Sayings of the Desert Fathers (alphabetical collection) 37.1–42.7
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 37
37.1PG 65:187
Ὁ̔ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τῆς Φέρμης ἐκτήσατο τρία βιβλία καλά· καὶ παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Μακαρίῳ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, ὅτι Ἔχω τρία βιβλία καλὰ, καὶ ὠφελοῦμαι ἐξ αὐτῶν· καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ κιχρῶνται αὐτὰ, καὶ ὠφελοῦνται. Εἰπὲ οὖν μοι, τί ὤφειλον ποιῆσαι; κατάσχω αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν καὶ τὴν τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὠφέλειαν, ἢ πωλήσω αὐτὰ καὶ δώσω πτωχοῖς; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ γέρων εἶπε· Καλαὶ μὲν αἱ πράξεις, ἀλλὰ μείζων πάντων ἡ ἀκτημοσύνη ἐστί. Καὶ τοῦτο ἀκούσας, ἀπελθὼν ἐπώλησεν αὐτὰ, καὶ διέδωκε πτωχοῖς.
Ho abbas Theodōros ho tēs Phermēs ektēsato tria biblia kala; kai parebale tǭ abbą Makariǭ, kai legei autǭ, hoti Echō tria biblia kala, kai ōpheloumai ex autōn; kai hoi adelphoi kichrōntai auta, kai ōphelountai. Eipe oun moi, ti ōpheilon poiēsai? kataschō auta eis tēn emēn kai tēn tōn adelphōn ōpheleian, ē pōlēsō auta kai dōsō ptōchois? Kai apokritheis ho gerōn eipe; Kalai men hai praxeis, alla meizōn pantōn hē aktēmosynē esti. Kai touto akousas, apelthōn epōlēsen auta, kai diedōke ptōchois.
Abba Theodore of Pherme had acquired three good books; and he visited abba Macarius and says to him, “I have three good books, and I benefit from them; and the brothers borrow them and benefit. So tell me, what ought I to do? Should I keep them for my own and the brothers’ benefit, or sell them and give to the poor?” And the old man answered, “Deeds are good, but greatest of all is possessing nothing.” Hearing this, he went and sold them and distributed to the poor.
Matt 19:21 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Macarius counsels Theodore to sell even his useful books, for poverty is greatest.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.1 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-1
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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.
37.2PG 65:187
Αδελφός τις καθεζόμενος εἰς τὰ Κελλία ἐταράσσετο καταμόνας· καὶ ἀπελθὼν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον τὸν τῆς Φέρμης, εἶπεν αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶπεν· Ὕπαγε, ταπείνωσον τὸν λογισμόν σου, καὶ ὑποτάγηθι, καὶ μεῖνον μετὰ ἄλλων. Καὶ ὑποστρέφει πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὐδὲ μετὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀναπαύομαι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ μόνος οὐκ ἀναπαύῃ, οὐδὲ μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων, διατί ἐξῆλθες εἰς τὸν μοναχόν; οὐχὶ ἵνα ὑποφέρῃς τὰς θλίψεις; εἰπὲ δέ μοι· Πόσα ἔτη ἔχεις εἰς τὸ σχῆμα; Λέγει· Ὀκτώ. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Φύσει ἔχω ἐν τῷ σχήματι ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη, καὶ οὐδὲ μίαν ἡμέραν εὗρον ἀνάπαυσιν· καὶ σὺ εἰς ὀκτὼ ἔτη θέλεις ἀνάπαυσιν ἔχειν; Καὶ τοῦτο ἀκούσας, ἑδραιωθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν.
Adelphos tis kathezomenos eis ta Kellia etarasseto katamonas; kai apelthōn pros ton abban Theodōron ton tēs Phermēs, eipen autǭ. Ho de gerōn eipen; Hypage, tapeinōson ton logismon sou, kai hypotagēthi, kai meinon meta allōn. Kai hypostrephei pros ton geronta, kai legei autǭ; Oude meta tōn anthrōpōn anapauomai. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei monos ouk anapauę̄, oude meta tōn allōn, diati exēlthes eis ton monachon? ouchi hina hypopherę̄s tas thlipseis? eipe de moi; Posa etē echeis eis to schēma? Legei; Oktō. Eipen oun autǭ ho gerōn; Physei echō en tǭ schēmati hebdomēkonta etē, kai oude mian hēmeran heuron anapausin; kai sy eis oktō etē theleis anapausin echein? Kai touto akousas, hedraiōtheis apēlthen.
A brother living alone at the Cells was troubled; and he went to abba Theodore of Pherme and told him. The old man said, “Go, humble your thought, submit, and stay with others.” And he comes back to the old man and says to him, “I find no rest with people either.” And the old man says to him, “If you have no rest alone or with others, why did you come out to be a monk? Was it not to bear afflictions? But tell me, how many years have you been in the habit?” He says, “Eight.” So the old man said to him, “Truly, I have been in the habit seventy years, and I have not found rest for a single day; and you want to have rest in eight years?” Hearing this, he went away strengthened.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore tells a restless brother he himself has found no rest in seventy years as a monk.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): θλί ψεις → θλίψεις.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.2 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-2
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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.
37.3PG 65:187
Παρέβαλεν ἀδελφός ποτε τῷ ἀββᾷ Θεοδώρῳ, καὶ ἐποίησε τρεῖς ἡμέρας παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν ἀκοῦσαι λόγον. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἐξῆλθε λυπούμενος. Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Ἀββᾶ, πῶς οὐκ εἶπες αὐτῷ λόγον; καὶ ἀπῆλθε λυπούμενος. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Φύσει οὐκ ἔλεγον αὐτῷ· πραγματευτὴς γάρ ἐστι, καὶ εἰς ἀλλοτρίους λόγους θέλει δοξάζεσθαι.
Parebalen adelphos pote tǭ abbą Theodōrǭ, kai epoiēse treis hēmeras parakalōn auton akousai logon. Ho de ouk apekrithē autǭ. Kai exēlthe lypoumenos. Legei oun autǭ ho mathētēs autou; Abba, pōs ouk eipes autǭ logon? kai apēlthe lypoumenos. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Physei ouk elegon autǭ; pragmateutēs gar esti, kai eis allotrious logous thelei doxazesthai.
Once a brother visited abba Theodore and spent three days begging him to hear a word. But he did not answer him. And he went away grieved. So his disciple says to him, “Abba, why did you not tell him a word? He went away grieved.” And the old man says to him, “Truly I did not speak to him; for he is a trader, and wants to be glorified with other people’s words.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore refuses a word to a brother who wants only to trade in others’ sayings.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.3 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-3
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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.
37.4PG 65:187
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐὰν ἕξεις φιλίαν μετὰ τινὸς, καὶ συμβῇ αὐτὸν εἰς πειρασμὸν πορνείας ἐμπεσεῖν, ἐὰν δύνασαι δὸς αὐτῷ χεῖρα, καὶ ἕλκυσον αὐτὸν ἄνω. Ἐὰν δὲ εἰς αἵρεσιν ἐμπέσῃ, καὶ μὴ πεισθῇ σοι ἀποστραφῆναι, ταχέως κόψον αὐτὸν ἀπὸ σοῦ· μήποτε βραδύνων συγκατασπασθῇς αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν βόθρον
Eipe palin; Ean hexeis philian meta tinos, kai symbę̄ auton eis peirasmon porneias empesein, ean dynasai dos autǭ cheira, kai helkyson auton anō. Ean de eis hairesin empesę̄, kai mē peisthę̄ soi apostraphēnai, tacheōs kopson auton apo sou; mēpote bradynōn synkataspasthę̄s autǭ eis ton bothron
He also said, “If you have friendship with someone, and he happens to fall into the temptation of sexual immorality, if you can, give him your hand and pull him up. But if he falls into heresy and will not be persuaded by you to turn back, cut him off from you quickly, lest by delaying you be dragged down with him into the pit.”
Titus 3:10 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore counsels helping a friend fallen into sexual sin but quickly breaking with one fallen into heresy.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.4 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-4
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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.
37.5PG 65:187
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου τοῦ τῆς Φέρμης, ὅτι τὰ τρία ταῦτα κεφάλαια εἶχεν ὑπὲρ πολλούς· τὴν ἀκτημοσύνην, τὴν ἄσκησιν, καὶ τὸ φεύγειν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους.
Elegon peri tou abba Theodōrou tou tēs Phermēs, hoti ta tria tauta kephalaia eichen hyper pollous; tēn aktēmosynēn, tēn askēsin, kai to pheugein tous anthrōpous.
They said of abba Theodore of Pherme that he had these three chief things more than many: poverty, asceticism, and fleeing from people.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore excelled in poverty, asceticism, and flight from people.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.5 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-5
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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.
37.6PG 65:187
Εὐκαίρησε ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος μετ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν, κατ' εὐλάβειαν ἐλάμβανον τὰ ποτήρια σιωπῶντες, καὶ οὐκ ἔλεγον τὸ Συγχώρησον. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος Απώλεσαν οἱ μοναχοὶ τὴν εὐγένειαν αὐτῶν, τὸ λέγειν', Συγχώρησον.
Eukairēse pote ho abbas Theodōros met᾿ autōn kai esthiontōn autōn, kat' eulabeian elambanon ta potēria siōpōntes, kai ouk elegon to Synchōrēson. Kai eipen ho abbas Theodōros Apōlesan hoi monachoi tēn eugeneian autōn, to legein', Synchōrēson.
Once abba Theodore happened to be with them; and as they were eating, they took the cups reverently in silence, and did not say “Forgive me.” And abba Theodore said, “The monks have lost their good manners, saying ‘Forgive me.’”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore laments that monks no longer say “Forgive me” at table.
- The scan has lost whom Theodore was with (a variant note says “with brothers at Scetis”); variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): Συγ χώρησον. Καὶ → Συγχώρησον. Καὶ; ΑΙ. βυθόν. ΑΙ. μετ' ἀδελφῶν εἰς Σκῆτιν. μὴ λέγοντες. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.6 (PG 65:187; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-6
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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.
37.7PG 65:189
Ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀδελφὸς, λέγων· Θέλεις, ἀββᾶ, μικρὰς ἡμέρας μὴ φάγω ἄρτον; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Καλῶς ποιεῖς· καὶ γὰρ κἀγὼ ἐποίησα οὕτως. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός Θέλω οὖν λαβεῖν· τὰ ἐρεβἰνθιά μου εἰς τὸ ἀρτοκοπεῖον, καὶ ποιῆσαι αὐτὰ ἄλευρον. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ πάλιν ὑπάγεις εἰς τὸ ἀρτοκοπεῖον, ποίησον τὸν ἄρτον σου· καὶ τίς ἡ χρεία τῆς ἐξαγωγῆς ταύτης
Ērōtēsen auton adelphos, legōn; Theleis, abba, mikras hēmeras mē phagō arton? Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Kalōs poieis; kai gar kagō epoiēsa houtōs. Kai legei autǭ ho adelphos Thelō oun labein; ta erebinthia mou eis to artokopeion, kai poiēsai auta aleuron. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei palin hypageis eis to artokopeion, poiēson ton arton sou; kai tis hē chreia tēs exagōgēs tautēs
A brother asked him, saying, “Do you want me, abba, not to eat bread for a few days?” And the old man says to him, “You do well; I too did so.” And the brother says to him, “Then I want to take my chickpeas to the bakery and have them made into flour.” And the old man says to him, “If you are going to the bakery again, make your bread; and what need is there of this detour?”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore points out the futility of a fast that replaces bread with chickpea flour.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray mark): ἀββᾶ, Α΄ μικρὰς → ἀββᾶ, μικρὰς.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.7 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-7
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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.
