyran. Kai noēsas ho gerōn, legei tǭ mathētę̄ autou Abraam; Eipe tǭ krousanti Egō Sisoēs eis to oros, egō Sisoēs eis to charadrion. Ho de akousas aphanēs egeneto.
They said of abba Sisoes that when he came to Clysma he fell ill; and as he sat with his disciple in the cell, look, there was a knock at the door. And the old man, perceiving, says to his disciple Abraham, “Tell the one who knocked, ‘I am Sisoes on the mountain; I am Sisoes on my bed.’” Hearing this, he vanished.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes drives off a demon at the door by declaring himself the same Sisoes, well or ill.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.50 (PG 65:407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-50). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-50
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-50) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.51PG 65:407
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης ὁ Θηβαῖος τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ· Εἰπέ μοι τί βλέπεις εἰς ἐμὲ, κἀγώ σοι λέγω τί βλέπω εἰς σέ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Σὺ καλὸς τῷ νῷ, καὶ σκληρὸς μικρόν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων• Σὺ καλὸς εἶ, ἀλλὰ χαῦνος τῷ νῷ.
Eipen ho abbas Sisoēs ho Thēbaios tǭ mathētę̄ autou; Eipe moi ti blepeis eis eme, kagō soi legō ti blepō eis se. Legei autǭ ho mathētēs autou; Sy kalos tǭ nǭ, kai sklēros mikron. Legei autǭ ho gerōn• Sy kalos ei, alla chaunos tǭ nǭ.
Abba Sisoes the Theban said to his disciple, “Tell me what you see in me, and I will tell you what I see in you.” His disciple says to him, “You are good in mind, and a little harsh.” The old man says to him, “You are good, but slack in mind.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Sisoes and his disciple tell each other their faults.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.51 (PG 65:407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-51). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-51
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-51) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
105.52PG 65:407
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη τοῦ Θηβαίου, ὅτε οὐκ ἤσθιεν ἄρτον. Καὶ εἰς τὴν ἑορτὴν τοῦ Πάσχα ἔβαλον αὐτῷ μετάνοιαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ, ἵνα φάγῃ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἕν ἔχω ποιῆσαι· ἢ ἄρτον ἔχω μεταλαβεῖν, ἢ ὅσα ἐποιήσατε φαγία. Οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· "Ἄρτον μόνον φάγε. Ὁ δε ἐποίησεν οὕτως.
Elegon peri tou abba Sisoē tou Thēbaiou, hote ouk ēsthien arton. Kai eis tēn heortēn tou Pascha ebalon autǭ metanoian hoi adelphoi, hina phagę̄ met᾿ autōn. Kai apokritheis eipen autois; Hen echō poiēsai; ē arton echō metalabein, ē hosa epoiēsate phagia. Hoi de eipon autǭ; "Arton monon phage. Ho de epoiēsen houtōs.
They said of abba Sisoes the Theban that he did not eat bread. And at the feast of Easter the brothers made a prostration to him that he might eat with them. And he answered them, “I can do one thing: either take bread, or the dishes you have made.” They said to him, “Eat only bread.” And he did so.
Notes and citation
Summary: At Easter Sisoes agrees to eat bread, but nothing more, with the brothers.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 105.52 (PG 65:407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-52). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/105-52
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-105-52) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 106
106.1PG 65:407
Παρέβαλέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Σιλουανὸς καὶ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίας εἰς μοναστήριον· καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοὺς γεύσασθαι μικρὸν πρὸ τοῦ ὁδεῦσαι. Καὶ ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν, εὖρεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ ὕδωρ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, καὶ ἤθελε πιεῖν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ζαχαρία, νηστεία σήμερον Ὁ δὲ λέγει· Οὐκ ἐφάγομεν, Πάτερ; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἐκεῖνο τὸ, ἐφάγομεν τῆς ἀγάπης ἦν· ἡμεῖς δὲ τὴν ἑαυτῶν νηστείαν κρατήσωμεν, τέκνον.
