Sayings of the Desert Fathers (alphabetical collection) 76.1–89.7
Authorship disputed: Anonymous collection of sayings and stories of the Egyptian desert monks of the 4th and 5th centuries, arranged by the Greek alphabet of the monks' names and compiled in its present form in the late 5th or 6th century. The sayings are attributed to the named monks and were handed down orally and in smaller collections; the compiler is unknown.
Greek text: PG 65.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 76
76.1PG 65:301
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Μιὼς ὁ τοῦ Βελέου, ὅτι ἡ ὑπακοὴ ἀντὶ ὑπακοῆς ἐστιν. Εἴ τις ὑπακούει τῷ Θεῷ, ὁ Θεὸς ὑπακούει αὐτόν.
Eipen ho abbas Miōs ho tou Beleou, hoti hē hypakoē anti hypakoēs estin. Ei tis hypakouei tǭ Theǭ, ho Theos hypakouei auton.
Abba Mius of Belos said, “Obedience is in return for obedience. If someone obeys God, God obeys him.”
Notes and citation
Summary: God obeys whoever obeys him.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 76.1 (PG 65:301; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-1
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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.
76.2PG 65:301
Εἶπε πάλιν περί τινος γέροντος, ὅτι ἦν ἐν τῇ Σκήτει· ἦν δὲ ἀπὸ δούλων· ἐγένετο δὲ διακριτικὸς σφόδρα. Καὶ ἤρχετο κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτὸν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, φέρων τὴν μισθοφορίαν τοῖς κυρίοις αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ὑπήντων αὐτῷ, καὶ προσεκύνουν αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἔβαλεν ὕδωρ εἰς τὸν νιπτῆρα, καὶ ἔφερεν, ἵνα νίψῃ τοὺς κυρίους αὐτοῦ. Οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγον· Μή, Πάτερ, μὴ βαρῆς ἡμᾶς. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔλεγεν Ὁμολογῶ ὅτι δοῦλος ὑμῶν εἰμι· καὶ εὐχαριστῶν ὅτι ἀφήκατέ με ἐλεύθερον δουλεύειν τῷ Θεῷ, ἀλλὰ κἀγὼ νίπτω ὑμᾶς, καὶ δέξασθε τὴν μισθοφορίαν μου ταύτην Οἱ δὲ ἐφιλονείκουν μὴ καταδεχόμενοι. Ἔλεγεν οὖν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ θέλητε δέξασθαι, κάθημαι ὧδε δουλεύων ὑμῖν. Καὶ φοβούμενοι αὐτὸν, ἤφιον ὁ ἐβούλετο ποιῆσαι· καὶ προέπεμπον αὐτὸν μετὰ πολλῶν χρειῶν, καὶ πολλῆς τιμῆς, ἵνα ποιῇ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἀγάπας. Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένετο ὀνομαστὸς εἰς Σκῆτιν, καὶ ἀγαπητός
Eipe palin peri tinos gerontos, hoti ēn en tę̄ Skētei; ēn de apo doulōn; egeneto de diakritikos sphodra. Kai ērcheto kat᾿ eniauton eis Alexandreian, pherōn tēn misthophorian tois kyriois autou. Kai hypēntōn autǭ, kai prosekynoun autǭ. Ho de gerōn ebalen hydōr eis ton niptēra, kai epheren, hina nipsę̄ tous kyrious autou. Hoi de pros auton elegon; Mē, Pater, mē barēs hēmas. Ho de pros autous elegen Homologō hoti doulos hymōn eimi; kai eucharistōn hoti aphēkate me eleutheron douleuein tǭ Theǭ, alla kagō niptō hymas, kai dexasthe tēn misthophorian mou tautēn Hoi de ephiloneikoun mē katadechomenoi. Elegen oun autois; Ean mē thelēte dexasthai, kathēmai hōde douleuōn hymin. Kai phoboumenoi auton, ēphion ho ebouleto poiēsai; kai proepempon auton meta pollōn chreiōn, kai pollēs timēs, hina poię̄ hyper autōn agapas. Kai dia touto egeneto onomastos eis Skētin, kai agapētos
He also said of an old man that he was at Scetis; he was from among slaves; and he became very discerning. And every year he went to Alexandria, bringing his wages to his masters. And they met him and bowed down to him. But the old man put water into the basin and brought it, to wash his masters’ feet. And they said to him, “No, father, do not burden us.” He said to them, “I confess that I am your slave; and I give thanks that you have let me be free to serve God; but I too will wash you, and accept these wages of mine.” They contended, not accepting. So he said to them, “If you will not accept, I will stay here serving you.” And fearing him, they let him do what he wanted; and they sent him off with many provisions and much honor, so that he might hold love-feasts for them. And because of this he became famous at Scetis and beloved.
John 13:14 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A former slave turned monk insists on washing his masters’ feet and bringing them his wages each year.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray mark): ὧδε' δουλεύων → ὧδε δουλεύων.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 76.2 (PG 65:301; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-2
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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.
76.3PG 65:301–303
Ἡρωτήθη ὁ ἀββᾶς Μιὼς ὑπὸ στρατευομένου, εἰ ἄρα δέχεται μετάνοιαν ὁ Θεός. Ὁ δὲ μετὰ τὸ κατηχῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν πολλοῖς λόγοις, λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν Εἰπέ μοι, ἀγαπητέ· ἐὰν σχισθῇ σου τὸ χλανίδιον, βάλλεις τοῦτο ἔξω; Λέγει· Οὔ ἀλλὰ ῥάπτω αὐτὸ, καὶ χρῶμαι αὐτῷ. Λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὖν σὺ τοῦ ἱματίου φείδῃ, ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ ἰδίου πλάσματος οὐ φείσεται
Hērōtēthē ho abbas Miōs hypo strateuomenou, ei ara dechetai metanoian ho Theos. Ho de meta to katēchēsai auton en pollois logois, legei pros auton Eipe moi, agapēte; ean schisthę̄ sou to chlanidion, balleis touto exō? Legei; Ou alla rhaptō auto, kai chrōmai autǭ. Legei pros auton ho gerōn; Ei oun sy tou himatiou pheidę̄, ho Theos tou idiou plasmatos ou pheisetai
Abba Mius was asked by a soldier whether God accepts repentance. After instructing him with many words, he says to him, “Tell me, beloved: if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?” He says, “No, but I sew it up and use it.” The old man says to him, “So if you spare your garment, will not God spare his own creature?”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Mius tells a soldier that God, like a man mending his cloak, does not throw away his creature.
- Variant notes and stray lines from other sayings (on Megethius and on a former slave) are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) and stray lines from other sayings): παρεχώρουν αὐτῷ. ΑΙ. εὐλαβούμενοι. Μεγεθίου, ὅτι διὰ δύο ἐσθίων, ἕνα ἄρτον ἔτρωγε. Συντυχὼν οὖν αὐτὸς τῷ ἀββᾶ Σισώῃ καὶ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι, ἠρώτα αὐτοὺς περὶ τούτου. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ Ὀλυμπίου εἰς Σκῆτιν, ὅτι ἀπὸ δούλων ἦν, καὶ ἤρχετο. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 76.3 (PG 65:301–303; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/76-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 77
77.1PG 65:303
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Μάρκου τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου, ὅτι ἔμεινε τριάκοντα ἔτη, μὴ ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ. Εἶχε δὲ ἔθος ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἔρχεσθαι, καὶ ποιεῖν αὐτῷ τὴν ἁγίαν προσφοράν. Ὁ δὲ διάβολος, θεωρήσας τὴν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἐνάρετον ὑπομονήν, ἐπανουργεύσατο ἐν κατακρίσει πειράσαι αὐτόν· καὶ παρεσκεύασέ τινα πνευματιῶντα, πρὸς τὸν γέροντα προφάσει εὐχῆς ἀπελθεῖν. Ὁ δὲ πνευματιῶν πρὸ παντὸς λόγου προσεφώνει τῷ γέροντι· Ὁ πρεσβύτερός σου ἔχει ὀσμὴν ἁμαρτίας, μηκέτι αὐτὸν ἐάσῃς εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς σέ. Ὁ δὲ θεόπνευστος ἀνὴρ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Τέκνον, πάντες τὴν ἀκαθαρσίαν ἔξω βάλλουσι· σὺ δὲ πρὸς μὲ ἤνεγκας αὐτήν. Ἀλλὰ γέγραπται· Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε. Ὅμως εἰ καὶ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν, ὁ Κύριος σώσει αὐτόν. Γέγραπται γάρ· Εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. Καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ ποιήσας εὐχὴν, ἐφυγάδευσε τὸν δαίμονα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν ὑγιῆ. Ὡς δὲ ἦλθεν ὁ πρεσβύτερος κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς, ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων μετὰ χαρᾶς. Ὁ δὲ ἀγαθὸς Θεὸς, ἰδὼν τὴν ἀκακίαν τοῦ γέροντος, ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ σημεῖον. Μέλλοντος γὰρ τοῦ κληρικοῦ στῆναι ἔμπροσθεν τῆς ἁγίας τραπέζης, καθὼς ὁ γέρων διηγήερχόμενον, καὶ ἔθηκε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ κληρικοῦ, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ κληρικὸς ὡς στύλος πυρός. Ἐμοῦ δὲ θαυμάσαντος ἐπὶ τῇ ὁράσει, ἤκουσα φωνῆς λεγούσης πρὸς μέ· Ἄνθρωπε, τί τεθαύμακας ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι τούτῳ; Εἰ γὰρ βασιλεὺς ἐπίγειος οὐ μὴ ἑάσῃ τοὺς μεγιστᾶνας αὐτοῦ ῥυπαροὺς στῆναι ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ, ἐὰν μὴ μετὰ δόξης πολλῆς· πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἡ θεία δύναμις οὐ καθαρίσει τοὺς λειτουργοὺς τῶν ἁγίων μυστηρίων, στήκοντας ἔμπροσθεν τῆς οὐρανίου δόξης; Ὁ δὲ γενναῖος καὶ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μάρκος ὁ Αἰγύπτιος, μέγας γενόμενος, κατηξιώθη τοῦ χαρίσματος τούτου, ὅτι οὐ κατέκρινε τὸν κληρικόν.
Elegon peri tou abba Markou tou Aigyptiou, hoti emeine triakonta etē, mē exerchomenos ek tou kelliou autou. Eiche de ethos ho presbyteros erchesthai, kai poiein autǭ tēn hagian prosphoran. Ho de diabolos, theōrēsas tēn tou andros enareton hypomonēn, epanourgeusato en katakrisei peirasai auton; kai pareskeuase tina pneumatiōnta, pros ton geronta prophasei euchēs apelthein. Ho de pneumatiōn pro pantos logou prosephōnei tǭ geronti; Ho presbyteros sou echei osmēn hamartias, mēketi auton easę̄s eiselthein pros se. Ho de theopneustos anēr eipe pros auton; Teknon, pantes tēn akatharsian exō ballousi; sy de pros me ēnenkas autēn. Alla gegraptai; Mē krinete, hina mē krithēte. Homōs ei kai hamartōlos estin, ho Kyrios sōsei auton. Gegraptai gar; Euchesthe hyper allēlōn, hopōs iathēte. Kai epi tǭ logǭ toutǭ poiēsas euchēn, ephygadeuse ton daimona apo tou anthrōpou, kai apelysen auton hygiē. Hōs de ēlthen ho presbyteros kata to eiōthos, hypedexato auton ho gerōn meta charas. Ho de agathos Theos, idōn tēn akakian tou gerontos, edeixen autǭ sēmeion. Mellontos gar tou klērikou stēnai emprosthen tēs hagias trapezēs, kathōs ho gerōn diēgēerchomenon, kai ethēke tēn cheira autou eis tēn kephalēn tou klērikou, kai egeneto ho klērikos hōs stylos pyros. Emou de thaumasantos epi tę̄ horasei, ēkousa phōnēs legousēs pros me; Anthrōpe, ti tethaumakas epi tǭ pragmati toutǭ? Ei gar basileus epigeios ou mē heasę̄ tous megistanas autou rhyparous stēnai emprosthen autou, ean mē meta doxēs pollēs; posǭ mallon hē theia dynamis ou katharisei tous leitourgous tōn hagiōn mystēriōn, stēkontas emprosthen tēs ouraniou doxēs? Ho de gennaios kai athlētēs tou Christou Markos ho Aigyptios, megas genomenos, katēxiōthē tou charismatos toutou, hoti ou katekrine ton klērikon.
They said of abba Mark the Egyptian that he remained thirty years without going out of his cell. And the presbyter was accustomed to come and celebrate the holy offering for him. But the devil, seeing the man’s virtuous endurance, schemed to tempt him through condemnation; and he prepared someone possessed to go to the old man on the pretext of asking for prayer. Before saying anything, the possessed man called out to the old man, “Your presbyter has the smell of sin; do not let him come in to you any more.” But the God-inspired man said to him, “Child, everyone throws uncleanness out, but you have brought it to me. But it is written, ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.’ Even if he is a sinner, the Lord will save him. For it is written, ‘Pray for one another, that you may be healed.’” And with this word, praying, he drove the demon out of the man and sent him away healthy. When the presbyter came as usual, the old man received him with joy. And the good God, seeing the old man’s innocence, showed him a sign. For as the cleric was about to stand before the holy table, as the old man related, … [an angel] coming down, and he put his hand on the cleric’s head, and the cleric became like a pillar of fire. “And as I marveled at the sight, I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Man, why are you amazed at this thing? If an earthly king will not let his nobles stand before him dirty, but only in great glory, how much more will the divine power cleanse the ministers of the holy mysteries as they stand before the heavenly glory?’” And the noble athlete of Christ, Mark the Egyptian, having become great, was counted worthy of this gift because he did not condemn the cleric.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Matt 7:1 (quotation, high confidence) · Jas 5:16 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Mark refuses to judge a presbyter accused by a demoniac, and sees the presbyter purified by an angel at the altar.