37.8PG 65:189
Ἦλθέ τις τῶν γερόντων πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ ὁ δεῖνα ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑπἑστρεψεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐπὶ τούτῳ θαυμάζεις; μὴ θαυμάσῃς, ἀλλὰ θαύμασον μᾶλλον ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ὅτι ἡδυνήθη τις ἐκφυγεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ.
Ēlthe tis tōn gerontōn pros ton abban Theodōron, kai eipen autǭ; Idou ho deina ho adelphos hypestrepsen eis ton kosmon. Kai eipen autǭ ho gerōn; Epi toutǭ thaumazeis? mē thaumasę̄s, alla thaumason mallon ean akousę̄s hoti hēdynēthē tis ekphygein apo tou stomatos tou echthrou.
One of the old men came to abba Theodore and said to him, “Look, brother so-and-so has gone back to the world.” And the old man said to him, “Do you marvel at this? Do not marvel; but marvel rather if you hear that anyone has been able to escape from the mouth of the enemy.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore says it is no wonder a monk falls, but a wonder that anyone escapes the enemy.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.8 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-8
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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.
37.9PG 65:189
Ἀδελφός τις ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον, καὶ ἤρξατο λαλεῖν καὶ ἐξετάζειν πράγματα, ὧν οὔπω τὴν ἐργασίαν ἐποίει. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὔπω εὗρες τὸ πλοῖον, οὐδὲ τὰ σκεύη σου ἔβαλες, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ πλεῦσαι, ἤδη εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην ἀπῆλθες. Πρῶτον ὅταν ποιήσῃς τὸ ἔργον, ἔρχῃ εἰς ἃ νῦν λαλεῖς.
Adelphos tis ēlthen pros ton abban Theodōron, kai ērxato lalein kai exetazein pragmata, hōn oupō tēn ergasian epoiei. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Oupō heures to ploion, oude ta skeuē sou ebales, kai pro tou pleusai, ēdē eis tēn polin ekeinēn apēlthes. Prōton hotan poiēsę̄s to ergon, erchę̄ eis ha nyn laleis.
A brother came to abba Theodore and began to talk and inquire about things he had not yet put into practice. And the old man says to him, “You have not yet found the ship, nor put your baggage aboard, and before sailing you have already arrived at that city. When you have first done the work, then come to what you are now talking about.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore tells a brother to practice before discussing advanced matters.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.9 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-9
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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.
37.10PG 65:189
Ὁ αὐτός ποτε παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ ἀπὸ γεννήσεως εὐνούχῳ· καὶ λαλούντων αὐτῶν, εἶπεν· Ὅταν ἤμην εἰς Σκῆτιν, τὰ ἔργα τῆς ψυχῆς ἦν τὸ ἔργον ἡμῶν, τὸ δὲ ἐργόχειρον ὡς πάρεργον είχομεν· νῦν δὲ γέγονε τὸ ἔργον τῆς ψυχῆς ὡς πάρεργον, καὶ τὸ πάρεργον ἔργον.
Ho autos pote parebale tǭ abbą Iōannę̄ tǭ apo gennēseōs eunouchǭ; kai lalountōn autōn, eipen; Hotan ēmēn eis Skētin, ta erga tēs psychēs ēn to ergon hēmōn, to de ergocheiron hōs parergon eichomen; nyn de gegone to ergon tēs psychēs hōs parergon, kai to parergon ergon.
The same once visited abba John, the eunuch from birth; and as they were talking, he said, “When I was at Scetis, the works of the soul were our work, and handiwork we held as a side task; but now the work of the soul has become a side task, and the side task the work.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore laments that handiwork has replaced the soul’s work as the monks’ main task.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.10 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-10
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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.
37.11PG 65:189
Ἠρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ἀδελφὸς, λέγων· Ποϊόν ἐστι τὸ ἔργον τῆς ψυχῆς, ὁ νῦν ὡς πάρεργον ἔχομεν, καὶ ποῖόν ἐστι τὸ πάρεργον, ὃ νῦν ἔργον ἔχομεν; Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Πάντα τὰ γινόμενα διὰ τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἔργον ψυχῆς ἐστι· τὸ δὲ εἰς λόγον ἑαυτῶν ἐργάζεσθαι καὶ συνάγειν, τοῦτο πάρεργον ἔχειν ὀφείλομεν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Σαφήνισόν μοι τὴν ὑπόθεσιν ταύτην. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἰδοὺ ἀκούεις περὶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι ἀσθενῶ, καὶ ὀφείλεις ἐπισκέψασθαί με, καὶ λέγεις ἐν ἑαυτῷ· Καταλιπεῖν ἔχω τὸ ἔργον μου, καὶ νῦν ἀπελθεῖν; ἀλλὰ πληρώσω πρῶτον, καὶ οὕτως ἀπέρχομαι. Ἔρχεται δέ σοι καὶ ἄλλη ἀφορμὴ, καὶ τάχα οὐδὲ ὅλως ὑπάγεις. Πάλιν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς λέγει σοι· Δός μοι χεῖρα, ἀδελφέ! καὶ λέγεις· Ἔχω ἀφῆσαι τὸ ἔργον μου, καὶ ἀπελθεῖν ἐργάσασθαι μετὰ τούτου; Ἐὰν οὖν μὴ ἀπέλθῃς, ἀφίεις τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅ ἐστι τὸ ἔργον τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ ποιεῖς τὸ πάρεργον, ὅ ἐστι τὸ ἔργον τῶν χειρῶν.
Ērōtēse de auton adelphos, legōn; Poïon esti to ergon tēs psychēs, ho nyn hōs parergon echomen, kai poion esti to parergon, ho nyn ergon echomen? Kai legei ho gerōn; Panta ta ginomena dia tēn entolēn tou Theou, ergon psychēs esti; to de eis logon heautōn ergazesthai kai synagein, touto parergon echein opheilomen. Kai legei ho adelphos; Saphēnison moi tēn hypothesin tautēn. Kai legei ho gerōn; Idou akoueis peri emou hoti asthenō, kai opheileis episkepsasthai me, kai legeis en heautǭ; Katalipein echō to ergon mou, kai nyn apelthein? alla plērōsō prōton, kai houtōs aperchomai. Erchetai de soi kai allē aphormē, kai tacha oude holōs hypageis. Palin allos adelphos legei soi; Dos moi cheira, adelphe! kai legeis; Echō aphēsai to ergon mou, kai apelthein ergasasthai meta toutou? Ean oun mē apelthę̄s, aphieis tēn entolēn tou Theou, ho esti to ergon tēs psychēs, kai poieis to parergon, ho esti to ergon tōn cheirōn.
A brother asked him, saying, “What is the work of the soul, which we now hold as a side task, and what is the side task, which we now hold as work?” And the old man says, “Everything done for the commandment of God is the work of the soul; but working and gathering for ourselves, this we ought to hold as a side task.” And the brother says, “Explain this matter to me.” And the old man says, “Suppose you hear that I am ill, and you ought to visit me, and you say to yourself, ‘Shall I leave my work and go now? I will finish first, and then go.’ And another occasion comes up, and perhaps you never go at all. Again another brother says to you, ‘Give me a hand, brother’; and you say, ‘Shall I leave my work and go and work with him?’ If you do not go, you are leaving the commandment of God, which is the work of the soul, and doing the side task, which is the work of the hands.”
Matt 25:36 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore explains that keeping God’s commandments, like visiting the sick, is the soul’s true work.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.11 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-11
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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.
37.12PG 65:189
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τῆς Φέρμης, ὅτι ἄνθρωπος στήκων εἰς μετάνοιαν, οὐ δέδεται εἰς ἐντολήν.
Eipen ho abbas Theodōros ho tēs Phermēs, hoti anthrōpos stēkōn eis metanoian, ou dedetai eis entolēn.
Abba Theodore of Pherme said, “A man who stands in repentance is not bound to a commandment.”
Notes and citation
Summary: One who stands in repentance is not bound by a set rule.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.12 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-12
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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.
37.13PG 65:189
Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν· Ἄ̓́λλη ἀρετὴ οὐκ ἔστιν, ὡς τὸ μὴ ἐξουθενεῖν.
Ho autos eipen; Allē aretē ouk estin, hōs to mē exouthenein.
The same said, “There is no virtue like not despising anyone.”
Notes and citation
Summary: No virtue equals not despising others.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.13 (PG 65:189; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-13
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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.
37.14PG 65:189–191
Πάλιν εἶπεν· "Ανθρωπος μαθὼν τὴν γλυκύτητα τοῦ κελλίου, οὐχ ὡς ἀτιμάζων τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ φεύγει.
Palin eipen; "Anthrōpos mathōn tēn glykytēta tou kelliou, ouch hōs atimazōn ton plēsion autou pheugei.
Again he said, “A man who has learned the sweetness of the cell flees from his neighbor, but not as despising him.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Love of the cell, not contempt, makes a monk flee his neighbor.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.14 (PG 65:189–191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-14
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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.
37.15PG 65:191
Πάλιν εἶπεν· Ἑὰν μὴ ἐκκόψω ἐμαυτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τούτων, οὐκ ἐῶσί με εἶναι μοναχόν.
Palin eipen; Hean mē ekkopsō emauton apo tōn oiktirmōn toutōn, ouk eōsi me einai monachon.
Again he said, “If I do not cut myself off from these compassions, they will not let me be a monk.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore must cut off even compassionate ties to remain a monk.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.15 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-15
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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.
37.16PG 65:191
Εἶπε πάλιν· Πολλοὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ εἰλοντο τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν, πρὶν ὁ Θεὸς αὐτοῖς παράσχῃ.
Eipe palin; Polloi en tǭ kairǭ toutǭ eilonto tēn anapausin, prin ho Theos autois paraschę̄.
He also said, “Many in this time have chosen rest before God has granted it to them.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Many seize rest before God gives it.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.16 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-16
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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.
37.17PG 65:191
Εἶπε πάλιν· Μὴ κοιμηθῇς εἰς τόπον ὅπου ἐστὶ γυνή.
Eipe palin; Mē koimēthę̄s eis topon hopou esti gynē.
He also said, “Do not sleep in a place where there is a woman.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore forbids sleeping where a woman is.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.17 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-17
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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.
37.18PG 65:191
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον, λέγων· Θέλω ἐπιτελέσαι τὰς ἐντολάς. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεωνᾶ, ὅτι εἶπε καὶ αὐτός ποτε· Θέλω πληρῶσαι τὸν λογισμόν μου μετὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ λαβὼν σιτίαν εἰς τὸ ἀρτοκοπεῖον, ἐποίησεν ἄρτους· καὶ αἰτησάντων αὐτὸν πτωχῶν, ἔδωκε τοὺς ἄρτους· καὶ πάλιν αἰτησάντων ἄλλων, ἔδωκε τὰ σπυρίδια καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον ὁ ἐφόρει, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον, περιζωσάμενος τὸ μαφόριον. Καὶ οὕτως πάλιν ἐμέμφετο ἑαυτὸν λέγων, ὅτι Οὐκ ἐπλήρωσα τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Theodōron, legōn; Thelō epitelesai tas entolas. Legei autǭ ho gerōn peri tou abba Theōna, hoti eipe kai autos pote; Thelō plērōsai ton logismon mou meta tou Theou, kai labōn sitian eis to artokopeion, epoiēsen artous; kai aitēsantōn auton ptōchōn, edōke tous artous; kai palin aitēsantōn allōn, edōke ta spyridia kai to himation ho ephorei, kai eisēlthen eis to kellion, perizōsamenos to maphorion. Kai houtōs palin emempheto heauton legōn, hoti Ouk eplērōsa tēn entolēn tou Theou.