Parebale pote ho abbas Silouanos kai ho mathētēs autou Zacharias eis monastērion; kai epoiēsan autous geusasthai mikron pro tou hodeusai. Kai exelthontōn autōn, euren ho mathētēs autou hydōr en tę̄ hodǭ, kai ēthele piein. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Zacharia, nēsteia sēmeron Ho de legei; Ouk ephagomen, Pater? Legei ho gerōn; Ekeino to, ephagomen tēs agapēs ēn; hēmeis de tēn heautōn nēsteian kratēsōmen, teknon.
Once abba Silvanus and his disciple Zacharias visited a monastery; and they made them eat a little before setting out. When they had gone out, his disciple found water on the road and wanted to drink. And the old man says to him, “Zacharias, it is a fast day today.” He says, “Did we not eat, father?” The old man says, “That eating was for love’s sake; but let us keep our own fast, child.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus explains that eating out of courtesy does not end their own fast.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.1 (PG 65:407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.2PG 65:407
Ἡ αὐτὸς καθεζόμενός ποτε μετὰ ἀδελφῶν, ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκστάσει, καὶ πίπτει ἐπὶ πρόσωπον· καὶ μετὰ πολὺ ἀναστὰς ἔκλαιε. Καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ, λέγοντες· Τί ἔχεις, Πάτερ; Ὁ δὲ ἐσιώπα καὶ ἔκλαιεν. Ἀναγκαζόντων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰπεῖν, εἶπεν· Ἐγὼ εἰς τὴν κρίσιν ἡρπάγην· καὶ εἶδον πολλοὺς τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν ἀπερχομένους εἰς κόλασιν, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν κοσμικῶν ἀπερχομένους εἰς βασιλείαν. Καὶ ἐπένθει ὁ γέρων, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἠναγκάζετο ἐξελθεῖν ἔσκεπε τῷ κουκουλίῳ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, λέγων· Τί θέλω ἰδεῖν τὸ φῶς τοῦτο τὸ πρόσκαιρον, καὶ οὐδὲν ἔχον ὄφελος;
Hē autos kathezomenos pote meta adelphōn, egeneto en ekstasei, kai piptei epi prosōpon; kai meta poly anastas eklaie. Kai parekalesan auton hoi adelphoi, legontes; Ti echeis, Pater? Ho de esiōpa kai eklaien. Anankazontōn de autōn eipein, eipen; Egō eis tēn krisin hērpagēn; kai eidon pollous tou genous hēmōn aperchomenous eis kolasin, kai pollous tōn kosmikōn aperchomenous eis basileian. Kai epenthei ho gerōn, kai ouk ēthelen exelthein ek tou kelliou autou. Ei de kai ēnankazeto exelthein eskepe tǭ koukouliǭ to prosōpon autou, legōn; Ti thelō idein to phōs touto to proskairon, kai ouden echon ophelos?
Once the same was sitting with the brothers, and he fell into ecstasy and fell on his face; and after a long time he got up and wept. And the brothers begged him, saying, “What is wrong, father?” But he kept silent and wept. When they pressed him to speak, he said, “I was carried off to the judgment; and I saw many of our kind going away to punishment, and many people of the world going away to the kingdom.” And the old man mourned, and would not go out of his cell. And if he was forced to go out, he covered his face with his hood, saying, “Why do I want to see this temporary light, which has no profit?”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Matt 21:31 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: After a vision of many monks condemned and many laymen saved, Silvanus mourns and hides his face from the world.
- A variant passage from Migne’s notes at the end is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: stray letter; OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) and a variant form of the saying from Migne’s notes): ἐγέ νετο → ἐγένετο; τοῦ Ο γένους → τοῦ γένους; Τί θέλος ἰδεῖν → Τί θέλω ἰδεῖν; ΑΙ. Πατέρων. ΑΙ. φαγεῖν. ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ. τις τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων, ἡνίκα τῆς κέλλης προῄει, κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐτίθει, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀτενίσαι (ΑΙ. ἐνατενίσαι) τὴν αὐγὴν τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἐπερωτώμενος τὴν αἰτίαν ἀπεκρίνατο· Τί θέλω τοῦτο → .
