Sayings of the Desert Fathers (alphabetical collection) 89.8–89.86
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 89
89.8PG 65:321–323
Ἀπῆλθέ τις ἀδελφός ποτε ἀπὸ τῶν μερῶν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος ἐπὶ ξένης· καὶ κατήντησε πρός τινα ἀναχωρητὴν ἐκεῖ· ἦν γὰρ ἔχων ἀγάπην, καὶ πολλοὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτόν. Ανήγγειλε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφὸς τὰ περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος. Καὶ ἀκούσας τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπεπόθησεν αὐτὸν ἰδεῖν. Ἀνακάμψαντος δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ ἀναστὰς ὁ ἀναχωρητής, ἦλθεν ἀπὸ τῆς ξένης εἰς Αἴγυπτον πρὸς τὸν ποτε παραβαλόντα αὐτῷ ἀδελφόν· ἦν γὰρ εἰπὼν αὐτῷ ποῦ μένει. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνος ἐθαύμασε, καὶ ἐχάρη λίαν. Εἶπε δὲ ὁ ἀναχωρητης Ποίησον ἀγάπην, ἆρόν με πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα. Καὶ λαβὼν αὐτὸν ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ, λέγων, ὅτι Μέγας ἄνθρωπός ἐστι, καὶ πολλὴν ἀγάπην ἔχων, καὶ πολλὴν τιμὴν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ. Ἀνήγγειλα δὲ αὐτῷ περὶ σοῦ, καὶ ἐπιθυμῶν ἰδεῖν σε ἦλθεν. Ἐδέξατο οὖν αὐτὸν μετὰ χαρᾶς, καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι ἀλλήλους ἐκάθισαν. Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ ξενικὸς λαλεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς Γραφῆς, περὶ πνευματικῶν καὶ οὐρανίων. Ἔστρεψε δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὅτι οὐ λαλεῖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, λυπηθεὶς ἐξῆλθε, καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ ἐνέγκαντι αὐτόν· Εἰς μάτην ἐποίησα ὅλην τὴν ἀποδημίαν ταύτην. Ἦλθον γὰρ πρὸς τὸν γέροντα καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐδὲ λαλῆσαι θέλει μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ. Εἰσῆλθε δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀ̓ββᾶ, διὰ σὲ ἦλθεν ὁ μέγας ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, ἔχων τοσαύτην δόξαν ἄνω εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ· καὶ διατί οὐκ ἐλάλησας μετ' αὐτοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Αὐτὸς τῶν ἄνω ἐστὶ, καὶ ἐπουράνια λαλεῖ, ἐγὼ δὲ τῶν κάτω εἰμὶ, καὶ ἐπίγεια λαλῶ. Εἰ ἐλάλησέ μοι περὶ παθῶν ψυχῆς, ἐγὼ ἂν ἀπεκρινάμην αὐτῷ· εἰ δὲ περὶ πνευματικῶν, ἐγὼ ταῦτα οὐκ οἶδα. Ἐξελθὼν οὖν ὁ ἀδελφὸς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ γέρων οὐ ταχέως ἀπὸ Γραφῆς λαλεῖ· ἀλλ᾿ ἐὰν τις αὐτῷ λαλῇ περὶ παθῶν ψυχῆς, ἀποκρίνεται αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ κατανυγεὶς εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσω, ἀββᾶ, ὅτι κατακυριεύουσί μου τὰ πάθη τῆς ψυχῆς; Καὶ προσέσχεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων χαίρων, καὶ εἶπεν· Ἄρτι καλῶς ἦλθες νῦν ἄνοιξόν σου τὸ στόμα περὶ τούτων, καὶ πληρώσω αὐτὸ ἀγαθῶν. Ὁ δὲ πολλὰ ὠφεληθεὶς ἔλεγεν Ὄντως αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀληθινὴ ὁδός. Καὶ εὐχαριστῶν τῷ Θεῷ ἀνέκαμψεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν, ὅτι τοιούτῳ ἁγίῳ κατηξιώθη συντυχεῖν.