A brother asked abba Theodore, saying, “I want to fulfill the commandments.” The old man told him about abba Theonas, that he too once said, “I want to fulfill my thought with God”; and taking flour to the bakery, he made loaves; and when poor people asked him, he gave the loaves; and when others asked again, he gave the baskets and the cloak he was wearing, and went into his cell girded with his shoulder cloth. And even so he blamed himself, saying, “I have not fulfilled the commandment of God.”
Luke 17:10 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theonas gave away everything to the poor and still said he had not fulfilled God’s commandment.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.18 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-18). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-18
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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.
37.19PG 65:191
Ἠσθένησέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ ἔπεμψε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον, λέγων· Δεῦρο, ἵνα σε ἴδω πρὸ τοῦ με ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος· ἦν δὲ μέσον τῆς ἑβδομάδος. Καὶ οὐκ ἀπῆλθεν· ἔπεμψε δὲ, λέγων· Ἐὰν μείνῃς ἕως τοῦ σαββάτου, ἔρχομαι· εἰ δὲ ὑπάγεις, εἰς ἐκεῖνον τὸν κόσμον βλέπομεν ἀλλήλους.
Ēsthenēse pote ho abbas Iōsēph, kai epempse pros ton abban Theodōron, legōn; Deuro, hina se idō pro tou me exelthein ek tou sōmatos; ēn de meson tēs hebdomados. Kai ouk apēlthen; epempse de, legōn; Ean meinę̄s heōs tou sabbatou, erchomai; ei de hypageis, eis ekeinon ton kosmon blepomen allēlous.
Once abba Joseph fell ill and sent to abba Theodore, saying, “Come, so that I may see you before I leave the body.” It was the middle of the week. And he did not go, but sent word, saying, “If you stay until Saturday, I will come; but if you go, we shall see each other in that world.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore will not break his week’s seclusion to visit a dying friend, trusting to meet him in the next world.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.19 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-19
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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.
37.20PG 65:191
Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Θεοδώρῳ· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα, ὅτι ἀπόλλυμαι. Καὶ μετὰ κόπου εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἐγὼ κινδυνεύω, καὶ τί σοι ἔχω εἰπεῖν;
Adelphos eipe tǭ abbą Theodōrǭ; Eipe moi rhēma, hoti apollymai. Kai meta kopou eipen autǭ; Egō kindyneuō, kai ti soi echō eipein?
A brother said to abba Theodore, “Tell me a word, for I am perishing.” And with difficulty he said to him, “I am in danger myself, and what have I to tell you?”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore says that he himself is in danger and has no word to give.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.20 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-20). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-20
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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.
37.21PG 65:191
Ἀδελφὸς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον, ἵνα διδάξῃ αὐτὸν ῥάπτειν, ἐνέγκας καὶ τὴν σειρὰν πρὸς αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὕπαγε, καὶ πρωί δεῦρο ὧδε. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ὁ γέρων, ἔβρεξεν αὐτῷ τὴν σειρὰν, καὶ ἡτοίμασεν αὐτῷ τὴν προκαταραφὴν, λέγων· Οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ποίησον· καὶ ἀφῆκεν αὐτόν. Καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ, ἐκάθισεν ὁ γέρων· καὶ εἰς τὴν ὥραν, ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν φαγεῖν, καὶ ἀπέπεμψεν. Ἦλθε δὲ πάλιν πρωΐ· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἆρον τὴν σειράν σου ἔνθεν, καὶ ἀναχώρει· εἰς πειρασμὸν γὰρ ἦλθες βαλεῖν με καὶ εἰς φροντίδα. Καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ἀφῆκεν αὐτὸν ἔσω.
Adelphos ēlthe pros ton abban Theodōron, hina didaxę̄ auton rhaptein, enenkas kai tēn seiran pros auton. Ho de gerōn legei autǭ; Hypage, kai prōi deuro hōde. Kai anastas ho gerōn, ebrexen autǭ tēn seiran, kai hētoimasen autǭ tēn prokataraphēn, legōn; Houtōs kai houtōs poiēson; kai aphēken auton. Kai eiselthōn eis to kellion autou, ekathisen ho gerōn; kai eis tēn hōran, epoiēsen auton phagein, kai apepempsen. Ēlthe de palin prōï; kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Aron tēn seiran sou enthen, kai anachōrei; eis peirasmon gar ēlthes balein me kai eis phrontida. Kai ouk eti aphēken auton esō.
A brother came to abba Theodore to have him teach him to sew, bringing the rope with him. The old man says to him, “Go, and come back here in the morning.” And the old man got up, soaked the rope for him, and prepared the first stitches, saying, “Do it like this and like this”; and he let him go. And going into his cell, the old man sat down; and at the hour he made him eat and sent him away. He came again in the morning; and the old man says to him, “Take your rope away from here and go; for you have come to put me into temptation and anxiety.” And he did not let him in again.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore helps a brother with his work once, then sends him away as a distraction.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ἀπ έπεμψεν → ἀπέπεμψεν; ὁ γέ ρων → ὁ γέρων.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.21 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-21). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-21
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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.
37.22PG 65:191
Εἶπεν ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου, ὅτι Ηλθέ ποτέ τις πωλῶν κρόμμυα, καὶ ἐγέμισέ μοι κρατῆρα. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Γέμισον αὐτῷ σἴτον, καὶ δὸς αὐτῷ. Ἦταν δὲ δύο βουνοὶ σίτου, εἷς καθαρός, καὶ εἷς ἀκαθάρτος· ἐγέμισα δὲ αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ ἀκαθάρτου. Καὶ προσέσχε μοι ὁ γέρων μετὰ ἕξεως καὶ λύπης· καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔπεσον, καὶ ἔκλασα τὸν κρατῆρα· καὶ ἔβαλον αὐτῷ μετάνοιαν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἐγείρου, οὐκ ἔχεις σὺ πρᾶγμα, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ ἥμαρτον, ὅτι εἶπόν σοι. Καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ γέρων ἐγέμισε τὸν κόλπον αὐτοῦ σἴτον καθαρὸν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ μετὰ τῶν κρομμύων.
Eipen ho mathētēs tou abba Theodōrou, hoti Ēlthe pote tis pōlōn krommya, kai egemise moi kratēra. Kai legei ho gerōn; Gemison autǭ siton, kai dos autǭ. Ētan de dyo bounoi sitou, heis katharos, kai heis akathartos; egemisa de autǭ ek tou akathartou. Kai prosesche moi ho gerōn meta hexeōs kai lypēs; kai apo tou phobou epeson, kai eklasa ton kratēra; kai ebalon autǭ metanoian. Kai legei ho gerōn; Egeirou, ouk echeis sy pragma, all᾽ egō hēmarton, hoti eipon soi. Kai eiselthōn ho gerōn egemise ton kolpon autou siton katharon, kai edōken autǭ meta tōn krommyōn.
The disciple of abba Theodore said, “Once someone came selling onions, and he filled a bowl for me. And the old man says, ‘Fill it with wheat for him and give it to him.’ There were two heaps of wheat, one clean and one unclean; and I filled it for him from the unclean. And the old man looked at me with severity and grief; and from fear I fell and broke the bowl; and I made a prostration to him. And the old man says, ‘Get up, it is not your fault, but I sinned, because I spoke to you.’ And the old man went in and filled the fold of his garment with clean wheat and gave it to him with the onions.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore blames himself, not his disciple, when the disciple paid a seller with dirty wheat.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.22 (PG 65:191; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-22). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-22
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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.
37.23PG 65:191–193
Ἀπῆλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος μετὰ ἀδελφοῦ γεμίσαι ὕδωρ· καὶ προλαβὼν ὁ ἀδελφὸς εἰς τὸν λάκκον εἶδε δράκοντα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Υπαγε, πάτησον τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ φοβηθεὶς οὐκ ἀπῆλθεν. Ἦλθε δὲ ὁ γέρων, καὶ εἶδεν αὐτὸν τὸ θηρίον, καὶ καταισχυνθὲν ἔφυγεν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον.
Apēlthe pote ho abbas Theodōros meta adelphou gemisai hydōr; kai prolabōn ho adelphos eis ton lakkon eide drakonta. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn Ypage, patēson tēn kephalēn autou. Kai phobētheis ouk apēlthen. Ēlthe de ho gerōn, kai eiden auton to thērion, kai kataischynthen ephygen eis tēn erēmon.
Once abba Theodore went with a brother to draw water; and the brother, going ahead to the cistern, saw a serpent. And the old man says to him, “Go, tread on its head.” And being afraid he did not go. But the old man came, and the beast saw him and, put to shame, fled into the desert.
Luke 10:19 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A serpent at the cistern flees in shame before Theodore.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: word split): ἀδελ φοῦ → ἀδελφοῦ; λέγει σὐτῷ → λέγει αὐτῷ; φοβηθεὶς σὐκ → φοβηθεὶς οὐκ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.23 (PG 65:191–193; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-23). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-23
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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.
37.24PG 65:193
Ἠρώτησέ τις τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον Ἐὰν ἄφνω ·γένηταί τις πτῶσις, καὶ σὺ φοβῇ, ἀββᾶ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν κολληθῇ ὁ οὐρανὸς τῇ γῇ, Θεόδωρος οὐ φοβεῖται. Ἦν γὰρ δεηθεὶς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἵνα ἀρθῇ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἡ δειλία. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτόν.
Ērōtēse tis ton abban Theodōron Ean aphnō ;genētai tis ptōsis, kai sy phobę̄, abba? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ean kollēthę̄ ho ouranos tę̄ gę̄, Theodōros ou phobeitai. Ēn gar deētheis tou Theou, hina arthę̄ ap᾿ autou hē deilia. Dia touto kai ērōtēsen auton.
Someone asked abba Theodore, “If a sudden collapse happens, are you afraid too, abba?” The old man says to him, “If heaven is stuck to the earth, Theodore is not afraid.” For he had prayed to God that timidity might be taken away from him. That is why the man asked him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore, having prayed to be freed from fear, says he would not fear even if heaven fell to earth.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.24 (PG 65:193; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-24). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-24
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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.
37.25PG 65:193
Ἑλέγετο περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι γενόμενος διάκονος εἰς Σκῆτιν οὐκ ἤθελε καταδέξασθαι διακονεῖν, καὶ εἰς πολλοὺς τόπους ἔφυγε. Καὶ πάλιν οἱ γέροντες ἔφερον αὐτὸν, λέγοντες· Μὴ καταλίπῃς τὴν διακονίαν σου. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος· Ἐάσατέ με, καὶ δέομαι τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἰ πληροφορήσει με στῆναι εἰς τὸν τόπον τῆς λειτουργίας μου. Καὶ δεόμενος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἔλεγεν· Εἰ θέλημά σου ἐστιν ἵνα στῶ εἰς τὸν τόπον μου, πληροφόρησόν με. Καὶ ἐδείχθη αὐτῷ στύλος πυρὸς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ φωνή λέγουσα· Εἰ δύνασαι γενέσθαι ὡς ὁ στύλος οὗτος, ὕπαγε, διακόνησον. Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ἔκρινε μηκέτι καταδέξασθαι. Ἐλθόντος οὖν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἔβαλον αὐτῷ μετάνοιαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ, λέγοντες· Εἰ οὐ θέλεις διακονεῖν, κἂν τὸ ποτήριον κατάσχε. Καὶ οὐκ ἠνέσχετο, λέγων· Ἐὰν μὴ ἀφῆτε, ἀναχωρῶ ἐκ τοῦ τόπου τούτου. Καὶ οὕτως ἀφῆκαν αὐτόν.