- Words are lost in the scan before “coming down” (in other copies: “I saw an angel of the Lord coming down from heaven”); “[an angel]” makes the sense clear and is not in the Greek. Quotations of Matt 7:1 and Jas 5:16. The holy offering is the Eucharist.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): πρεσβύτε ρός → πρεσβύτερός.
Topics: Eucharist, Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 77.1 (PG 65:303; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/77-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/77-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-77-1) · 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 78
78.1PG 65:303
κόψαι θαλλία, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ μετ' αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ τὴν πρώτην ἡμέραν· Δεῦρο, φάγε μεθ' ἡμῶν, Πάτερ. Ὁ δὲ ἀπῆλθε καὶ ἔφαγε. Καὶ πάλιν τῇ ἄλλῃ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Ὑμεῖς χρείαν ἔχετε φαγεῖν, τέκνα ἀκμὴν γὰρ σάρξ ἐστε· ἐγὼ δὲ νῦν οὐ θέλω φαγεῖν.
kopsai thallia, kai hoi adelphoi met' autou. Kai legousin autǭ tēn prōtēn hēmeran; Deuro, phage meth' hēmōn, Pater. Ho de apēlthe kai ephage. Kai palin tę̄ allę̄ legousin autǭ phagein. Ho de ouk ēthelen, all᾽ elegen autois; Hymeis chreian echete phagein, tekna akmēn gar sarx este; egō de nyn ou thelō phagein.
… to cut palm leaves, and the brothers with him. And on the first day they say to him, “Come, eat with us, father.” And he went and ate. And again the next day they tell him to eat. But he would not, but said to them, “You need to eat, children, for you are still flesh; but I do not want to eat now.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Macarius eats with the brothers once but then declines, saying they still need food as flesh.
- The beginning of the saying and its numeral are lost in the scan (in other copies: “Abba Macarius the citizen once went …”); not supplied.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 78.1 (PG 65:303; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-1
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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.
78.2PG 65:303–305
Παρέβαλεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Μακάριος πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Παχώμιον τῶν Ταβενησιωτῶν. Ὁ δὲ Παχώμιος ἠρώτα αὐτὸν, λέγων· Ὅτε εἰσιν ἀδελφοὶ ἄτακτοι, καλόν ἐστι παιδεῦσαι αὐτούς; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Μακάριος· Παίδευσον, καὶ κρῖνον δικαίως τοὺς ὑπὸ σέ· ἔξω δὲ μὴ κρίνῃς τινάς. Γέγραπται γάρ· Οὐχὶ τοὺς ἔσω ὑμεῖς κρίνετε; τοὺς δὲ ἔξω ὁ Θεὸς κρίνει.
Parebalen ho abbas Makarios pros ton abban Pachōmion tōn Tabenēsiōtōn. Ho de Pachōmios ērōta auton, legōn; Hote eisin adelphoi ataktoi, kalon esti paideusai autous? Legei autǭ ho abbas Makarios; Paideuson, kai krinon dikaiōs tous hypo se; exō de mē krinę̄s tinas. Gegraptai gar; Ouchi tous esō hymeis krinete? tous de exō ho Theos krinei.
Abba Macarius visited abba Pachomius of the Tabennesiots. And Pachomius asked him, saying, “When there are undisciplined brothers, is it good to discipline them?” Abba Macarius says to him, “Discipline and judge justly those under you; but do not judge anyone outside. For it is written, ‘Is it not those inside whom you judge? But those outside God judges.’”
1 Cor 5:12 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Cor 5:13 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Macarius tells Pachomius to discipline his own monks but judge no outsiders.
- Quotation of 1 Cor 5:12–13.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): Μακά ριος → Μακάριος.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 78.2 (PG 65:303–305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-2
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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.
78.3PG 65:305
Ἐποίησέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Μακάριος τετράμηνον, παραβάλλων τινὶ ἀδελφῷ ἡμερούσιον· καὶ οὐχ εὖρεν αὐτὸν εὐκαιροῦντα ἀπὸ τῆς προσευχῆς οὐδὲ ἅπαξ· καὶ θαυμάσας ἔλεγεν· Ἰδοὺ ἐπίγειος ἄγγελος. Ἀρχὴ τοῦ Ν στοιχείου.
Epoiēse pote ho abbas Makarios tetramēnon, paraballōn tini adelphǭ hēmerousion; kai ouch euren auton eukairounta apo tēs proseuchēs oude hapax; kai thaumasas elegen; Idou epigeios angelos. Archē tou N stoicheiou.
Once abba Macarius spent four months visiting a brother every day; and he did not once find him free from prayer; and marveling he said, “Look, an earthly angel.” [Beginning of the letter N.]
Notes and citation
Summary: Macarius finds a brother always at prayer for four months and calls him an earthly angel.
- The last words are a heading of the printed collection.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 78.3 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/78-3
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-78-3) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 79
79.1PG 65:305
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Νεῖλος Ὅσα ἂν ποιῆς εἰς ἄμυναν ἀδελφοῦ ἠδικηκότος σε, ἅπαντα εἰς καρδίαν σοι γενήσεται ἐν καιρῷ προσευχῆς.
Eipen ho abbas Neilos Hosa an poiēs eis amynan adelphou ēdikēkotos se, hapanta eis kardian soi genēsetai en kairǭ proseuchēs.
Abba Nilus said, “Whatever you do in revenge against a brother who has wronged you will all come into your heart at the time of prayer.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Revenge returns to trouble the heart at prayer.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.1 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-1
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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.
79.2PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Προσευχή ἐστι πραότητος καὶ ἀοργησίας βλάστημα.
Eipe palin; Proseuchē esti praotētos kai aorgēsias blastēma.
He also said, “Prayer is the offshoot of meekness and freedom from anger.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Prayer grows from meekness and freedom from anger.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.2 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-2
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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.
79.3PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Προσευχή ἐστι λύπης καὶ ἀθυμίας ἀλέξημα.
Eipe palin; Proseuchē esti lypēs kai athymias alexēma.
He also said, “Prayer is the remedy for grief and despondency.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Prayer is the remedy for grief and despondency.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.3 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-3
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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.
79.4PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν Ἀπελθὼν πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς· καὶ λαβὼν τὸν σταυρὸν, ἀπάρνησαι σεαυτόν· ἵνα δυνηθῇς ἀπερισπάστως προσεύχεσθαι.
Eipe palin Apelthōn pōlēson sou ta hyparchonta, kai dos ptōchois; kai labōn ton stauron, aparnēsai seauton; hina dynēthę̄s aperispastōs proseuchesthai.
He also said, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor; and taking up the cross, deny yourself, so that you may be able to pray without distraction.”
Matt 19:21 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 9:23 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Renunciation and self-denial make undistracted prayer possible.
- Matt 19:21; Luke 9:23.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.4 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-4
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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.
79.5PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ὅπερ ἂν ὑπομένων φιλοσοφήσῃς, τούτου τὸν καρπὸν κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς εὐχῆς εὐρήσεις.
Eipe palin; Hoper an hypomenōn philosophēsę̄s, toutou ton karpon kata ton kairon tēs euchēs eurēseis.
He also said, “Whatever you endure in practicing wisdom, you will find its fruit at the time of prayer.”
Notes and citation
Summary: What one endures in the ascetic life bears fruit in prayer.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.5 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-5
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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.
79.6PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐπιθυμῶν προσεύξασθαι ὡς δεῖ, μὴ λυπήσῃς ψυχήν· εἰ δὲ μήγε, εἰς μάτην τρέχεις.
Eipe palin; Epithymōn proseuxasthai hōs dei, mē lypēsę̄s psychēn; ei de mēge, eis matēn trecheis.
He also said, “If you desire to pray as you ought, do not grieve any soul; otherwise you run in vain.”
Gal 2:2 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: True prayer requires grieving no one.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.6 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-6
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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.
79.7PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Μὴ θέλε ὡς σοὶ δοκεῖ, ἀλλ' ὡς Θεῷ ἀρέσκει γίνεσθαι τὰ κατὰ σε· καὶ ἔσῃ ἀτάραχος καὶ εὐχάριστος ἐν προσευχῇ σου.
Eipe palin; Mē thele hōs soi dokei, all' hōs Theǭ areskei ginesthai ta kata se; kai esę̄ atarachos kai eucharistos en proseuchę̄ sou.
He also said, “Do not want your affairs to turn out as seems good to you, but as pleases God; and you will be untroubled and thankful in your prayer.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Seek God’s will, not your own, and your prayer will be calm and thankful.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with stray marks): ἀτάρα-, χος → ἀτάραχος.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.7 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-7
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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.
79.8PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν Μακάριός ἐστι μοναχὸς, ὁ πάντων περίψημα ἑαυτὸν λογιζόμενος.
Eipe palin Makarios esti monachos, ho pantōn peripsēma heauton logizomenos.
He also said, “Blessed is the monk who regards himself as the refuse of all.”
1 Cor 4:13 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Blessed is the monk who counts himself the refuse of all.
- Cf. 1 Cor 4:13.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.8 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-8
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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.
79.9PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν Ἄτρωτος διαμένει μοναχὸς ἀπὸ τῶν βελῶν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, ὁ ἀγαπῶν ἡσυχίαν· ὁ δὲ συναναμιγνύμενος πλήθεσι συνεχεῖς δέχεται πληγάς.
Eipe palin Atrōtos diamenei monachos apo tōn belōn tou echthrou, ho agapōn hēsychian; ho de synanamignymenos plēthesi synecheis dechetai plēgas.
He also said, “The monk who loves stillness remains unwounded by the arrows of the enemy; but one who mixes with crowds receives continual blows.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Stillness protects the monk from the enemy’s arrows.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.9 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-9
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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.
79.10PG 65:305
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ὁ δοῦλος ὁ ἀμελῶν τῶν ἔργων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ ἑτοιμαζέσθω πρὸς μάστιγας.
Eipe palin; Ho doulos ho amelōn tōn ergōn tou kyriou autou hetoimazesthō pros mastigas.
He also said, “The servant who neglects the works of his master, let him prepare for the lash.”
Luke 12:47 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The negligent servant should expect punishment.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 79.10 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/79-10
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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.
Chapter 80
80.1PG 65:305
Ὁ ἀββᾶς Νιστερῶος ὁ μέγας περιεπάτει ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ μετὰ ἀδελφοῦ τινος· καὶ ἰδόντες δράκοντα, ἔφυγον. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ σὺ φοβῇ, Πάτερ; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐ φοβοῦμαι, τέκνον· ἀλλὰ συμφέρει ὅτι ἔφυγον, ἐπεὶ οὐκ εἶχον ἐκφυγεῖν τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς κενοδοξίας.
Ho abbas Nisterōos ho megas periepatei en tę̄ erēmǭ meta adelphou tinos; kai idontes drakonta, ephygon. Kai legei autǭ ho adelphos; Kai sy phobę̄, Pater? Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ou phoboumai, teknon; alla sympherei hoti ephygon, epei ouk eichon ekphygein to pneuma tēs kenodoxias.
Abba Nisterus the Great was walking in the desert with a brother; and seeing a serpent, they fled. And the brother says to him, “Are you afraid too, father?” And the old man says to him, “I am not afraid, child; but it was good that I fled, since otherwise I would not have escaped the spirit of vainglory.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus flees a serpent not from fear but to escape vainglory.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 80.1 (PG 65:305; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-1
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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.
80.2PG 65:305–307
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε γέροντα, λέγων· Ποῖον καλὸν πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ἵνα ποιήσω, καὶ ζήσωμαι ἐν αὐτῷ; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ὁ Θεὸς οἶδε τὸ καλόν. Ἀλλ' ἤκουσα ὅτι ἡρώτησέ τις τῶν Πατέρων τὸν ἀββᾶν Νιστερῶον τὸν μέγαν, τὸν φίλον τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ποῖον καλὸν ἔργον ἐστὶν, ἵνα ποιήσω; Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Οὐκ εἰσὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἐργασίαι ἴσαι; ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει, ὅτι Ἀβραὰμ φιλόξενος ἦν, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· καὶ Ἠλίας ἠγάπα τὴν ἡσυχίαν, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὁ Δαβὶδ ταπεινὸς ἦν, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ οὖν θεωρεῖς τὴν ψυχήν σου θέλουσαν κατὰ Θεὸν, τοῦτο ποίησον καὶ [φύλαξον] τὴν καρδίαν σου.
Adelphos ērōtēse geronta, legōn; Poion kalon pragma estin, hina poiēsō, kai zēsōmai en autǭ? Kai eipen ho gerōn; Ho Theos oide to kalon. All' ēkousa hoti hērōtēse tis tōn Paterōn ton abban Nisterōon ton megan, ton philon tou abba Antōniou, kai eipen autǭ Poion kalon ergon estin, hina poiēsō? Kai eipen autǭ Ouk eisi pasai hai ergasiai isai? hē Graphē legei, hoti Abraam philoxenos ēn, kai ho Theos ēn met᾿ autou; kai Ēlias ēgapa tēn hēsychian, kai ho Theos ēn met' autou; kai ho Dabid tapeinos ēn, kai ho Theos ēn met᾿ autou. Ho oun theōreis tēn psychēn sou thelousan kata Theon, touto poiēson kai [phylaxon] tēn kardian sou.
A brother asked an old man, saying, “What good thing is there that I may do and live by it?” And the old man said, “God knows what is good. But I have heard that one of the Fathers asked abba Nisterus the Great, the friend of abba Antony, and said to him, ‘What good work is there that I may do?’ And he said to him, ‘Are not all works equal? Scripture says that Abraham was hospitable, and God was with him; and Elijah loved stillness, and God was with him; and David was humble, and God was with him. So whatever you see your soul wanting according to God, do that, and [guard] your heart.’”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Gen 18:2 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Kgs 19:12 (echo, low confidence) · Prov 4:23 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus teaches that every virtue pleases God, as Abraham’s hospitality, Elijah’s stillness, and David’s humility show.