Apēlthe tis adelphos pote apo tōn merōn tou abba Poimenos epi xenēs; kai katēntēse pros tina anachōrētēn ekei; ēn gar echōn agapēn, kai polloi ērchonto pros auton. Anēngeile de autǭ ho adelphos ta peri tou abba Poimenos. Kai akousas tēn aretēn autou epepothēsen auton idein. Anakampsantos de tou adelphou eis Aigypton, meta chronon tina anastas ho anachōrētēs, ēlthen apo tēs xenēs eis Aigypton pros ton pote parabalonta autǭ adelphon; ēn gar eipōn autǭ pou menei. Idōn de auton ekeinos ethaumase, kai echarē lian. Eipe de ho anachōrētēs Poiēson agapēn, aron me pros ton abban Poimena. Kai labōn auton ēlthe pros ton geronta, kai anēngeilen autǭ ta peri autou, legōn, hoti Megas anthrōpos esti, kai pollēn agapēn echōn, kai pollēn timēn eis tēn chōran autou. Anēngeila de autǭ peri sou, kai epithymōn idein se ēlthen. Edexato oun auton meta charas, kai aspasamenoi allēlous ekathisan. Kai ērxato ho xenikos lalein apo tēs Graphēs, peri pneumatikōn kai ouraniōn. Estrepse de ho abbas Poimēn to prosōpon autou, kai ouk edōken autǭ apokrisin. Idōn de hoti ou lalei met᾿ autou, lypētheis exēlthe, kai legei tǭ adelphǭ tǭ enenkanti auton; Eis matēn epoiēsa holēn tēn apodēmian tautēn. Ēlthon gar pros ton geronta kai idou oude lalēsai thelei met᾿ emou. Eisēlthe de ho adelphos pros ton abban Poimena, kai legei autǭ; Abba, dia se ēlthen ho megas anthrōpos houtos, echōn tosautēn doxan anō eis ton topon autou; kai diati ouk elalēsas met' autou? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Autos tōn anō esti, kai epourania lalei, egō de tōn katō eimi, kai epigeia lalō. Ei elalēse moi peri pathōn psychēs, egō an apekrinamēn autǭ; ei de peri pneumatikōn, egō tauta ouk oida. Exelthōn oun ho adelphos eipen autǭ; Ho gerōn ou tacheōs apo Graphēs lalei; all᾿ ean tis autǭ lalę̄ peri pathōn psychēs, apokrinetai autǭ. Ho de katanygeis eisēlthe pros ton geronta, kai legei autǭ; Ti poiēsō, abba, hoti katakyrieuousi mou ta pathē tēs psychēs? Kai proseschen autǭ ho gerōn chairōn, kai eipen; Arti kalōs ēlthes nyn anoixon sou to stoma peri toutōn, kai plērōsō auto agathōn. Ho de polla ōphelētheis elegen Ontōs hautē estin hē alēthinē hodos. Kai eucharistōn tǭ Theǭ anekampsen eis tēn idian chōran, hoti toioutǭ hagiǭ katēxiōthē syntychein.