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.2 (PG 65:407; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-2
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-2) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.3PG 65:409
"Αλλοτε εἰσῆλθεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίας, καὶ εὗρεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐκστάσει, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἡπλωμέναι. Καὶ κλείσας τὴν θύραν ἐξῆλθε. Καὶ ἐλθὼν περὶ ὥραν ἕκτην καὶ ἐννάτην, εὖρεν αὐτὸν οὕτως. Καὶ περὶ ὥραν δεκάτην ἔκρουσε· καὶ εἰσελθὼν, εὖρεν αὐτὸν ἡσυχάζοντα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ἔχεις σήμερον, Πάτερ; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἠσθένησα σήμερον, τέκνον. Ὁ δὲ κρατήσας τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, ἔλεγεν· Οὐ μὴ σε ἑάσω, ἐὰν μὴ εἴπῃς μοι τί εἶδες. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἡρπάγην, καὶ εἶδον τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἱστάμην ἕως ἄρτι, καὶ νῦν ἀπελύθην.
"Allote eisēlthen ho mathētēs autou Zacharias, kai heuren auton en ekstasei, kai hai cheires autou eis ton ouranon hēplōmenai. Kai kleisas tēn thyran exēlthe. Kai elthōn peri hōran hektēn kai ennatēn, euren auton houtōs. Kai peri hōran dekatēn ekrouse; kai eiselthōn, euren auton hēsychazonta, kai legei autǭ; Ti echeis sēmeron, Pater? Ho de eipen; Ēsthenēsa sēmeron, teknon. Ho de kratēsas tous podas autou, elegen; Ou mē se heasō, ean mē eipę̄s moi ti eides. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Egō eis ton ouranon hērpagēn, kai eidon tēn doxan tou Theou, kai ekei histamēn heōs arti, kai nyn apelythēn.
Another time his disciple Zacharias went in and found him in ecstasy, with his hands stretched out to heaven. And closing the door he went out. And coming back around the sixth and the ninth hour, he found him the same. And around the tenth hour he knocked; and going in he found him at rest, and says to him, “What is wrong with you today, father?” He said, “I was ill today, child.” But he seized his feet and said, “I will not let you go unless you tell me what you saw.” The old man says to him, “I was carried off to heaven, and I saw the glory of God, and I stood there until now, and now I have been released.”
2 Cor 12:2 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus, found in ecstasy for hours, says he was caught up to see the glory of God.
- Cf. 2 Cor 12:2–4.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray letter): ἐξα ἦλθε → ἐξῆλθε.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.3 (PG 65:409; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-3
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-3) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.4PG 65:409
Καθεζομένου ποτὲ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σιλουανοῦ εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινὰ, ἀπῆλθεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίας εἰς διακονίαν, καὶ λέγει τῷ γέροντι· Ἀπόλυσον τὸ ὕδωρ, καὶ πότισον τὸν κῆπον. Ὁ δὲ ἐξελθὼν ἔσκεπε τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῦ τῷ κουκουλίῳ, καὶ μόνον τὰ ἴχνη αὐτοῦ ἔβλεπε. Παρέβαλε δὲ ἀδελφὸς αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ μακρόθεν, κατενόει τί ἐποίησεν. Εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν, εἶπεν· Εἰπέ μοι, ἀββᾶ, τί τὸ πρόσωπόν σου κατεσκέπασας τῷ κουκουλίῳ, καὶ οὕτως τὸν κῆπον ἐπότιζες; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τέκνον, ἵνα μὴ ἴδωσιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὰ δένδρα, καὶ ἀπασχοληθῇ ὁ νοῦς μου ἀπὸ τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτοῦ εἰς αὐτά.
