Sayings of the Desert Fathers (alphabetical collection) 47.0–60.1
Authorship disputed: Anonymous collection of sayings and stories of the Egyptian desert monks of the 4th and 5th centuries, arranged by the Greek alphabet of the monks' names and compiled in its present form in the late 5th or 6th century. The sayings are attributed to the named monks and were handed down orally and in smaller collections; the compiler is unknown.
Greek text: PG 65.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 47
47.0PG 65:223
Κελλίων.
Kelliōn.
[… of the Cells.]
Notes and citation
Summary: The end of the printed heading of the section on Isaac, priest of the Cells.
- This word belongs to the printed heading (“On abba Isaac, priest of the Cells”).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.0 (PG 65:223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-0). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-0
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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.
47.1PG 65:223
Ἦλθόν ποτε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰσαὰκ πρεσβύτερον ποιῆσαι. Καὶ ἀκούσας, ἔφυγεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον και ἀπῆλθεν εἰς ἀγρὸν, καὶ ἐκρύβη ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ χόρτου. Κατεδίωξαν οὖν οἱ Πατέρες ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ· καὶ φθάσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν ἀγρὸν, κατέλυσαν ἀναπαῆναι μικρὸν ἐκεῖ· ἦν γὰρ νύξ. Καὶ τὸν ὄνον ἀπέλυσαν βόσκεσθαι. Ὁ̔ δὲ ὄνος ἀπελθὼν, ἔστη κατὰ τοῦ γέροντος. Καὶ πρωΐ ζητοῦντες τὸν ὄνον, εὗρον καὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰσαάκ· καὶ ἐθαύμασαν. Θέλοντες δὲ αὐτὸν δῆσαι, οὐκ ἀφῆκε, λέγων· Οὐκ ἔτι φεύγω. Θέλημα γὰρ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστι, καὶ ὅπου δ᾽ ἂν φύγω, εἰς αὐτὸ ἔρχομαι.
Ēlthon pote ton abban Isaak presbyteron poiēsai. Kai akousas, ephygen eis Aigypton kai apēlthen eis agron, kai ekrybē ana meson tou chortou. Katediōxan oun hoi Pateres opisō autou; kai phthasantes eis auton ton agron, katelysan anapaēnai mikron ekei; ēn gar nyx. Kai ton onon apelysan boskesthai. Ho de onos apelthōn, estē kata tou gerontos. Kai prōï zētountes ton onon, heuron kai ton abban Isaak; kai ethaumasan. Thelontes de auton dēsai, ouk aphēke, legōn; Ouk eti pheugō. Thelēma gar tou Theou esti, kai hopou d᾽ an phygō, eis auto erchomai.
Once they came to make abba Isaac a presbyter. Hearing of it, he fled to Egypt and went into a field and hid among the grass. The Fathers pursued him; and reaching that field, they stopped to rest a little there, for it was night. And they let the donkey loose to graze. The donkey went and stood over the old man. In the morning, looking for the donkey, they found abba Isaac too; and they marveled. When they wanted to bind him, he would not allow it, saying, “I will not flee any more. For it is the will of God, and wherever I flee, I come to it.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac flees ordination but is found by the Fathers’ donkey and accepts it as God’s will.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): δῆ σαι → δῆσαι.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.1 (PG 65:223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-1
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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.
47.2PG 65:223
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαάκ· Ὅτε ἤμην νεώτερος, ἐκαθήμην μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Κρονίου καὶ οὐδέποτε εἶπέ μοι ποιῆσαι ἔργον, καίπερ γέρων ὢν καὶ τρέμων· ἀλλὰ δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἡγείρετο καὶ παρεῖχε τὸ βαυκάλιον ἐμοὶ καὶ πᾶσιν ὁμοίως. Καὶ μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Θεοδώρου τῆς Φέρμης ἐκάθισα, καὶ οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ἔλεγέ μοι ποιῆσαί τί ποτε· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν τράπεζαν δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἐτίθει, καὶ ἔλεγεν Ἀδελφὲ, ἐὰν θέλῃς, δεῦρο φάγε. Ἐγὼ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγον Ἀββᾶ, ἦλθον πρὸς σὲ ἵνα ὠφεληθῶ· καὶ πῶς οὐ λέγεις μοί τί ποτε ποιῆσαι; Ὁ δὲ γέρων πάντα ἐσιώπα. Καὶ ἀπῆλθον, καὶ ἀνήγγειλα τοῖς γέρουσι. Καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ γέροντες πρὸς αὐτὸν, εἶπον αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, ἦλθεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὴν ἁγιωσύνην σου, ὠφεληθῆναι, καὶ διατί οὐ λέγεις αὐτῷ ἵνα ποιήσῃ τί ποτε; Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων Μὴ γὰρ κοινοβιάρχης εἰμὶ, ἵνα διατάξω αὐτῷ; Ἐγὼ τέως, οὐδὲν λέγω αὐτῷ· ἀλλ᾽ ἐὰν θέλῃ, ὅ βλέπει με ποιοῦντα, ποιήσει καὶ αὐτός. Ἀπὸ τότε οὖν, προελάμβανον καὶ ἐποίουν, εἴ τι ἔμελλεν ὁ γέρων ποιεῖν. Αὐτὸς δε εἴ τι ἐποίει, σιωπῶν ἐποίει· καὶ τοῦτό με ἐδίδαξε, τὸ ποιεῖν σιωπῶντα.
Eipen ho abbas Isaak; Hote ēmēn neōteros, ekathēmēn meta tou abba Kroniou kai oudepote eipe moi poiēsai ergon, kaiper gerōn ōn kai tremōn; alla di᾽ heautou hēgeireto kai pareiche to baukalion emoi kai pasin homoiōs. Kai meta tou abba Theodōrou tēs Phermēs ekathisa, kai oude autos elege moi poiēsai ti pote; alla kai tēn trapezan di᾽ heautou etithei, kai elegen Adelphe, ean thelę̄s, deuro phage. Egō de pros auton elegon Abba, ēlthon pros se hina ōphelēthō; kai pōs ou legeis moi ti pote poiēsai? Ho de gerōn panta esiōpa. Kai apēlthon, kai anēngeila tois gerousi. Kai elthontes hoi gerontes pros auton, eipon autǭ; Abba, ēlthen ho adelphos pros tēn hagiōsynēn sou, ōphelēthēnai, kai diati ou legeis autǭ hina poiēsę̄ ti pote? Kai legei autois ho gerōn Mē gar koinobiarchēs eimi, hina diataxō autǭ? Egō teōs, ouden legō autǭ; all᾽ ean thelę̄, ho blepei me poiounta, poiēsei kai autos. Apo tote oun, proelambanon kai epoioun, ei ti emellen ho gerōn poiein. Autos de ei ti epoiei, siōpōn epoiei; kai touto me edidaxe, to poiein siōpōnta.
Abba Isaac said, “When I was young, I lived with abba Cronius; and he never told me to do any work, though he was old and trembling; but he got up himself and offered the jug to me and to everyone alike. And I lived with abba Theodore of Pherme, and he too never told me to do anything; but he set the table himself and said, ‘Brother, if you want, come and eat.’ And I said to him, ‘Abba, I came to you to be helped; why do you not tell me to do anything?’ But the old man kept completely silent. And I went and told the old men. And the old men came to him and said to him, ‘Abba, the brother came to your holiness to be helped; why do you not tell him to do anything?’ And the old man says to them, ‘Am I the head of a community, to give him orders? For my part, I tell him nothing; but if he wishes, what he sees me doing he will do himself.’ So from then on I anticipated him and did whatever the old man was about to do. And whatever he did, he did in silence; and this he taught me: to work in silence.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac learned from Theodore, who gave no orders, to imitate his elder and work in silence.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): Θεοδώ ρου → Θεοδώρου.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.2 (PG 65:223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-2
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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.
47.3PG 65:223–225
Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραάμ, ἦσαν. ὅμου οἰκοῦντες· καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀβραάμ, εὖρε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰσαὰκ κλαίοντα καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Τί κλαίεις Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Καὶ διατί μὴ κλαύσωμεν; Ποῦ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀπελθεῖν; ἐκοιμήθησαν οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν. Οὐκ ἤρκει γὰρ ἡμῖν τὸ ἐργόχειρον εἰς τὰ ναῦλα τῶν πλοίων, ἃ παρείχομεν ἀπερχόμενοι παραβαλεῖν τοῖς γέρουσι. Νῦν οὖν ἀπωρφανίσθημεν. Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ κλαίω.
Ho abbas Isaak, kai ho abbas Abraam, ēsan. homou oikountes; kai eiselthōn ho abbas Abraam, eure ton abban Isaak klaionta kai legei autǭ Ti klaieis Kai eipen ho gerōn; Kai diati mē klausōmen? Pou gar echomen apelthein? ekoimēthēsan hoi Pateres hēmōn. Ouk ērkei gar hēmin to ergocheiron eis ta naula tōn ploiōn, ha pareichomen aperchomenoi parabalein tois gerousi. Nyn oun apōrphanisthēmen. Dia touto kagō klaiō.
Abba Isaac and abba Abraham lived together; and abba Abraham came in and found abba Isaac weeping, and says to him, “Why are you weeping?” And the old man said, “And why should we not weep? Where are we to go? Our Fathers have fallen asleep. Our handiwork was not enough for the boat fares we paid going to visit the old men. Now we have been orphaned. That is why I weep.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac weeps that the great Fathers are dead and the monks are left orphans.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.3 (PG 65:223–225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-3
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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.
47.4PG 65:225
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαάκ Οἶδα ἀδελφὸν θερίζοντα ἐν ἀγρῷ, καὶ ἠθέλησε φαγεῖν στάχυν σίτου καὶ εἶπε τῷ κυρίῳ τοῦ ἀγροῦ· Θέλεις φάγω ἕνα στάχυν σίτου Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας, ἐθαύμασε, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Σός ἐστιν ὁ ἀγρὸς, Πάτερ, κἀμὲ ἐρωτᾷς; Ἕως τούτου ἠκριβάζετο ὁ ἀδελφός.
Eipen ho abbas Isaak Oida adelphon therizonta en agrǭ, kai ēthelēse phagein stachyn sitou kai eipe tǭ kyriǭ tou agrou; Theleis phagō hena stachyn sitou Ho de akousas, ethaumase, kai eipen autǭ; Sos estin ho agros, Pater, kame erōtąs? Heōs toutou ēkribazeto ho adelphos.
Abba Isaac said, “I know a brother who was reaping in a field and wanted to eat an ear of wheat, and he said to the owner of the field, ‘Will you let me eat one ear of wheat?’ Hearing this, he marveled and said to him, ‘The field is yours, father, and you ask me?’ So exact was the brother.”
Notes and citation
Summary: A reaping brother asks leave to eat even one ear of wheat, to the owner’s astonishment.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): θερί ζοντα → θερίζοντα.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.4 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-4
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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.
47.5PG 65:225
Εἶπε πάλιν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· Μὴ φέρετε ὧδε παιδία. Τέσσαρες γὰρ ἐκκλησίαι εἰς Σκῆτιν ἔρημοι γεγόνασι διὰ τὰ παιδία.
Eipe palin tois adelphois; Mē pherete hōde paidia. Tessares gar ekklēsiai eis Skētin erēmoi gegonasi dia ta paidia.
He also said to the brothers, “Do not bring boys here. For four churches at Scetis have become deserted because of boys.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac forbids bringing boys to Scetis, blaming them for the ruin of four churches.
- The saying reflects the monks’ fear of sexual temptation and scandal; translated as written.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.5 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-5
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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.
47.6PG 65:225
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσαὰκ, ὅτι τὴν σποδὸν τοῦ θυμιατηρίου τῆς προσφορᾶς, μετὰ τοῦ ἄρτου ἥσθιεν αὐτοῦ.
Elegon peri tou abba Isaak, hoti tēn spodon tou thymiatēriou tēs prosphoras, meta tou artou hēsthien autou.
They said of abba Isaac that he used to eat the ashes from the censer of the offering with his bread.
Ps 102:9 (101:10 LXX) (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac ate the censer ashes with his bread.
- Cf. Ps 102:9 (LXX 101:10), “I have eaten ashes like bread.”
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.6 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-6
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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.
47.7PG 65:225
Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, ὅτι Οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν, καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβὼ, παλαιὰ πολύβῥαφα ἐφόρουν καὶ σεβέννια νῦν δὲ πολύτιμα φορεῖτε. Ὑπάγετε ἔνθεν, ἠρημώσατε τὰ ὧδε. Ὅτε δὲ ἔμελλεν σε ὑπάγειν εἰς τὸ θέρος, ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Οὐκ ἔτι παρέχω ὑμῖν ἐντολὰς οὐ φυλάσσετε γάρ.