- Variant notes are removed. “Guard” is in square brackets in the printed text (a word supplied by the editor). Abraham: Gen 18:1–8; Elijah: 1 Kgs 19; Prov 4:23.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): Ἀλλ' ΑΙ. ἀμελοῦντα. σκάνδαλον. ἤκουσα → Ἀλλ' ἤκουσα; ποιή σω → ποιήσω.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 80.2 (PG 65:305–307; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-2
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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.
80.3PG 65:307
Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ λέγει τῷ ἀββᾷ Νισθερώῳ· Τί ποιήσω τῇ γλώσσῃ μου, ὅτι οὐ δύναμαι κρατῆσαι αὐτῆς; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐὰν οὖν λαλήσῃς, ἔχεις ἀνάπαυσιν; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὐχί. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὐκ ἔχεις ἀνάπαυσιν, διατί λαλεῖς; μᾶλλον σιώπα καὶ ἐὰν συμβῇ ὁμιλία, πολλὰ ἄκουε μᾶλλον ἢ λάλει.
Ho abbas Iōsēph legei tǭ abbą Nistherōǭ; Ti poiēsō tę̄ glōssę̄ mou, hoti ou dynamai kratēsai autēs? Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ean oun lalēsę̄s, echeis anapausin? Legei autǭ; Ouchi. Kai eipen ho gerōn; Ei ouk echeis anapausin, diati laleis? mallon siōpa kai ean symbę̄ homilia, polla akoue mallon ē lalei.
Abba Joseph says to abba Nisterus, “What shall I do with my tongue, since I cannot control it?” And the old man says to him, “When you speak, then, do you have rest?” He says to him, “No.” And the old man said, “If you have no rest, why do you speak? Rather keep silent; and if a conversation happens, listen much rather than speak.”
Jas 1:19 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus tells Joseph that since talking brings him no rest he should listen rather than speak.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: doubled letter; OCR: margin letter inside a split word; OCR: word split): αὐτ τῆς → αὐτῆς; μᾶλ Βλον → μᾶλλον; μᾶλ λον → μᾶλλον.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 80.3 (PG 65:307; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-3
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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.
80.4PG 65:307
Ἀδελφὸς εἶδε τὸν ἀββᾶν Νισθερῶον φοροῦντα δύο κολόβια, καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν, λέγων· Ἐὰν πτωχὸς ἔλθῃ, καὶ αἰτήσῃ σε ἱμάτιον, ποῖον δίδως αὐτῷ; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε· Τὸ κάλλιον. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ ἐὰν ἄλλος αἰτήσῃ σε, τί παρέχεις αὐτῷ; καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ ἄλλου. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ ἐὰν ἄλλος αἰτήσῃ σε, τί δίδως αὐτῷ; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Κόπτω καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν, καὶ δίδωμι αὐτῷ τὸ ἥμισυ, καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ζώννυμαι. Καὶ πάλιν λέγει Εἰ δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ζητήσῃ τις παρὰ σοῦ, τί ποιεῖς; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Παρέχω αὐτῷ τὸ λοιπὸν, καὶ πορευθεὶς κάθημαι εἰς ἕνα τόπον, ἕως οὗ ὁ Θεὸς πέμψῃ καὶ σκεπάσῃ με· οὐ ζητῶ γὰρ παρ᾿ ἄλλου τινός.
Adelphos eide ton abban Nistherōon phorounta dyo kolobia, kai epērōtēsen auton, legōn; Ean ptōchos elthę̄, kai aitēsę̄ se himation, poion didōs autǭ? Kai apokritheis eipe; To kallion. Kai legei ho adelphos; Kai ean allos aitēsę̄ se, ti parecheis autǭ? kai legei ho gerōn; To hēmisy tou allou. Kai legei ho adelphos; Kai ean allos aitēsę̄ se, ti didōs autǭ? Ho de ephē; Koptō kai to loipon, kai didōmi autǭ to hēmisy, kai to loipon zōnnymai. Kai palin legei Ei de kai touto zētēsę̄ tis para sou, ti poieis? Legei ho gerōn; Parechō autǭ to loipon, kai poreutheis kathēmai eis hena topon, heōs hou ho Theos pempsę̄ kai skepasę̄ me; ou zētō gar par᾿ allou tinos.
A brother saw abba Nisterus wearing two tunics, and asked him, saying, “If a poor man comes and asks you for a garment, which do you give him?” And he answered, “The better one.” And the brother says, “And if another asks you, what do you give him?” And the old man says, “Half of the other.” And the brother says, “And if another asks you, what do you give him?” He said, “I cut the rest too, and give him half, and gird myself with what is left.” And again he says, “And if someone asks you for that too, what do you do?” The old man says, “I give him the rest, and go and sit in some place until God sends someone to cover me; for I do not ask anyone else.”
Luke 3:11 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus would give away both tunics piece by piece and wait for God to clothe him.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 80.4 (PG 65:307; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-4
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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.
80.5PG 65:307
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Νισθερῶος, ὅτι ὀφείλει ὁ μοναχὸς καθ᾽ ἑσπέραν καὶ πρωΐας λόγον ποιεῖν, Τί ὧν θέλει ὁ Θεὸς ἐποιήσαμεν, καὶ τί ὧν οὐ θέλει οὐκ ἐποιήσαμεν; καὶ οὕτως τρακτεύοντες ἑαυτῶν τὴν πᾶσαν ζωήν. Οὕτως γὰρ ἔζησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀρσένιος. Σπούδαζε ἑκάστην ἡμέραν παρεστάναι τῷ Θεῷ χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Οὕτω προσεύχου τῷ Θεῷ, ὡς παρὼν παρόντι καὶ γὰρ ἀληθῶς πάρεστι. Μὴ νομοθέτει ἑαυτόν· κρῖνε δὲ μηδένα. Μοναχοῦ ἀλλότριον ὑπάρχει τὸ ὀμνύειν, ἐπιορκεῖν, ψεύδεσθαι, καταρᾶσθαι, ὑβρίζειν, γελᾷν. Ὁ δὲ πλέον τῆς ἀξίας τιμώμενος ἢ ἐπαιρούμενος πολὺ ζημιοῦται.
Eipen ho abbas Nistherōos, hoti opheilei ho monachos kath᾽ hesperan kai prōïas logon poiein, Ti hōn thelei ho Theos epoiēsamen, kai ti hōn ou thelei ouk epoiēsamen? kai houtōs trakteuontes heautōn tēn pasan zōēn. Houtōs gar ezēsen ho abbas Arsenios. Spoudaze hekastēn hēmeran parestanai tǭ Theǭ chōris hamartias. Houtō proseuchou tǭ Theǭ, hōs parōn paronti kai gar alēthōs paresti. Mē nomothetei heauton; krine de mēdena. Monachou allotrion hyparchei to omnyein, epiorkein, pseudesthai, katarasthai, hybrizein, geląn. Ho de pleon tēs axias timōmenos ē epairoumenos poly zēmioutai.
Abba Nisterus said that the monk ought every evening and morning to give an account: “What of the things God wants have we done, and what of the things he does not want have we not done?” and so to examine our whole life. For so abba Arsenius lived. “Strive each day to stand before God without sin. Pray to God as one present to one who is present, for truly he is present. Do not make laws for yourself; judge no one. Swearing, perjury, lying, cursing, insulting, and laughing are alien to a monk. One who is honored or exalted beyond his worth is greatly harmed.”
Matt 5:34 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus counsels daily self-examination, prayer in God’s presence, and avoidance of oaths, lies, curses, and laughter.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): παρ όντι → παρόντι; ὑβρί ζειν → ὑβρίζειν.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 80.5 (PG 65:307; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/80-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 81
81.1PG 65:307
Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Νισθερώου, ὅτι ὥσπερ ὁ ὄφις ὁ χαλκοῦς ὃν ἐποίησε Μωϋσῆς εἰς θεραπείαν τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως ἦν ὁ γέρων, πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν ἔχων, καὶ σιωπῶν πάντας ἐθεράπευεν. περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Νισθερώου ἀκούων ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν καθεζόμενος εἰς κοινόβιον, ἐπεθύμησεν αὐτὸν ἰδεῖν· καὶ ἐδήλωσε τῷ ἀββᾷ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἀποστείλῃ αὐτὸν αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ μὴ βουλόμενος ἀποστεῖλαι αὐτὸν μόνον,
Elegen ho abbas Poimēn peri tou abba Nistherōou, hoti hōsper ho ophis ho chalkous hon epoiēse Mōÿsēs eis therapeian tou laou, houtōs ēn ho gerōn, pasan aretēn echōn, kai siōpōn pantas etherapeuen. peri tou abba Nistherōou akouōn ho abbas Poimēn kathezomenos eis koinobion, epethymēsen auton idein; kai edēlōse tǭ abbą autou, hina aposteilę̄ auton autǭ. Ho de mē boulomenos aposteilai auton monon,
Abba Poemen said of abba Nisterus that just as the bronze serpent that Moses made for the healing of the people, so was the old man: having every virtue, and silent, he healed everyone. [Another saying:] … Abba Poemen, living in a community and hearing about abba Nisterus, wanted to see him; and he informed his abba, so that he might send him to him. But he, not wanting to send him alone, …
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Num 21:9 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen likens the silent Nisterus to Moses’ healing bronze serpent; the start of another saying about Poemen wishing to see him follows.
- Variant notes are removed. The words after the first saying are the beginning of another saying, whose opening is lost in the scan and which continues in 81.2. The bronze serpent: Num 21:9.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): Νισθε ρώου → Νισθερώου; ΑΙ. Νισθερῶ. ΑΙ. Νισθερῶν. ΑΙ. τρακτεύειν. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 81.1 (PG 65:307; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/81-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/81-1
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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.
81.2PG 65:307–309
Ἐρωτηθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Νισθερῶος παρὰ Α. ἐπαινούμενος. οὐκ ἀπέστειλε. Μετὰ δὲ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας, ὁ οἰκονόμος τοῦ κοινοβίου, ἔχων λογισμὸν, παρεκάλεσε τὸν ἀββᾶν αὐτοῦ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων ἐξειπεῖν αὐτῷ τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ λογισμούς. Ὁ δὲ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν, εἰπών Λάβε καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν μετὰ σοῦ, ὅτι ἐδήλωσέ μοι ὁ γέρων περὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ μὴ θαῤῥῶν ἀπολῦσαι αὐτὸν μόνον, οὐκ ἀπέλυσα. Ὡς δὲ ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα ὁ οἰκονόμος, ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος, πόθεν ἐκτήσατο τὴν ἀρετὴν ταύτην, ὅτι ὅτε δήποτε συνέβη θλίψις εἰς τὸ κοινόβιον, οὐκ ἐλάλει, οὐδὲ ἐμέσαζεν, ἀπεκρίνατο· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ἀββᾶ· ὅτε εἰσῆλθον ἀρχὴν εἰς τὸ κοινόβιον, εἶπον τῷ λογισμῷ μου, ὅτι Σὺ καὶ ὁ ὄνος ἕν ἐστε. Ὥσπερ ὁ ὄνος δέρεται καὶ οὐ λαλεῖ, ὑβρίζεται καὶ οὐδὲν ἀποκρίνεται, οὕτως καὶ σύ· καθὼς ὁ ψαλμὸς λέγει Κτηνώδης ἐγενήθην παρὰ σοὶ, κἀγὼ διαπαντὸς μετὰ σοῦ.
Erōtētheis de ho abbas Nistherōos para A. epainoumenos. ouk apesteile. Meta de oligas hēmeras, ho oikonomos tou koinobiou, echōn logismon, parekalese ton abban autou apolysai auton pros ton abban Poimena, legōn exeipein autǭ tous heautou logismous. Ho de apelysen auton, eipōn Labe kai ton adelphon meta sou, hoti edēlōse moi ho gerōn peri autou; kai mē tharrhōn apolysai auton monon, ouk apelysa. Hōs de ēlthe pros ton geronta ho oikonomos, elalēsen autǭ tou abba Poimenos, pothen ektēsato tēn aretēn tautēn, hoti hote dēpote synebē thlipsis eis to koinobion, ouk elalei, oude emesazen, apekrinato; Synchōrēson moi, abba; hote eisēlthon archēn eis to koinobion, eipon tǭ logismǭ mou, hoti Sy kai ho onos hen este. Hōsper ho onos deretai kai ou lalei, hybrizetai kai ouden apokrinetai, houtōs kai sy; kathōs ho psalmos legei Ktēnōdēs egenēthēn para soi, kagō diapantos meta sou.
… he did not send him. After a few days the steward of the community, having a troubling thought, asked his abba to let him go to abba Poemen, to tell him his thoughts. And he let him go, saying, “Take the brother with you too, for the old man asked me about him; and not daring to send him alone, I did not send him.” When the steward came to the old man, … [he asked] about abba Nisterus, where he had acquired this virtue, that whenever trouble arose in the community he did not speak nor interfere; he answered, “Forgive me, abba; when I first entered the community, I said to my thought, ‘You and the donkey are one. As the donkey is beaten and does not speak, is insulted and answers nothing, so you too; as the psalm says, “I became like a beast before you, and I am always with you.”’”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Ps 73:22 (72:22 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nisterus explains that he learned silence in the community by telling himself he was like a donkey before God.