Once a brother from abba Poemen’s parts went abroad; and he came to an anchorite there; for he had love, and many came to him. The brother told him about abba Poemen. And hearing of his virtue, he longed to see him. After the brother had returned to Egypt, some time later the anchorite got up and came from abroad to Egypt, to the brother who had once visited him; for he had told him where he lived. Seeing him, he was amazed and very glad. And the anchorite said, “Do me a kindness: take me to abba Poemen.” And taking him he came to the old man, and told him about him, saying, “He is a great man, with much love and much honor in his country. I told him about you, and he has come wanting to see you.” So he received him with joy, and greeting each other they sat down. And the stranger began to speak from Scripture about spiritual and heavenly things. But abba Poemen turned his face away and gave him no answer. Seeing that he did not speak with him, he went out grieved and says to the brother who had brought him, “I have made this whole journey in vain. For I came to the old man, and look, he will not even speak with me.” The brother went in to abba Poemen and says to him, “Abba, this great man, who has so much glory in his own place, came for your sake; why did you not speak with him?” The old man says to him, “He is of those above and speaks of heavenly things; but I am of those below and speak of earthly things. If he had spoken to me about the passions of the soul, I would have answered him; but about spiritual things, I do not know them.” So the brother went out and said to him, “The old man does not readily speak from Scripture; but if someone speaks to him about the passions of the soul, he answers him.” Pierced to the heart, he went in to the old man and says to him, “What shall I do, abba, for the passions of the soul master me?” And the old man looked at him with joy and said, “Now you have come well; now open your mouth about these things, and I will fill it with good things.” And greatly helped, he said, “Truly this is the true way.” And giving thanks to God he returned to his own country, because he had been counted worthy to meet such a saint.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
John 3:31 (echo, low confidence) · Ps 81:10 (80:11 LXX) (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen will not discuss heavenly matters with a visiting anchorite but helps him gladly once he asks about the passions.
- Variant notes are removed. Cf. John 3:31; Ps 81:10 (LXX 80:11).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray accent; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ἄνω. ΑΙ. ὑπέρ. ΑΙ. σφραγίσαι. εἰς → ἄνω εἰς; εἶπὲν αὐτῷ → εἶπεν αὐτῷ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.8 (PG 65:321–323; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-8
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-8) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.9PG 65:323
Ἐκράτησε ποτε ὁ ἄρχων τῆς χώρας τινὰ τῆς κώμης τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος καὶ ἦλθον πάντες παρακαλοῦντες τὸν γέροντα ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἐάσατέ με τρεῖς ἡμέρας, καὶ οὗτως ἔρχομαι. Εὔξατο οὖν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν πρὸς Κύριον, λέγων· Κύριε, μὴ δῷς μοι τὴν χάριν ταύτην. Ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀφιοῦσί με καθίσαι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ. Ἦλθεν οὖν ὁ γέρων παρακαλῶν τὸν ἄρχοντα. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη· Περὶ λῃστοῦ παρακαλεῖς, ἀββᾶ; Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἐχάρη, ὅτι οὐκ ἐδέξατο χάριν παρ' αὐτοῦ.
Ekratēse pote ho archōn tēs chōras tina tēs kōmēs tou abba Poimenos kai ēlthon pantes parakalountes ton geronta apelthein kai ekbalein auton. Ho de eipen; Easate me treis hēmeras, kai houtōs erchomai. Euxato oun ho abbas Poimēn pros Kyrion, legōn; Kyrie, mē dǭs moi tēn charin tautēn. Epei ouk aphiousi me kathisai en tǭ topǭ toutǭ. Ēlthen oun ho gerōn parakalōn ton archonta. Ho de pros auton ephē; Peri lę̄stou parakaleis, abba? Ho de gerōn echarē, hoti ouk edexato charin par' autou.