Elegen ho abbas Isaak tois adelphois, hoti Hoi Pateres hēmōn, kai ho abbas Pambō, palaia polybrhapha ephoroun kai sebennia nyn de polytima phoreite. Hypagete enthen, ērēmōsate ta hōde. Hote de emellen se hypagein eis to theros, elegen autois; Ouk eti parechō hymin entolas ou phylassete gar.
Abba Isaac said to the brothers, “Our Fathers and abba Pambo wore old garments much patched and palm-fiber clothing; but now you wear expensive clothes. Go away from here; you have laid this place waste.” And when he was about to go to the harvest, he said to them, “I will no longer give you commandments, for you do not keep them.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac rebukes the brothers for fine clothing and gives up giving them commands they ignore.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.7 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-7
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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.
47.8PG 65:225
Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων, ὅτι ἦλθέ ποτέ τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν φορῶν μικρὸν κουσσούλιον εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τῶν Κελλίων ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσαάκ· καὶ ἐδίωξεν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων λέγων ὅτι, Τὰ ὧδε μοναχῶν ἐστι· σὺ δὲ κοσμικὸς ῶν, οὐ δύνασαι μεῖναι ὧδε.
Diēgēsato tis tōn Paterōn, hoti ēlthe pote tis tōn adelphōn phorōn mikron koussoulion eis tēn ekklēsian tōn Kelliōn epi tou abba Isaak; kai ediōxen auton ho gerōn legōn hoti, Ta hōde monachōn esti; sy de kosmikos ōn, ou dynasai meinai hōde.
One of the Fathers related that once a brother came to the church of the Cells wearing a small hood, in abba Isaac’s presence; and the old man drove him out, saying, “What is here is for monks; but you, being a layman, cannot stay here.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac drives out a brother whose fashionable hood marks him as worldly.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter): κουσσούλιον δ' εἰς → κουσσούλιον εἰς.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.8 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-8
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-47-8) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
47.9PG 65:225
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ ὅτι, Οὐδέποτε εἰσήνεγκα εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου λογισμὸν κατὰ ἀδελφοῦ θλίψαντός με. Κἀγὼ ἐσπούδασα μὴ ἀφεῖναι ἀδελφὸν εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ, ἔχοντα κατ᾿ ἐμοῦ λογισμόν.
Eipen ho abbas Isaak hoti, Oudepote eisēnenka eis to kellion mou logismon kata adelphou thlipsantos me. Kagō espoudasa mē apheinai adelphon eis to kellion autou, echonta kat᾿ emou logismon.
Abba Isaac said, “I have never brought into my cell a thought against a brother who grieved me. And I have been careful not to let a brother go into his cell holding a thought against me.”
Eph 4:26 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac never kept a grudge in his cell, nor let a brother keep one against him.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.9 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-9
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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.
47.10PG 65:225
Ἠσθένησε μεγάλην ἀσθένειαν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ ἐχρόνισεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἐποίησε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφὸς μικρὰν ἀθήραν, καὶ ἔδωκε μυξάρια εἰς αὐτήν· καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ὁ γέρων γεύσασθαι Καὶ παρεκάλει ὁ ἀδελφὸς λέγων Λάβε μικρὸν, ἀββᾶ, διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Φύσει, ἀδελφὲ ἤθελον ποιῆσαι ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ ταύτῃ τριάκοντα ἔτη.
Ēsthenēse megalēn astheneian ho abbas Isaak, kai echronisen en autę̄ epoiēse de autǭ ho adelphos mikran athēran, kai edōke myxaria eis autēn; kai ouk ēthelen ho gerōn geusasthai Kai parekalei ho adelphos legōn Labe mikron, abba, dia tēn astheneian. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn Physei, adelphe ēthelon poiēsai en tę̄ astheneią tautę̄ triakonta etē.
Abba Isaac fell seriously ill and was ill for a long time; and the brother made him a little gruel and put prunes in it; and the old man would not taste it. And the brother urged him, saying, “Take a little, abba, because of the illness.” And the old man says to him, “Truly, brother, I would like to spend thirty years in this illness.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac refuses sweetened gruel, wishing to bear his illness for thirty years.
- μυξάρια is taken as prunes (or sebesten plums).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ἀσθέ νειαν → ἀσθένειαν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.10 (PG 65:225; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-10
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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.
47.11PG 65:225–227
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσαὰκ, ὅτι μέλλοντος αὐτοῦ τελευτᾷν, συνῆλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ γέροντες, καὶ ἔλεγον Τί ποιήσομεν μετὰ σὲ, Πάτερ; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἴδετε πῶς ἐπορεύθην ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ἐὰν θέλητε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀκολουθῆσαι, καὶ φυλάξαι τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ, πέμπει τὴν χάριν αὐτοῦ, καὶ φυλάσσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον. Ἐὰν δὲ μὴ φυλάξητε, οὐ μὴ μείνητε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ. Καὶ ἡμεῖς γὰρ ὅταν ἤμελλον ἀποθανεῖν οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἐλυπούμεθα ἀλλὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ αὐτῶν τὰς παραγγελίας τηροῦντες, ἑστήκαμεν, ὡς αὐτῶν ὄντων μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν. Οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιήσατε, καὶ σώζεσθε.
Elegon peri tou abba Isaak, hoti mellontos autou teleutąn, synēlthon pros auton hoi gerontes, kai elegon Ti poiēsomen meta se, Pater? Ho de eipen; Idete pōs eporeuthēn enōpion hymōn ean thelēte kai hymeis akolouthēsai, kai phylaxai tas entolas tou Theou, pempei tēn charin autou, kai phylassei ton topon touton. Ean de mē phylaxēte, ou mē meinēte en tǭ topǭ toutǭ. Kai hēmeis gar hotan ēmellon apothanein hoi Pateres hēmōn, elypoumetha alla tas entolas tou Kyriou kai autōn tas parangelias tērountes, hestēkamen, hōs autōn ontōn meth᾽ hēmōn. Houtōs kai hymeis poiēsate, kai sōzesthe.
They said of abba Isaac that when he was about to die, the old men gathered to him and said, “What shall we do after you, father?” He said, “See how I have walked before you; if you too are willing to follow and keep the commandments of God, he will send his grace and guard this place. But if you do not keep them, you will not remain in this place. For we too, when our Fathers were about to die, were grieved; but keeping the commandments of the Lord and their instructions, we stood firm, as though they were with us. So you too do the same, and you will be saved.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Dying, Isaac tells the monks to keep God’s commandments as he did, and they will be kept safe.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): της ροῦντες → τηροῦντες.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.11 (PG 65:225–227; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-11
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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.
47.12PG 65:227
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαάκ, ὅτι Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβὼ, ὅτι τοιοῦτον ὀφείλει ὁ μοναχὸς φορεῖν ἱμάτιον, ὥστε βάλλειν αὐτὸ ἔξω τοῦ κελλίου ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, καὶ μηδεὶς λάβῃ αὐτό.
Eipen ho abbas Isaak, hoti Elegen ho abbas Pambō, hoti toiouton opheilei ho monachos phorein himation, hōste ballein auto exō tou kelliou epi treis hēmeras, kai mēdeis labę̄ auto.
Abba Isaac said that abba Pambo used to say that a monk ought to wear such a garment that he could throw it outside his cell for three days and no one would take it.
Notes and citation
Summary: A monk’s garment should be so poor that no one would steal it.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip): Ἰσαμκ → Ἰσαάκ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 47.12 (PG 65:227; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/47-12
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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.
Chapter 48
48.1PG 65:227
Ἀνῆλθόν δε τινες τῶν Πατέρων πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ εἰς Πανεφὼ, ἵνα ἐρωτήσωσιν αὐτὸν περὶ τῆς ἀπαντήσεως τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν ξενιζομένων πρὸς αὐτοὺς, εἰ χρὴ συγκαταβαίνειν καὶ παῤῥησιάζεσθαι πρὸς αὐτούς. Καὶ πρὸ τοῦ ἐρωτηθῆναι αὐτὸν, εἶπεν ὁ γέρων τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ· Κατανόησον ὅ μέλλω ποιεῖν σήμερον, καὶ ὑπόμεινον. Καὶ ἔθηκεν ὁ γέρων δύο ἐμβρίμια ἓν ἐκ δεξιῶν, καὶ ἓν ἐξ ἀριστερῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπε· Καθίσατε. Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν κέλλαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐφόρεσεν ἱμάτια ἐπαιτικά καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐπέρασεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν. Καὶ πάλιν εἰσελθὼν, ἐφόρεσε τὰ ἴδια ἱμάτια καὶ ἐξελθὼν πάλιν ἐκάθισεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν. Αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐξέστησαν ἐπὶ τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ γέροντος. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Κατενοήσατε ἐποίησα; Λέγουσι· Ναί. Μὴ ἠλλάγην ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀτίμου φορέματος; Λέγουσιν Οὔ. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Εἰ οὖν αὐτὸς ἐγώ εἰμι ἐν ἀμφοτέροις ὡς τὸ πρῶτον οὐκ ἤλλαξέ με, οὕτως οὐδὲ τὸ δεύτερον ἔβλαψέ με· οὕτως οὖν βι ὀφείλομεν ποιεῖν εἰς τὴν ὑποδοχὴν τῶν ξένων ἀδελφῶν κατὰ τὸ ἅγιον Εὐαγγέλιον. Δότε γὰρ, φησὶ, τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι, καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ Ὅτε οὖν ἐστι παρουσία ἀδελφῶν, μετὰ παῤῥησίας δεξώμεθα αὐτούς. Ὅτε δὲ καταμόνας ἐσμὲν, χρείαν ἔχομεν τοῦ πένθους, ἵνα παραμείνῃ ἡμῖν. Οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν, ὅτι καὶ τὰ ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πρὶν ἐρωτήσωσιν αὐτόν· καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεόν.
Anēlthon de tines tōn Paterōn pros ton abban Iōsēph eis Panephō, hina erōtēsōsin auton peri tēs apantēseōs tōn adelphōn tōn xenizomenōn pros autous, ei chrē synkatabainein kai parrhēsiazesthai pros autous. Kai pro tou erōtēthēnai auton, eipen ho gerōn tǭ mathētę̄ autou; Katanoēson ho mellō poiein sēmeron, kai hypomeinon. Kai ethēken ho gerōn dyo embrimia hen ek dexiōn, kai hen ex aristerōn autou, kai eipe; Kathisate. Kai eisēlthen eis tēn kellan autou, kai ephoresen himatia epaitika kai exelthōn eperasen en mesǭ autōn. Kai palin eiselthōn, ephorese ta idia himatia kai exelthōn palin ekathisen en mesǭ autōn. Autoi de exestēsan epi tǭ ergǭ tou gerontos. Kai eipen autois; Katenoēsate epoiēsa? Legousi; Nai. Mē ēllagēn apo tou atimou phorematos? Legousin Ou. Kai legei autois Ei oun autos egō eimi en amphoterois hōs to prōton ouk ēllaxe me, houtōs oude to deuteron eblapse me; houtōs oun bi opheilomen poiein eis tēn hypodochēn tōn xenōn adelphōn kata to hagion Euangelion. Dote gar, phēsi, ta Kaisaros Kaisari, kai ta tou Theou tǭ Theǭ Hote oun esti parousia adelphōn, meta parrhēsias dexōmetha autous. Hote de katamonas esmen, chreian echomen tou penthous, hina parameinę̄ hēmin. Hoi de akousantes ethaumasan, hoti kai ta en kardią autōn eipen autois prin erōtēsōsin auton; kai edoxasan ton Theon.
Some of the Fathers went up to abba Joseph at Panephysis to ask him about meeting the visiting brothers who stay with them, whether one should accommodate oneself and be free with them. And before he was asked, the old man said to his disciple, “Watch what I am going to do today, and wait.” And the old man set two mats, one on his right and one on his left, and said, “Sit down.” And he went into his cell and put on a beggar’s clothes; and coming out he passed through the middle of them. And going in again, he put on his own clothes; and coming out again he sat down in the middle of them. They were amazed at the old man’s action. And he said to them, “Did you notice what I did?” They say, “Yes.” “Was I changed by the shabby garment?” They say, “No.” And he says to them, “If I am the same in both, as the first did not change me, so neither did the second harm me. So we ought to do in receiving visiting brothers, according to the holy Gospel. For it says, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ So when brothers are present, let us receive them freely; but when we are alone, we need mourning, so that it may remain with us.” Hearing this, they marveled that he had told them what was in their hearts before they asked him; and they glorified God.