Helegeto peri autou, hoti genomenos diakonos eis Skētin ouk ēthele katadexasthai diakonein, kai eis pollous topous ephyge. Kai palin hoi gerontes epheron auton, legontes; Mē katalipę̄s tēn diakonian sou. Legei autois ho abbas Theodōros; Easate me, kai deomai tou Theou, ei plērophorēsei me stēnai eis ton topon tēs leitourgias mou. Kai deomenos tou Theou, elegen; Ei thelēma sou estin hina stō eis ton topon mou, plērophorēson me. Kai edeichthē autǭ stylos pyros apo tēs gēs heōs tou ouranou, kai phōnē legousa; Ei dynasai genesthai hōs ho stylos houtos, hypage, diakonēson. Ho de akousas ekrine mēketi katadexasthai. Elthontos oun autou eis tēn ekklēsian, ebalon autǭ metanoian hoi adelphoi, legontes; Ei ou theleis diakonein, kan to potērion katasche. Kai ouk ēnescheto, legōn; Ean mē aphēte, anachōrō ek tou topou toutou. Kai houtōs aphēkan auton.
It was said of him that when he was made a deacon at Scetis, he would not agree to serve as deacon, and he fled to many places. And again the old men brought him back, saying, “Do not abandon your diaconate.” Abba Theodore says to them, “Let me be, and I will pray to God whether he will assure me to stand in the place of my ministry.” And praying to God, he said, “If it is your will that I stand in my place, assure me.” And there was shown to him a pillar of fire from earth to heaven, and a voice saying, “If you can become like this pillar, go, serve as deacon.” Hearing this, he decided never to accept it. So when he came to church, the brothers made a prostration to him, saying, “If you do not want to serve as deacon, at least hold the cup.” And he would not bear it, saying, “If you do not let me be, I will leave this place.” And so they left him alone.
Exod 13:21 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Shown a pillar of fire as the measure of a deacon, Theodore refuses to serve in the diaconate.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.25 (PG 65:193; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-25). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-25
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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.
37.26PG 65:193
Ἔλεγον δὲ περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς ἡρημώθη ἡ Σκῆτις, ἦλθε μεῖναι εἰς Φέρμην· καὶ γηράσας ἠσθένησε. Προσέφερον οὖν αὐτῷ ἐδέσματά τινα. Καὶ ἃ ἔφερεν ὁ πρῶτος, ἐδίδου τῷ δευτέρῳ, καὶ οὕτως κατὰ τὴν τάξιν, ἃ ἐλάμβανεν παρὰ τοῦ πρώτου, παρεῖχε τῷ ἄλλῳ· εἰς δὲ τὴν ὥραν τοῦ γεύσασθαι, ὃ ἔφερεν ὁ ἐρχόμενος, τοῦτο ἤσθιεν.
Elegon de peri autou, hoti hōs hērēmōthē hē Skētis, ēlthe meinai eis Phermēn; kai gērasas ēsthenēse. Prosepheron oun autǭ edesmata tina. Kai ha epheren ho prōtos, edidou tǭ deuterǭ, kai houtōs kata tēn taxin, ha elambanen para tou prōtou, pareiche tǭ allǭ; eis de tēn hōran tou geusasthai, ho epheren ho erchomenos, touto ēsthien.
They said of him that when Scetis was laid waste, he came to live at Pherme; and growing old, he fell ill. So they brought him some food. And what the first brought, he gave to the second, and so in order, what he received from the first he gave to the next; and at the hour for eating, he ate what the one who came then brought.
Notes and citation
Summary: In his old age Theodore passed each gift of food to the next visitor.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.26 (PG 65:193; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-26). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-26
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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.
37.27PG 65:193
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου, ὅτι ὅτε ἐκάθητο ἐν Σκήτει, ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν δαίμων θέλων εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς κέλλης. Καὶ πάλιν ἄλλος δαίμων ἦλθεν εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ τοῦτον ἔδησε. Καὶ προσθεὶς ὁ τρίτος δαίμων, ἦλθε, καὶ εὖρε δεδεμένους τοὺς δύο· καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Τί ἑστήκατε ὧδε ἔξω; Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, ὅτι Ἔστι καθήμενος ἔσω, καὶ μὴ ἐῶν ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν. Καὶ αὐτὸς τυραννήσας ἐπεχείρησεν εἰσελθεῖν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἔδησε καὶ τοῦτον. Φοβηθέντες δὲ τὰς εὐχὰς τοῦ γέροντος, παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν, λέγοντες· Απόλυσον ἡμᾶς. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων Ὑπάγετε. Καὶ λοιπὸν αἰσχυνθέντες ἀνεχώρησαν.
Elegon peri tou abba Theodōrou, hoti hote ekathēto en Skētei, ēlthe pros auton daimōn thelōn eiselthein; kai edēsen auton exō tēs kellēs. Kai palin allos daimōn ēlthen eiselthein; kai touton edēse. Kai prostheis ho tritos daimōn, ēlthe, kai eure dedemenous tous dyo; kai legei autois; Ti hestēkate hōde exō? Kai legousin autǭ, hoti Esti kathēmenos esō, kai mē eōn hēmas eiselthein. Kai autos tyrannēsas epecheirēsen eiselthein. Ho de gerōn edēse kai touton. Phobēthentes de tas euchas tou gerontos, parekaloun auton, legontes; Apolyson hēmas. Kai legei autois ho gerōn Hypagete. Kai loipon aischynthentes anechōrēsan.
They said of abba Theodore that when he was living at Scetis, a demon came to him wanting to come in; and he bound him outside the cell. And again another demon came to go in; and he bound him too. And a third demon came besides and found the two bound; and he says to them, “Why are you standing outside here?” And they say to him, “He is sitting inside and will not let us come in.” And he tried to force his way in. But the old man bound him too. Fearing the old man’s prayers, they begged him, saying, “Release us.” And the old man says to them, “Go.” And finally, put to shame, they went away.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore binds three demons outside his cell by prayer.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): αἰσχυν θέντες → αἰσχυνθέντες.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.27 (PG 65:193; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-27). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-27
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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.
37.28PG 65:193–195
Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων, περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου τοῦ τῆς Φέρμης, ὅτι Ηλθόν ποτε δείλης πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸν φοροῦντα κεκομμένον λεβίτωνα, καὶ τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ γυμνὸν, καὶ τὸ κοκούλιον αὐτοῦ ἔμπροσθεν. Καὶ ἰδού τις Κόμης ἦλθεν ἰδεῖν αὐτόν. Καὶ κρούσαντος αὐτοῦ, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ γέρων ἀνοῖξαι, καὶ ἀπαντήσας αὐτῷ ἐκάθισεν εἰς τὴν θύραν λαλεῖν αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἔλαβον κόμμα μαφορίου, καὶ ἐσκέπασα τοὺς ὤμους αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα, καὶ ἔῤῥιψε αὐτό. Καὶ ὡς ἀπῆλθεν ὁ Κόμης, εἶπον αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; ἦλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὠφεληθῆναι· μὴ ἵνα σκανδαλισθῇ; Καὶ λέγει μοι ὁ γέρων Τί λέγεις μοι, ἀββᾶ; ἀκμὴν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δουλεύομεν; ἐποιήσαμεν τὴν χρείαν· παρῆλθε λοιπόν. Ὁ θέλων ὠφεληθῆναι, ὠφεληθῇ ὁ θέλων σκανδαλισθῆναι, σκανδαλισθῇ· ἐγὼ δὲ ὡς δ᾽ ἂν εὑρεθῶ, οὕτως ἀπαντῶ. Παρήγγειλε δὲ τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ, λέγων·. Ἐάν τις ἔλθῃ ἰδεῖν με θέλων, μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ τί ποτε ἀνθρώπινον· ἀλλ᾽ ἐὰν τρώγω, εἰπὲ, Τρώγει· ἐὰν κοιμῶμαι, εἰπὲ, Κοιμᾶται.
Diēgēsato tis tōn Paterōn, peri tou abba Theodōrou tou tēs Phermēs, hoti Ēlthon pote deilēs pros auton, kai heuron auton phorounta kekommenon lebitōna, kai to stēthos autou gymnon, kai to kokoulion autou emprosthen. Kai idou tis Komēs ēlthen idein auton. Kai krousantos autou, exēlthen ho gerōn anoixai, kai apantēsas autǭ ekathisen eis tēn thyran lalein autǭ. Kai elabon komma maphoriou, kai eskepasa tous ōmous autou. Ho de gerōn exeteine tēn cheira, kai errhipse auto. Kai hōs apēlthen ho Komēs, eipon autǭ; Abba, ti touto epoiēsas? ēlthen ho anthrōpos ōphelēthēnai; mē hina skandalisthę̄? Kai legei moi ho gerōn Ti legeis moi, abba? akmēn tois anthrōpois douleuomen? epoiēsamen tēn chreian; parēlthe loipon. Ho thelōn ōphelēthēnai, ōphelēthę̄ ho thelōn skandalisthēnai, skandalisthę̄; egō de hōs d᾽ an heurethō, houtōs apantō. Parēngeile de tǭ mathētę̄ autou, legōn;. Ean tis elthę̄ idein me thelōn, mē eipę̄s autǭ ti pote anthrōpinon; all᾽ ean trōgō, eipe, Trōgei; ean koimōmai, eipe, Koimatai.
One of the Fathers related about abba Theodore of Pherme: “I came to him once in the afternoon and found him wearing a torn tunic, with his chest bare and his hood hanging in front. And look, a count came to see him. When he knocked, the old man went out to open, and meeting him he sat at the door to talk with him. And I took a piece of a shoulder cloth and covered his shoulders. But the old man stretched out his hand and threw it off. And when the count had gone, I said to him, ‘Abba, why did you do this? The man came to be helped; was it so that he might be offended?’ And the old man says to me, ‘What are you saying to me, abba? Are we still slaves to men? We did what was needed; it is over. Whoever wants to be helped, let him be helped; whoever wants to be offended, let him be offended; but I meet people as I happen to be found.’ And he instructed his disciple, saying, ‘If someone comes wanting to see me, tell him nothing in a human way; but if I am eating, say, “He is eating”; if I am sleeping, say, “He is sleeping.”’”
Gal 1:10 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore receives a count half-dressed, refusing to adjust himself for human approval.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): Κό μης → Κόμης.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.28 (PG 65:193–195; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-28). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-28
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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.