- This continues the saying begun at the end of 81.1. The scan is damaged at the beginning and in the middle (“…”); a fuller copy of the end of the saying stands, displaced, at the end of 82.1. A stray variant note is passed over. Quotation of Ps 73:22–23 (LXX 72:22–23).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 81.2 (PG 65:307–309; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/81-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/81-2
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-81-2) · 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 82
82.1PG 65:309
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησέ τινα τῶν Πατέρων, λέγων Πῶς ὁ διάβολος τοὺς πειρασμοὺς φέρει ἐπάνω τῶν ἁγίων; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων, ὅτι ἦν τις τῶν Πατέρων, ὀνόματι Νίκων, οἰκῶν εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινᾶ. Καὶ ἰδού τις ἀπελθὼν εἰς σκηνὴν Φαρανίτου τινὸς, καὶ εὑρὼν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ μόνην, ἔπεσε μετ' αὐτῆς. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῇ Εἰπὲ, ὅτι ὁ ἀναχωρητὴς ὁ ἀββᾶς Νίκων ἐποίησέ μοι οὕτως. Καὶ ἡνίκα ἦλθεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔμαθε, λαβὼν τὸ ξίφος ἀπῆλθεν ἐπάνω τοῦ γέροντος. Καὶ κρούσαντος αὐτοῦ, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ γέρων. Καὶ ἐκτείναντος αὐτοῦ τὸ ξίφος τοῦ φονεῦσαι αὐτὸν, ἀπεξηράνθη ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἀπελθὼν ὁ Φαρανίτης εἶπε τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις· καὶ ἔπεμψαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν· καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐπιθέντες αὐτῷ πολλὰς πληγὰς, ἤθελον διῶξαι. Καὶ παρεκάλεσε, λέγων· "Αφετέ με ὧδε διὰ τὸν Θεὸν, ἵνα μετανοήσω. Καὶ χωρίσαντες αὐτὸν τρία ἔτη, ἔδωκαν ἐντολὴν ἵνα μηδεὶς αὐτῷ παραβάλῃ. Καὶ ἐποίησε τρία ἔτη, ἐρχόμενος κατὰ Κυριακὴν μετανοῶν· καὶ παρεκάλει πάντας, λέγων· Εὔξασθε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ. Ὕστερον δὲ ἐδαιμονίσθη ὁ ποιήσας τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, καὶ τὸν πειρασμὸν ἐπάνω τοῦ ἀναχωρητοῦ βαλών· καὶ ὡμολόγησεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ὅτι Ἐγὼ ἐποίησα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, καὶ εἶπον συκοφαντῆσαι τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἀπελθὼν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς, μετενόησε τῷ γέροντι, λέγοντες· Συγχώρησον ἡμῖν, ἀββᾶ. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Τὸ μὲν συγχωρῆσαι, συγκεχώρηται ὑμῖν· τὸ δὲ μεῖναι, οὐκ ἔτι μένω ὧδε μεθ' ὑμῶν, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη εἷς ἔχων διάκρισιν, συμπαθῆσαι μετ' ἐμοῦ. Καὶ οὕτως ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων Θεωρεῖς πῶς ὁ διάβολος φέρει τοὺς πειρασμοὺς ἐπάνω τῶν ἁγίων. τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ λογισμοὺς, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτόν. Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἐρωτᾷ ὁ γέρων τὸν ἀδελφὸν, λέγων· Ἀββᾶ Νιστερῶε, πόθεν ἐκτήσω τὴν ἀρετὴν ταύτην, καὶ ὅτε δήποτε συμβῇ θλίψις εἰς τὸ κοινόβιον, οὐδὲν λέγεις, οὐδὲ μεσάζεις: Καὶ πολλὰ βιασθεὶς ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑπὸ τοῦ γέροντος, εἶπεν· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ἀββᾶ· ὅτε εἰσῆλθον ἐν ἀρχῇ εἰς τὸ κοινόβιον, εἶπον τῷ λογισμῷ μου, ὅτι Σὺ καὶ ὁ ὄνος ἕν ἐστε. Ωσπερ ὁ ὄνος δέρεται καὶ οὐ λαλεῖ, ὑβρίζεται καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρίνεται, οὕτως καὶ σύ· καθὼς ὁ Ψαλμῳδὸς λέγει Κτηνώδης ἐγενήθην παρὰ σοὶ, κάγω διὰ παντὸς μετὰ σοῦ.
Adelphos ērōtēse tina tōn Paterōn, legōn Pōs ho diabolos tous peirasmous pherei epanō tōn hagiōn? Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn, hoti ēn tis tōn Paterōn, onomati Nikōn, oikōn eis to oros to Sina. Kai idou tis apelthōn eis skēnēn Pharanitou tinos, kai heurōn tēn thygatera autou monēn, epese met' autēs. Kai legei autę̄ Eipe, hoti ho anachōrētēs ho abbas Nikōn epoiēse moi houtōs. Kai hēnika ēlthen ho patēr autēs, kai emathe, labōn to xiphos apēlthen epanō tou gerontos. Kai krousantos autou, exēlthen ho gerōn. Kai ekteinantos autou to xiphos tou phoneusai auton, apexēranthē hē cheir autou. Kai apelthōn ho Pharanitēs eipe tois presbyterois; kai epempsan ep᾿ auton; kai ēlthen ho gerōn kai epithentes autǭ pollas plēgas, ēthelon diōxai. Kai parekalese, legōn; "Aphete me hōde dia ton Theon, hina metanoēsō. Kai chōrisantes auton tria etē, edōkan entolēn hina mēdeis autǭ parabalę̄. Kai epoiēse tria etē, erchomenos kata Kyriakēn metanoōn; kai parekalei pantas, legōn; Euxasthe hyper emou. Hysteron de edaimonisthē ho poiēsas tēn hamartian, kai ton peirasmon epanō tou anachōrētou balōn; kai hōmologēsen eis tēn ekklēsian, hoti Egō epoiēsa tēn hamartian, kai eipon sykophantēsai ton doulon tou Theou. Kai apelthōn pas ho laos, metenoēse tǭ geronti, legontes; Synchōrēson hēmin, abba. Kai legei autois; To men synchōrēsai, synkechōrētai hymin; to de meinai, ouk eti menō hōde meth' hymōn, hoti ouch heurethē heis echōn diakrisin, sympathēsai met' emou. Kai houtōs anechōrēsen ekeithen. Kai eipen ho gerōn Theōreis pōs ho diabolos pherei tous peirasmous epanō tōn hagiōn. tous heautou logismous, kai etherapeusen auton. Meta de touto erōtą ho gerōn ton adelphon, legōn; Abba Nisterōe, pothen ektēsō tēn aretēn tautēn, kai hote dēpote symbę̄ thlipsis eis to koinobion, ouden legeis, oude mesazeis: Kai polla biastheis ho adelphos hypo tou gerontos, eipen; Synchōrēson moi, abba; hote eisēlthon en archę̄ eis to koinobion, eipon tǭ logismǭ mou, hoti Sy kai ho onos hen este. Ōsper ho onos deretai kai ou lalei, hybrizetai kai ouk apokrinetai, houtōs kai sy; kathōs ho Psalmǭdos legei Ktēnōdēs egenēthēn para soi, kagō dia pantos meta sou.
A brother asked one of the Fathers, saying, “How does the devil bring temptations upon the saints?” And the old man says to him, “There was one of the Fathers named Nicon, living on Mount Sinai. And look, someone went into the tent of a Pharanite, and finding his daughter alone, he lay with her. And he says to her, ‘Say that the anchorite, abba Nicon, did this to me.’ And when her father came and learned it, he took his sword and went against the old man. When he knocked, the old man came out. And as he stretched out the sword to kill him, his hand withered. And the Pharanite went and told the presbyters; and they sent for him; and the old man came, and they gave him many blows and wanted to drive him out. And he begged them, saying, ‘Let me stay here for God’s sake, so that I may repent.’ And they excluded him for three years, giving orders that no one should visit him. And he spent three years coming every Sunday doing penance and begging everyone, saying, ‘Pray for me.’ Afterward the one who had committed the sin and laid the temptation on the anchorite became possessed by a demon; and he confessed in the church, ‘I committed the sin, and I said to slander the servant of God.’ And all the people went and made a prostration of repentance to the old man, saying, ‘Forgive us, abba.’ And he says to them, ‘As for forgiving, you are forgiven; but as for staying, I will no longer stay here with you, because not one was found with discernment to have compassion on me.’ And so he withdrew from there.” And the old man said, “You see how the devil brings temptations upon the saints.” [Displaced end of the saying of Nisterus (81.2):] … his own thoughts, and he healed him. After this the old man asks the brother, saying, “Abba Nisterus, where did you acquire this virtue, that whenever trouble arises in the community you say nothing and do not interfere?” And pressed hard by the old man, the brother said, “Forgive me, abba; when I first entered the community, I said to my thought, ‘You and the donkey are one. As the donkey is beaten and does not speak, is insulted and does not answer, so you too; as the Psalmist says, “I became like a beast before you, and I am always with you.”’”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Ps 73:22 (72:22 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicon, falsely accused of seducing a girl, bears punishment patiently until the real culprit confesses; a displaced passage of Nisterus follows.
- The story concerns a false accusation of sexual sin and is translated as written. Variant notes are removed; the passage after the story is a second copy of the end of Nisterus 2 (see 81.2), printed here in the scan, and is marked as displaced. Quotation of Ps 73:22–23 (LXX 72:22–23).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: repeated letters; OCR: repeated word; OCR: stray letters; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): μετανοῶν νοῶν → μετανοῶν; ἀναχωρητοῦ σε βαλών → ἀναχωρητοῦ βαλών; ΑΙ. οἰκίαν. ΑΙ. ἀπεξυλώθη. εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. ΑΙ. γέροντος. Αl. → ; Συγχώρησόν Συγχώρησόν μοι → Συγχώρησόν μοι.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 82.1 (PG 65:309; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/82-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/82-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-82-1) · 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 83
83.1PG 65:311
Διηγήσαντο περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Νετρᾶ μαθητοῦ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σιλουανοῦ, ὅτι ὅτε ἐκάθητο εἰς τὸ κελλίον αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Σινᾷ, συμμέτρως ἐδιοίκει ἑαυτὸν πρὸς τὴν χρείαν τοῦ σώματος· ὅτε δὲ ἐγένετο ἐπίσκοπος εἰς Φαρὰν, πολλὰ ἔσφιγγεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς σκληραγωγίαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ· Ἀβ, ὅτε ἤμεθα εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, οὐκ ἤσκεις οὕτως. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐκεῖ ἔρημος ἦν, καὶ ἡσυχία, καὶ πτωχεία, καὶ ἤθελεν κυβερνῆσαι τὸ σῶμα, ἵνα μὴ ἀσθενήσω, καὶ ζητήσω ἃ οὐκ εἶχον. Νῦν δὲ κόσμος ἐστὶ, καὶ ἀφορμαί εἰσιν· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀσθενήσω ὧδε, ἔστιν ὁ ἀντιλαμβανόμενός μου, ἵνα μὴ ἀπολέσω τὸν μοναχόν.
Diēgēsanto peri tou abba Netra mathētou tou abba Silouanou, hoti hote ekathēto eis to kellion autou en tǭ orei tǭ Siną, symmetrōs edioikei heauton pros tēn chreian tou sōmatos; hote de egeneto episkopos eis Pharan, polla esphingen heauton eis sklēragōgian. Kai legei autǭ ho mathētēs autou; Ab, hote ēmetha eis tēn erēmon, ouk ēskeis houtōs. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ekei erēmos ēn, kai hēsychia, kai ptōcheia, kai ēthelen kybernēsai to sōma, hina mē asthenēsō, kai zētēsō ha ouk eichon. Nyn de kosmos esti, kai aphormai eisin; ean de kai asthenēsō hōde, estin ho antilambanomenos mou, hina mē apolesō ton monachon.
They related of abba Netras, the disciple of abba Silvanus, that when he lived in his cell on Mount Sinai, he governed himself moderately as to the body’s needs; but when he became bishop of Pharan, he constrained himself greatly to austerity. And his disciple says to him, “Abba, when we were in the desert, you did not practice asceticism like this.” And the old man says to him, “There it was desert, and stillness, and poverty, and I wanted to manage my body so as not to fall ill and seek what I did not have. But now it is the world, and there are occasions; and if I fall ill here, there is someone to help me, so that I may not lose the monk.”
Notes and citation
Summary: As bishop, Netras became stricter than in the desert, lest worldly comfort destroy the monk in him.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: word split): αἰτοῦ → αὐτοῦ; σκλη ραγωγίαν → σκληραγωγίαν; ἀσθε νήσω → ἀσθενήσω.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 83.1 (PG 65:311; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/83-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/83-1
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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 84
84.1PG 65:311
Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Νικήτας περί τινων ἀδελφῶν δύο, ὅτι συνῆλθον θέλοντες οἰκῆσαι ὁμοῦ. Ἐλογίσατο δὲ ὁ εἷς ἐν ἑαυτῷ, ὅτι Εἴ τι θέλει ὁ ἀδελφός μου, ἐκεῖνο ποιῶ. Ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἐλογίσατο, ὅτι Τὸ θέλημα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου ποιήσω. Καὶ ἔζησαν ἐπὶ ἔτη πολλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς ἀγάπης. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἐχθρὸς, ἀπῆλθε θέλων χωρίσαι αὐτούς· καὶ σταθεὶς εἰς τὸ πρόθυρον, ἐφαίνετο τῷ ἑνὶ ὡσεὶ περιστερὰ, καὶ τῷ ἑτέρῳ ὡσεὶ κορώνη. Λέγει ὁ εἷς Βλέπεις τὸ περιστέριον τοῦτο; Λέγει ἐκεῖνος· Κορώνη ἐστίν. Καὶ ἤρξαντο φιλονεικεῖν ἄλλος ἄλλῳ λέγων καὶ ἀναστάντες, συνέβαλον μάχην μέχρις αἵματος, εἰς τελείαν χαρὰν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, καὶ ἐχωρίσθησαν. Μετὰ δὲ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀνένευσαν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἐλθόντες· καὶ αὐτῶν ἐλογίζετο τὸ ὁραθὲν πετηνόν· καὶ γνόντες τὸν πόλεμον τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, ἔμειναν μέχρι τέλους μὴ χωρισθέντες.