Matt 22:21 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph shows by changing clothes that one can be welcoming to visitors yet unchanged within.
- Quotation of Matt 22:21.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; OCR: word split with a stray letter): ἐξα ελθὼν → ἐξελθὼν; παραμεί νῃ → παραμείνῃ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.1 (PG 65:227; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-1
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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.
48.2PG 65:227
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωσήφ· Εἰπέ μοι πῶς γένωμαι μοναχός; Καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰ θέλεις εὑρεῖν ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ ὧδε καὶ ἐκεῖ, ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι λέγε· Ἐγὼ τίς εἰμι; καὶ μὴ κρίνῃς τινά.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn tǭ abbą Iōsēph; Eipe moi pōs genōmai monachos? Kai eipen; Ei theleis heurein anapausin kai hōde kai ekei, epi panti pragmati lege; Egō tis eimi? kai mē krinę̄s tina.
Abba Poemen said to abba Joseph, “Tell me, how may I become a monk?” And he said, “If you want to find rest both here and there, say in every matter, ‘Who am I?’ and do not judge anyone.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph counsels asking “Who am I?” and judging no one.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.2 (PG 65:227; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-2
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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.
48.3PG 65:227–229
Ὁ αὐτὸς πάλιν ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω, ὅταν προσεγγίζῃ τὰ πάθη; Αντιστῶ αὐτοῖς, ἢ ἀφήσω εἰσελθεῖν; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἄφες αὐτὰ εἰσελθεῖν, καὶ πολέμησον μετ᾿ αὐτῶν. Ἀνακάμψας οὖν ἐν Σκήτει, ἐκάθητο· καὶ ἐλθών τις τῶν Θηβαίων ἐν Σκήτει, ἔλεγε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, ὅτι Ἠρώτησα τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ, λέγων· Ἐὰν προσεγγίσῃ μοι πάθος, ἀντιστῶ αὐτῷ, ἢ ἀφήσω εἰσελθεῖν; Καὶ εἶπέ μοι· Μὴ ἀφήσῃς ὅλως εἰσελθεῖν τὰ πάθη, ἀλλ᾽ εὐθέως ἔκκοψον αὐτά. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι οὕτως εἶπε τῷ Θηβαίῳ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσήφ, ἀναστὰς ἀπῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς Πανεφὼ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀ̓ββᾶ, ἐγὼ ἐπίστευσά σοι τοὺς λογισμούς μου· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄλλως εἶπας ἐμοὶ, καὶ ἄλλως τῷ Θηβαίῳ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι ἀγαπῶ σε; Καὶ εἶπε· Ναί. Οὐ σὺ ἔλεγές μοι· Ὡς ἑαυτῷ εἰπέ μοι; Καὶ εἶπεν· Οὕτως ἔχει. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν γὰρ εἰσέλθῃ τὰ πάθη, καὶ δῶς καὶ λάβῃς μετ' αὐτῶν, δοκιμώτερόν σε καθιστῶσιν. Ἐγὼ δὲ ὡς ἐμαυτῷ ἐλάλησά σοι. Εἰσὶ δὲ ἄλλοι, οἷς οὐδὲ προσεγγίσαι τὰ πάθη συμφέρει· ἀλλ᾽ εὐθέως ἐκκόψαι αὐτὰ χρείαν ἔχουσιν.
Ho autos palin ērōtēse ton abban Iōsēph, legōn; Ti poiēsō, hotan prosengizę̄ ta pathē? Antistō autois, ē aphēsō eiselthein? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Aphes auta eiselthein, kai polemēson met᾿ autōn. Anakampsas oun en Skētei, ekathēto; kai elthōn tis tōn Thēbaiōn en Skētei, elege tois adelphois, hoti Ērōtēsa ton abban Iōsēph, legōn; Ean prosengisę̄ moi pathos, antistō autǭ, ē aphēsō eiselthein? Kai eipe moi; Mē aphēsę̄s holōs eiselthein ta pathē, all᾽ eutheōs ekkopson auta. Akousas de ho abbas Poimēn, hoti houtōs eipe tǭ Thēbaiǭ ho abbas Iōsēph, anastas apēlthe pros auton eis Panephō, kai legei autǭ; Abba, egō episteusa soi tous logismous mou; kai idou allōs eipas emoi, kai allōs tǭ Thēbaiǭ. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ouk oidas hoti agapō se? Kai eipe; Nai. Ou sy eleges moi; Hōs heautǭ eipe moi? Kai eipen; Houtōs echei. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ean gar eiselthę̄ ta pathē, kai dōs kai labę̄s met' autōn, dokimōteron se kathistōsin. Egō de hōs emautǭ elalēsa soi. Eisi de alloi, hois oude prosengisai ta pathē sympherei; all᾽ eutheōs ekkopsai auta chreian echousin.
The same again asked abba Joseph, saying, “What shall I do when the passions come near? Shall I resist them, or let them come in?” The old man says to him, “Let them come in, and fight with them.” So he went back and lived at Scetis; and one of the Thebans came to Scetis and said to the brothers, “I asked abba Joseph, saying, ‘If a passion comes near me, shall I resist it, or let it come in?’ And he told me, ‘Do not let the passions come in at all, but cut them off at once.’” When abba Poemen heard that abba Joseph had said this to the Theban, he got up and went to him at Panephysis and says to him, “Abba, I entrusted my thoughts to you, and look, you told me one thing and the Theban another.” The old man says to him, “Do you not know that I love you?” And he said, “Yes.” “Did you not say to me, ‘Tell me as you would tell yourself’?” And he said, “It is so.” The old man says to him, “For if the passions come in and you give and take with them, they make you more tested. I spoke to you as to myself. But there are others for whom it is not good even to let the passions come near; they need to cut them off at once.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph gives Poemen and a Theban opposite counsel on the passions, each according to his strength.
- Variant notes are removed; the name of Poemen, half lost in the scan (“ἀββᾶ; μὴν”), is restored.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letters of the name lost; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ποτέ. ΑΙ. ἐμβρύμια. οὐκ ἠλλάγην, καὶ οὐδέ. ἱλαρότητος. Α. ἐγκάρδια. → ; ΑΙ. τί. λέγει αὐτοῖς. Ο ΑΙ. καὶ ΑΙ. τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἀπάντησιν. → ; ὁ ἀββᾶ; μὴν → ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.3 (PG 65:227–229; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-3
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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.
48.4PG 65:229
Ἀδελφός τις ἠρώτησε ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὔτε κακοπαθῆσαι δύναμαι, οὐδὲ ἐργάσασθαι καὶ δοῦναι ἀγάπην; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὐ δύνασαι τούτων οὐδὲ ἓν ποιῆσαι, κἂν τήρησον τὴν συνείδησίν σου ἀπὸ τοῦ πλησίον σου ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ· καὶ σώζῃ
Adelphos tis ērōtēse abban Iōsēph, legōn; Ti poiēsō, hoti oute kakopathēsai dynamai, oude ergasasthai kai dounai agapēn? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei ou dynasai toutōn oude hen poiēsai, kan tērēson tēn syneidēsin sou apo tou plēsion sou apo pantos kakou; kai sōzę̄
A brother asked abba Joseph, saying, “What shall I do, since I can neither endure hardship nor work and give alms?” The old man says to him, “If you cannot do even one of these, at least keep your conscience clear of every evil toward your neighbor; and you will be saved.”
Notes and citation
Summary: One who can do nothing else can be saved by keeping his conscience clean toward his neighbor.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.4 (PG 65:229; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-4
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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.
48.5PG 65:229
Ἔλεγέ τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν, ὅτι Παρέβαλόν ποτε εἰς Ἡρακλέος τὴν κάτω πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσήφ· καὶ εἶχεν ἐν τῷ μοναστηρίῳ συκάμινον ὡραῖον πάνυ. Καὶ λέγει μοι ἀπὸ πρωΐ· Ὕπαγε, φάγε· ἦν δὲ παρασκευὴ, καὶ οὐκ ἀπῆλθον διὰ τὴν νηστείαν. Καὶ παρακαλέσας αὐτὸν εἶπον· Διὰ τὸν Θεὸν, εἰπέ μοι τὸν λογισμὸν τοῦτον· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἔλεγές μοι· Ὕπαγε, φάγε· ἐγὼ δὲ διὰ τὴν νηστείαν οὐκ ἀπῆλθον, καὶ ἤμην αἰσχυνόμενος τὴν σὴν ἐντολὴν λογιζόμενος, Ποίῳ λογισμῷ ἔλεγέ μοι ὁ γέρων; Τί οὖν εἶχον ποιῆσαι; ὅτι ἑλεγές μοι, Ὕπαγε. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οἱ Πατέρες ἐξ ἀρχῆς οὐ λαλοῦσι τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς τὸ ὀρθὸν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὰ στρεβλά· καὶ ἐὰν ἴδωσιν ὅτι ποιοῦσι τὰ στρεβλὰ, οὐκ ἔτι λαλοῦσιν αὐτοῖς τὰ στρεβλὰ, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν· εἰδότες, ὅτι εἰς πάντα ὑπήκοοί εἰσιν.
Elege tis tōn adelphōn, hoti Parebalon pote eis Hērakleos tēn katō pros ton abban Iōsēph; kai eichen en tǭ monastēriǭ sykaminon hōraion pany. Kai legei moi apo prōï; Hypage, phage; ēn de paraskeuē, kai ouk apēlthon dia tēn nēsteian. Kai parakalesas auton eipon; Dia ton Theon, eipe moi ton logismon touton; idou sy eleges moi; Hypage, phage; egō de dia tēn nēsteian ouk apēlthon, kai ēmēn aischynomenos tēn sēn entolēn logizomenos, Poiǭ logismǭ elege moi ho gerōn? Ti oun eichon poiēsai? hoti heleges moi, Hypage. Ho de eipen; Hoi Pateres ex archēs ou lalousi tois adelphois to orthon, alla mallon ta strebla; kai ean idōsin hoti poiousi ta strebla, ouk eti lalousin autois ta strebla, alla tēn alētheian; eidotes, hoti eis panta hypēkooi eisin.
One of the brothers said, “Once I visited abba Joseph at lower Heracleopolis; and he had a very fine mulberry tree in the monastery. And early in the morning he says to me, ‘Go, eat.’ It was Friday, and I did not go because of the fast. And I begged him and said, ‘For God’s sake, tell me your thought in this: look, you told me, “Go, eat,” but I did not go because of the fast, and I was ashamed, thinking of your command, “With what thought did the old man tell me this? What then should I have done, since you told me, ‘Go’?”’ He said, ‘At the beginning the Fathers do not tell the brothers what is straight, but rather what is crooked; and if they see that they do the crooked things, they no longer tell them crooked things but the truth, knowing that they are obedient in everything.’”
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph explains that elders test new monks with crooked commands before telling them the truth.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.5 (PG 65:229; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-5
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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.
48.6PG 65:229
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τῷ ἀββᾷ Λώτ· Οὐ δύνασαι γενέσθαι μοναχὸς, ἐὰν μὴ γένῃ ὡς πῦρ φλογιζόμενος ὅλος.
Eipen ho abbas Iōsēph tǭ abbą Lōt; Ou dynasai genesthai monachos, ean mē genę̄ hōs pyr phlogizomenos holos.
Abba Joseph said to abba Lot, “You cannot become a monk unless you become wholly like a blazing fire.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph says a monk must become wholly like fire.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): φλογιζό μενος → φλογιζόμενος.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.6 (PG 65:229; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-6
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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.
48.7PG 65:229
Παρέβαλεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Λὼτ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, κατὰ δύναμίν μου ποιῶ τὴν μικράν μου σύναξιν, καὶ τὴν μικρὰν νηστείαν μου, καὶ τὴν εὐχὴν, καὶ τὴν μελέτην, καὶ τὴν ἡσυχίαν, καὶ τὸ κατὰ δύναμίν μου καθαρεύω τοῖς λογισμοῖς. Τί οὖν ἔχω ποιῆσαι λοιπόν;. Ἀναστὰς οὖν ὁ γέρων, ἤπλωσε τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν· καὶ γεγόνασιν οἱ δάκτυλοι αὐτοῦ, ὡς δέκα λαμπάδες πυρός· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Εἰ θέλεις, γενοῦ ὅλος ὡς πῦρ.
Parebalen ho abbas Lōt tǭ abbą Iōsēph, kai legei autǭ; Abba, kata dynamin mou poiō tēn mikran mou synaxin, kai tēn mikran nēsteian mou, kai tēn euchēn, kai tēn meletēn, kai tēn hēsychian, kai to kata dynamin mou kathareuō tois logismois. Ti oun echō poiēsai loipon?. Anastas oun ho gerōn, ēplōse tas cheiras eis ton ouranon; kai gegonasin hoi daktyloi autou, hōs deka lampades pyros; kai legei autǭ; Ei theleis, genou holos hōs pyr.