Kathezomenou pote tou abba Silouanou eis to oros to Sina, apēlthen ho mathētēs autou Zacharias eis diakonian, kai legei tǭ geronti; Apolyson to hydōr, kai potison ton kēpon. Ho de exelthōn eskepe tēn opsin autou tǭ koukouliǭ, kai monon ta ichnē autou eblepe. Parebale de adelphos autę̄ tę̄ hōrą. kai idōn auton apo makrothen, katenoei ti epoiēsen. Eiselthōn de ho adelphos pros auton, eipen; Eipe moi, abba, ti to prosōpon sou kateskepasas tǭ koukouliǭ, kai houtōs ton kēpon epotizes? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Teknon, hina mē idōsin hoi ophthalmoi mou ta dendra, kai apascholēthę̄ ho nous mou apo tēs ergasias autou eis auta.
Once when abba Silvanus was living on Mount Sinai, his disciple Zacharias went away on an errand, and says to the old man, “Let out the water and water the garden.” He went out and covered his face with his hood, and looked only at his footsteps. A brother came by at that hour, and seeing him from a distance, observed what he was doing. The brother went in to him and said, “Tell me, abba, why did you cover your face with your hood and water the garden like that?” The old man says to him, “Child, so that my eyes may not see the trees, and my mind be distracted from its work by them.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus waters his garden with his face hooded so as not to be distracted by the trees.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.4 (PG 65:409; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-4
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-4) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.5PG 65:409
Παρέβαλέ τις ἀδελφὸς τῷ ἀββᾷ Σιλουανῷ εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινά· καὶ ἰδὼν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἐργαζομένους, εἶπε τῷ γέροντι· Μὴ ἐργάζεσθε τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν ἀπολλυμένην. Μαρία γὰρ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο. Λέγει ὁ γέρων τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ· Ζαχαρία, δὸς τῷ ἀδελφῷ βιβλίον, καὶ βάλε αὐτὸν εἰς κελλίον μηδὲν ἔχον. Ὅτε οὖν ἐγένετο ἡ ὥρα τῆς ἐννάτης, προσεῖχε τῇ θύρᾳ, εἱ ἄρα πέμπουσι καλέσαι αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν. Ὡς δὲ οὐδεὶς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν, ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὐκ ἔφαγον οἱ ἀδελφοὶ σήμερον, ἀββᾶ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Ναί. Εἶπε δὲ Διατί οὐκ ἐκαλέσατέ με; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐπειδὴ ἄνθρωπος πνευματικὸς εἶ, καὶ οὐ χρείαν ἔχεις τῆς βρώσεως ταύτης· ἡμεῖς δὲ σαρκικοὶ ὄντες θέλομεν φαγεῖν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐργαζόμεθα· σὺ δὲ τὴν καλὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξω, ἀναγινώσκων ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, καὶ οὐ θέλεις φαγεῖν σαρκικὴν βρῶσιν. Καὶ ὡς ἤκουσε ταῦτα, ἔβαλε μετάνοιαν, λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ἀββᾶ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πάντως χρείαν ἔχει καὶ ἡ Μαρία τῆς Μάρθας· διὰ γὰρ τῆς Μάρθας καὶ ἡ Μαρία ἐγκωμιάζεται.
Parebale tis adelphos tǭ abbą Silouanǭ eis to oros to Sina; kai idōn tous adelphous ergazomenous, eipe tǭ geronti; Mē ergazesthe tēn brōsin tēn apollymenēn. Maria gar tēn agathēn merida exelexato. Legei ho gerōn tǭ mathētę̄ autou; Zacharia, dos tǭ adelphǭ biblion, kai bale auton eis kellion mēden echon. Hote oun egeneto hē hōra tēs ennatēs, proseiche tę̄ thyrą, hei ara pempousi kalesai auton eis to phagein. Hōs de oudeis ekalesen auton, anastas ēlthe pros ton geronta, kai legei autǭ; Ouk ephagon hoi adelphoi sēmeron, abba? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Nai. Eipe de Diati ouk ekalesate me? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Epeidē anthrōpos pneumatikos ei, kai ou chreian echeis tēs brōseōs tautēs; hēmeis de sarkikoi ontes thelomen phagein, kai dia touto ergazometha; sy de tēn kalēn merida exelexō, anaginōskōn holēn tēn hēmeran, kai ou theleis phagein sarkikēn brōsin. Kai hōs ēkouse tauta, ebale metanoian, legōn; Synchōrēson moi, abba. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Pantōs chreian echei kai hē Maria tēs Marthas; dia gar tēs Marthas kai hē Maria enkōmiazetai.