Elegen ho abbas Nikētas peri tinōn adelphōn dyo, hoti synēlthon thelontes oikēsai homou. Elogisato de ho heis en heautǭ, hoti Ei ti thelei ho adelphos mou, ekeino poiō. Homoiōs kai ho heteros elogisato, hoti To thelēma tou adelphou mou poiēsō. Kai ezēsan epi etē polla meta pollēs agapēs. Idōn de ho echthros, apēlthe thelōn chōrisai autous; kai statheis eis to prothyron, ephaineto tǭ heni hōsei peristera, kai tǭ heterǭ hōsei korōnē. Legei ho heis Blepeis to peristerion touto? Legei ekeinos; Korōnē estin. Kai ērxanto philoneikein allos allǭ legōn kai anastantes, synebalon machēn mechris haimatos, eis teleian charan tou echthrou, kai echōristhēsan. Meta de treis hēmeras aneneusan eis heautous elthontes; kai autōn elogizeto to horathen petēnon; kai gnontes ton polemon tou echthrou, emeinan mechri telous mē chōristhentes.
Abba Nicetas said about two brothers that they came together wanting to live together. One of them thought to himself, “Whatever my brother wants, I will do.” And likewise the other thought, “I will do my brother’s will.” And they lived for many years with great love. The enemy, seeing this, went to separate them; and standing in the doorway, he appeared to one as a dove and to the other as a crow. One says, “Do you see this dove?” The other says, “It is a crow.” And they began to quarrel, each saying something different; and getting up, they came to blows until blood flowed, to the enemy’s complete joy, and they separated. After three days they came to their senses; and they thought about the bird they had seen; and recognizing the enemy’s war, they remained to the end without separating.
Notes and citation
Summary: The devil sets two loving brothers fighting over whether a bird is a dove or a crow, but they recognize his trick.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): θέ λημα → θέλημα.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 84.1 (PG 65:311; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/84-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/84-1
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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 85
85.1PG 65:311
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ξόϊον, λέγων Ἐὰν εὑρεθῶ πούποτε, καὶ φάγω τρία ψωμία, μὴ πολύ ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰς τὴν ἄλωνα ἦλθες, ἀδελφέ; Εἶπε δὲ πάλιν· Ἐὰν πίω τρία ποτήρια οἴνου, μὴ πολύ ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐὰν οὐκ ἔστι δαίμων, οὐκ ἔνι πολύ· ἐὰν δὲ ἔνι, πολύ ἐστιν. Ὁ γὰρ οἶνος ἀλλότριός ἐστι τῶν μοναχῶν τῶν κατὰ Θεὸν ζώντων.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Xoïon, legōn Ean heurethō poupote, kai phagō tria psōmia, mē poly esti? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Eis tēn alōna ēlthes, adelphe? Eipe de palin; Ean piō tria potēria oinou, mē poly esti? Legei autǭ; Ean ouk esti daimōn, ouk eni poly; ean de eni, poly estin. Ho gar oinos allotrios esti tōn monachōn tōn kata Theon zōntōn.
A brother asked abba Xoius, saying, “If I happen to be somewhere and eat three morsels, is it not much?” The old man says to him, “Have you come to a threshing floor, brother?” He said again, “If I drink three cups of wine, is it not much?” He says to him, “If there is no demon, it is not much; but if there is, it is much. For wine is alien to monks who live according to God.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Xoius warns that wine is unfit for monks, especially when a demon is at work.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 85.1 (PG 65:311; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/85-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/85-1
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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.
85.2PG 65:311–313
Ἔλεγέ τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ξοΐου τοῦ Θηβαίου, ὅτι εἰσῆλθέ ποτε εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινᾶ· καὶ ἐξερχομένου αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖθεν, συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀδελφὸς, καὶ στενάζων ἔλεγε· Θλιβόμεθα, ἀββᾶ, διὰ τὴν ἀβροχίαν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Καὶ διατί οὐκ εὔχεσθε καὶ παρακαλεῖτε τὸν Θεόν; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ εὐχόμεθα, καὶ λιτανεύομεν, καὶ οὐ βρέχει. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πάντως οὐκ εὔχεσθε ἐκτενῶς. Θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι ὅτι οὕτως ἐστί; Καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐν προσευχῇ, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔβρεξεν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἔφυγεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀδελφὸς ἀνήγγειλε πᾶσι τὸ γεγονός. Καὶ οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεόν.
Elege tis tōn Paterōn peri tou abba Xoïou tou Thēbaiou, hoti eisēlthe pote eis to oros to Sina; kai exerchomenou autou ekeithen, synēntēsen autǭ adelphos, kai stenazōn elege; Thlibometha, abba, dia tēn abrochian. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Kai diati ouk euchesthe kai parakaleite ton Theon? Legei autǭ ho adelphos; Kai euchometha, kai litaneuomen, kai ou brechei. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Pantōs ouk euchesthe ektenōs. Theleis de gnōnai hoti houtōs esti? Kai exeteine tas cheiras eis ton ouranon en proseuchę̄, kai parachrēma ebrexen. Idōn de ho adelphos ephobēthē, kai epesen epi prosōpon, kai prosekynēsen autǭ. Ho de gerōn ephygen. Ho de adelphos anēngeile pasi to gegonos. Kai hoi akousantes edoxasan ton Theon.
One of the Fathers said of abba Xoius the Theban that he once went to Mount Sinai; and as he was leaving there, a brother met him, and groaning said, “We are afflicted, abba, by the drought.” The old man says to him, “And why do you not pray and entreat God?” The brother says to him, “We do pray and make litanies, and it does not rain.” The old man says to him, “Surely you do not pray earnestly. Do you want to know that it is so?” And he stretched out his hands to heaven in prayer, and at once it rained. Seeing this, the brother was afraid, fell on his face, and bowed down to him. But the old man fled. And the brother told everyone what had happened. And those who heard glorified God.
Jas 5:17 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Xoius prays for rain at Sinai and it falls at once.
- The scan inserts a second copy of most of the saying (“An old man once came to Mount Sinai …”) into the first; the repetition is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip and stray mark; second copy of the saying inserted by the OCR): Ολιβόμεθα. ἀββᾶ → Θλιβόμεθα, ἀββᾶ; Ἦλθέ ποτέ τις γέρων εἰς τὸ Σινᾶ ὅρος καὶ ὡς ἐξήρχετο ἐκεῖθεν, συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀδελφὸς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, καὶ στενάζων ἔλεγε τῷ γέροντι Θλιβόμεθα, Πάτερ, διὰ τὴν ἀβροχίαν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων λέγει αὐτῷ· Καὶ διὰ τί οὐκ εὔχεσθε καὶ παρακαλεῖτε τὸν Θεόν; Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός Καὶ εὐχὴν ποιοῦμεν, καὶ λιτανείαν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ βρέχει. Ὁ δὲ γέρων λέγει· Πάντως οὐκ εὔχεσθε ἐκτενῶς. Θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι ὅτι οὕτως ἐστίν; στῶμεν εἰς προσευχήν. Καὶ ἐκτείνας τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ηὔξατο· καὶ εὐθέως κατέβη ή βροχή. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἐφοβήθη, καὶ πεσὼν προσεκύνη → .
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 85.2 (PG 65:311–313; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/85-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/85-2
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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 86
86.1PG 65:313
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ξανθίας· Ὁ λῃστὴς ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ ἦν, καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου ἑνὸς ἐδικαιώθη· καὶ Ἰούδας μετὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων συνηριθμημένος ἦν, καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ μιᾷ ἀπώλεσε πάντα τὸν κάματον, καὶ κατέβη ἐξ οὐρανῶν εἰς ᾅδην. Διὸ μηδεὶς εὐπραγῶν καυχάσθω· πάντες γὰρ οἱ πεποιθότες ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς ἔπεσον.
Eipen ho abbas Xanthias; Ho lę̄stēs en tǭ staurǭ ēn, kai apo logou henos edikaiōthē; kai Ioudas meta tōn apostolōn synērithmēmenos ēn, kai en nykti mią apōlese panta ton kamaton, kai katebē ex ouranōn eis hądēn. Dio mēdeis eupragōn kauchasthō; pantes gar hoi pepoithotes eph᾽ heautois epeson.
Abba Xanthias said, “The thief was on the cross, and was justified by one word; and Judas was numbered with the apostles, and in one night he lost all his labor and went down from heaven to Hades. So let no one who is doing well boast; for all who trust in themselves have fallen.”
Luke 23:42 (allusion, high confidence) · Acts 1:17 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Cor 10:12 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The thief was saved by one word and Judas lost all in one night, so no one should boast.
- Luke 23:42–43; Acts 1:17.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 86.1 (PG 65:313; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-1
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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.
86.2PG 65:313
Ἀνέβη ποτὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ξανθίας ἀπὸ Σκήτεως εἰς Τερενοῦθιν· καὶ ὅπου κατέλυσε, διὰ τὸν κόπον τῆς ἀσκήσεως ἤνεγκαν αὐτῷ ὀλίγον οἶνον. Ακούσαντες δέ τινες ἤνεγκαν αὐτῷ δαιμονιζόμενον. Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ δαίμων λοιδορεῖν τὸν γέροντα· Πρὸς τὸν οἰνοπότην τοῦτον ἠνέγκατέ με. Καὶ ὁ μὲν γέρων οὐκ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἐκβαλεῖν· διὰ δὲ τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν ἔλεγε· Πιστεύω τῷ Χριστῷ, ὅτι οὐ μὴ τελέσω τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτο, ἕως οὗ ἐξέλθῃς. Καὶ ὡς ἤρξατο ὁ γέρων πίνειν, ἔκραξεν ὁ δαίμων, λέγων· Καίεις με, καίεις με. Καὶ πρὸ τοῦ τελέσαι, ἐξῆλθε διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Anebē pote ho abbas Xanthias apo Skēteōs eis Terenouthin; kai hopou katelyse, dia ton kopon tēs askēseōs ēnenkan autǭ oligon oinon. Akousantes de tines ēnenkan autǭ daimonizomenon. Kai ērxato ho daimōn loidorein ton geronta; Pros ton oinopotēn touton ēnenkate me. Kai ho men gerōn ouk ēthelen auton ekbalein; dia de ton oneidismon elege; Pisteuō tǭ Christǭ, hoti ou mē telesō to potērion touto, heōs hou exelthę̄s. Kai hōs ērxato ho gerōn pinein, ekraxen ho daimōn, legōn; Kaieis me, kaieis me. Kai pro tou telesai, exēlthe dia tēs charitos tou Christou.
Once abba Xanthias went up from Scetis to Terenuthis; and where he lodged, because of the strain of his asceticism, they brought him a little wine. Hearing of this, some people brought him a man possessed by a demon. And the demon began to abuse the old man: “You have brought me to this wine-drinker!” The old man did not want to cast him out; but because of the insult he said, “I trust in Christ that I will not finish this cup until you come out.” And as the old man began to drink, the demon cried out, saying, “You are burning me, you are burning me!” And before he finished, it came out by the grace of Christ.
Notes and citation
Summary: Mocked as a wine-drinker by a demon, Xanthias drives it out before he finishes his cup.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter lost): Π.στεύω → Πιστεύω.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 86.2 (PG 65:313; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-2
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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.
86.3PG 65:313
Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι Ὁ κύων κρείσσων μού ἐστι· διότι καὶ ἀγάπην ἔχει, καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται.
Ho autos eipen, hoti Ho kyōn kreissōn mou esti; dioti kai agapēn echei, kai eis krisin ouk erchetai.
The same said, “The dog is better than I; for it has love, and it does not come to judgment.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Xanthias says a dog is better than he, for it loves and faces no judgment.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 86.3 (PG 65:313; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/86-3
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-86-3) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
Chapter 87
87.1PG 65:313
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀλύμπιος, ὅτι Κατέβη ποτὲ ἱερεὺς τῶν Ἑλλήνων εἰς Σκῆτιν, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου, καὶ ἐκοιμήθη· καὶ θεασάμενος τὴν διαγωγὴν τῶν μοναχῶν, λέγει μοι· Οὕτως διάγοντες, οὐδὲν θεωρεῖτε παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ὑμῶν; Καὶ λέγω αὐτῷ· Οὐχί. Καὶ λέγει μοι ὁ ἱερεύς· Τέως ἡμῶν ἱερουργούντων τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, οὐδὲν κρύπτει ἀφ᾿ ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ ἀποκαλύπτει ἡμῖν τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὑμεῖς τοσούτους κόπους ποιοῦντες, ἀγρυπνίας, ἡσυχίας καὶ ἀσκήσεις, λέγεις ὅτι Οὐδὲν θεωροῦμεν; Πάντως οὖν, εἰ οὐδὲν θεωρεῖτε, λογισμοὺς πονηροὺς ἔχετε εἰς τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, τοὺς χωρίζοντας ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀποκαλύπτεται ὑμῖν τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἀπῆλθον, καὶ ἀνήγγειλα τοῖς γέρουσι τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ ἱερέως. Καὶ ἐθαύμασαν, καὶ εἶπαν ὅτι οὕτως ἐστίν. Οἱ γὰρ ἀκάθαρτοι λογισμοὶ χωρίζουσι τὸν Θεὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
Eipen ho abbas Olympios, hoti Katebē pote hiereus tōn Hellēnōn eis Skētin, kai ēlthen eis to kellion mou, kai ekoimēthē; kai theasamenos tēn diagōgēn tōn monachōn, legei moi; Houtōs diagontes, ouden theōreite para tǭ Theǭ hymōn? Kai legō autǭ; Ouchi. Kai legei moi ho hiereus; Teōs hēmōn hierourgountōn tǭ Theǭ hēmōn, ouden kryptei aph᾿ hēmōn, alla apokalyptei hēmin ta mystēria autou; kai hymeis tosoutous kopous poiountes, agrypnias, hēsychias kai askēseis, legeis hoti Ouden theōroumen? Pantōs oun, ei ouden theōreite, logismous ponērous echete eis tas kardias hymōn, tous chōrizontas hymas apo tou Theou hymōn, kai dia touto ouk apokalyptetai hymin ta mystēria autou. Kai apēlthon, kai anēngeila tois gerousi ta rhēmata tou hiereōs. Kai ethaumasan, kai eipan hoti houtōs estin. Hoi gar akathartoi logismoi chōrizousi ton Theon apo tou anthrōpou.