Abba Lot visited abba Joseph and says to him, “Abba, as far as I can I keep my little office, my little fast, prayer, meditation, and stillness, and as far as I can I keep my thoughts clean. What more should I do?” The old man got up and spread his hands toward heaven; and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire; and he says to him, “If you wish, become wholly like fire.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph’s fingers become like ten flames as he tells Lot to become wholly like fire.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.7 (PG 65:229; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-7
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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.
48.8PG 65:229–231
Ἀδελφὸς ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ, λέγων ὅτι, Θέλω ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινοβίου, καὶ καθίσαι καταμόνας. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὅπου βλέπεις τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀναπαυομένην καὶ μὴ βλαπτομένην, κάθισον. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ εἰς κοινόβιον ἀναπαύομαι, καὶ καταμόνας· τἱ οὖν θέλεις ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ ἀναπαύῃ εἰς τὸ κοινόβιο καὶ καταμόνας, στῆσον τοὺς δύο λογισμούς σου ὡς ἐν ζυγῷ· καὶ ὅπου βλέπεις ὅτι μᾶλλον ἐκεῖ ὠφελεῖται καὶ κατάγει ὁ λογισμός σου, τοῦτο ποίησον.
Adelphos hērōtēse ton abban Iōsēph, legōn hoti, Thelō exelthein apo tou koinobiou, kai kathisai katamonas. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Hopou blepeis tēn psychēn sou anapauomenēn kai mē blaptomenēn, kathison. Legei autǭ ho adelphos; Kai eis koinobion anapauomai, kai katamonas; ti oun theleis poiēsō? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei anapauę̄ eis to koinobio kai katamonas, stēson tous dyo logismous sou hōs en zygǭ; kai hopou blepeis hoti mallon ekei ōpheleitai kai katagei ho logismos sou, touto poiēson.
A brother asked abba Joseph, saying, “I want to leave the community and live alone.” And the old man says to him, “Wherever you see your soul at rest and not harmed, stay there.” The brother says to him, “I am at rest both in the community and alone; what then do you want me to do?” The old man says to him, “If you are at rest in the community and alone, put your two thoughts as on a scale; and where you see that your thought benefits more and inclines, do that.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph tells a brother to weigh community and solitude and choose where his soul profits more.
- A variant note is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant note (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. καθαριεύω. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.8 (PG 65:229–231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-8
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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.
48.9PG 65:231
Παρέλαβέ τις τῶν γερόντων πρὸς τὸν ἑταῖρον αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες ἐπισκέψωνται τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσήφ· καὶ λέγει· Εἰπὲ τῷ μαθητῇ σου, ἵνα στρώσῃ ἡμῖν τὸν ὄνον. Καὶ λέγει· Φώνησον αὐτόν· καὶ εἴ τι θέλεις ποιεῖ. Λέγει· Τίς καλεῖται; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Οὐκ οἶδα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Πόσον χρόνον ἔχει μετὰ σοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ οἶδας τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ; Καὶ εἶπεν· Ἔχει δύο ἔτη. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη Εἰ σὺ δύο ἔτη οὐκ οἶδας τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ μαθητοῦ σου, ἐγὼ εἰς μίαν ἡμέραν τί ἔχω χρείαν μαθεῖν αὐτό;
Parelabe tis tōn gerontōn pros ton hetairon autou, hina apelthontes episkepsōntai ton abban Iōsēph; kai legei; Eipe tǭ mathētę̄ sou, hina strōsę̄ hēmin ton onon. Kai legei; Phōnēson auton; kai ei ti theleis poiei. Legei; Tis kaleitai? Ho de ephē; Ouk oida. Kai legei autǭ; Poson chronon echei meta sou, hoti ouk oidas to onoma autou? Kai eipen; Echei dyo etē. Ho de ephē Ei sy dyo etē ouk oidas to onoma tou mathētou sou, egō eis mian hēmeran ti echō chreian mathein auto?
One of the old men took his companion along so that they might go and visit abba Joseph; and he says, “Tell your disciple to saddle the donkey for us.” And he says, “Call him, and he will do whatever you want.” He says, “What is his name?” He said, “I do not know.” And he says to him, “How long has he been with you, that you do not know his name?” And he said, “Two years.” He said, “If you have not known your disciple’s name for two years, what need have I to learn it for one day?”
Notes and citation
Summary: An elder who has never learned his disciple’s name in two years shows his detachment.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.9 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-9
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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.
48.10PG 65:231
Συνήχθησαν ἀδελφοί ποτε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωσήφ· καὶ καθημένων αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπερωτώντων αὐτὸν, ἔχαιρε· καὶ προθυμούμενος ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐγὼ βασιλεύς εἰμι σήμερον· ἐβασίλευσα γὰρ ἐπὶ τὰ πάθη.
Synēchthēsan adelphoi pote pros ton abban Iōsēph; kai kathēmenōn autōn, kai eperōtōntōn auton, echaire; kai prothymoumenos elegen autois; Egō basileus eimi sēmeron; ebasileusa gar epi ta pathē.
Once brothers gathered to abba Joseph; and as they sat and questioned him, he was joyful; and full of eagerness he said to them, “I am a king today; for I have reigned over the passions.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph rejoices that he is a king that day, having ruled over the passions.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray mark): Ἰω. σήφ → Ἰωσήφ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.10 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-10
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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.
48.11PG 65:231
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰωσὴφ τῆς Πανεφώ, ὅτι μέλλοντος αὐτοῦ τελευτᾶν, καθημένων γερόντων, προσχών πρὸς τὴν θυρίδα, εἶδε τὸν διάβολον καθήμενον πρὸς τῇ θυρίδι· καὶ φωνήσας τῷ μαθητῇ αὐτοῦ, ἔλεγε· Φέρε τὴν ῥάβδον· νομίζει γὰρ οὗτος ὅτι ἐγέρασα, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι δύναμαι πρὸς αὐτόν. Καὶ ὡς κατέσχε τὴν ῥάβδον, εἶδοντο οἱ γέροντες ὅτι ἐχάλασεν ἑαυτὸν ὡς κύων διὰ τῆς θυρίδος, καὶ ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο.
Elegon peri tou abba Iōsēph tēs Panephō, hoti mellontos autou teleutan, kathēmenōn gerontōn, proschōn pros tēn thyrida, eide ton diabolon kathēmenon pros tę̄ thyridi; kai phōnēsas tǭ mathētę̄ autou, elege; Phere tēn rhabdon; nomizei gar houtos hoti egerasa, kai ouk eti dynamai pros auton. Kai hōs katesche tēn rhabdon, eidonto hoi gerontes hoti echalasen heauton hōs kyōn dia tēs thyridos, kai aphanēs egeneto.
They said of abba Joseph of Panephysis that when he was about to die, while some old men were sitting there, he looked toward the window and saw the devil sitting at the window; and calling his disciple, he said, “Bring the staff; for this one thinks that I have grown old and can no longer stand against him.” And as he grasped the staff, the old men saw the devil let himself down through the window like a dog and vanish.
Notes and citation
Summary: Dying, Joseph drives away the devil with his staff.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 48.11 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/48-11
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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.
Chapter 49
49.1PG 65:231
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰάκωβος ὅτι, Μεῖζόν ἐστι τὸ ξενιτεῦσαι παρὰ τὸ ξενοδοχεῖν.
Eipen ho abbas Iakōbos hoti, Meizon esti to xeniteusai para to xenodochein.
Abba James said, “It is greater to live as a stranger than to receive strangers.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Exile is greater than hospitality.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong diacritic): Μεϊζόν → Μεῖζόν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 49.1 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-1
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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.
49.2PG 65:231
Ἔλεγε πάλιν, ὅτι ἐπαινούμενον, δεῖ λογίζεσθαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐννοεῖν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἄξιος τῶν λεγομένων.
Elege palin, hoti epainoumenon, dei logizesthai tas hamartias autou, kai ennoein hoti ouk estin axios tōn legomenōn.
He also said that one who is praised must think of his sins and consider that he is not worthy of what is said.
Notes and citation
Summary: When praised, remember your sins and unworthiness.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 49.2 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-2
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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.
49.3PG 65:231
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ὥσπερ λύχνος ἐν σκοτεινῷ κοιτῶνι φωτίζει, οὕτως καὶ ὁ φόβος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃ εἰς καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου, φωτίζει αὐτὸν, καὶ διδάσκει πάσας τὰς ἀρετὰς καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Eipe palin, hoti Hōsper lychnos en skoteinǭ koitōni phōtizei, houtōs kai ho phobos tou Theou, hotan elthę̄ eis kardian anthrōpou, phōtizei auton, kai didaskei pasas tas aretas kai tas entolas tou Theou.
He also said, “As a lamp lights a dark room, so the fear of God, when it comes into a man’s heart, enlightens him and teaches him all the virtues and the commandments of God.”
Prov 1:7 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The fear of God lights the heart like a lamp.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 49.3 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-3
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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.
49.4PG 65:231
Εἶπε πάλιν Οὐκ ἔστι χρεία λόγων μόνον· εἰσὶ γὰρ πολλοὶ λόγοι ἐν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ. Ἀλλὰ χρεία ἐστὶν ἔργου· αὐτὸ γάρ ἐστι τὸ ζητούμενον, καὶ οὐ λόγοι, οἵτινες οὐκ ἔχουσι καρπόν.
Eipe palin Ouk esti chreia logōn monon; eisi gar polloi logoi en tois anthrōpois en tǭ kairǭ toutǭ. Alla chreia estin ergou; auto gar esti to zētoumenon, kai ou logoi, hoitines ouk echousi karpon.
He also said, “There is no need of words alone; for there are many words among people in this time. But there is need of work; for this is what is sought, and not words, which bear no fruit.”
Jas 1:22 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Deeds, not fruitless words, are what is needed.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 49.4 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/49-4
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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.
Chapter 50
50.1PG 65:231
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἱέρακα, λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι λόγον, πῶς σωθῶ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Κάθου εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου· ἐὰν πεινᾷς, φάγε· ἐὰν διψᾷς, πίε· καὶ μὴ κακολογήσῃς τινά καὶ σώζῃ.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Hieraka, legōn; Eipe moi logon, pōs sōthō? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Kathou eis to kellion sou; ean peinąs, phage; ean dipsąs, pie; kai mē kakologēsę̄s tina kai sōzę̄.
A brother asked abba Hierax, saying, “Tell me a word: how may I be saved?” The old man says to him, “Sit in your cell; if you are hungry, eat; if you are thirsty, drink; and do not speak evil of anyone; and you will be saved.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hierax counsels staying in the cell and speaking ill of no one.
- Variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. εἰς. Α. ἴδε. το ΑΙ. ἴδον. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 50.1 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/50-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/50-1
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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.
50.2PG 65:231
Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι Οὐδέποτε κοσμικὸν λόγον ἢ εἶπον, ἢ ἠθέλησα ἀκοῦσαι.
Ho autos eipen, hoti Oudepote kosmikon logon ē eipon, ē ēthelēsa akousai.
The same said, “I have never spoken a worldly word nor wanted to hear one.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Hierax never spoke or sought to hear worldly talk.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 50.2 (PG 65:231; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/50-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/50-2
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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 51
51.1PG 65:231–233
Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ εὐνοῦχος, νεώτερος ὧν ἠρώτησε γέροντα, λέγων Πῶς ὑμεῖς ἡδυνήθητε ποιῆσαι τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν ἀναπαύσει· ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐδὲ μετὰ κόπου ποιῆσαι δυνάμεθα; Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων Ἡμεῖς ἡδυνήθημεν, ἐπειδὴ κεφάλαιον ἔχομεν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὴν δὲ χρείαν τὴν σωματικὴν ἐλάχιστον· ὑμεῖς δὲ κεφάλαιον ἔχετε τὴν σωματικὴν χρείαν, τὸ δὲ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἀναγκαιότερον. Διὰ τοῦτο κάμνετε, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὁ Σωτὴρ εἶπε τοῖς μαθηταῖς· Ὀλιγόπιστοι, ζητεῖτε πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν.
Ho abbas Iōannēs ho eunouchos, neōteros hōn ērōtēse geronta, legōn Pōs hymeis hēdynēthēte poiēsai to ergon tou Theou en anapausei; hēmeis de oude meta kopou poiēsai dynametha? Kai legei ho gerōn Hēmeis hēdynēthēmen, epeidē kephalaion echomen to ergon tou Theou, tēn de chreian tēn sōmatikēn elachiston; hymeis de kephalaion echete tēn sōmatikēn chreian, to de ergon tou Theou ouk anankaioteron. Dia touto kamnete, kai dia touto ho Sōtēr eipe tois mathētais; Oligopistoi, zēteite prōton tēn basileian tou Theou, kai tauta panta prostethēsetai hymin.