37.29PG 65:195
Ἦλθόν ποτε ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ τρεῖς λῃσταί· καὶ οἱ δύο ἐκράτουν αὐτὸν, ὁ δὲ εἷς ἐκουβάλει τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ. Ὡς δὲ ἐξήνεγκε τὰ βιβλία, καὶ τὸν λεβίτωνα ὁ ἤθελε λαβεῖν· τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς Τοῦτο ἀφίετε. Οἱ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελον. Καὶ κινήσας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἔρριψε τοὺς δύο. Καὶ ἰδόντες ἐφοβήθησαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων· Μηδὲν δειμάσητε ποιήσατε αὐτὰ εἰς τέσσαρα μέρη, καὶ λάβετε τὰ τρία, καὶ ἄφετε τὸ ἕν. Καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησαν· διὰ τὸ λαβεῖν τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ τὸν λεβίτωνα τὸν συνακτικόν
Ēlthon pote epanō autou treis lę̄stai; kai hoi dyo ekratoun auton, ho de heis ekoubalei ta skeuē autou. Hōs de exēnenke ta biblia, kai ton lebitōna ho ēthele labein; tote legei autois Touto aphiete. Hoi de ouk ēthelon. Kai kinēsas tas cheiras autou erripse tous dyo. Kai idontes ephobēthēsan. Kai legei autois ho gerōn; Mēden deimasēte poiēsate auta eis tessara merē, kai labete ta tria, kai aphete to hen. Kai houtōs epoiēsan; dia to labein to meros autou ton lebitōna ton synaktikon
Once three robbers came upon him; and two of them held him while one carried off his belongings. When he had brought out the books and wanted to take the tunic too, he then says to them, “Leave this.” But they would not. And moving his hands, he threw the two down. And seeing it, they were afraid. And the old man says to them, “Do not be afraid; divide these things into four parts, and take three, and leave one.” And they did so; and he took as his share the tunic he wore at the synaxis.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore throws off two robbers but then lets them take three-quarters of his goods, keeping his church tunic.
- The last clause is compressed in the scan; translated by sense.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 37.29 (PG 65:195; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-29). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/37-29
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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 38
38.1PG 65:195
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τοῦ Ἐννάτου ὅτι Ὅτε ἤμην νεώτερος, εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἔμενον. Ἀπῆλθον οὖν εἰς τὸ ἀρτοκοπεῖον ποιῆσαι δύο σιτίας, καὶ εὖρον ἐκεῖ ἀδελφὸν θέλοντα ποιῆσαι ἄρτους, καὶ οὐκ εἶχέ τινα δοῦναι αὐτῷ χεῖρα. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἀφῆκα τὰ ἐμὰ, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ χεῖρα. Ὡς δὲ ἐσχόλασα, ἦλθεν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς, καὶ πάλιν ἔδωκα αὐτῷ χεῖρα, καὶ ἐποίησα τὰ ψωμία. Καὶ πάλιν τρίτος ἦλθε, καὶ ἐποίησα ὁμοίως καὶ οὕτως ἕκαστον τῶν ἐρχομένων ἐποίουν καὶ ἐποίησα ἓξ σιτίας. Ὕστερον δὲ ἐποίησα τὰς δύο σιτίας τὰς ἐμὰς, ἀποσχόντων τῶν ἐρχομένων.
Eipen ho abbas Theodōros ho tou Ennatou hoti Hote ēmēn neōteros, eis tēn erēmon emenon. Apēlthon oun eis to artokopeion poiēsai dyo sitias, kai euron ekei adelphon thelonta poiēsai artous, kai ouk eiche tina dounai autǭ cheira. Egō de aphēka ta ema, kai edōka autǭ cheira. Hōs de escholasa, ēlthen allos adelphos, kai palin edōka autǭ cheira, kai epoiēsa ta psōmia. Kai palin tritos ēlthe, kai epoiēsa homoiōs kai houtōs hekaston tōn erchomenōn epoioun kai epoiēsa hex sitias. Hysteron de epoiēsa tas dyo sitias tas emas, aposchontōn tōn erchomenōn.
Abba Theodore of the Enaton said, “When I was young, I lived in the desert. So I went to the bakery to make two loads of bread, and I found a brother there wanting to make loaves, and he had no one to give him a hand. So I left my own and gave him a hand. When I was free, another brother came, and again I gave him a hand and made the loaves. And a third came again, and I did the same; and so I did for each one who came, and I made six loads. Afterward I made my own two loads, when those coming had stopped.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore helped every brother at the bakery before making his own bread.
- The Enaton was a monastic settlement nine miles west of Alexandria.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 38.1 (PG 65:195; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-1
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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.
38.2PG 65:195–197
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου καὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Λουκίου τῶν τοῦ Ἐννάτου, ὅτι ἐποίησαν πεντήκοντα ἔτη, χλευάζοντες τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ λέγοντες· Μετὰ τὸν χειμῶνα τοῦτον, μεταβαίνομεν ἐντεῦθεν. Ὅτε δὲ πάλιν ἤρχετο τὸ θέρος, ἔλεγον, ὅτι Μετὰ τὸ θέρος τοῦτο ἀπερχόμεθα ἐντεῦθεν. Καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησαν πάντα τὸν χρόνον οἱ ἀείμνηστοι Πατέρες.
Elegon peri tou abba Theodōrou kai tou abba Loukiou tōn tou Ennatou, hoti epoiēsan pentēkonta etē, chleuazontes tous logismous autōn, kai legontes; Meta ton cheimōna touton, metabainomen enteuthen. Hote de palin ērcheto to theros, elegon, hoti Meta to theros touto aperchometha enteuthen. Kai houtōs epoiēsan panta ton chronon hoi aeimnēstoi Pateres.
They said of abba Theodore and abba Lucius of the Enaton that they spent fifty years mocking their thoughts and saying, “After this winter we will move from here.” And when summer came again, they said, “After this summer we will go away from here.” And so these Fathers of everlasting memory did all their time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore and Lucius stayed fifty years by always postponing their move to the next season.
- A passage of Migne’s notes (on a flight to Alexandria with Julian, bishop of Halicarnassus) inside the sentence is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (passage of Migne’s notes merged into the Greek): βῆρος, φεύγει εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, ἔχων μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ Ἰουλιανόν τινα ἐπίσκοπον Ἁλικαρνασοῦ· οὗτοι ἐλὁμόφρονες τὸ πρὶν ἐτύγχανον, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἅμα ἐν ἔτη → ἔτη.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 38.2 (PG 65:195–197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-2
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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.
38.3PG 65:197
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τῶν Ἐννάτου, ὅτι Ἐὰν λογίσηται ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς τὰς ἐν ταῖς εὐχαῖς ἀμελείας, καὶ τὰς αἰχμαλωσίας τὰς ἐν ταῖς ψαλμῳδίαις, οὐ δυνάμεθα σωθῆναι.
Eipen ho abbas Theodōros ho tōn Ennatou, hoti Ean logisētai hēmin ho Theos tas en tais euchais ameleias, kai tas aichmalōsias tas en tais psalmǭdiais, ou dynametha sōthēnai.
Abba Theodore of the Enaton said, “If God reckons against us our carelessness in prayers and our captivity of mind in psalmody, we cannot be saved.”
Notes and citation
Summary: If God counted our distractions in prayer, none could be saved.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 38.3 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/38-3
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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 39
39.1PG 65:197
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ εἰς Σκῆτιν· Ἔρχεται ὁ λογισμὸς, καὶ ταράσσει με, καὶ ἀσχολεῖ με, καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν οὐκ ἰσχύει ποιῆσαι, ἀλλὰ μόνον ἐμποδίζει αὐτὸν, ἐγείρεται εἰς προσευχήν.
Eipen ho abbas Theodōros ho eis Skētin; Erchetai ho logismos, kai tarassei me, kai ascholei me, kai tēn praxin ouk ischyei poiēsai, alla monon empodizei auton, egeiretai eis proseuchēn.
Abba Theodore of Scetis said, “A thought comes, troubles me, and occupies me, but it has no strength to make me act; it only hinders me, and it rises up at prayer.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Thoughts may trouble and hinder one at prayer without forcing one to act.
- The Greek of the scan is disordered at the end; translated by sense.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 39.1 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/39-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/39-1
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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 40
40.1PG 65:197
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραὰμ ὁ Ἰβὴρ τὸν ἀββᾶν Θεόδωρον τὸν Ἐλευθεροπολίτην, λέγων· Πῶς καλῶς ἐστι, Πάτερ; δόξαν περιποιήσομαι ἐμαυτῷ, ἢ ἀτιμίαν; Ὁ δὲ γέρων λέγει· Τέως ἐγὼ θέλω περιποιήσασθαι δόξαν, ἢ ἀτιμίαν. Ἐὰν γὰρ ποιήσω καλὸν ἔργον, καὶ δοξασθῶ, δύναμαι κατακρίναι τὸν λογισμόν μου, ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ἄξιος τῆς δόξης ταύτης· ἡ δὲ ἀτιμία ἀπὸ φαύλων πραγμάτων γίνεται. Πῶς οὖν δύναμαι παρακαλέσαι τὴν καρδίαν μου, σκανδαλισθέντων ἐν ἐμοὶ δοξάζεσθαι. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραὰμ εἶπε· Καλῶς εἶπας, Πάτερ.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Abraam ho Ibēr ton abban Theodōron ton Eleutheropolitēn, legōn; Pōs kalōs esti, Pater? doxan peripoiēsomai emautǭ, ē atimian? Ho de gerōn legei; Teōs egō thelō peripoiēsasthai doxan, ē atimian. Ean gar poiēsō kalon ergon, kai doxasthō, dynamai katakrinai ton logismon mou, hoti ouk eimi axios tēs doxēs tautēs; hē de atimia apo phaulōn pragmatōn ginetai. Pōs oun dynamai parakalesai tēn kardian mou, skandalisthentōn en emoi doxazesthai. Ho de abbas Abraam eipe; Kalōs eipas, Pater.
Abba Abraham the Iberian asked abba Theodore of Eleutheropolis, saying, “Which is good, father: shall I win glory for myself, or dishonor?” The old man says, “For my part, I would rather win glory than dishonor. For if I do a good work and am glorified, I can condemn my thought, that I am not worthy of this glory; but dishonor comes from bad deeds. How then can I comfort my heart, when people are offended because of me? So it is better to be glorified.” And abba Abraham said, “You have spoken well, father.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodore prefers honor, which one can humbly disown, to dishonor, which comes from sin and scandalizes others.
- The last clause of Theodore’s answer is compressed in the scan; translated by sense.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 40.1 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/40-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/40-1
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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.
40.2PG 65:197
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδοτος· Ἡ ἔνδεια τοῦ ἄρτου τήκει τὸ σῶμα τοῦ μοναχοῦ. Ἄλλος δὲ γέρων ἔλεγεν, ὅτι ἡ ἀγρυπνία πλέον τήκει τὸ σῶμα.
Eipen ho abbas Theodotos; Hē endeia tou artou tēkei to sōma tou monachou. Allos de gerōn elegen, hoti hē agrypnia pleon tēkei to sōma.
Abba Theodotus said, “Lack of bread wastes the monk’s body.” But another old man said, “Vigil wastes the body more.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodotus and another elder compare fasting and vigil as disciplines of the body.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 40.2 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/40-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/40-2
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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 41
41.0PG 65:197
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεωνᾶς· Διὰ τὸ ἀπασχοληθῆναι τὸν νοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς εἰς Θεὸν θεωρίας, αἰχμαλωτιζόμεθα ὑπὸ τῶν παθῶν τῶν σαρκικῶν. Περὶ Θεοφίλου τοῦ ἀρχιεπισκόπου.
Eipen ho abbas Theōnas; Dia to apascholēthēnai ton noun apo tēs eis Theon theōrias, aichmalōtizometha hypo tōn pathōn tōn sarkikōn. Peri Theophilou tou archiepiskopou.
Abba Theonas said, “Because our mind is distracted from the contemplation of God, we are taken captive by the passions of the flesh.” [On Theophilus the archbishop.]
Notes and citation
Summary: Theonas says the passions capture the mind when it turns from contemplating God.