Abba Olympius said, “Once a pagan priest came down to Scetis and came to my cell and slept there; and observing the monks’ way of life, he says to me, ‘Living like this, do you see nothing from your God?’ And I say to him, ‘No.’ And the priest says to me, ‘Yet when we perform sacred rites to our god, he hides nothing from us but reveals his mysteries to us; and you, doing so many labors, vigils, stillness and ascetic practices, say, “We see nothing”? Surely, then, if you see nothing, you have evil thoughts in your hearts, which separate you from your God, and that is why his mysteries are not revealed to you.’ And I went and told the old men the priest’s words. And they marveled and said that it is so. For unclean thoughts separate God from man.”
Isa 59:2 (echo, low confidence) · Matt 5:8 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A pagan priest tells Olympius that evil thoughts must be keeping the monks from seeing God, and the elders agree.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letter): ἡήσυχίας → ἡσυχίας.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 87.1 (PG 65:313; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/87-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/87-1
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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.
87.2PG 65:313–315
Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀλύμπιος ὁ τῶν Κελλίων ἐπολεμήθη εἰς πορνείαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ λογισμός· Ὕπαγε, λάβε γυναῖκα. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐποίησε πηλὸν, καὶ ἔπλασε γυναῖκα, καὶ λέγει ἑαυτῷ· Ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνή σου· χρεία οὖν ἐργάζεσθαι πολλὰ, ἵνα θρέψεις αὐτὴν. Καὶ ἠργάζετο κοπιῶν πολλά. Καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέραν, πάλιν ποιήσας πηλὸν, ἔπλασεν ἑαυτῷ θυγατέρα, καὶ λέγει τῷ λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ· Ἔτεκεν ἡ γυνή σου χρείαν ἔχεις περισσότερον ἐργάσασθαι, ἵνα δυνηθῇς θρέψαι τὸ τέκνον σου, καὶ σκεπάσαι. Καὶ οὕτως ποιῶν ἔτηξεν ἑαυτὸν, καὶ λέγει τῷ λογισμῷ· Οὐκ ἔτι ἰσχύω ὑποφέρειν τὸν κόπον. Καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰ οὐκ ἰσχύεις ὑποφέρειν τὸν κόπον, μηδὲ γυναῖκα ζητήσῃς. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόπον αὐτοῦ, ἦρεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸν πόλεμον, καὶ ἀνεπάη.
Ho abbas Olympios ho tōn Kelliōn epolemēthē eis porneian. Kai legei autǭ ho logismos; Hypage, labe gynaika. Kai anastas epoiēse pēlon, kai eplase gynaika, kai legei heautǭ; Idou hē gynē sou; chreia oun ergazesthai polla, hina threpseis autēn. Kai ērgazeto kopiōn polla. Kai meth᾽ hēmeran, palin poiēsas pēlon, eplasen heautǭ thygatera, kai legei tǭ logismǭ autou; Eteken hē gynē sou chreian echeis perissoteron ergasasthai, hina dynēthę̄s threpsai to teknon sou, kai skepasai. Kai houtōs poiōn etēxen heauton, kai legei tǭ logismǭ; Ouk eti ischyō hypopherein ton kopon. Kai eipen; Ei ouk ischyeis hypopherein ton kopon, mēde gynaika zētēsę̄s. Kai idōn ho Theos ton kopon autou, ēren ap᾿ autou ton polemon, kai anepaē.
Abba Olympius of the Cells was attacked by sexual temptation. And his thought says to him, “Go, take a wife.” And getting up he made clay and formed a woman, and says to himself, “Look, your wife; so you need to work hard to feed her.” And he worked, laboring much. And a day later, again making clay, he formed himself a daughter, and says to his thought, “Your wife has given birth; you need to work more to be able to feed your child and clothe her.” And doing so he wore himself out, and says to his thought, “I can no longer bear the labor.” And he said, “If you cannot bear the labor, do not seek a wife either.” And God, seeing his labor, took the war away from him, and he was at rest.
Notes and citation
Summary: Olympius cures his desire for a wife by working himself to exhaustion for a clay wife and daughter.
Topics: Marriage
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 87.2 (PG 65:313–315; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/87-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/87-2
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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 88
88.1PG 65:315
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀρσίσιος· Πλίνθος ὠμὴ, βαλλομένη εἰς θεμέλιον ἐγγὺς ποταμοῦ, οὐχ ὑπομένει μίαν ἡμέραν· ὀπτὴ δὲ, ὡς λίθος διαμένει. Οὕτως ἄνθρωπος σαρκικὸν φρόνημα ἔχων, καὶ μὴ πυρωθεὶς κατὰ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, λύεται προελθὼν εἰς ἀρχήν. Πολλοὶ γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων οἱ πειρασμοὶ, ἐν μέσῳ ἀνθρώπων ὄντων Καλὸν δέ τινα εἰδότα τὰ ἴδια μέτρα, ἀποφεύγειν τὸ βάρος τῆς ἀρχῆς. Οἱ δὲ ἐδραῖοι τῇ πίστει, ἀμετακίνητοί εἰσι. Περὶ αὐτοῦ γὰρ τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου Ἰωσὴφ ἐὰν θελήσῃ τις λαλῆσαι, λέγει, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίγειος ἦν. Πόσα ἐπειράσθη, καὶ ἐν ποίᾳ χώρᾳ, ὅπου οὐκ ἦν τότε ἴχνος θεοσεβείας; Ἀλλ᾽ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξείλετο αὐτὸν ἐκ πάσης θλίψεως, καὶ νῦν ἐστι μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν. Καὶ ἡμεῖς τοίνυν ἐπιγνόντες τὰ ἑαυτῶν μέτρα, ἀγωνισώμεθα· μόλις γὰρ οὕτω δυνησόμεθα ἐκφυγεῖν τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Eipen ho abbas Orsisios; Plinthos ōmē, ballomenē eis themelion engys potamou, ouch hypomenei mian hēmeran; optē de, hōs lithos diamenei. Houtōs anthrōpos sarkikon phronēma echōn, kai mē pyrōtheis kata ton Iōsēph tǭ phobǭ tou Theou, lyetai proelthōn eis archēn. Polloi gar tōn toioutōn hoi peirasmoi, en mesǭ anthrōpōn ontōn Kalon de tina eidota ta idia metra, apopheugein to baros tēs archēs. Hoi de edraioi tę̄ pistei, ametakinētoi eisi. Peri autou gar tou hagiōtatou Iōsēph ean thelēsę̄ tis lalēsai, legei, hoti ouk epigeios ēn. Posa epeirasthē, kai en poią chōrą, hopou ouk ēn tote ichnos theosebeias? All᾽ ho Theos tōn paterōn autou ēn met' autou, kai exeileto auton ek pasēs thlipseōs, kai nyn esti meta tōn paterōn autou en tę̄ basileią tōn ouranōn. Kai hēmeis toinyn epignontes ta heautōn metra, agōnisōmetha; molis gar houtō dynēsometha ekphygein tēn krisin tou Theou.
Abba Orsisius said, “An unbaked brick laid in a foundation near a river does not last a single day; but baked, it lasts like stone. So a man with a fleshly mind, not fired like Joseph by the fear of God, is dissolved when he comes to a position of authority. For the temptations of such people are many when they are among men. It is good for someone who knows his own measure to flee the burden of authority. But those firm in faith are immovable. For if anyone wishes to speak of the most holy Joseph himself, he would say that he was not earthly. How much was he tempted, and in what land, where there was then no trace of godliness? But the God of his fathers was with him and rescued him from every affliction, and now he is with his fathers in the kingdom of heaven. So let us too, knowing our own measures, strive; for only so shall we barely be able to escape the judgment of God.”
Gen 39:12 (allusion, medium confidence) · Acts 7:9 (allusion, high confidence) · Acts 7:10 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Orsisius warns that only those fired by God’s fear, like Joseph, can bear authority without dissolving.
- Joseph in Egypt: Gen 39; Acts 7:9–10.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: breathing lost; OCR: word split): πει ρασμοὶ → πειρασμοὶ; ίχνος → ἴχνος.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 88.1 (PG 65:315; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/88-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/88-1
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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.
88.2PG 65:315
Εἶπε πάλιν· Νομίζω ἐὰν μὴ ἄνθρωπος φυλάξῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ καρδίαν καλῶς, πάντα ὅσα ἤκουσεν ἐπιλανθάνεται καὶ ἀμελεῖ· καὶ οὕτως ὁ ἐχθρὸς εὑρὼν ἐν αὐτῷ τόπον, καταβάλλει αὐτόν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ λύχνος σκευασθεὶς καὶ φαίνων, ἐὰν ἀμεληθῇ λαβεῖν ἔλαιον, κατ᾿ ὀλίγον σβέννυται, καὶ λοιπὸν ἐνδυναμοῦται τὸ σκότος κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ· οὐ μόνον δὲ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἕνι ὅταν καὶ μῆς περὶ αὐτὸν ἐρχόμενος καὶ ζητῶν τὸ ἐλλύχνιον καταφαγεῖν, πρὸ μὲν τοῦ σβεσθῆναι τὸ ἔλαιον, οὐ δύναται ἐὰν δὲ ἴδῃ ὅτι οὐ μόνον φῶς οὐκ ἔχει, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ θέρμην πυρὸς, τότε τὸ ἐλλύχνιον ἀνασπάσαι θέλων, καταβάλλει καὶ τὸν λύχνον· καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ἡ ὀστράκινον, συντρίβεται· ἐὰν δὲ χαλκοῦν εὑρεθῇ, ὑπὸ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου σκευάζεται ἄνωθεν· οὕτως ἀμελούσης ψυχῆς, ὅσον ὅσον τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὑποχωρεῖ, ἕως τέλεον ἀποσβεσθῇ τῆς θέρμης αὐτῆς· καὶ λοιπὸν ὁ ἐχθρὸς, καταφαγὼν τὴν προθυμίαν τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἀφανίζει κακία. Ἐὰν δὲ ἡ ἐκεῖνος καλὸς τῇ διαθέσει πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ἁπλῶς δὲ ἡρπάγει εἰς ἀμέλειαν, ὁ Θεὸς ὡς οἰκτίρμων, βαλὼν εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν φόβον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῶν κολάσεων τὴν μνήμην, παρασκευάζει νήφειν αὐτὸν, καὶ τηρεῖν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὰ ἔμπροσθεν μετὰ ἀσφαλείας πολλῆς, ἕως τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς αὐτοῦ.
Eipe palin; Nomizō ean mē anthrōpos phylaxę̄ tēn heautou kardian kalōs, panta hosa ēkousen epilanthanetai kai amelei; kai houtōs ho echthros heurōn en autǭ topon, kataballei auton. Hōsper gar lychnos skeuastheis kai phainōn, ean amelēthę̄ labein elaion, kat᾿ oligon sbennytai, kai loipon endynamoutai to skotos kat᾿ autou; ou monon de, alla kai heni hotan kai mēs peri auton erchomenos kai zētōn to ellychnion kataphagein, pro men tou sbesthēnai to elaion, ou dynatai ean de idę̄ hoti ou monon phōs ouk echei, all᾽ oude thermēn pyros, tote to ellychnion anaspasai thelōn, kataballei kai ton lychnon; kai ean men hē ostrakinon, syntribetai; ean de chalkoun heurethę̄, hypo tou oikodespotou skeuazetai anōthen; houtōs amelousēs psychēs, hoson hoson to Pneuma to hagion hypochōrei, heōs teleon aposbesthę̄ tēs thermēs autēs; kai loipon ho echthros, kataphagōn tēn prothymian tēs psychēs, kai to sōma aphanizei kakia. Ean de hē ekeinos kalos tę̄ diathesei pros ton Theon, haplōs de hērpagei eis ameleian, ho Theos hōs oiktirmōn, balōn eis auton ton phobon autou, kai tōn kolaseōn tēn mnēmēn, paraskeuazei nēphein auton, kai tērein heauton eis ta emprosthen meta asphaleias pollēs, heōs tēs episkopēs autou.
He also said, “I think that unless a man guards his heart well, he forgets and neglects everything he has heard; and so the enemy, finding a place in him, overthrows him. For as a lamp that has been prepared and is shining, if one neglects to put oil in it, is little by little extinguished, and then the darkness prevails over it; and not only that, but sometimes a mouse comes around it seeking to eat the wick; before the oil is extinguished it cannot, but if it sees that it has not only no light but not even the warmth of fire, then, wanting to pull out the wick, it knocks over the lamp too; and if it is of clay, it breaks; but if it is found to be bronze, it is restored by the master of the house. So it is with a neglectful soul: little by little the Holy Spirit withdraws, until its warmth is completely extinguished; and then the enemy, having eaten up the soul’s eagerness, destroys the body too by wickedness. But if that man is good in disposition toward God and has simply been carried away into negligence, God in his compassion, putting into him his fear and the memory of punishments, prepares him to be watchful and to guard himself in future with great care, until his visitation.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Prov 4:23 (echo, low confidence) · Matt 25:8 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Orsisius compares a negligent soul to an untended lamp whose wick a mouse drags out, though God may restore the well-disposed.