When abba John the eunuch was young, he asked an old man, saying, “How were you able to do the work of God with ease, while we cannot do it even with labor?” And the old man says, “We were able, because we held the work of God as the chief thing and bodily need as the least; but you hold bodily need as the chief thing, and the work of God as not so necessary. That is why you grow weary, and that is why the Savior said to the disciples, ‘You of little faith, seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.’”
Matt 6:30 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 6:33 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: An elder tells John that monks who put God’s work first find it easy; those who put the body first struggle.
- Quotation of Matt 6:30, 33.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ἐλάχι στον → ἐλάχιστον.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.1 (PG 65:231–233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-1
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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.
51.2PG 65:233
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης, ὅτι ὁ Πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος εἶπεν, ὅτι Οὐδέποτε τὸ ἑαυτοῦ συμφέρον προέκρινα τῆς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου ὠφελείας.
Eipen ho abbas Iōannēs, hoti ho Patēr hēmōn ho abbas Antōnios eipen, hoti Oudepote to heautou sympheron proekrina tēs tou adelphou mou ōpheleias.
Abba John said that our father abba Antony said, “I have never preferred my own advantage to my brother’s benefit.”
1 Cor 10:24 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Antony never put his own advantage before his brother’s good.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.2 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-2
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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.
51.3PG 65:233
Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ Κίληξ ὁ ἡγούμενος τῆς Ῥαϊθοῦ, τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· Τέκνα, ὡς ἐφύγομεν τὸν κόσμον, φύγωμεν καὶ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς σαρκός!
Elegen ho abbas Iōannēs ho Kilēx ho hēgoumenos tēs Rhaïthou, tois adelphois; Tekna, hōs ephygomen ton kosmon, phygōmen kai tas epithymias tēs sarkos!
Abba John the Cilician, superior of Raithou, said to the brothers, “Children, as we have fled the world, let us flee the desires of the flesh too!”
Notes and citation
Summary: John of Raithou urges fleeing the flesh’s desires as well as the world.
- This and the next three sayings belong to John the Cilician, abbot of Raithou in Sinai, though the staging places them under John the eunuch.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.3 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-3
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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.
51.4PG 65:233
Εἶπε πάλιν Μιμησώμεθα τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν· μετὰ ποίας σκληραγωγίας καὶ ἡσυχίας ἐκάθισαν ὧδε.
Eipe palin Mimēsōmetha tous Pateras hēmōn; meta poias sklēragōgias kai hēsychias ekathisan hōde.
He also said, “Let us imitate our Fathers: with what austerity and stillness they lived here.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Imitate the austerity and stillness of the Fathers.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.4 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-4
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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.
51.5PG 65:233
Εἶπε πάλιν· Μὴ ῥυπώσωμεν, τέκνα, τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, ὃν οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν ἐκαθάρισαν ἀπὸ δαιμόνων.
Eipe palin; Mē rhypōsōmen, tekna, ton topon touton, hon hoi Pateres hēmōn ekatharisan apo daimonōn.
He also said, “Let us not defile, children, this place which our Fathers cleansed of demons.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not defile the place the Fathers cleansed of demons.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.5 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-5
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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.
51.6PG 65:233
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ὁ τόπος οὗτος ἀσκητῶν ἐστιν, οὐ πραγματευτῶν.
Eipe palin; Ho topos houtos askētōn estin, ou pragmateutōn.
He also said, “This place is for ascetics, not for traders.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The monastery is for ascetics, not traders.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 51.6 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/51-6
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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.
Chapter 52
52.1PG 65:233
Διηγήσατο ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης τῶν Κελλίων, λέγων, ὅτι Μία πόρνη ἦν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, εὐμορφωτάτη καὶ πλουσία σφόδρα· καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτήν. Μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν εὐκαίρησεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ ἠθέλησεν εἰσελθεῖν ἔσω. Ὁ δὲ ὑποδιάκονος, ὁ στήκων εἰς τὰς θύρας, οὐκ εἴασεν αὐτὴν, λέγων· Οὐκ εἰ ἀξία εἰσελθεῖν εἰς οἶκον Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἀκάθαρτος εἷ. Ὡς δὲ ἐμάχοντο, ἤκουσεν ὁ ἐπίσκοπος τοῦ θορύβου, καὶ ἐξῆλθε. Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ἡ πόρνη· Οὐκ ἀφίει με εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος Οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι εἰσελθεῖν, ὅτι ἀκάθαρτος εἶ. Ἡ δὲ κατανυγεῖσα λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὐκ ἔτι πορνεύω. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος· Ἐὰν φέρῃς ὧδε τὰ χρήματά σου, οἶδα ὅτι οὐ πορνεύεις ἔτι. Ὡς δὲ ἤνεγκε, λαβὼν ἔκαυσεν αὐτὰ πυρί. Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, κλαίουσα καὶ λέγουσα· Εἰ ὧδε οὕτως μοι γέγονεν, ἐκεῖ τί ἔχω παθεῖν; Καὶ μετενόησε, καὶ γέγονε σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς.
Diēgēsato ho abbas Iōannēs tōn Kelliōn, legōn, hoti Mia pornē ēn en Aigyptǭ, eumorphōtatē kai plousia sphodra; kai hoi archontes ērchonto pros autēn. Mią oun tōn hēmerōn eukairēsen epi tēn ekklēsian, kai ēthelēsen eiselthein esō. Ho de hypodiakonos, ho stēkōn eis tas thyras, ouk eiasen autēn, legōn; Ouk ei axia eiselthein eis oikon Theou, hoti akathartos hei. Hōs de emachonto, ēkousen ho episkopos tou thorybou, kai exēlthe. Legei oun autǭ hē pornē; Ouk aphiei me eiselthein eis tēn ekklēsian. Kai legei autę̄ ho episkopos Ouk exesti soi eiselthein, hoti akathartos ei. Hē de katanygeisa legei autǭ; Ouk eti porneuō. Legei autę̄ ho episkopos; Ean pherę̄s hōde ta chrēmata sou, oida hoti ou porneueis eti. Hōs de ēnenke, labōn ekausen auta pyri. Kai eisēlthen eis tēn ekklēsian, klaiousa kai legousa; Ei hōde houtōs moi gegonen, ekei ti echō pathein? Kai metenoēse, kai gegone skeuos eklogēs.
Abba John of the Cells related: “There was a prostitute in Egypt, very beautiful and very rich; and the magistrates came to her. One day she happened to be at the church and wanted to go inside. But the subdeacon standing at the doors would not let her, saying, ‘You are not worthy to enter the house of God, because you are unclean.’ As they were quarreling, the bishop heard the noise and came out. So the prostitute says to him, ‘He will not let me go into the church.’ And the bishop says to her, ‘It is not lawful for you to enter, because you are unclean.’ Pierced to the heart, she says to him, ‘I will no longer practice prostitution.’ The bishop says to her, ‘If you bring your money here, I will know that you no longer practice prostitution.’ When she brought it, he took it and burned it with fire. And she went into the church weeping and saying, ‘If this has happened to me here, what am I to suffer there?’ And she repented, and became a chosen vessel.”
Acts 9:15 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A rich prostitute, refused entry to church, repents, gives up her money to be burned, and becomes a chosen vessel.
- The story is told as written. “Chosen vessel”: Acts 9:15.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 52.1 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/52-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/52-1
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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.
52.2PG 65:233
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης τῆς Θηβαΐδος Ὀφείλει ὁ μοναχὸς πρὸ πάντων τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην κατορθῶσαι. Αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ πρώτη ἐντολὴ τοῦ Σωτῆρος, λέγοντος· Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
Eipen ho abbas Iōannēs tēs Thēbaïdos Opheilei ho monachos pro pantōn tēn tapeinophrosynēn katorthōsai. Hautē gar estin hē prōtē entolē tou Sōtēros, legontos; Makarioi hoi ptōchoi tǭ pneumati, hoti autōn estin hē basileia tōn ouranōn.
Abba John of the Thebaid said, “The monk must before all else achieve humility. For this is the first commandment of the Savior, who says, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”
Matt 5:3 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Humility is the monk’s first task, as the first beatitude shows.
- Quotation of Matt 5:3.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 52.2 (PG 65:233; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/52-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/52-2
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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 53
53.1PG 65:233–235
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσιδώρου τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου, ὅτι ἦλθέ ποτέ τις ἀδελφὸς, ἵνα καλέσῃ αὐτὸν εἰς ἄριστον. Ὁ δὲ γέρων οὐκ ἠνέσχετο ἀπελθεῖν, λέγων, Ὅτι Αδάμ, τῷ βρώματι ἀπατηθεὶς, ἔξω τοῦ παραδείσου ηὐλίσθη. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός Σὺ ὅλως φοβῇ ἐξελθεῖν τοῦ κελλίου σου; Ὁ δὲ πάλιν εἶπε Τέκνον, φοβοῦμαι, ὅτι ὁ διάβολος ὡς λέων ὠρυόμενος ζητεῖ τίνα καταπίῃ. Πολλάκις δὲ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Ἐάν τις δῷ ἑαυτὸν εἰς οἰνοποσίαν, οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγῃ τὴν τῶν λογισμῶν ἐπιβουλήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Λὼτ, ἀναγκασθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτοῦ, ἐμεθύσθη ἐκ τοῦ οἴνου, καὶ διὰ τῆς μέθης εὐχερῶς ὁ διάβολος εἰς ἄνομον πορνείαν αὐτὸν παρεσκεύασεν.
Elegon peri tou abba Isidōrou tou presbyterou, hoti ēlthe pote tis adelphos, hina kalesę̄ auton eis ariston. Ho de gerōn ouk ēnescheto apelthein, legōn, Hoti Adam, tǭ brōmati apatētheis, exō tou paradeisou ēulisthē. Legei autǭ ho adelphos Sy holōs phobę̄ exelthein tou kelliou sou? Ho de palin eipe Teknon, phoboumai, hoti ho diabolos hōs leōn ōryomenos zētei tina katapię̄. Pollakis de elegen, hoti Ean tis dǭ heauton eis oinoposian, ou mē ekphygę̄ tēn tōn logismōn epiboulēn. Kai gar ho Lōt, anankastheis hypo tōn thygaterōn autou, emethysthē ek tou oinou, kai dia tēs methēs eucherōs ho diabolos eis anomon porneian auton pareskeuasen.
They said of abba Isidore the presbyter that once a brother came to invite him to a meal. But the old man would not consent to go, saying, “Adam, deceived by food, was made to live outside paradise.” The brother says to him, “Are you so afraid to go out of your cell?” He said again, “Child, I am afraid, because the devil like a roaring lion seeks someone to devour.” And he often said, “If someone gives himself to wine-drinking, he will not escape the plotting of thoughts. For Lot too, compelled by his daughters, became drunk with wine, and through drunkenness the devil easily led him into lawless sexual immorality.”
Gen 3:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Pet 5:8 (quotation, high confidence) · Gen 19:33 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isidore refuses a meal invitation, citing Adam’s fall through food, the prowling devil, and Lot’s drunkenness.
- Adam: Gen 3:6, 23; quotation of 1 Pet 5:8; Lot: Gen 19:32–35.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.1 (PG 65:233–235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-1
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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.
53.2PG 65:235
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσίδωρος· Εἰ βασιλείας οὐρανῶν ἐρᾶς, χρημάτων καταφρόνει, καὶ τῆς θείας ἀμοιβῆς ἀντιποιοῦ.
Eipen ho abbas Isidōros; Ei basileias ouranōn eras, chrēmatōn kataphronei, kai tēs theias amoibēs antipoiou.
Abba Isidore said, “If you desire the kingdom of heaven, despise money and lay claim to the divine reward.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Desire for the kingdom means despising money.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.2 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-2
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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.
53.3PG 65:235
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ζῆσαί σε κατὰ Θεὸν, ἀδύνατον, φιλήδονον ὄντα καὶ φιλάργυρον.
Eipe palin; Zēsai se kata Theon, adynaton, philēdonon onta kai philargyron.
He also said, “It is impossible for you to live according to God while being a lover of pleasure and a lover of money.”
2 Tim 3:4 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: No one can live for God while loving pleasure and money.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.3 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-3
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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.