Once the magistrate of the region arrested someone from abba Poemen’s village, and everyone came begging the old man to go and get him released. He said, “Give me three days, and then I will come.” So abba Poemen prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord, do not grant me this favor; otherwise they will not let me live in this place.” So the old man came and pleaded with the magistrate. And he said to him, “Do you plead for a robber, abba?” And the old man rejoiced that he had not received a favor from him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen prays that his plea for a prisoner will fail, lest he become a sought-after intercessor, and rejoices when it does.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.9 (PG 65:323; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-9
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-9) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.10PG 65:323
Διηγήσαντό τίνες, ὅτι ποτὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰργάζοντο σκολάκιν καὶ οὐ προεχώρει, μὴ ἔχοντες ἀγοράσαι λινάρια. Καί τις αὐτῶν ἀγαπητὸς διηγήσατό τινι πραγματευτῇ πιστῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν οὐκ ἤθελε λαμβάνειν παρά τινός τί ποτε, διὰ τὴν ὄχλησιν. Ὁ δὲ πραγματευτής θέλων ποιῆσαι ἔργον τῷ γέροντι, προεφασίζετο χρείαν ἔχειν τῶν σκολακίων, καὶ ἤνεγκε τὴν κάμηλον, καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτά. Καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ ἀκούσας ὁ ἐποίησεν ὁ πραγματευτής, ὡς θέλων ἐπαινέσαι αὐτὸν, εἶπε· Φύσει, ἀββᾶ, καὶ μὴ χρήζων αὐτὰ ἔλαβεν, ἵνα ποιήσῃ ἡμῖν ἔργον. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν ὅτι μὴ χρήζων αὐτὰ ἔλαβεν, εἶπε τῷ ἀδελφῷ· Ἀνάστα, μίσθωσαι κάμηλον, καὶ φέρε αὐτά ἐὰν δὲ οὐκ ἐνέγκης αὐτὰ, Ποιμὴν ὧδε οὐ καθέζεται μεθ' ὑμῶν. Οὐ γὰρ ἀδικῶ τινα ἄνθρωπον μὴ χρήζοντα, ἵνα ζημίαν ποιήσῃ, καὶ λάβῃ τὸ κέρδος μου. Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ πολλοῦ κόπου, καὶ ἤνεγκεν αὐτά· εἰ δὲ μὴ, ὁ γέρων ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀνεχώρει. Ὡς οὖν εἶδεν αὐτὰ, ἐχάρη, ὡσεὶ μέγαν εὑρὼν θησαυρόν.
Diēgēsanto tines, hoti pote ho abbas Poimēn kai hoi adelphoi autou eirgazonto skolakin kai ou proechōrei, mē echontes agorasai linaria. Kai tis autōn agapētos diēgēsato tini pragmateutę̄ pistǭ to pragma. Ho de abbas Poimēn ouk ēthele lambanein para tinos ti pote, dia tēn ochlēsin. Ho de pragmateutēs thelōn poiēsai ergon tǭ geronti, proephasizeto chreian echein tōn skolakiōn, kai ēnenke tēn kamēlon, kai elaben auta. Kai elthōn ho adelphos pros ton abban Poimena, kai akousas ho epoiēsen ho pragmateutēs, hōs thelōn epainesai auton, eipe; Physei, abba, kai mē chrēzōn auta elaben, hina poiēsę̄ hēmin ergon. Akousas de ho abbas Poimēn hoti mē chrēzōn auta elaben, eipe tǭ adelphǭ; Anasta, misthōsai kamēlon, kai phere auta ean de ouk enenkēs auta, Poimēn hōde ou kathezetai meth' hymōn. Ou gar adikō tina anthrōpon mē chrēzonta, hina zēmian poiēsę̄, kai labę̄ to kerdos mou. Kai apēlthen ho adelphos autou meta pollou kopou, kai ēnenken auta; ei de mē, ho gerōn ap᾿ autōn anechōrei. Hōs oun eiden auta, echarē, hōsei megan heurōn thēsauron.
Some related that once abba Poemen and his brothers were making linen work and it was not going well, since they had nothing to buy linen with. And one of their friends told the matter to a faithful merchant. Abba Poemen did not want to take anything from anyone, because of the trouble. But the merchant, wanting to do the old man a service, pretended to need the linen work, and brought his camel and took it. And the brother came to abba Poemen, and having heard what the merchant had done, wanting to praise him, he said, “Truly, abba, he took it without needing it, to do us a service.” When abba Poemen heard that he had taken it without needing it, he said to the brother, “Get up, hire a camel and bring it back; and if you do not bring it back, Poemen will not stay here with you. For I will not wrong a man who has no need, so that he suffers loss and takes my gain.” And his brother went with great labor and brought it back; otherwise the old man would have left them. When he saw it, he rejoiced as though he had found a great treasure.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen makes his brothers fetch back their linen work from a merchant who bought it out of charity, refusing to profit at his loss.