- Variant notes at the end are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. λόγῳ. ΑΙ. εἰσίν. ΑΙ. τοῦ ἐλαίου οὐ δύναται χρήσασθαι. ΑΙ. κατὰ μικρόν. → .
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 88.2 (PG 65:315; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/88-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/88-2
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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 89
89.1PG 65:317
Ἀπῆλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτε ἦν νεώτερος, πρός τινα γέροντα, ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτῷ τρεῖς λογισμούς. Ὡς οὖν ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, ἐληθάργησεν ἕνα ἐκ τῶν τριῶν· καὶ ἀνέκαμψεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον ἑαυτοῦ· καὶ ὡς ἔθηκε τὴν χεῖρα ἀνοῖξαι τὸ κλειδίον, ἐμνήσθη τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐληθάργησε· καὶ ἀφῆκε τὸ κλειδίον, καὶ ἀνέκαμψε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐτάχυνας τοῦ ἐλθεῖν, ἀδελφέ. Καὶ διηγήσατο αὐτῷ, ὅτι ὅτε ἔθηκα τὴν χεῖρά μου λαβεῖν τὸ κλειδίον, ἐμνήσθην τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐζήτουν, καὶ οὐκ ἤνοιξα, διὰ τοῦτο ἀνέκαμψα. Ἦν δὲ τὸ μῆκος τῆς ὁδοῦ πολὺ σφόδρα. Ἔλεγε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀγγέλων Ποιμήν· καὶ λαληθήσεταί σου τὸ ὄνομα ἐν πάσῃ γῇ Αἰγύπτου.
Apēlthe pote ho abbas Poimēn, hote ēn neōteros, pros tina geronta, erōtēsai autǭ treis logismous. Hōs oun ēlthe pros ton geronta, elēthargēsen hena ek tōn triōn; kai anekampsen eis to kellion heautou; kai hōs ethēke tēn cheira anoixai to kleidion, emnēsthē ton logon hon elēthargēse; kai aphēke to kleidion, kai anekampse pros ton geronta. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Etachynas tou elthein, adelphe. Kai diēgēsato autǭ, hoti hote ethēka tēn cheira mou labein to kleidion, emnēsthēn ton logon hon ezētoun, kai ouk ēnoixa, dia touto anekampsa. Ēn de to mēkos tēs hodou poly sphodra. Elege de autǭ ho gerōn; Angelōn Poimēn; kai lalēthēsetai sou to onoma en pasę̄ gę̄ Aigyptou.
Once when abba Poemen was young, he went to an old man to ask him about three thoughts. When he came to the old man, he forgot one of the three; and he went back to his cell; and as he put his hand to open the lock, he remembered the word he had forgotten; and he left the lock and went back to the old man. And the old man says to him, “You came back quickly, brother.” And he told him, “When I put my hand to take the key, I remembered the word I was seeking, and I did not open; that is why I came back.” The length of the road was very great. And the old man said to him, “Poemen, shepherd of angels, your name will be spoken in all the land of Egypt.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen walks back a long way rather than open his door before asking his forgotten question, and is told his name will be famous.
- “Shepherd of angels” (Ἀγγέλων Ποιμήν) plays on the name Poemen, “shepherd”; the Greek is compressed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong breathing): Ἑτάχυνας → Ἐτάχυνας.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.1 (PG 65:317; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-1) · 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.
89.2PG 65:317
Ἔσχε ποτὲ Παήσιος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος σχέσιν μετά τινος ἔξω τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν οὐκ ἤθελε, καὶ ἀναστὰς ἔφυγε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀμμωνᾶν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Παήσιος ὁ ἀδελφός μου ἔχει πρός τινα σχέσιν, καὶ οὐκ ἀναπαύομαι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς· Ποιμὴν, ἀκμὴν ζῇς; Ὕπαγε, κάθου εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου, καὶ θὲς εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου, ὅτι ἤδη ἔχεις ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν τῷ μνήματι.
Esche pote Paēsios ho adelphos tou abba Poimenos schesin meta tinos exō tou kelliou autou. Ho de abbas Poimēn ouk ēthele, kai anastas ephyge pros ton abban Ammōnan, kai legei autǭ; Paēsios ho adelphos mou echei pros tina schesin, kai ouk anapauomai. Legei autǭ ho abbas Ammōnas; Poimēn, akmēn zę̄s? Hypage, kathou eis to kellion sou, kai thes eis tēn kardian sou, hoti ēdē echeis eniauton en tǭ mnēmati.
Once Paësius, abba Poemen’s brother, had a relationship with someone outside his cell. Abba Poemen did not want it, and getting up he fled to abba Ammonas and says to him, “Paësius my brother has a relationship with someone, and I have no rest.” Abba Ammonas says to him, “Poemen, are you still alive? Go, sit in your cell, and put it in your heart that you have already been a year in the tomb.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Ammonas tells Poemen, troubled by his brother’s friendship, to think himself a year dead.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.2 (PG 65:317; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-2
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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.
89.3PG 65:317
Ἦλθόν ποτε πρεσβύτεροι τῆς χώρας εἰς τὰ μοναστήρια ὅπου ἦν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Καλέσωμεν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους ὧδε σήμερον. Καὶ στάντος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πολὺ, οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν. Καὶ λυπηθεὶς ἐξῆλθε. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ καθήμενοι ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ· Ἀββᾶ, διατί οὐκ ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐγὼ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἔχω· ἀπέθανον γάρ· ὁ δὲ νεκρὸς οὐ λαλεῖ
Ēlthon pote presbyteroi tēs chōras eis ta monastēria hopou ēn ho abbas Poimēn; kai eisēlthen ho abbas Anoub, kai legei autǭ Kalesōmen tous presbyterous hōde sēmeron. Kai stantos autou epi poly, ouk edōken autǭ apokrisin. Kai lypētheis exēlthe. Legousin autǭ hoi kathēmenoi engys autou; Abba, diati ouk edōkas autǭ apokrisin? Legei autois ho abbas Poimēn; Egō pragma ouk echō; apethanon gar; ho de nekros ou lalei
Once presbyters of the region came to the monasteries where abba Poemen was; and abba Anoub went in and says to him, “Let us invite the presbyters here today.” And though he stood there a long time, Poemen gave him no answer. And he went out grieved. Those sitting near him say to him, “Abba, why did you give him no answer?” Abba Poemen says to them, “It is not my affair; for I am dead; and a dead man does not speak.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen does not answer about inviting the presbyters, saying a dead man does not speak.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip): καὶ λέγειν αὐτῷ → καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.3 (PG 65:317; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-3
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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.
89.4PG 65:317–319
Γέρων τις ἦν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ πρὸ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν τοὺς περὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ εἶχε γνῶσιν καὶ τιμὴν πολλήν. Ὡς οὖν ἀνέβησαν οἱ περὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα ἀπὸ τῆς Σκήτεως, ἀφῆκαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα. Καὶ ἐθλίβετο καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ· Τί ποιήσωμεν τῷ μεγάλῳ γέροντι τούτῳ, ὅτι εἰς θλίψιν ἔβαλον ἡμᾶς οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καταλιπόντες τὸν γέροντα, καὶ ἡμῖν μηδὲν οὖσι προσέχοντες; πῶς οὖν δυνάμεθα θεραπεῦσαι τὸν γέροντα; Λέγει δὲ αὐτοῖς· Ποιήσατε μικρὰ βρώματα, καὶ λάβετε σαΐτην οἴνου καὶ ἄγωμεν πρὸς αὐτὸν, γευσώμεθα ὁμοῦ· τάχα ἐν τούτῳ δυνησώμεθα θεραπεῦσαι αὐτόν. Ἐβάστασαν οὖν τὰ βρώματα, καὶ ἀπῆλθον. Καὶ ὡς ἔκρουσαν τὴν θύραν, ἐπήκουσεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ, λέγων· Τίνες ἐστέ; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Λάλησον τῷ ἀββᾷ, ὅτι ὁ Ποιμήν ἐστι θέλων εὐλογηθῆναι παρὰ σοῦ. Καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ μαθητοῦ ἀναγγείλαντος, ἐδήλωσεν, εἰπών· Ὕπαγε, οὐ σχολάζω. Οἱ δὲ ὑπέμειναν εἰς τὸ καῦμα, λέγοντες Οὐκ ἀναχωροῦμεν, ἐὰν μὴ καταξιωθῶμεν τοῦ γέροντος. Ὁ δὲ γέρων, ἰδὼν τὴν ταπείνωσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν ὑπομονὴν, κατανυγεὶς, ἀνέωξεν αὐτοῖς. Καὶ εἰσελθόντες ἐγεύσαντο μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. Ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἔλεγε· Ἐπ᾿ ἀληθείας, οὐκ εἰσὶ μόνα ἃ ἀκήκοα περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀλλ᾿ ἑκατονταπλασίονα εἶδον ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ ὑμῶν. Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτῶν φίλος ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης.
Gerōn tis ēn en Aigyptǭ pro tou elthein tous peri ton abban Poimena, kai eiche gnōsin kai timēn pollēn. Hōs oun anebēsan hoi peri ton abban Poimena apo tēs Skēteōs, aphēkan auton hoi anthrōpoi, kai ērchonto pros ton abban Poimena. Kai ethlibeto kai legei tois adelphois autou; Ti poiēsōmen tǭ megalǭ geronti toutǭ, hoti eis thlipsin ebalon hēmas hoi anthrōpoi, katalipontes ton geronta, kai hēmin mēden ousi prosechontes? pōs oun dynametha therapeusai ton geronta? Legei de autois; Poiēsate mikra brōmata, kai labete saïtēn oinou kai agōmen pros auton, geusōmetha homou; tacha en toutǭ dynēsōmetha therapeusai auton. Ebastasan oun ta brōmata, kai apēlthon. Kai hōs ekrousan tēn thyran, epēkousen ho mathētēs autou, legōn; Tines este? Hoi de eipon; Lalēson tǭ abbą, hoti ho Poimēn esti thelōn eulogēthēnai para sou. Kai touto tou mathētou anangeilantos, edēlōsen, eipōn; Hypage, ou scholazō. Hoi de hypemeinan eis to kauma, legontes Ouk anachōroumen, ean mē kataxiōthōmen tou gerontos. Ho de gerōn, idōn tēn tapeinōsin autōn kai tēn hypomonēn, katanygeis, aneōxen autois. Kai eiselthontes egeusanto met᾿ autou. Esthiontōn de autōn, elege; Ep᾿ alētheias, ouk eisi mona ha akēkoa peri hymōn, all᾿ hekatontaplasiona eidon en tǭ ergǭ hymōn. Egeneto de autōn philos apo tēs hēmeras ekeinēs.
There was an old man in Egypt before abba Poemen’s company came, and he had great reputation and honor. When abba Poemen’s company came up from Scetis, people left him and came to abba Poemen. And he was distressed, and says to his brothers, “What shall we do about this great old man? For people have put us in distress by leaving the old man and paying attention to us, who are nothing. How then can we heal the old man?” And he says to them, “Make a little food, and take a jar of wine, and let us go to him and eat together; perhaps in this way we can heal him.” So they carried the food and went. When they knocked at the door, his disciple heard and said, “Who are you?” They said, “Tell the abba that it is Poemen, wanting to be blessed by him.” When the disciple reported this, he sent word, saying, “Go, I have no time.” But they waited in the heat, saying, “We will not go away unless we are counted worthy of the old man.” The old man, seeing their humility and patience, was pierced to the heart and opened to them. And going in they ate with him. As they were eating, he said, “Truly, what I have heard about you is not all; I have seen a hundredfold in your work.” And he became their friend from that day.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen heals an elder’s jealousy by humbly visiting him with food and waiting at his door.
- Variant notes and a variant passage (on the old man’s envy) are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) and a variant passage from Migne’s apparatus): ΑΙ. ἀπίει [ἀπῄει] λαβεῖν τὸ. ἀγελῶν. μὴ οὖν λογίσονται με ὅτι ὧδὲ εἰμι ἔσω μετ᾿ αὐτῶν. ΑΙ. τὸν γέροντα. ΑΙ. καὶ ἐφθόνει ὁ γέρων, καὶ ἐκακολόγει αὐτούς. Ἤκουσεν οὖν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, καὶ ἐθλίβη. ΑΙ. ὑπήκουσεν. → ; σχο λάζω → σχολάζω.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.4 (PG 65:317–319; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-4
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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.