53.4PG 65:235
Εἶπε πάλιν· Εἰ νομίμως ἀσκεῖτε νηστεύοντες, μὴ τυφοῦσθε· εἰ δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦτο αὐχεῖτε, μᾶλλον κρεωφαγεῖτε. Συμφέρει γὰρ ἀνθρώπῳ μᾶλλον κρέα ἐσθίειν, ἢ τυφοῦσθαι καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖν.
Eipe palin; Ei nomimōs askeite nēsteuontes, mē typhousthe; ei de epi touto aucheite, mallon kreōphageite. Sympherei gar anthrōpǭ mallon krea esthiein, ē typhousthai kai megalauchein.
He also said, “If you practice fasting lawfully, do not be puffed up; but if you boast of it, rather eat meat. For it is better for a man to eat meat than to be puffed up and boast.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Better to eat meat than to be proud of fasting.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.4 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-4
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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.
53.5PG 65:235
Εἶπε πάλιν· Χρὴ τοὺς μαθητευομένους καὶ ὡς πατέρας φιλεῖν τοὺς ὄντως διδασκάλους, καὶ ὡς ἄρχοντας φοβεῖσθαι· καὶ μήτε διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην ἐκλύειν τὸν φόβον, μήτε διὰ τὸν φόβον ἀμαυροῦν τὴν ἀγάπην.
Eipe palin; Chrē tous mathēteuomenous kai hōs pateras philein tous ontōs didaskalous, kai hōs archontas phobeisthai; kai mēte dia tēn agapēn eklyein ton phobon, mēte dia ton phobon amauroun tēn agapēn.
He also said, “Disciples must love true teachers as fathers and fear them as rulers; and neither loosen fear because of love, nor dim love because of fear.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Disciples should both love and fear their teachers in balance.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.5 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-5
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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.
53.6PG 65:235
Εἶπε πάλιν· Εἰ σωτηρίας ἐρᾷς, πάντα ποίει τὰ εἰς αὐτὴν ἄγοντά σε.
Eipe palin; Ei sōtērias erąs, panta poiei ta eis autēn agonta se.
He also said, “If you desire salvation, do everything that leads you to it.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Desire for salvation means doing all that leads to it.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.6 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-6
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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.
53.7PG 65:235
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσιδώρου, ὅτι ὡς ὑπῆγεν ἀδελφὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἔφευγεν ἐσώτερον τοῦ κελλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον αὐτῷ οἱ ἀδελφοί· Ἀ̓ββᾶ, τί ἐστιν ὁ σὺ ποιεῖς; Καὶ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Καὶ τὰ θηρία φεύγοντα εἰς τὰς κοίτας αὐτῶν σώζονται. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε διὰ τὴν ὠφέλειαν τῶν ἀδελφῶν.
Elegon peri tou abba Isidōrou, hoti hōs hypēgen adelphos pros auton, epheugen esōteron tou kelliou. Kai elegon autǭ hoi adelphoi; Abba, ti estin ho sy poieis? Kai elegen, hoti Kai ta thēria pheugonta eis tas koitas autōn sōzontai. Tauta de elege dia tēn ōpheleian tōn adelphōn.
They said of abba Isidore that whenever a brother went to him, he would flee into the inner part of his cell. And the brothers said to him, “Abba, what is this you are doing?” And he said, “Even the wild beasts are saved by fleeing into their lairs.” He said this for the brothers’ benefit.
Notes and citation
Summary: Isidore hides from visitors as beasts flee to their lairs.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip): ὡς ὑτῆγεν → ὡς ὑπῆγεν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 53.7 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/53-7
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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.
Chapter 54
54.1PG 65:235
Ἦλθέ ποτε παιδίον θεραπευθῆναι ἀπὸ δαίμονος· καὶ παρέβαλον ἀδελφοὶ ἀπὸ κοινοβίου τῆς Αἰγύπτου. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ὁ γέρων εἶδε τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἁμαρτάνοντα μετὰ τοῦ παιδίου, καὶ οὐκ ἤλεγξεν αὐτὸν, λέγων· Εἰ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ πλάσας αὐτοὺς βλέπων οὐ καίει αὐτοὺς, ἐγὼ τίς εἰμι ἵνα ἐλέγξω αὐτούς;
Ēlthe pote paidion therapeuthēnai apo daimonos; kai parebalon adelphoi apo koinobiou tēs Aigyptou. Kai exelthōn ho gerōn eide ton adelphon hamartanonta meta tou paidiou, kai ouk ēlenxen auton, legōn; Ei ho Theos ho plasas autous blepōn ou kaiei autous, egō tis eimi hina elenxō autous?
Once a child came to be healed of a demon; and brothers from a community in Egypt came visiting. And the old man, going out, saw a brother sinning with the child, and he did not rebuke him, saying, “If God who made them sees and does not burn them, who am I to rebuke them?”
Notes and citation
Summary: John the Persian refuses to rebuke a sinner, since God himself is patient.
- The saying (told of John the Persian) concerns sexual sin with a boy and the elder’s refusal to judge; the circumstances are compressed in the scan. It is translated as written.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ἁμαρ τάνοντα → ἁμαρτάνοντα.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 54.1 (PG 65:235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-1
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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.
54.2PG 65:235–237
Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββα Ἰωάννου τοῦ Πέρσου, ὅτι ἐκ τῆς πολλῆς αὐτοῦ χάριτος εἰς βαθυτάτην ἤλασεν ἀκακίαν. Οὗτος δὲ ἔμενεν ἐν Ἀραβίᾳ τῆς Αἰγύπτου. Ἐχρήσατο δέ ποτε παρὰ ἀδελφοῦ ἓν χρύσινον καὶ ἠγόρασε λινάρια, ἵνα ἐργάσηται. Καὶ ἦλθεν ἀδελφὸς παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν, καὶ λέγων· Χάρισαί μοι, ἀββᾶ, ὀλίγα λινάρια, ἵνα ποιήσω ἐμαυτῷ λεβίτωνα. Καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ μετὰ χαρᾶς. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἄλλος ἦλθε παρακαλῶν αὐτόν· Δός μοι ὀλίγα λινάρια, ἵνα ποιήσω μου λέντιον. Ἔδωκε δὲ καὶ αὐτῷ ὁμοίως. Καὶ ἄλλων αἰτησάντων, ἐδίδου ἁπλῶς μετὰ χαρᾶς. Ὕστερον ἔρχεται ὁ κύριος τοῦ ὁλοκοτίνου θέλων αὐτό. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ ὑπάγω καὶ φέρω σοι αὐτό. Καὶ μὴ ἔχων πόθεν ἀποδοῦναι, ἀνέστη ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τῆς διακονίας, παρακαλέσαι αὐτὸν δοῦναι αὐτῷ τὸ νόμισμα, ἵνα ἀποδώσει τῷ ἀδελφῷ. Καὶ ὑπάγων εὗρεν ὁλοκοτίνην κείμενον χαμαὶ, καὶ οὐχ ἥψατο αὐτοῦ. Ποιήσας δὲ εὐχὴν, ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον ἑαυτοῦ. Καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς πάλιν ὀχλῶν αὐτῷ διὰ τὸ νόμισμα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ πάντως φροντίζω. Καὶ ἀπελθὼν πάλιν, εὖρε τὸ νόμισμα χαμαὶ ὅπου ἦν· καὶ ποιήσας εὐχὴν πάλιν, ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον ἑαυτοῦ. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁμοίως ἦλθεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ὀχλῶν αὐτόν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων, ὅτι Πάντως τὸ ἅπαξ τοῦτο φέρω αὐτό. Καὶ ἀναστὰς πάλιν, ἦλθε κατ᾿ ἐκείνου τοῦ τόπου· καὶ εὗρεν αὐτὸ ἐκεῖ κείμενον. Καὶ ποιήσας εὐχὴν, ἔλαβεν αὐτό. Καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰάκωβον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, ἐρχόμενος πρὸς σὲ εὖρον τὸ νόμισμα τοῦτο ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ· ποίησον οὖν ἀγάπην, καὶ κήρυξον ἐν τῇ ἐνορίᾳ μήτις ἀπώλεσεν αὐτό· καὶ ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ, δὸς αὐτό. Ἀπελθὼν οὖν ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐκήρυξε· καὶ οὐδεὶς εὐρέθη ὁ ἀπολέσας τὸ νόμισμα. Τότε λέγει ὁ γέρων τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰακώβῳ· Εἰ οὖν οὐδεὶς αὐτὸ ἀπώλεσε, δὸς αὐτὸ τῷδε τῷ ἀδελφῷ· χρεωστῶ γὰρ αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐρχόμενος λαβεῖν παρὰ σοῦ ἀγάπην καὶ ἀποδοῦναι τὸ χρέος, εὗρον αὐτό. Καὶ ἐθαύμασεν ὁ γέρων, πῶς χρεωστῶν καὶ εὑρὼν οὐκ εὐθέως ἔλαβε καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτό. Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ ἦν αὐτοῦ τὸ θαυμαστὸν, ὅτι εἰ ἤρχετό τις χρήσασθαι παρ' αὐτοῦ τί ποτε, οὐ δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ παρεῖχεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔλεγε τῷ ἀδελφῷ· Ὕπαγε, σεαυτῷ ἆρον εἴ τι χρήζεις· καὶ εἰ ἔφερεν, ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ· Ἀπόθου αὐτὸ πάλιν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ. Εἰ δὲ οὐδὲ ἔφερεν ὁ λαμβάνων, οὐδὲν ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ.
Diēgēsato tis tōn Paterōn peri tou abba Iōannou tou Persou, hoti ek tēs pollēs autou charitos eis bathytatēn ēlasen akakian. Houtos de emenen en Arabią tēs Aigyptou. Echrēsato de pote para adelphou hen chrysinon kai ēgorase linaria, hina ergasētai. Kai ēlthen adelphos parakalōn auton, kai legōn; Charisai moi, abba, oliga linaria, hina poiēsō emautǭ lebitōna. Kai edōken autǭ meta charas. Homoiōs de kai allos ēlthe parakalōn auton; Dos moi oliga linaria, hina poiēsō mou lention. Edōke de kai autǭ homoiōs. Kai allōn aitēsantōn, edidou haplōs meta charas. Hysteron erchetai ho kyrios tou holokotinou thelōn auto. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Egō hypagō kai pherō soi auto. Kai mē echōn pothen apodounai, anestē apelthein pros ton abban Iakōbon ton tēs diakonias, parakalesai auton dounai autǭ to nomisma, hina apodōsei tǭ adelphǭ. Kai hypagōn heuren holokotinēn keimenon chamai, kai ouch hēpsato autou. Poiēsas de euchēn, hypestrepsen eis to kellion heautou. Kai ēlthen ho adelphos palin ochlōn autǭ dia to nomisma. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Egō pantōs phrontizō. Kai apelthōn palin, eure to nomisma chamai hopou ēn; kai poiēsas euchēn palin, hypestrepsen eis to kellion heautou. Kai idou homoiōs ēlthen ho adelphos ho ochlōn auton. Kai legei ho gerōn, hoti Pantōs to hapax touto pherō auto. Kai anastas palin, ēlthe kat᾿ ekeinou tou topou; kai heuren auto ekei keimenon. Kai poiēsas euchēn, elaben auto. Kai ēlthe pros ton abban Iakōbon, kai legei autǭ; Abba, erchomenos pros se euron to nomisma touto en tę̄ hodǭ; poiēson oun agapēn, kai kēryxon en tę̄ enorią mētis apōlesen auto; kai ean heurethę̄ ho kyrios autou, dos auto. Apelthōn oun ho gerōn, epi treis hēmeras ekēryxe; kai oudeis eurethē ho apolesas to nomisma. Tote legei ho gerōn tǭ abbą Iakōbǭ; Ei oun oudeis auto apōlese, dos auto tǭde tǭ adelphǭ; chreōstō gar autǭ; kai erchomenos labein para sou agapēn kai apodounai to chreos, heuron auto. Kai ethaumasen ho gerōn, pōs chreōstōn kai heurōn ouk eutheōs elabe kai edōken auto. Kai touto de ēn autou to thaumaston, hoti ei ērcheto tis chrēsasthai par' autou ti pote, ou di᾽ heautou pareichen, all᾽ elege tǭ adelphǭ; Hypage, seautǭ aron ei ti chrēzeis; kai ei epheren, elegen autǭ; Apothou auto palin eis ton topon autou. Ei de oude epheren ho lambanōn, ouden elegen autǭ.