- This is the one saying of abba Theonas; the words after it are the printed heading of the next section, on archbishop Theophilus, to which the following numbered sayings (41.1 onward) belong.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.0 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-0). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-0
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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.
41.1PG 65:197
Ὁ μακάριος Θεόφιλος ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος παρἐβαλέ ποτε εἰς τὸ ὄρος τῆς Νιτρίας· καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ ἀββᾶς τοῦ ὄρους πρὸς αὐτόν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος· Τί εὗρες ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ταύτῃ πλέον, Πάτερ; ἑαυτὸν πάντοτε. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόφιλος· Ἄλλη ὁδὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, εἰ μὴ αὕτη.
Ho makarios Theophilos ho archiepiskopos parebale pote eis to oros tēs Nitrias; kai ēlthen ho abbas tou orous pros auton. Kai legei autǭ ho archiepiskopos; Ti heures en tę̄ hodǭ tautę̄ pleon, Pater? heauton pantote. Legei autǭ ho abbas Theophilos; Allē hodos ouk estin, ei mē hautē.
The blessed archbishop Theophilus once visited the mountain of Nitria; and the abba of the mountain came to him. And the archbishop says to him, “What have you found more than anything else on this road, father?” … [To blame] oneself always. Abba Theophilus says to him, “There is no other road but this.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The abba of Nitria tells Theophilus that the monk’s way is always to blame oneself.
- The saying belongs to archbishop Theophilus (see the heading at 41.0). Words are lost in the scan before the abba’s answer (in other copies: “He said, To accuse and blame oneself always”); not supplied.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: words run together): Τίεὖρες → Τί εὗρες; ὁἀββᾶς → ὁ ἀββᾶς.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.1 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-1
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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.
41.2PG 65:197
Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀββᾶς Θεόφιλος ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος παρέβαλέ ποτε εἰς τὴν Σκῆτιν. Συναχθέντες δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ εἶπον τῷ ἀββᾷ Παμβώ· Εἰπὲ ἕνα λόγον τῷ Πάπᾳ, ὅπως ὠφεληθῇ Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὐκ ὠφελεῖται ἐν τῇ σιωπῇ μου, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ λόγῳ μου ὠφεληθῆναι ἔχει.
Ho autos abbas Theophilos ho archiepiskopos parebale pote eis tēn Skētin. Synachthentes de hoi adelphoi eipon tǭ abbą Pambō; Eipe hena logon tǭ Papą, hopōs ōphelēthę̄ Legei autois ho gerōn; Ei ouk ōpheleitai en tę̄ siōpę̄ mou, oude en tǭ logǭ mou ōphelēthēnai echei.
The same abba Theophilus the archbishop once visited Scetis. The brothers gathered and said to abba Pambo, “Say a word to the pope, so that he may be helped.” The old man says to them, “If he is not helped by my silence, he will not be helped by my word either.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Pambo will not speak to Theophilus: if his silence does not help, his words will not.
- “Pope” (πάπας) was the title of the archbishop of Alexandria.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.2 (PG 65:197; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-2
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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.
41.3PG 65:199
Ἦλθόν ποτε Πατέρες εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, κληθέντες ὑπὸ Θεοφίλου τοῦ ἀρχιεπισκόπου, ἵνα ποιήσῃ εὐχὴν, καὶ καθέλῃ τὰ ἱερά. Καὶ ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν μετ' αὐτοῦ, παρετέθη κρέας μόσχιον· καὶ ἤσθιον, μηδὲν διακρινόμενοι. Καὶ λαβὼν ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ἓν κοπάδιν ἔδωκε τῷ ἔγγιστα αὐτοῦ γέροντι, λέγων· Ἰδοὺ τοῦτο καλὸν κοπάδιν ἐστὶ, φάγε, ἀββᾶ. Οἱ δὲ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς ἕως ἄρτι λάχανα ἠσθίομεν εἰ δὲ κρέας ἐστὶ, οὐ τρώγομεν. Καὶ οὐκ ἔτι προσέθετο οὐδὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν γεύσασθαι αὐτοῦ.
Ēlthon pote Pateres eis Alexandreian, klēthentes hypo Theophilou tou archiepiskopou, hina poiēsę̄ euchēn, kai kathelę̄ ta hiera. Kai esthiontōn autōn met' autou, paretethē kreas moschion; kai ēsthion, mēden diakrinomenoi. Kai labōn ho episkopos hen kopadin edōke tǭ engista autou geronti, legōn; Idou touto kalon kopadin esti, phage, abba. Hoi de apokrithentes eipon; Hēmeis heōs arti lachana ēsthiomen ei de kreas esti, ou trōgomen. Kai ouk eti prosetheto oude heis ex autōn geusasthai autou.
Once some Fathers came to Alexandria, summoned by Theophilus the archbishop to pray and tear down the temples. As they were eating with him, veal was served; and they ate it without noticing. And the bishop took a piece and gave it to the old man nearest him, saying, “Look, this is a good piece; eat, abba.” But they answered, “Until now we were eating vegetables; but if it is meat, we do not eat it.” And not one of them would taste it any more.
Notes and citation
Summary: Desert Fathers at Theophilus’s table stop eating when told the dish is meat.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slips): κλι, θέντες → κληθέντες.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.3 (PG 65:199; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-3
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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.
41.4PG 65:199–201
Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀββᾶς Θεόφιλος ἔλεγεν Οἷον φόβον καὶ τρόμον καὶ ἀνάγκην ἔχομεν ἰδεῖν, ὅτε ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ σώματος χωρίζεται Παραγίνεται γὰρ πρὸς ἡμᾶς στρατιὰ καὶ δύναμις τῶν ἐναντίων δυνάμεων, οἱ τοῦ σκότους ἄρχοντες, οἱ κοσμοκράτορες τῆς πονηρίας, καὶ ἀρχαὶ καὶ ἐξουσίαι, τὰ πνεύματα τῆς πονηρίας· καὶ τρόπῳ τινὶ δίκης κατέχουσι τὴν ψυχὴν, ἐπιφέροντες πάντα αὐτῆς τὰ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἀγνοίᾳ ἁμαρτήματα, ἀπὸ νεότητος ἕως τῆς ἡλικίας ἧς κατελήφθη. Ἴστανται οὖν κατηγοροῦντες πάντα τὰ πεπραγμένα ὑπ᾿ αὐτῆς. Λοιπὸν ὁποῖον τρόμον δοκεῖς τὴν ψυχὴν ἔχειν ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ἕως οὗ ἡ ἀπόφασις ἐξέλθῃ, καὶ ἐλευθερία γένηται αὐτῆς; τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ ὥρα τῆς ἀνάγκης αὐτῆς, ἕως οὗ ἴδῃ τί τὸ ἀποβησόμενον αὐτῇ. Καὶ πάλιν αἱ θεῖαι δυνάμεις ἴστανται κατὰ πρόσωπον τῶν ἐναντίων, καὶ αὐταὶ τὰ καλὰ αὐτῆς ἐπιφέρουσαι. Κατανόει οὖν ἡ ψυχή μέση ἱσταμένη ποίῳ ἄρα φόβῳ καὶ τρόμῳ στήκει, ἕως οὗ ἡ κρίσις αὐτῆς ἀπόφασιν λάβῃ παρὰ τοῦ δικαίου κριτοῦ. Καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ᾗ ἀξία, ἐκεῖνοι λαμβάνουσιν ἐπιτιμίαν, καὶ αὐτὴ ἁρπάζεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν· καὶ λοιπὸν ἀμέριμνος εἶ, μᾶλλον δὲ κατοικεῖ κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον· Ὡς εὐφραινομένων πάντων ἡ κατοικία ἐν σοί. Τότε πληροῦται τὸ γεγραμμένον Ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμός· τότε ἀπαλλαγείσα πορεύεται εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν ἀνεκλάλητον χαρὰν καὶ δόξαν, εἰς ἣν καταστήσεται. Ἐὰν δὲ εὑρεθῇ ἐν ἀμελείᾳ ζήσασα, ἀκούει τὴν δεινοτάτην φωνήν· Ἀρθήτω ὁ ἀσεβὴς, ἵνα μὴ ἴδῃ τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου. Τότε αὐτὴν καταλαμβάνει ἡμέρα ὀργῆς, ἡμέρα θλίψεως ἡμέρα σκότους καὶ γνόφου. Παραδιδομένη εἰς τὸ ἐξώτερον σκότος, καὶ εἰς τὸ αἰώνιον πῦρ κατακριθεῖσα, εἰς ἀπεράντους αἰῶνας κολασθήσεται. Τότε ποῦ ἡ καύχησις τοῦ κόσμου; ποῦ ἡ κενοδοξία; ποῦ ἡ τρυφή; ποῦ ἡ ἀπόλαυσις; ποῦ ἡ φαντασία; ποῦ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις; ποῦ ὁ κόμπος; ποῦ τὰ χρήματα; ποῦ ἡ εὐγένεια; ποῦ πατήρ; ποῦ μήτηρ; ποῦ ἀδελφός; τίς δυνήσεται τούτων ἐξελέσθαι τὴν ὑπὸ πυρὸς φλεγομένην, καὶ ὑπὸ πικρῶν βασάνων κατεχομένην; Τούτων οὕτως γινομένων, ποταποὺς δεῖ ὑπάρχειν ἡμᾶς ἐν ἁγίαις ἀναστροφαῖς καὶ εὐσεβείαις; ποταπὴν ἀγάπην ὀφείλομεν κτήσασθαι; ποταπὴν ἀγωγήν; ποταπὴν πολιτείαν; ποταπὸν δρόμον; ὁποίαν ἀκρίβειαν ὁποίαν προσευχήν; ὁποίαν ἀσφάλειαν; Ταῦτα γὰρ, φησὶ, προσδοκῶντες, σπουδάσωμεν ἄσπιλοι καὶ ἀμώμητοι εὑρεθῆναι αὐτῷ ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ἵνα καταξιωθῶμεν αὐτοῦ ἀκοῦσαι λέγοντος· Δεῦτε, οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ Πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν κόσμου, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Αμήν.