A brother visited abba Silvanus on Mount Sinai; and seeing the brothers working, he said to the old man, “Do not labor for the food that perishes. For Mary has chosen the good portion.” The old man says to his disciple, “Zacharias, give the brother a book, and put him in a cell with nothing in it.” When the ninth hour came, he kept watching the door to see whether they would send to call him to eat. When no one called him, he got up and came to the old man and says to him, “Have the brothers not eaten today, abba?” The old man says to him, “Yes.” He said, “Why did you not call me?” The old man says to him, “Because you are a spiritual man and do not need this food; but we, being fleshly, want to eat, and that is why we work; but you have chosen the good portion, reading all day, and do not want to eat fleshly food.” When he heard this, he made a prostration, saying, “Forgive me, abba.” The old man says to him, “Mary certainly needs Martha too; for it is through Martha that Mary is praised.”
John 6:27 (quotation, high confidence) · Luke 10:42 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus teaches a visitor who scorned manual work that Mary needs Martha.
- Quotations of John 6:27 and Luke 10:42.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: breathing lost): μοι, άββᾶ → μοι, ἀββᾶ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.5 (PG 65:409; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-5
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-5) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.6PG 65:409
Ἠρώτησάν ποτε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σιλουανὸν, λέγοντες· Ποίαν πολιτείαν εἰργάσω, Πάτερ ἵνα λάβῃς τὴν φρόνησιν ταύτην; Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη· Οὐδέποτε ἀφῆκα εἰς τὴν καρδίαν μου λογισμὸν παροργίζοντα τὸν Θεόν.
Ērōtēsan pote ton abban Silouanon, legontes; Poian politeian eirgasō, Pater hina labę̄s tēn phronēsin tautēn? Kai apekrithē; Oudepote aphēka eis tēn kardian mou logismon parorgizonta ton Theon.
Once they asked abba Silvanus, saying, “What way of life did you practice, father, to receive this wisdom?” And he answered, “I have never let into my heart a thought that angers God.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus never admitted a thought that would anger God.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.6 (PG 65:409; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-6
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-6) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.7PG 65:411
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σιλουανοῦ, ὅτι ἐκάθισεν εἰς κελλίον κρυφῆ, ἔχων μικρὰ ἐρεβίνθια, καὶ ἐποίησεν εἰς αὐτὰ ἔργον ἑκατὸν κόσκινα. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος ἦλθεν ἀπὸ Αἰγύπτου, ἔχων ὄνον μεστὸν ἄρτων· καὶ κρούσας εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ ἔθηκε. Λαβὼν οὖν ὁ γέρων τὰ κόσκινα, ἐγέμισε τὸν ὄνον, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτόν.
Elegon peri tou abba Silouanou, hoti ekathisen eis kellion kryphē, echōn mikra erebinthia, kai epoiēsen eis auta ergon hekaton koskina. Kai idou anthrōpos ēlthen apo Aigyptou, echōn onon meston artōn; kai krousas eis to kellion autou ethēke. Labōn oun ho gerōn ta koskina, egemise ton onon, kai apelysen auton.
They said of abba Silvanus that he lived secretly in a cell, having a few chickpeas, and he made with them the work of a hundred sieves. And look, a man came from Egypt with a donkey full of loaves; and knocking at his cell he set them down. So the old man took the sieves, loaded the donkey, and sent him away.
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus gives a man his work in return for a donkey-load of bread.