One of the Fathers related of abba John the Persian that through his great grace he had reached the deepest innocence. He lived in Arabia of Egypt. Once he borrowed a gold coin from a brother and bought linen to work. And a brother came asking him and saying, “Give me a little linen, abba, so that I may make myself a tunic.” And he gave it to him with joy. Likewise another came asking him, “Give me a little linen, so that I may make a cloth.” He gave to him likewise. And when others asked, he gave simply with joy. Afterward the owner of the gold coin comes, wanting it. The old man says to him, “I will go and bring it to you.” And having nothing to repay it with, he got up to go to abba James, the steward, to ask him to give him the coin so that he might repay the brother. And on the way he found a gold coin lying on the ground, and he did not touch it. And after praying, he went back to his cell. And the brother came again, troubling him about the coin. And the old man says to him, “I am certainly seeing to it.” And going again, he found the coin on the ground where it was; and after praying again, he went back to his cell. And look, the brother came again, troubling him. And the old man says, “This time I will certainly bring it.” And getting up again, he came to that place; and he found it lying there. And after praying, he took it. And he came to abba James and says to him, “Abba, coming to you I found this coin on the road; so do me a kindness and announce in the district whether anyone has lost it; and if its owner is found, give it to him.” So the old man went and announced it for three days; and no one was found who had lost the coin. Then the old man says to abba James, “If no one has lost it, then give it to this brother; for I owe it to him; and it was while coming to receive alms from you to repay the debt that I found it.” And the old man marveled how, owing it and finding it, he did not at once take it and give it. And this too was marvelous in him: if anyone came to borrow something from him, he did not hand it over himself, but said to the brother, “Go, take for yourself whatever you need”; and if he brought it back, he said to him, “Put it back in its place.” And if the borrower did not bring it back, he said nothing to him.
Notes and citation
Summary: John the Persian gives away borrowed linen and, needing to repay, will not take a coin found on the road until it is publicly claimed by no one.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter; OCR: stray mark): τῷ, ἀδελφῷ → τῷ ἀδελφῷ; καὶ εἰἱ ἔφερεν → καὶ εἰ ἔφερεν; Εἰἱ δὲ → Εἰ δὲ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 54.2 (PG 65:235–237; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-2
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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.
54.3PG 65:237
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Πέρσου, ὅτι κακούργων αὐτῷ ἐπιστάντων, νιπτῆρα προσέφερε, καὶ ἠξίου τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν νίπτειν· κἀκεῖνοι αἱδεσθέντες μετανοεῖν ἤρξαντο.
Elegon peri tou abba Iōannou tou Persou, hoti kakourgōn autǭ epistantōn, niptēra prosephere, kai ēxiou tous podas autōn niptein; kakeinoi haidesthentes metanoein ērxanto.
They said of abba John the Persian that when evildoers came upon him, he brought a basin and offered to wash their feet; and they, ashamed, began to repent.
John 13:5 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: John the Persian washes the feet of robbers, who repent.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 54.3 (PG 65:237; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-3
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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.
54.4PG 65:237–239
Εἶπέ τις τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ Πέρσῃ, ὅτι Τοσοῦτον κόπον ἐποιήσαμεν διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν· ἄρα κληρονομῆσαι αὐτὴν ἔχομεν; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων Ἐγὼ πιστεύω κληρονομῆσαι τὴν ἄνω Ἱερουσαλήμ τὴν ἀπογεγραμμένην ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Πιστὸς γὰρ ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος. Διατί δὲ ἀπιστήσω; Φιλόξενος ὡς ὁ Ἀβραάμ γέγονα, πραὺς ὡς ὁ Μωϋσῆς, ἅγιος ὡς ὁ Ἀαρών, ὑπομονητικὸς ὡς ὁ Ἰὼβ, ταπεινόφρων ὡς ὁ Δαβίδ, ἐρημίτης ὡς ὁ Ἰωάννης, πενθικὸς ὡς ὁ Ἱερεμίας, διδάσκαλος ὡς ὁ Παῦλος, πιστὸς ὡς ὁ Πέτρος, σοφὸς ὡς ὁ Σολωμών. Καὶ πιστεύω ὡς ὁ λῃστὴς, ὅτι ὁ ταῦτά μοι χαρισάμενος δι' οἰκείαν ἀγαθότητα, καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν παράσχῃ.
Eipe tis tǭ abbą Iōannę̄ tǭ Persę̄, hoti Tosouton kopon epoiēsamen dia tēn basileian tōn ouranōn; ara klēronomēsai autēn echomen? Kai eipen ho gerōn Egō pisteuō klēronomēsai tēn anō Hierousalēm tēn apogegrammenēn en tois ouranois. Pistos gar ho epangeilamenos. Diati de apistēsō? Philoxenos hōs ho Abraam gegona, praus hōs ho Mōÿsēs, hagios hōs ho Aarōn, hypomonētikos hōs ho Iōb, tapeinophrōn hōs ho Dabid, erēmitēs hōs ho Iōannēs, penthikos hōs ho Hieremias, didaskalos hōs ho Paulos, pistos hōs ho Petros, sophos hōs ho Solōmōn. Kai pisteuō hōs ho lę̄stēs, hoti ho tauta moi charisamenos di' oikeian agathotēta, kai tēn basileian paraschę̄.
Someone said to abba John the Persian, “We have endured so much labor for the kingdom of heaven; shall we inherit it?” And the old man said, “I trust that I shall inherit the Jerusalem above, which is enrolled in heaven. For he who promised is faithful. Why should I disbelieve? I have been hospitable like Abraham, meek like Moses, holy like Aaron, patient like Job, humble like David, a hermit like John, mournful like Jeremiah, a teacher like Paul, faithful like Peter, wise like Solomon. And I trust, like the thief, that he who gave me these things out of his own goodness will also grant me the kingdom.”
Heb 12:22 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 10:23 (quotation, high confidence) · Luke 23:42 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: John the Persian trusts like the penitent thief that God, who gave him every virtue by grace, will give him the kingdom.
- A note from Migne on the word ὁλοκότινος (gold coin) is removed. Heb 12:22–23; Heb 10:23; the thief: Luke 23:42–43.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line from Migne’s notes merged into the Greek): τινον, όλοκοτίνιν· διὰ τὸ τὸν ὅλον κότον ἐν αὐτῷ. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 54.4 (PG 65:237–239; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/54-4
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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.
Chapter 55
55.1PG 65:239
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ μικροῦ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Θηβαίου, τοῦ μαθητοῦ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀμμώη, ὅτι δεκαδύο ἔτη ἐποίησεν ὑπηρετῶν τῷ γέροντι ὅτε ἠσθένει· καὶ μετ' αὐτοῦ ἦν εἰς τὸ χαράδριον καθήμενος. Καὶ ὁ γέρων ὀλιγώρει ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ· καὶ πολλὰ κοπιάσαντα μετ' αὐτοῦ, οὐδέποτε εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Σωθείης. Ὅτε δὲ ἤμελλε τελευτᾷν, καθεζομένων τῶν γερόντων, ἐκράτησε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Σωθείης, σωθείης, σωΟὗτος ἄγγελός ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος.
Elegon peri tou mikrou Iōannou tou Thēbaiou, tou mathētou tou abba Ammōē, hoti dekadyo etē epoiēsen hypēretōn tǭ geronti hote ēsthenei; kai met' autou ēn eis to charadrion kathēmenos. Kai ho gerōn oligōrei epanō autou; kai polla kopiasanta met' autou, oudepote eipen autǭ, Sōtheiēs. Hote de ēmelle teleutąn, kathezomenōn tōn gerontōn, ekratēse tēn cheira autou, kai legei autǭ; Sōtheiēs, sōtheiēs, sōOutos angelos esti, kai ouk anthrōpos.
They said of little John the Theban, the disciple of abba Ammoes, that he spent twelve years serving the old man when he was ill; and he sat with him on the mat. And the old man was harsh toward him; and though John labored much with him, he never said to him, “May you be saved.” But when he was about to die, while the old men were sitting there, he took his hand and says to him, “May you be saved, may you be saved, may you be saved” … “This is an angel, and not a man.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: After twelve years of thankless service, Ammoes blesses his disciple John on his deathbed as an angel.
- Words are lost in the scan before the last sentence (in other copies: he commended him to the old men, saying …); not supplied.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 55.1 (PG 65:239; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/55-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/55-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-55-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 56
56.1PG 65:239
Παύλου. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰωάννου τοῦ μαθητοῦ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου, ὅτι εἶχε μεγάλην ὑπακοήν. Ἦν δὲ ἔν τινι τόπῳ μνημεῖα, καὶ ᾤκει ὕαινα ἐκεῖ Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶδε περὶ τὸν τόπον βόλβιτα· καὶ λέγει τῷ Ἰωάννῃ ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἐνεγκεῖν αὐτά. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Καὶ τί ποιήσω, ἀββᾶ, διὰ τὴν ὕαιναν; Ὁ δὲ γέρων χαριεντιζόμενος εἶπεν· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ἐπάνω σου, δῆσον αὐτὴν, καὶ φέρε αὐτὴν ὧδε. Ἀπῆλθεν οὖν ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἐκεῖ ὀψέ. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ἡ ὕαινα ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ, κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ γέροντος, ὥρμησε κρατῆσαι αὐτήν. Καὶ ἔφυγεν ἡ ὕαινα. Καὶ διώκων αὐτὴν ἔλεγεν Ὁ ἀββᾶς μου εἶπεν ἵνα σε δεσμήσω. Καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὴν ἔδησεν. Ἐθλίβετο δὲ ὁ γέρων, καὶ ἐκάθητο περιμένων αὐτόν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ἔχων τὴν ὕαιναν δεδεμένην. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ γέρων ἐθαύμασε. Καὶ θέλων ταπεινῶσαι αὐτὸν, ἔτυψεν αὐτὸν λέγων· Σαλέ κύνα σαλὸν ἤνεγκάς μοι ὧδε Ἔλυσε δὲ αὐτὴν εὐθὺς ὁ γέρων, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν ἀπελθεῖν.
Paulou. Elegon peri tou abba Iōannou tou mathētou tou abba Paulou, hoti eiche megalēn hypakoēn. Ēn de en tini topǭ mnēmeia, kai ǭkei hyaina ekei Ho de gerōn eide peri ton topon bolbita; kai legei tǭ Iōannę̄ apelthein kai enenkein auta. Ho de eipen autǭ; Kai ti poiēsō, abba, dia tēn hyainan? Ho de gerōn charientizomenos eipen; Ean elthę̄ epanō sou, dēson autēn, kai phere autēn hōde. Apēlthen oun ho adelphos ekei opse. Kai idou ēlthen hē hyaina epanō autou. Ho de, kata ton logon tou gerontos, hōrmēse kratēsai autēn. Kai ephygen hē hyaina. Kai diōkōn autēn elegen Ho abbas mou eipen hina se desmēsō. Kai kratēsas autēn edēsen. Ethlibeto de ho gerōn, kai ekathēto perimenōn auton. Kai idou ēlthen echōn tēn hyainan dedemenēn. Kai idōn ho gerōn ethaumase. Kai thelōn tapeinōsai auton, etypsen auton legōn; Sale kyna salon ēnenkas moi hōde Elyse de autēn euthys ho gerōn, kai apelysen apelthein.
They said of abba John, the disciple of abba Paul, that he had great obedience. There were tombs in a certain place, and a hyena lived there. The old man saw dung around the place, and tells John to go and bring it. He said to him, “And what shall I do, abba, about the hyena?” The old man said jokingly, “If it comes at you, tie it up and bring it here.” So the brother went there in the evening. And look, the hyena came at him. And he, according to the old man’s word, rushed to seize it. And the hyena fled. And chasing it he said, “My abba told me to tie you up.” And catching it, he tied it. The old man was anxious, and sat waiting for him. And look, he came bringing the hyena tied up. And seeing it, the old man marveled. And wanting to humble him, he struck him, saying, “Fool, have you brought me a silly dog here?” And the old man untied it at once and let it go.
Notes and citation
Summary: Obeying a joking command, John ties up a hyena and brings it to his abba, who humbles him.
- The first word in the scan (“of Paul”) is the end of the printed heading.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letters): ᾤκει το ὕαινα → ᾤκει ὕαινα.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 56.1 (PG 65:239; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/56-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/56-1
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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 57
57.1PG 65:239
Παρέβαλέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ ὁ Θηβαῖος εἰς κοινόβιον, καὶ εἶδεν ἀδελφὸν σφαλέντα, καὶ κατέκρινεν αὐτόν. Ὡς δὲ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ἦλθεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου, καὶ ἔστη ἔμπροσθεν τῆς θύρας τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ, λέγων· Οὐκ ἀφῶ σε εἰσελθεῖν. Ὁ δὲ παρεκάλει, λέγων· Τί ἐστι τὸ πρᾶγμα; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς Εἰπὲ αὐτῷ, Ποῦ κελεύεις βάλω τὸν σφαλέντα ἀδελφὸν ὃν ἔκρινας; Καὶ εὐθέως μετενόησε, λέγων· Ἡμάρτηκα, συγχώρησόν μοι. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος· Ἐγείρου, συνεχώρησε σοι ὁ Θεός. Φύλαξαι δὲ τοῦ λοιποῦ μὴ κρῖναί τινα πρὶν ἢ ὁ Θεὸς κρίνῃ αὐτόν.