Ho autos abbas Theophilos elegen Hoion phobon kai tromon kai anankēn echomen idein, hote hē psychē tou sōmatos chōrizetai Paraginetai gar pros hēmas stratia kai dynamis tōn enantiōn dynameōn, hoi tou skotous archontes, hoi kosmokratores tēs ponērias, kai archai kai exousiai, ta pneumata tēs ponērias; kai tropǭ tini dikēs katechousi tēn psychēn, epipherontes panta autēs ta en gnōsei kai agnoią hamartēmata, apo neotētos heōs tēs hēlikias hēs katelēphthē. Istantai oun katēgorountes panta ta pepragmena hyp᾿ autēs. Loipon hopoion tromon dokeis tēn psychēn echein en tę̄ hōrą ekeinę̄, heōs hou hē apophasis exelthę̄, kai eleutheria genētai autēs? touto estin hē hōra tēs anankēs autēs, heōs hou idę̄ ti to apobēsomenon autę̄. Kai palin hai theiai dynameis istantai kata prosōpon tōn enantiōn, kai autai ta kala autēs epipherousai. Katanoei oun hē psychē mesē histamenē poiǭ ara phobǭ kai tromǭ stēkei, heōs hou hē krisis autēs apophasin labę̄ para tou dikaiou kritou. Kai ean men hę̄ axia, ekeinoi lambanousin epitimian, kai autē harpazetai ap᾿ autōn; kai loipon amerimnos ei, mallon de katoikei kata to gegrammenon; Hōs euphrainomenōn pantōn hē katoikia en soi. Tote plēroutai to gegrammenon Apedra odynē kai lypē kai stenagmos; tote apallageisa poreuetai eis ekeinēn tēn aneklalēton charan kai doxan, eis hēn katastēsetai. Ean de heurethę̄ en ameleią zēsasa, akouei tēn deinotatēn phōnēn; Arthētō ho asebēs, hina mē idę̄ tēn doxan Kyriou. Tote autēn katalambanei hēmera orgēs, hēmera thlipseōs hēmera skotous kai gnophou. Paradidomenē eis to exōteron skotos, kai eis to aiōnion pyr katakritheisa, eis aperantous aiōnas kolasthēsetai. Tote pou hē kauchēsis tou kosmou? pou hē kenodoxia? pou hē tryphē? pou hē apolausis? pou hē phantasia? pou hē anapausis? pou ho kompos? pou ta chrēmata? pou hē eugeneia? pou patēr? pou mētēr? pou adelphos? tis dynēsetai toutōn exelesthai tēn hypo pyros phlegomenēn, kai hypo pikrōn basanōn katechomenēn? Toutōn houtōs ginomenōn, potapous dei hyparchein hēmas en hagiais anastrophais kai eusebeiais? potapēn agapēn opheilomen ktēsasthai? potapēn agōgēn? potapēn politeian? potapon dromon? hopoian akribeian hopoian proseuchēn? hopoian asphaleian? Tauta gar, phēsi, prosdokōntes, spoudasōmen aspiloi kai amōmētoi heurethēnai autǭ en eirēnę̄, hina kataxiōthōmen autou akousai legontos; Deute, hoi eulogēmenoi tou Patros mou, klēronomēsate tēn kosmou, eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn. Amēn.
The same abba Theophilus said, “What fear and trembling and anguish we shall see when the soul is separated from the body! For there comes to us an army and host of the opposing powers, the rulers of darkness, the world-rulers of wickedness, principalities and authorities, the spirits of wickedness; and in a kind of trial they hold the soul, bringing against it all its sins committed in knowledge and in ignorance, from youth to the age at which it was taken. So they stand accusing it of everything it has done. Then what trembling do you think the soul has at that hour, until the sentence goes out and its freedom comes? This is the hour of its anguish, until it sees what will become of it. And again the divine powers stand facing the opposing ones, and they too bring forward its good deeds. Consider, then, in what fear and trembling the soul stands in the middle, until its judgment receives sentence from the righteous Judge. And if it is worthy, they receive rebuke, and it is snatched away from them; and from then on you are free from care, or rather it dwells, as it is written, ‘As of all who rejoice is the dwelling in you.’ Then is fulfilled what is written, ‘Pain and grief and groaning have fled away’; then, set free, it goes into that unspeakable joy and glory in which it will be established. But if it is found to have lived in carelessness, it hears that most terrible voice: ‘Let the ungodly be taken away, that he may not see the glory of the Lord.’ Then the day of wrath takes hold of it, the day of affliction, the day of darkness and gloom. Handed over to the outer darkness and condemned to the eternal fire, it will be punished for endless ages. Then where is the boasting of the world? Where is vainglory? Where is luxury? Where is enjoyment? Where is display? Where is rest? Where is pomp? Where is wealth? Where is noble birth? Where is father? Where is mother? Where is brother? Who will be able to rescue from these the soul burning in the fire and held fast by bitter torments? Since these things are so, what sort of people ought we to be in holy conduct and godliness? What love ought we to acquire? What way of life? What conduct? What course? What exactness? What prayer? What vigilance? ‘For,’ he says, ‘since we wait for these things, let us be eager to be found by him spotless and blameless, in peace,’ so that we may be counted worthy to hear him say, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the … of the world,’ for ages of ages. Amen.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Eph 6:12 (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 35:10 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 26:10 (quotation, high confidence) · Zeph 1:15 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 25:41 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 8:12 (allusion, medium confidence) · 2 Pet 3:11 (quotation, high confidence) · 2 Pet 3:14 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 25:34 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theophilus describes the soul’s trial by demons and angels at death and its eternal outcome.
- A displaced line (“Then where is the boasting of the world? Where is vainglory?”) is moved back to the place where the list of questions begins, and a variant mark removed. Words are lost before “of the world” (in Matt 25:34: “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation”); not supplied. Quotations: Eph 6:12; Ps 87:7 (LXX 86:7); Isa 35:10; Isa 26:10 (LXX); Zeph 1:15; 2 Pet 3:11, 14; Matt 25:34. The account of demonic accusers at death (the “toll” of the soul) is translated as written.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: stray letter, words run together, letter slip; OCR: word split; a line displaced by the OCR (restored below at its place); displaced line restored to its place (same words as in the scan); stray mark and “Al.” removed): τῆς Τότε ποῦ ἡ καύχησις τοῦ κόσμου; ποῦ ἡ κενοδοξία; πονηρίας → τῆς πονηρίας; κολασθήσεται. "ΑΙ. ποῦ ἡ τρυφή; → κολασθήσεται. Τότε ποῦ ἡ καύχησις τοῦ κόσμου; ποῦ ἡ κενοδοξία; ποῦ ἡ τρυφή;; ἡλι κίας → ἡλικίας; cἕως οὗ ἡ κρίσιςαὐτῆς ἀπόφασιν λάβῃ παρὰ τοῦ δικαίο. κριτοῦ → ἕως οὗ ἡ κρίσις αὐτῆς ἀπόφασιν λάβῃ παρὰ τοῦ δικαίου κριτοῦ; και τακριθεῖσα → κατακριθεῖσα; ἀκρίΘειαν → ἀκρίβειαν.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.4 (PG 65:199–201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-4
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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.
41.5PG 65:201
Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀββὰς Θεόφιλος ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος, μέλλων τελευτᾶν, εἶπε· Μακάριος εἶ, ἀββᾶ Ἀρσένιε, ὅτὶ ταύτης ἀεὶ ἐμνημόνευες τῆς ὥρας.
Ho autos abbas Theophilos ho archiepiskopos, mellōn teleutan, eipe; Makarios ei, abba Arsenie, hoti tautēs aei emnēmoneues tēs hōras.
The same abba Theophilus the archbishop, when he was about to die, said, “You are blessed, abba Arsenius, because you always kept this hour in mind.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Dying, Theophilus calls Arsenius blessed for always remembering death.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 41.5 (PG 65:201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/41-5
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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 42
42.0PG 65:201
ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς
hētoimasmenēn hymin basileian apo katabolēs
… kingdom prepared for you from the foundation …
Matt 25:34 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Displaced words that complete the quotation at the end of the last saying of Theophilus.
- These words stand in the scan before the first saying of amma Theodora. They are the words lost from the end of the preceding saying (41.4), completing Matt 25:34: “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.0 (PG 65:201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-0). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-0
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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.
42.1PG 65:201
Ἠρώτησεν ἡ Ἀμμᾶς Θεοδώρα τὸν Πάπαν Θεόφιλον τὸ ῥητὸν τοῦ Ἀποστόλου, τὸ, Τί ἐστι τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι; Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτῇ· Ἡ ἐπωνυμία δεικνύει τὸ κέρδος· οἷον, καιρὸς ὕβρεώς σοι πάρεστιν; ἀγόρασον τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ μακροθυμίᾳ τὸν τῆς ὕβρεως καιρὸν, καὶ ἕλκυσον κέρδος πρὸς ἑαυτόν· Καιρὸς ἀτιμίας; τῇ ἀνεξικακίᾳ ἀγόρασον τὸν καιρὸν, καὶ κέρδησον. Καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐναντία, ἐὰν θέλωμεν, κέρδη γίνονται ἡμῖν.
Ērōtēsen hē Ammas Theodōra ton Papan Theophilon to rhēton tou Apostolou, to, Ti esti ton kairon exagorazomenoi? Ho de legei autę̄; Hē epōnymia deiknyei to kerdos; hoion, kairos hybreōs soi parestin? agorason tę̄ tapeinophrosynę̄ kai makrothymią ton tēs hybreōs kairon, kai helkyson kerdos pros heauton; Kairos atimias? tę̄ anexikakią agorason ton kairon, kai kerdēson. Kai panta ta enantia, ean thelōmen, kerdē ginontai hēmin.
Amma Theodora asked Pope Theophilus about the saying of the Apostle, “What is ‘redeeming the time’?” He says to her, “The name shows the gain. For example: has a time of insult come to you? Buy the time of insult with humility and patience, and draw profit to yourself. A time of dishonor? Buy the time with forbearance, and gain. And all adverse things, if we wish, become gain for us.”
Eph 5:16 (quotation, high confidence) · Col 4:5 (quotation, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theophilus explains “redeeming the time” as turning every insult into gain by patience.
- Quotation of Eph 5:16 (Col 4:5).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.1 (PG 65:201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-1
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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.
42.2PG 65:201
Εἶπεν ἡ Ἀμμᾶς Θεοδώρα· Ἀγωνίσασθε εἰσελθεῖν διὰ τῆς στενῆς πύλης. Ὃν τρόπον γὰρ τὰ δένδρα, ἐὰν μὴ λάβωσι χειμῶνας καὶ ὑετοὺς, καρποφορεῖν οὐ δύνανται· οὕτως καὶ ἡμῖν, ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος χειμών ἐστι· καὶ ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων καὶ πειρασμῶν, οὐ δυνησόμεθα τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν γενέσθαι κληρονόμοι.
Eipen hē Ammas Theodōra; Agōnisasthe eiselthein dia tēs stenēs pylēs. Hon tropon gar ta dendra, ean mē labōsi cheimōnas kai hyetous, karpophorein ou dynantai; houtōs kai hēmin, ho aiōn houtos cheimōn esti; kai ean mē dia pollōn thlipseōn kai peirasmōn, ou dynēsometha tēs basileias tōn ouranōn genesthai klēronomoi.
Amma Theodora said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For as trees cannot bear fruit unless they have winters and rains, so for us too this age is winter; and unless it is through many afflictions and temptations, we shall not be able to become heirs of the kingdom of heaven.”
Luke 13:24 (quotation, high confidence) · Acts 14:22 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodora teaches that this age is a winter of trials needed to bear fruit for the kingdom.
- Quotation of Luke 13:24; cf. Acts 14:22.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray letter): εἰσελα θεῖν → εἰσελθεῖν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.2 (PG 65:201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-2
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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.