- The first sentence is obscure in the Greek (perhaps he worked for a hundred measures with a few chickpeas to live on); translated literally.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray letter): ἄνω θρωπος → ἄνθρωπος; ἄρι των → ἄρτων.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.7 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-7
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-7) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.8PG 65:411
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σιλουανοῦ, ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίας χωρὶς αὐτοῦ· καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, ἔστρεψε τὸν φραγμὸν τοῦ κήπου, καὶ μείζονα αὐτὸν ἐποίησε. Μαθὼν οὖν ὁ γέρων, ἔλαβε τὸ μηλωτάριον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξῆλθε, καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· Εὔξασθε περὶ ἐμοῦ. Οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν, ἔπεσον εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, λέγοντες· Εἰπὲ ἡμῖν τί ἐστιν ὁ ἔχεις, Πάτερ. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔφη· Οὐκ εἰσέρχομαι ἔσω, οὐ καταβαίνει τὸ μηλωτάριον ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ἕως οὗ ἐνέγκητε τὸν φραγμὸν εἰς τὸν πρῶτον αὐτοῦ τόπον. Οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔστρεψαν τὸν φραγμὸν, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν. Καὶ οὕτως ὁ γέρων ὑπέστρεψε εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ.
Elegon peri tou abba Silouanou, hoti exēlthen ho mathētēs autou Zacharias chōris autou; kai labōn tous adelphous, estrepse ton phragmon tou kēpou, kai meizona auton epoiēse. Mathōn oun ho gerōn, elabe to mēlōtarion autou, kai exēlthe, kai legei tois adelphois; Euxasthe peri emou. Hoi de idontes auton, epeson eis tous podas autou, legontes; Eipe hēmin ti estin ho echeis, Pater. Ho de pros autous ephē; Ouk eiserchomai esō, ou katabainei to mēlōtarion ap᾿ emou, heōs hou enenkēte ton phragmon eis ton prōton autou topon. Hoi de palin estrepsan ton phragmon, kai epoiēsan auton hōs ēn. Kai houtōs ho gerōn hypestrepse eis to kellion autou.
They said of abba Silvanus that his disciple Zacharias went out without him; and taking the brothers, he moved the fence of the garden and made it larger. When the old man learned it, he took his sheepskin and went out, and says to the brothers, “Pray for me.” Seeing him, they fell at his feet, saying, “Tell us what is wrong, father.” He said to them, “I will not go in, the sheepskin will not come off me, until you put the fence back in its first place.” And they moved the fence back again and made it as it was. And so the old man returned to his cell.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus makes his monks move the garden fence back rather than enlarge their holdings.
- Variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray mark; variant notes (“Al.”) inside a word): ἐξῆλθεν. ὁ μαθητὴς → ἐξῆλθεν ὁ μαθητὴς; μηλωΑΙ. ὑπέρ. ΑΙ. σου. ἄνθρωπος. τάριον → μηλωτάριον.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.8 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-8
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-8) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.9PG 65:411
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σιλουανός· Ἐγὼ δοῦλός είμι,. καὶ ὁ κύριός μου εἶπέ μοι· Ἐργάζου τὸ ἔργον μου κἀγώ σε τρέφω· πόθεν δὲ, μὴ ζήτει· εἴτε ἔχω, εἴτε κλέπτω, εἴτε δανείζομαι, σὺ μὴ ζήτει· ἐργάζου μόνον, καὶ τρέφω σε. Ἐγὼ οὖν ἐὰν ἐργάζωμαι, ἐκ τοῦ μισθοῦ μου ἐσθίω· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἐργάζωμαι, ἀγάπην ἐσθίω.
Eipen ho abbas Silouanos; Egō doulos eimi,. kai ho kyrios mou eipe moi; Ergazou to ergon mou kagō se trephō; pothen de, mē zētei; eite echō, eite kleptō, eite daneizomai, sy mē zētei; ergazou monon, kai trephō se. Egō oun ean ergazōmai, ek tou misthou mou esthiō; ean de mē ergazōmai, agapēn esthiō.