89.5PG 65:319
Ἠθέλησέ ποτε ὁ ἄρχων τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης ἰδεῖν τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ οὐ κατεδέχετο ὁ γέρων. Προφάσει δὲ ὡς κακοῦργον κατέσχε τὸν υἱὸν τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς φυλακὴν, λέγων· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ὁ γέρων, καὶ παρακαλέσῃ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, ἐγὼ ἀπολύω αὐτόν. Καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ κλαίουσα πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ ἀπόκρισιν. Ἡ δὲ ἐλοιδόρει αὐτὸν, λέγουσα· Χαλκόσπλαγχνε, ἐλέησόν με, ὅτι μονογενής μοί ἐστιν. Ὁ δὲ πέμψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Ποιμὴν τέκνα οὐκ ἐγέννησε. Καὶ οὕτως ἀνεχώρησεν. Ακούσας δὲ ἄρχων, ἔπεμψε λέγων· Κἂν λόγῳ κελεύσῃ, ἀπολύω αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἀντεδήλωσε, λέγων· Ἐξέτασον κατὰ τοὺς νόμους· καὶ εἰ ἄξιός ἐστι θανάτου, ἀποθανέτω· εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν, ὡς βούλει ποίησον
Ēthelēse pote ho archōn tēs chōras ekeinēs idein ton abban Poimena, kai ou katedecheto ho gerōn. Prophasei de hōs kakourgon katesche ton huion tēs adelphēs autou, kai ebalen eis phylakēn, legōn; Ean elthę̄ ho gerōn, kai parakalesę̄ hyper autou, egō apolyō auton. Kai ēlthen hē adelphē autou klaiousa pros tę̄ thyrą. Ho de ouk edōken autę̄ apokrisin. Hē de eloidorei auton, legousa; Chalkosplanchne, eleēson me, hoti monogenēs moi estin. Ho de pempsas eipen autę̄; Poimēn tekna ouk egennēse. Kai houtōs anechōrēsen. Akousas de archōn, epempse legōn; Kan logǭ keleusę̄, apolyō auton. Ho de gerōn antedēlōse, legōn; Exetason kata tous nomous; kai ei axios esti thanatou, apothanetō; ei de ouk estin, hōs boulei poiēson
Once the magistrate of that region wanted to see abba Poemen, and the old man would not consent. So on a pretext he arrested his sister’s son as a criminal and put him in prison, saying, “If the old man comes and intercedes for him, I will release him.” And his sister came weeping to the door. But he gave her no answer. She abused him, saying, “Heart of bronze, have pity on me, for he is my only son.” He sent word to her, “Poemen has begotten no children.” And so she went away. Hearing this, the magistrate sent word, saying, “If he even gives the order by word, I will release him.” But the old man sent back word, saying, “Examine him according to the laws; and if he deserves death, let him die; but if not, do as you wish.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen refuses to intervene even for his nephew, telling the magistrate to judge him by the law.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ὁ γέ ρων → ὁ γέρων.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.5 (PG 65:319; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-5
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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.
89.6PG 65:319–321
Ἐσφάλη ποτὲ ἀδελφὸς ἐν κοινοβίῳ· ἦν δὲ ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις ἀναχωρητής· καὶ πολλῷ χρόνῳ οὐ προῆλθεν. Ἐλθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς τοῦ κοινοβίου πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ περὶ τοῦ σφαλέντος. Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Διώξατε αὐτόν. Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ κοινοβίου, εἰσῆλθεν εἰς χαράδραν, καὶ ἔκλαιεν ἐκεῖ. Εὐκαίρησαν δὲ ἀδελφοὶ ἀπερχόμενοι πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ ἤκουσαν αὐτοῦ κλαίοντος· καὶ εἰσελθόντες εὖρον αὐτὸν ἐν μεγάλῳ πόνῳ· καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἆραι πρὸς τὸν γέροντα. Καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε, λέγων· Ὧδε ἐγὼ ἀποθνήσκω. Ἐλθόντες δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ. Καὶ παρακαλέσας αὐτοὺς, ἀπέστειλε λέγων· Εἴπατε αὐτῷ, ὅτι Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν φωνεῖ σε. Ἦλθε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἀδελφός· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων τεθλιμμένον, ἀναστὰς ἡσπάσατο, καὶ χαριεντιζόμενος μετ' αὐτοῦ, παρεκάλεσε γεύσασθαι. Απέστειλε δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τινα πρὸς τὸν ἀναχωρητὴν, λέγων· Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ἐπεθύμουν σε ἰδεῖν, ἀκούων τὰ περὶ σοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ ὀκνηρίας ἀμφοτέρων οὐ συνετύχομεν ἀλλήλοις. Νῦν οὖν Θεοῦ θέλοντος, καὶ ἀφορμῆς γενομένης, σκύλθητι ἕως τῶν ὧδε καὶ βλέπομεν ἀλλήλους. ἦν δὲ μὴ ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀκούσας ἔλεγεν· Εἰ μὴ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπληροφόρησε τὸν γέροντα, οὐκ ἂν ἔπεμψεν ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι ἀλλήλους μετὰ χαρᾶς ἐκάθισαν. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Δύο ἄνθρωποι ἦσαν ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ καὶ ἀμφότεροι νεκροὺς εἶχον· ἀφῆκε δὲ ὁ εἷς τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπῆλθε κλαῦσαι τὸν τοῦ ἑτέρου. Ακούσας δὲ ὁ γέρων κατενύγη ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ, καὶ ἐμνήσθη ὅ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἶπεν· Ποιμὴν, ἄνω δὲ εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν· ἐγὼ δὲ κάτω κάτω εἰς τὴν γῆν.
Esphalē pote adelphos en koinobiǭ; ēn de en tois topois ekeinois anachōrētēs; kai pollǭ chronǭ ou proēlthen. Elthōn de ho abbas tou koinobiou pros ton geronta, anēngeilen autǭ peri tou sphalentos. Ho de eipe; Diōxate auton. Exelthōn de ho adelphos tou koinobiou, eisēlthen eis charadran, kai eklaien ekei. Eukairēsan de adelphoi aperchomenoi pros ton abban Poimena, kai ēkousan autou klaiontos; kai eiselthontes euron auton en megalǭ ponǭ; kai parekalesan auton arai pros ton geronta. Kai ouk ēthele, legōn; Hōde egō apothnēskō. Elthontes de pros ton abban Poimena diēgēsanto autǭ. Kai parakalesas autous, apesteile legōn; Eipate autǭ, hoti Ho abbas Poimēn phōnei se. Ēlthe de pros auton ho adelphos; kai idōn auton ho gerōn tethlimmenon, anastas hēspasato, kai charientizomenos met' autou, parekalese geusasthai. Apesteile de ho abbas Poimēn tōn adelphōn autou tina pros ton anachōrētēn, legōn; Ek pollōn etōn epethymoun se idein, akouōn ta peri sou, kai apo oknērias amphoterōn ou synetychomen allēlois. Nyn oun Theou thelontos, kai aphormēs genomenēs, skylthēti heōs tōn hōde kai blepomen allēlous. ēn de mē exerchomenos ek tou kelliou autou; kai akousas elegen; Ei mē ho Theos eplērophorēse ton geronta, ouk an epempsen ep᾿ eme. Kai anastas ēlthe pros auton. Kai aspasamenoi allēlous meta charas ekathisan. Eipe de autǭ abbas Poimēn; Dyo anthrōpoi ēsan en topǭ tini kai amphoteroi nekrous eichon; aphēke de ho heis ton nekron autou, kai apēlthe klausai ton tou heterou. Akousas de ho gerōn katenygē epi tǭ logǭ, kai emnēsthē ho epoiēse, kai eipen; Poimēn, anō de eis ton ouranon; egō de katō katō eis tēn gēn.
Once a brother in a community committed a fault; and there was an anchorite in those parts who had not come out for a long time. The abba of the community came to the old man and told him about the one who had sinned. He said, “Drive him out.” The brother went out of the community, went into a ravine, and wept there. Some brothers going to abba Poemen happened to hear him weeping; and going in, they found him in great distress; and they urged him to come with them to the old man. But he would not, saying, “Here I will die.” Coming to abba Poemen, they told him about it. And he urged them and sent them, saying, “Tell him, ‘Abba Poemen is calling you.’” The brother came to him; and seeing him afflicted, the old man got up, embraced him, and talking cheerfully with him, urged him to eat. And abba Poemen sent one of his brothers to the anchorite, saying, “For many years I have wanted to see you, hearing about you, and through the sluggishness of both of us we have not met. So now, since God wills it and an occasion has arisen, take the trouble to come here, and let us see each other.” He did not go out of his cell; but hearing this he said, “If God had not assured the old man, he would not have sent for me.” And getting up he came to him. And greeting each other with joy they sat down. And abba Poemen said to him, “There were two men in a certain place, and both had someone dead; but one left his own dead and went to weep for the other’s.” Hearing this, the old man was pierced to the heart at the word, and remembered what he had done, and said, “Poemen is up above in heaven; but I am down, down on the earth.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Matt 7:3 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen restores a brother expelled on an anchorite’s word and moves the anchorite to repent by a parable of two mourners.
- A variant note is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: stray mark; variant note (“Al.”) inside a word): ὧν δὲ μὴ ἐξερχόμενος → ἦν δὲ μὴ ἐξερχόμενος; τὸν γέροντα. οὐκ ἂν → τὸν γέροντα, οὐκ ἂν; εἶΑΙ. ἑνί. πεν → εἶπεν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.6 (PG 65:319–321; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-6
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-6) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.7PG 65:321
Παρέβαλόν ποτε γέροντες πολλοὶ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι καὶ ἰδοὺ τις τῶν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος εἶχε παιδίον, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ κατ᾿ ἐνέργειαν ἐστράφη ὀπίσω. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Πατέρων, λαβὼν τὸ παιδίον ἔξω τοῦ μοναστηρίου ἐκάθητο κλαίων. Εὐκαίρησε δέ τινι γέροντι ἐξελθεῖν· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εἶπε· Τί κλαίεις, ἄνθρωπε; Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Συγγενής εἰμι τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος· καὶ ἰδοὺ συνέβη τῷ παιδίῳ τούτῳ ὁ πειρασμὸς οὗτος καὶ θέλοντες τῷ γέροντι προσενεγκεῖν αὐτὸ, ἐφοβήθημεν· οὐ γὰρ θέλει ἰδεῖν ἡμᾶς. Καὶ νῦν ἐὰν μάθῃ ὅτι ὧδέ εἰμι, πέμπει καὶ διώκει με· ἐγὼ δὲ βλέπων τὴν παρουσίαν ὑμῶν, ἐτόλμησα ἐλθεῖν. Ὡς θέλεις οὖν, ἀββᾶ, ἐλέησόν με, καὶ λάβε τὸ παιδίον ἔσω, καὶ εὔξασθε περὶ δὲ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λαβὼν αὐτὸ ὁ γέρων εἰσῆλθε, καὶ ἐχρήσατο φρονίμως, καὶ οὐ προσήνεγκεν αὐτὸ εὐθέως τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι, ἀλλὰ ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν μικροτέρων ἀδελφῶν, ἔλεγε· Σφραγίσατε τὸ παιδίον. Ποιήσας δὲ πάντας κατὰ ἀκολουθίαν σφραγῖσαι αὐτὸ, ὕστερον ἤνεγκε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελε αὐτὸ ἐγγίσαι Οἱ δὲ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν, λέγοντες· Ωσπερ πάντες, καὶ σὺ Πάτερ. Καὶ στενάξας, ἀναστὰς εὔξατο, λέγων· Ὁ Θεὸς, ἴασαι τὸ πλάσμα σου, ἵνα μὴ κυριευθῇ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Καὶ σφραγίσας αὐτὸ εὐθέως ἐθεράπευσε, καὶ ἀπἐδωκε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ὑγιές.
Parebalon pote gerontes polloi tǭ abbą Poimeni kai idou tis tōn tou abba Poimenos eiche paidion, kai to prosōpon autou kat᾿ energeian estraphē opisō. Kai idōn ho patēr autou to plēthos tōn Paterōn, labōn to paidion exō tou monastēriou ekathēto klaiōn. Eukairēse de tini geronti exelthein; kai idōn auton eipe; Ti klaieis, anthrōpe? Ho de eipe; Syngenēs eimi tou abba Poimenos; kai idou synebē tǭ paidiǭ toutǭ ho peirasmos houtos kai thelontes tǭ geronti prosenenkein auto, ephobēthēmen; ou gar thelei idein hēmas. Kai nyn ean mathę̄ hoti hōde eimi, pempei kai diōkei me; egō de blepōn tēn parousian hymōn, etolmēsa elthein. Hōs theleis oun, abba, eleēson me, kai labe to paidion esō, kai euxasthe peri de autou. Kai labōn auto ho gerōn eisēlthe, kai echrēsato phronimōs, kai ou prosēnenken auto eutheōs tǭ abbą Poimeni, alla arxamenos apo tōn mikroterōn adelphōn, elege; Sphragisate to paidion. Poiēsas de pantas kata akolouthian sphragisai auto, hysteron ēnenke tǭ abbą Poimeni. Ho de ouk ēthele auto engisai Hoi de parekaloun auton, legontes; Ōsper pantes, kai sy Pater. Kai stenaxas, anastas euxato, legōn; Ho Theos, iasai to plasma sou, hina mē kyrieuthę̄ hypo tou echthrou. Kai sphragisas auto eutheōs etherapeuse, kai apedōke tǭ patri autou hygies.
Once many old men visited abba Poemen, and look, one of abba Poemen’s relatives had a child whose face had been turned backward by the working of the devil. Seeing the crowd of Fathers, the father took the child and sat outside the monastery weeping. One old man happened to come out; and seeing him he said, “Why are you weeping, man?” He said, “I am a relative of abba Poemen; and look, this trouble has come upon this child; and wanting to bring it to the old man, we were afraid, for he does not want to see us. And now if he learns that I am here, he will send and drive me away; but seeing your presence, I dared to come. So, as you wish, abba, have mercy on me, and take the child inside, and pray for it.” The old man took it and went in, and acted wisely: he did not bring it at once to abba Poemen, but beginning with the youngest brothers he said, “Make the sign of the cross over the child.” Having had them all sign it in turn, he finally brought it to abba Poemen. He would not touch it. But they begged him, saying, “Like everyone else, you too, father.” And groaning, he got up and prayed, saying, “O God, heal your creature, so that it may not be ruled by the enemy.” And signing it, he healed it at once and gave it back healthy to its father.
Notes and citation
Summary: Brought to Poemen among all the brothers, a deformed child is healed when Poemen too makes the sign of the cross.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.7 (PG 65:321; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-7
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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.