42.3PG 65:201
Εἶπε πάλιν· Καλὸν τὸ ἡσυχάζειν· ἀνὴρ γὰρ φρόνιμος ἡσυχίαν ἄγει. Μέγα γὰρ ἀληθῶς παρθένῳ ἢ μοναχῷ, ἡσυχάζειν· μάλιστα δὲ τοῖς νέοις. Ἀλλὰ γίνωσκε, ὅτι προθῆται ἡσυχάσαι, εὐθέως ὁ πονηρὸς ἔρχεται καὶ βαρεῖ τὴν ψυχὴν, ἐν ἀκηδίαις, ἐν ὀλιγοψυχίαις, ἐν λογισμοῖς· βαρεῖ καὶ τὸ σῶμα, ἐν ἀσθενείαις, ἐν ἀτονίᾳ, ἐν λύσει γονάτων καὶ ὅλων τῶν μελῶν, καὶ λύει τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ τοῦ σώματος· καὶ ὅτι ἀσθενῶ καὶ οὐκ ἰσχύω βαλεῖν τὴν Σύναξιν. Ἀλλ' ἐὰν νήψωμεν, πάντα ταῦτα διαλύονται. Ἦν γάρ τις μοναχός· καὶ ὡς ἤρχετο βαλεῖν τὴν Σύναξιν, ἐλάμβανεν αὐτὸν ῥἴγος καὶ πυρετὸς, καὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ τόνῳ ὠχλεῖτο· καὶ οὕτως ἔλεγεν ἑαυτῷ, ὅτι Ἰδοὺ ἀσθενῶ, καὶ ἐνίοτε ἀποθνήσκω· ἐγερθῶ οὖν πρὶν ἀποθάνω, καὶ βάλω τὴν σύναξιν. Καὶ τῷ λογισμῷ τούτῳ ἐβιάζετο ἑαυτὸν, καὶ ἔβαλε τὴν Σύναξιν. καὶ ὡς κατέπαυεν ἡ σύναξις, κατέπαυε καὶ ὁ πυρετός. Καὶ πάλιν τούτῳ τῷ λογισμῷ ἀδελφὸς ἀνθέστηκε. καὶ ἔβαλε τὴν σύναξιν, καὶ ἐνίκησε τὸν λογισμόν
Eipe palin; Kalon to hēsychazein; anēr gar phronimos hēsychian agei. Mega gar alēthōs parthenǭ ē monachǭ, hēsychazein; malista de tois neois. Alla ginōske, hoti prothētai hēsychasai, eutheōs ho ponēros erchetai kai barei tēn psychēn, en akēdiais, en oligopsychiais, en logismois; barei kai to sōma, en astheneiais, en atonią, en lysei gonatōn kai holōn tōn melōn, kai lyei tēn dynamin tēs psychēs kai tou sōmatos; kai hoti asthenō kai ouk ischyō balein tēn Synaxin. All' ean nēpsōmen, panta tauta dialyontai. Ēn gar tis monachos; kai hōs ērcheto balein tēn Synaxin, elambanen auton rhigos kai pyretos, kai hē kephalē tonǭ ōchleito; kai houtōs elegen heautǭ, hoti Idou asthenō, kai eniote apothnēskō; egerthō oun prin apothanō, kai balō tēn synaxin. Kai tǭ logismǭ toutǭ ebiazeto heauton, kai ebale tēn Synaxin. kai hōs katepauen hē synaxis, katepaue kai ho pyretos. Kai palin toutǭ tǭ logismǭ adelphos anthestēke. kai ebale tēn synaxin, kai enikēse ton logismon
She also said, “It is good to live in stillness; for a sensible man keeps quiet. Truly it is a great thing for a virgin or a monk to live in stillness, especially for the young. But know that as soon as one intends to live in stillness, the evil one at once comes and weighs down the soul with listlessness, faint-heartedness, and thoughts; he weighs down the body too with sicknesses, weakness, slackening of the knees and of all the limbs, and he undoes the strength of soul and body, so that one says, ‘I am ill and not strong enough to say the office.’ But if we keep watch, all these things are dissolved. For there was a monk, and whenever he came to say the office, chills and fever seized him, and his head was racked with pain; and so he said to himself, ‘Look, I am ill, and perhaps I am dying; so let me get up before I die and say the office.’ And by this thought he forced himself and said the office. And when the office ended, the fever ended too. And again by this thought the brother resisted, and said the office, and overcame the thought.”
Prov 11:12 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodora warns that the devil attacks soul and body when one seeks stillness, and tells of a monk whose fever left when he prayed anyway.
- “A sensible man keeps quiet”: Prov 11:12 (LXX).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): Σύν αξιν → Σύναξιν.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.3 (PG 65:201; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-3
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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.
42.4PG 65:201–203
Ἔλεγε πάλιν ἡ αὐτὴ Ἀμμᾶς Θεοδώρα, ὅτι Ποτέ τις εὐλαβὴς ὑβρίζετο παρὰ τινός· καὶ λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἠδυνάμην κἀγὼ τὰ ὅμοιά σοι λέγειν· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ νόμος τοῦ Θεοῦ κλείει μου τὸ στόμα. Ἔλεγε δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι Χριστιανός τις, μετὰ Μανιχαίου διαλεγόμενος περὶ τοῦ σώματος, εἶπεν οὕτως· Δὸς τὸν νόμον τῷ σώματι, καὶ ὄψει τὸ σῶμα τῷ πλάσαντι.
Elege palin hē autē Ammas Theodōra, hoti Pote tis eulabēs hybrizeto para tinos; kai legei pros auton; Ēdynamēn kagō ta homoia soi legein; all᾽ ho nomos tou Theou kleiei mou to stoma. Elege de kai touto, hoti Christianos tis, meta Manichaiou dialegomenos peri tou sōmatos, eipen houtōs; Dos ton nomon tǭ sōmati, kai opsei to sōma tǭ plasanti.
The same amma Theodora said again that once a devout man was insulted by someone, and he says to him, “I too could say similar things to you; but the law of God shuts my mouth.” And she also said this: that a Christian, discussing the body with a Manichaean, spoke thus: “Give the body a law, and you will see that the body belongs to the one who formed it.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodora tells of a man restrained by God’s law from returning insults, and of a Christian’s answer to a Manichaean about the body.
- Two stray lines (on enduring false accusation “with patience and hope”) and a variant note are removed. The Manichaeans held the body to be the work of evil; the Christian’s answer is that the body, disciplined, shows it is God’s creature. The last phrase is translated by sense (the scan has τῷ πλάσαντι).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: doubled letter; OCR: word split; stray lines from another saying and a variant note (“Al.”)): καὶ ἐὰν ἔλθῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ καὶ τῇ ἐλπίδι κέρδησον. ἐάν τις. ΑΙ. πονηρόν. ψευδοκατηγορία σοι τοῦτο → καὶ τοῦτο; Μαννιχαίου → Μανιχαίου; διαλε γόμενος → διαλεγόμενος; τὸν νό μον → τὸν νόμον.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.4 (PG 65:201–203; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-4
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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.
42.5PG 65:203
Εἶπε πάλιν ἡ αὐτὴ, ὅτι ὁ διδάσκαλος ὀφείλει εἶναι ξένος φιλαρχίας, καὶ ἀλλότριος κενοδοξίας, μακρὰν ὑπερηφανίας, μὴ ὑπὸ κολακείας ἐμπαιζόμενος, μὴ ὑπὸ δώρων τυφλούμενος, μὴ ὑπὸ γαστρὸς νικώμενος, μὴ ὑπὸ ὀργῆς κρατούμενος· ἀλλὰ μακρόθυμος, ἐπιεικής, πάσῃ δυνάμει ταπεινόφρων· ἔγκριτος εἶναι καὶ ἀνεκτικός· κηδεμονικὸς καὶ φιλόψυχος. σ'. Ἔλεγε πάλιν ἡ αὐτὴ, ὅτι οὐκ ἄσκησις, οὔτε ἀγρυπνία, οὔτε παντοῖος πόνος σώζει· εἰ μὴ γνησία ταπεινοφροσύνη. Ἦν γάρ τις ἀναχωρητὴς ἀπελαύνων δαίμονας· καὶ ἐξήταζεν αὐτούς· Ἐν τίνι ἐξέρχεσθε; ἐν νηστείᾳ; Καὶ ἔλεγον· Ἡμεῖς οὔτε ἐσθίομεν, οὔτε πίνομεν. Ἐν ἀγρυπνίᾳ; Καὶ ἔλεγον· Ἡμεῖς οὐ κοιμώμεθα. Ἐν ἀναχωρήσει Ἡμεῖς εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους διάγομεν. Ἐν τίνι οὖν ἐξέρχεσθε; Καὶ ἔλεγον, ὅτι Οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς νικᾷ, εἰ μὴ ταπεινοφροσύνη. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη νικητήριόν ἐστι δαιμόνων;
Eipe palin hē autē, hoti ho didaskalos opheilei einai xenos philarchias, kai allotrios kenodoxias, makran hyperēphanias, mē hypo kolakeias empaizomenos, mē hypo dōrōn typhloumenos, mē hypo gastros nikōmenos, mē hypo orgēs kratoumenos; alla makrothymos, epieikēs, pasę̄ dynamei tapeinophrōn; enkritos einai kai anektikos; kēdemonikos kai philopsychos. s'. Elege palin hē autē, hoti ouk askēsis, oute agrypnia, oute pantoios ponos sōzei; ei mē gnēsia tapeinophrosynē. Ēn gar tis anachōrētēs apelaunōn daimonas; kai exētazen autous; En tini exerchesthe? en nēsteią? Kai elegon; Hēmeis oute esthiomen, oute pinomen. En agrypnią? Kai elegon; Hēmeis ou koimōmetha. En anachōrēsei Hēmeis eis tas erēmous diagomen. En tini oun exerchesthe? Kai elegon, hoti Ouden hēmas niką, ei mē tapeinophrosynē. Horąs hoti hē tapeinophrosynē nikētērion esti daimonōn?
The same said again that the teacher ought to be a stranger to the love of power, a foreigner to vainglory, far from pride; not mocked by flattery, not blinded by gifts, not conquered by the belly, not mastered by anger; but patient, gentle, humble with all his strength; tested and forbearing, caring and a lover of souls. [6] The same said again that neither asceticism nor vigil nor every kind of labor saves, but only genuine humility. For there was an anchorite who drove out demons; and he questioned them: “By what do you come out? By fasting?” And they said, “We neither eat nor drink.” “By vigil?” And they said, “We do not sleep.” “By withdrawal?” “We live in the deserts.” “Then by what do you come out?” And they said, “Nothing conquers us except humility.” Do you see that humility is victory over demons?
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodora describes the true teacher; then demons confess that only humility defeats them.
- The scan runs Theodora 6 (numbered in the print) into this saying; marked [6]. Variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray word and variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ἐξέρχεσθε, Μανιχαίου. ΑΙ. φιλαργυρίας ΑΙ. ὑπὲρ ἐν νηστεία; → ἐξέρχεσθε; ἐν νηστείᾳ;.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.5 (PG 65:203; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-5
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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.
42.7PG 65:203
Εἶπε πάλιν ἡ Ἀμμᾶς Θεοδώρα, ὅτι ἦν τις μοναχός· καὶ ἀπὸ πλήθους τῶν πειρασμῶν λέγει· Ὑπάγω ἔνθεν. Καὶ ὡς ἔβαλεν ἑαυτοῦ τὰ σανδάλια, ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπον ἄλλον βάλλοντα και αὐτὸν τὰ σανδάλια αὐτοῦ, καὶ λέγοντα αὐτῷ· Οὐ δι' ἐμὲ ἐξέρχῃ; ἰδοὺ ἐγώ σε προάγω ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ.
Eipe palin hē Ammas Theodōra, hoti ēn tis monachos; kai apo plēthous tōn peirasmōn legei; Hypagō enthen. Kai hōs ebalen heautou ta sandalia, horą anthrōpon allon ballonta kai auton ta sandalia autou, kai legonta autǭ; Ou di' eme exerchę̄? idou egō se proagō hopou ean aperchę̄.
Amma Theodora said again that there was a monk who, because of the great number of his temptations, says, “I am going away from here.” And as he put on his sandals, he sees another man also putting on his sandals, and saying to him, “Is it not because of me that you are leaving? Look, I go ahead of you wherever you go.”
Notes and citation
Summary: A monk who leaves to escape temptation sees the tempter putting on sandals to follow him.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip): ὅτι ὧν τις → ὅτι ἦν τις.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 42.7 (PG 65:203; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/42-7
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-42-7) · 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.