Abba Silvanus said, “I am a slave, and my master said to me, ‘Do my work, and I will feed you; but do not ask from where; whether I have it, or steal it, or borrow it, do not ask; only work, and I will feed you.’ So if I work, I eat from my wages; and if I do not work, I eat alms.”
Matt 6:33 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus works as God’s slave and leaves his feeding to his master.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.9 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-9
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-9) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.10PG 65:411
Εἶπε πάλιν· Οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐκείνῳ, ὃς ἔχει τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μεῖζον τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτοῦ.
Eipe palin; Ouai tǭ anthrōpǭ ekeinǭ, hos echei to onoma autou meizon tēs ergasias autou.
He also said, “Woe to that man whose name is greater than his work.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Woe to one whose reputation exceeds his deeds.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.10 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-10
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-10) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.11PG 65:411
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Μωϋσῆς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σιλουανὸν, λέγων· Δύναται ἄνθρωπος καθ' ἡμέραν βάλλειν ἀρχήν; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν ἐστιν ἐργάτης δύναται καὶ καθ' ὥραν βάλλειν ἀρχήν.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Mōÿsēs ton abban Silouanon, legōn; Dynatai anthrōpos kath' hēmeran ballein archēn? Kai eipen ho gerōn; Ean estin ergatēs dynatai kai kath' hōran ballein archēn.
Abba Moses asked abba Silvanus, saying, “Can a man make a beginning every day?” And the old man said, “If he is a worker, he can make a beginning even every hour.”
Notes and citation
Summary: A true worker can begin anew every hour.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.11 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-11
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-11) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
106.12PG 65:411
Εἶπέ τις τῶν Πατέρων, ὅτι συνέτυχε ποτέ τις τῷ ἀββᾷ Σιλουανῷ, καὶ ἑωρακὼς αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ τὸ σῶμα ὡς ἀγγέλου λάμψαν, ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον. Ἔλεγε δὲ καὶ ἄλλους τινὰς ἐσχηκέναι τοῦτο τὸ χάρισμα.
Eipe tis tōn Paterōn, hoti synetyche pote tis tǭ abbą Silouanǭ, kai heōrakōs autou to prosōpon kai to sōma hōs angelou lampsan, epesen epi prosōpon. Elege de kai allous tinas eschēkenai touto to charisma.
One of the Fathers said that someone once met abba Silvanus, and seeing his face and body shining like an angel, fell on his face. And he said that some others too had had this gift.
Acts 6:15 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus’s face and body shone like an angel’s.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): πρόσ ωπον καὶ → πρόσωπον καὶ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 106.12 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/106-12
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-106-12) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 107
107.1PG 65:411
Ἦλθέ ποτε ἄρχων ἰδεῖν τὸν ἀββᾶν Σίμωνα. Ο δὲ ἀκούσας ἔλαβε τὴν ζώνην, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς φοίνικα καθαρίσαι αὐτόν. Οἱ δὲ ἐλθόντες, ἔκραξαν· Γέρον, ποῦ ἔστιν ὁ ἀναχωρητής; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε ἀναχωρητής. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες ἀνεχώρησαν.
Ēlthe pote archōn idein ton abban Simōna. O de akousas elabe tēn zōnēn, kai apēlthen eis phoinika katharisai auton. Hoi de elthontes, ekraxan; Geron, pou estin ho anachōrētēs? Ho de eipen; Ouk estin hōde anachōrētēs. Kai akousantes anechōrēsan.
Once a magistrate came to see abba Simon. Hearing of it, he took his belt and went up a palm tree to clean it. When they came, they shouted, “Old man, where is the anchorite?” He said, “There is no anchorite here.” And hearing this, they went away.