Parebale pote ho abbas Isaak ho Thēbaios eis koinobion, kai eiden adelphon sphalenta, kai katekrinen auton. Hōs de exēlthen eis tēn erēmon, ēlthen angelos Kyriou, kai estē emprosthen tēs thyras tou kelliou autou, legōn; Ouk aphō se eiselthein. Ho de parekalei, legōn; Ti esti to pragma? Kai apokritheis Eipe autǭ, Pou keleueis balō ton sphalenta adelphon hon ekrinas? Kai eutheōs metenoēse, legōn; Hēmartēka, synchōrēson moi. Kai eipen ho angelos; Egeirou, synechōrēse soi ho Theos. Phylaxai de tou loipou mē krinai tina prin ē ho Theos krinę̄ auton.
Once abba Isaac the Theban visited a community, and he saw a brother who had sinned, and he condemned him. When he went out into the desert, an angel of the Lord came and stood in front of the door of his cell, saying, “I will not let you go in.” He begged him, saying, “What is the matter?” And the angel answered, “[God says,] ‘Tell him: where do you order me to put the brother who sinned, whom you judged?’” And at once he repented, saying, “I have sinned; forgive me.” And the angel said, “Get up; God has forgiven you. But from now on take care not to judge anyone before God judges him.”
1 Cor 4:5 (echo, medium confidence) · Rom 14:4 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: An angel bars Isaac from his cell until he repents of condemning a fallen brother.
- The angel’s answer is compressed in the scan (in other copies: “God has sent me to say to you …”); the bracketed words make the sense clear and are not in the Greek.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 57.1 (PG 65:239; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/57-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/57-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-57-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
57.2PG 65:241
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀπολλὼ, ὅτι εἶχε μαθητὴν ὀνόματι Ἰσαάκ, πεπαιδευμένον εἰς ἄκρον πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν· καὶ ἐκτήσατο τὴν τῆς ἁγίας προσφορᾶς ἡσυχίαν. Καὶ ὅταν ἐξήρχετο εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, οὐ συνεχώρει τινὰς ἐλθεῖν εἰς συντυχίαν ἑαυτοῦ. Ἦν γὰρ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ οὗτος, ὅτι πάντα καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῶν· Καιρὸς γὰρ τῷ παντὶ πράγματι. Καὶ ὅταν ἀπέλυεν ἡ σύναξις, ὡς ἀπὸ πυρὸς ἦν διωκόμενος, ζητῶν καταλαβεῖν τὸ κελλίον ἑαυτοῦ. Πολλάκις δὲ ἐδίδοτο τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἀπὸ συνάξεως, παξαμάτης καὶ ποτήριον οἴνου· αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ ἐλάμβανεν· οὐκ ἀπωθούμενος τὴν εὐλογίαν τῶν ἀδελφῶν, ἀλλὰ τὴν τῆς συνάξεως ἐπικρατῶν ἡσυχίαν. Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτὸν ἐν ἀῤῥωστίᾳ κατακεῖσθαι· καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἦλθον τοῦ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν. Καθεζόμενοι δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν, λέγοντες· Ἀ̓ββᾶ Ἰσαάκ, διατί ἀπὸ συνάξεως φεύγεις τοὺς ἀδελφούς; Καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὅτι Τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς οὐ φεύγω, ἀλλὰ τὴν τῶν δαιμόνων κακοτεχνίαν. Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν τις κατέχῃ λαμπάδιον φωτὸς, καὶ βραδύνῃ εἰς τὸν ἀέρα ἱστάμενος, σβέννυται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ. Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς φωτιζόμενοι ὑπὸ τῆς ἁγίας προσφορᾶς, ἐὰν βραδύνωμεν ἔξω τοῦ κελλίου, σκοτίζεται ἡμῶν ὁ νοῦς. Αὕτη ἡ πολιτεία τοῦ ὁσίου ἀββᾶ Ἰσαάκ.
Elegon peri tou abba Apollō, hoti eiche mathētēn onomati Isaak, pepaideumenon eis akron pros pan ergon agathon; kai ektēsato tēn tēs hagias prosphoras hēsychian. Kai hotan exērcheto eis tēn ekklēsian, ou synechōrei tinas elthein eis syntychian heautou. Ēn gar ho logos autou houtos, hoti panta kala en kairǭ autōn; Kairos gar tǭ panti pragmati. Kai hotan apelyen hē synaxis, hōs apo pyros ēn diōkomenos, zētōn katalabein to kellion heautou. Pollakis de edidoto tois adelphois apo synaxeōs, paxamatēs kai potērion oinou; autos de ouk elambanen; ouk apōthoumenos tēn eulogian tōn adelphōn, alla tēn tēs synaxeōs epikratōn hēsychian. Egeneto de auton en arrhōstią katakeisthai; kai akousantes hoi adelphoi ēlthon tou episkepsasthai auton. Kathezomenoi de hoi adelphoi ērōtēsan auton, legontes; Abba Isaak, diati apo synaxeōs pheugeis tous adelphous? Kai eipe pros autous, hoti Tous adelphous ou pheugō, alla tēn tōn daimonōn kakotechnian. Kai gar ean tis katechę̄ lampadion phōtos, kai bradynę̄ eis ton aera histamenos, sbennytai ap᾿ autou. Houtōs kai hēmeis phōtizomenoi hypo tēs hagias prosphoras, ean bradynōmen exō tou kelliou, skotizetai hēmōn ho nous. Hautē hē politeia tou hosiou abba Isaak.
They said of abba Apollo that he had a disciple named Isaac, trained to the highest degree for every good work; and he had acquired the stillness of the holy offering. And when he went out to church, he did not allow anyone to come and converse with him. For his word was this: that everything is good in its time; for there is a time for every matter. And when the synaxis was dismissed, he was as if pursued by fire, seeking to reach his cell. Often a biscuit and a cup of wine were given to the brothers after the synaxis; but he did not take them, not refusing the brothers’ blessing, but keeping the stillness of the synaxis. It happened that he lay sick; and hearing of it, the brothers came to visit him. Sitting down, the brothers asked him, saying, “Abba Isaac, why do you flee the brothers after the synaxis?” And he said to them, “I do not flee the brothers, but the wiles of the demons. For if someone holds a lighted lamp and lingers standing in the open air, it is put out. So we too, enlightened by the holy offering, if we linger outside the cell, our mind is darkened.” This was the way of life of the holy abba Isaac.
Eccl 3:1 (quotation, high confidence) · Eccl 3:11 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaac hurries from the Eucharist to his cell lest the light he received be extinguished.
- “The holy offering” is the Eucharist. Quotation of Eccl 3:1 (cf. 3:11).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letters): παξαμάτης το καὶ → παξαμάτης καὶ.
Topics: Eucharist
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 57.2 (PG 65:241; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/57-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/57-2
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-57-2) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 58
58.1PG 65:241
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ ὁ Θηβαῖος, ὅτι τρία πράγματά ἐστιν ἔντιμα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· ὅταν ἄνθρωπος ἀσθενῇ, καὶ προστίθενται αὐτῷ πειρασμοὶ, καὶ μετ' εὐχαριστείας δέχεται αὐτούς. Τὸ δὲ δεύτερόν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ μηδὲν ἔχοντα ἀνθρώπινον. Τὸ δὲ τρίτον, ὅταν τις ἐν ὑποταγῇ καθέζηται πατρὸς πνευματικοῦ, καὶ πᾶσιν ἀποτάσσηται τοῖς ἰδίοις θελήμασιν. Ἔχει δὲ οὗτος ἕνα στέφανον περισσόν. Ἐγὼ δὲ τὴν ἀσθένειαν ᾑρησάμην.
Eipen ho abbas Iōsēph ho Thēbaios, hoti tria pragmata estin entima enōpion Kyriou; hotan anthrōpos asthenę̄, kai prostithentai autǭ peirasmoi, kai met' eucharisteias dechetai autous. To de deuteron enōpion tou Theou, kai mēden echonta anthrōpinon. To de triton, hotan tis en hypotagę̄ kathezētai patros pneumatikou, kai pasin apotassētai tois idiois thelēmasin. Echei de houtos hena stephanon perisson. Egō de tēn astheneian hę̄rēsamēn.
Abba Joseph the Theban said, “Three things are precious before the Lord: when a man is ill and temptations are added to him, and he accepts them with thanksgiving. The second … before God, having nothing merely human. The third, when someone remains in submission to a spiritual father and renounces all his own wills. This one has one extra crown. But I have chosen illness.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Joseph names three things precious to God: patient illness, pure work, and obedience to a spiritual father.
- Words are lost in the scan in the second item (in other copies: “when someone does all his works pure before God”); not supplied.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 58.1 (PG 65:241; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/58-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/58-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-58-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 59
59.1PG 65:241
Παρέβαλεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰλαρίων ἀπὸ Παλαιστίνης εἰς τὸ ὄρος, πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀντώνιον. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος· Καλῶς ἦλθες, ὁ ἑωσφόρος ὁ πρωί ἀνατέλλων. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἱλαρίων· Εἰρήνη σοι, ὁ στύλος τοῦ φωτὸς, ὁ τὴν οἰκουμένην φωτίζων
Parebalen ho abbas Ilariōn apo Palaistinēs eis to oros, pros ton abban Antōnion. Kai legei autǭ ho abbas Antōnios; Kalōs ēlthes, ho heōsphoros ho prōi anatellōn. Kai eipen autǭ ho abbas Hilariōn; Eirēnē soi, ho stylos tou phōtos, ho tēn oikoumenēn phōtizōn
Abba Hilarion came from Palestine to the mountain, to abba Antony. And abba Antony says to him, “Welcome, morning star that rises at dawn.” And abba Hilarion said to him, “Peace to you, pillar of light that illumines the world.”
Isa 14:12 (quotation, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Antony and Hilarion greet each other as the morning star and the pillar of light.
- Antony’s greeting uses the words of Isa 14:12 (LXX) as praise.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 59.1 (PG 65:241; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/59-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/59-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-59-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 60
60.1PG 65:241–243
της γενεᾶς. Τί εἰργασάμεθα ἡμεῖς; φασί. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν μέγας ἀββᾶς Ἰσχυρίων, εἶπεν· Ἡμεῖς τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐποιήσαμεν. Καὶ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπον· Οἱ δὲ μεθ' ἡμᾶς, ἄρα τί ποιοῦσιν; Καὶ εἶπε· Μέλλουσιν εἰς τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ ἔργου ἡμῶν ἔρχεσθαι. Καὶ εἶπον· Οἱ δὲ μετ᾿ αὐτοὺς, τί; Εἶπεν· Οὐκ ἔχουσιν ὅλως ἔργον οἱ τῆς γενεᾶς ἐκείνης· μέλλει δὲ ἔρχεσθαι αὐτοῖς πειρασμός καὶ οἱ εὑρισκόμενοι δόκιμοι ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, μείζονες καὶ ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν εὑρεθήσονται.
tēs geneas. Ti eirgasametha hēmeis? phasi. Kai apokritheis heis ex autōn megas abbas Ischyriōn, eipen; Hēmeis tas entolas tou Theou epoiēsamen. Kai apokrithentes eipon; Hoi de meth' hēmas, ara ti poiousin? Kai eipe; Mellousin eis to hēmisy tou ergou hēmōn erchesthai. Kai eipon; Hoi de met᾿ autous, ti? Eipen; Ouk echousin holōs ergon hoi tēs geneas ekeinēs; mellei de erchesthai autois peirasmos kai hoi heuriskomenoi dokimoi en tǭ kairǭ ekeinǭ, meizones kai hēmōn kai tōn Paterōn hēmōn heurethēsontai.
… of the generation. “What have we done?” they said. And one of them, the great abba Ischyrion, answered, “We have done the commandments of God.” And they answered, “And those after us, what will they do?” And he said, “They will come to half of our work.” And they said, “And those after them, what?” He said, “The men of that generation will have no work at all; but temptation will come upon them; and those who are found tested in that time will be found greater than both us and our Fathers.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Ischyrion foretells declining generations of monks, but says those tested in the last trial will surpass their fathers.
- The beginning is lost in the scan (in other copies: “The holy Fathers prophesied about the last generation”); not supplied.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 60.1 (PG 65:241–243; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/60-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/60-1
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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.