Notes and citation
Summary: Simon climbs a palm tree and tells a visiting magistrate there is no anchorite there.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 107.1 (PG 65:411; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/107-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/107-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-107-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
107.2PG 65:411–413
Ἄλλοτε πάλιν ἦλθεν ἄλλος ἄρχων ἰδεῖν αὐτόν. Καὶ προλαβόντες οἱ κληρικοὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· Ἀ̓ββᾶ, ἑτοίμασον, ὅτι ὁ ἄρχων ἀκούων περὶ σοῦ, ἔρχεται εὐλογηθῆναι παρὰ σοῦ. Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Ναὶ, ἐγὼ ἑτοιμάζω ἑαυτόν. Φορέσας οὖν τὸ κεντόνιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαβὼν ἄρτον καὶ τυρὸν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ ἀναστὰς εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα ἐκάθισεν ἐσθίων. Καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ ἄρχων μετὰ τῆς τάξεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν, ἐξουθένησαν αὐτὸν, λέγοντες Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀναχωρητὴς περὶ οὗ ἠκούσαμεν; Καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέκαμψαν.
Allote palin ēlthen allos archōn idein auton. Kai prolabontes hoi klērikoi eipon autǭ; Abba, hetoimason, hoti ho archōn akouōn peri sou, erchetai eulogēthēnai para sou. Ho de eipe; Nai, egō hetoimazō heauton. Phoresas oun to kentonion autou, kai labōn arton kai tyron en tais chersin autou anastas eis ton pylōna ekathisen esthiōn. Kai elthōn ho archōn meta tēs taxeōs autou, kai idontes auton, exouthenēsan auton, legontes Houtos estin ho anachōrētēs peri hou ēkousamen? Kai eutheōs anekampsan.
Another time another magistrate came to see him. And the clergy went ahead and said to him, “Abba, get ready, for the magistrate, hearing about you, is coming to be blessed by you.” He said, “Yes, I will get myself ready.” So putting on his patchwork garment and taking bread and cheese in his hands, he went and sat at the gate eating. When the magistrate came with his retinue and they saw him, they despised him, saying, “Is this the anchorite we heard about?” And at once they turned back.
Notes and citation
Summary: Simon sits eating bread and cheese at his gate so that a visiting magistrate despises him and leaves.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter): ἡἠκούσαμεν → ἠκούσαμεν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 107.2 (PG 65:411–413; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/107-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/107-2
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-107-2) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 108
108.1PG 65:413
Ἠρώτησέ τις τὸν ἀββᾶν Σώπατρον λέγων· Δός μοι ἐντολὴν, ἀββᾶ, καὶ φυλάξω αὐτήν. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Μὴ εἰσέλθῃ γυνὴ εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου, καὶ μὴ ἀναγνώσῃς ἀπόκρυφα· καὶ μὴ ἐκζητήσῃς περὶ τῆς εἰκόνος· τοῦτο γὰρ οὐκ ἔστιν αἵρεσις, ἀλλ᾿ ἰδιωτεία καὶ φιλονεικία ἀμφοτέρων τῶν μερῶν· ἀδύνατον γὰρ καταληφθῆναι τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο ὑπὸ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως.
Ērōtēse tis ton abban Sōpatron legōn; Dos moi entolēn, abba, kai phylaxō autēn. Ho de eipen autǭ; Mē eiselthę̄ gynē eis to kellion sou, kai mē anagnōsę̄s apokrypha; kai mē ekzētēsę̄s peri tēs eikonos; touto gar ouk estin hairesis, all᾿ idiōteia kai philoneikia amphoterōn tōn merōn; adynaton gar katalēphthēnai to pragma touto hypo pasēs tēs ktiseōs.
Someone asked abba Sopatrus, saying, “Give me a commandment, abba, and I will keep it.” He said to him, “Let no woman come into your cell, and do not read apocryphal books; and do not investigate about the image; for this is not heresy, but ignorance and contentiousness on both sides; for this matter cannot be grasped by all creation.”
Gen 1:27 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Sopatrus forbids women in the cell, apocryphal books, and disputes about the image of God.
- “The image” is probably the image of God in man, disputed in the Anthropomorphite controversy of ca. 400; Sopatrus treats the dispute as ignorance on both sides, not heresy.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 108.1 (PG 65:413; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/108-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/108-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-108-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.