- σκολάκιν is some kind of linen work; a variant note is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant note (“Al.”) and stray letters from Migne’s apparatus): Καί σε ΑΙ. ἀνοίξω μου. τις → Καί τις; ποιή σῃ → ποιήσῃ.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.10 (PG 65:323; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-10
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-10) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.11PG 65:323–325
Ἤκουσέ ποτε ὁ πρεσβύτερος τοῦ Πηλουσίου περί τινων ἀδελφῶν, ὅτι συνεχῶς εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἰσὶ, καὶ λούονται, καὶ ἀμελοῦσιν ἑαυτῶν· καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν σύναξιν, ἦρεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν τὸ σχῆμα. Καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ἔτυψεν αὐτὸν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετεμελήθη, καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, μεθύων τοῖς λογισμοῖς, βαστάζων καὶ τοὺς λεβήτωνας τῶν ἀδελφῶν, καὶ ἀναγγέλλει τὸ πρᾶγμα τῷ γέροντι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ ἔχεις σύ τί ποτε τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου; ἀπεδύσω αὐτόν; Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος εἶπεν, ὅτι Μετέχω τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ οὖν καὶ σὺ ὡς οἱ ἀδελφοί. Εἰ γὰρ μικρὸν μετέχεις τῆς παλαιότητος, ὅμως ὑπόκεισαι τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ. Τότε ἀπελθὼν ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκάλεσε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, καὶ μετενόησε τοῖς ἕνδεκα, καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ μοναχοῦ, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν.
Ēkouse pote ho presbyteros tou Pēlousiou peri tinōn adelphōn, hoti synechōs eis tēn polin eisi, kai louontai, kai amelousin heautōn; kai elthōn eis tēn synaxin, ēren ap᾿ autōn to schēma. Kai meta touto etypsen auton hē kardia autou, kai metemelēthē, kai ēlthe pros ton abban Poimena, methyōn tois logismois, bastazōn kai tous lebētōnas tōn adelphōn, kai anangellei to pragma tǭ geronti. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ouk echeis sy ti pote tou palaiou anthrōpou? apedysō auton? Ho de presbyteros eipen, hoti Metechō tou palaiou anthrōpou. Ho de gerōn eipen autǭ; Idou oun kai sy hōs hoi adelphoi. Ei gar mikron metecheis tēs palaiotētos, homōs hypokeisai tę̄ hamartią. Tote apelthōn ho presbyteros ekalese tous adelphous, kai metenoēse tois hendeka, kai enedysen autous to schēma tou monachou, kai apelysen.
Once the presbyter of Pelusium heard about some brothers that they were constantly in the city, bathing and neglecting themselves; and coming to the synaxis, he took the habit from them. Afterward his heart smote him, and he repented, and came to abba Poemen, drunk with his thoughts, carrying the brothers’ tunics too, and tells the matter to the old man. And the old man says to him, “Have you nothing of the old man? Have you put him off?” The presbyter said, “I have a share of the old man.” The old man said to him, “Look then, you too are like the brothers. For if you share even a little of the oldness, you are still subject to sin.” Then the presbyter went and called the brothers, made a prostration of repentance to the eleven, clothed them in the monk’s habit, and sent them away.
Eph 4:22 (allusion, medium confidence) · Col 3:9 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen leads a presbyter who expelled careless monks to admit his own sin and restore them.
- “The old man” is the old self (Eph 4:22; Col 3:9).
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.11 (PG 65:323–325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-11
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-11) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.12PG 65:325
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων Ἐποίησα ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην, καὶ θέλω μετανοῆσαι τρία ἔτη. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πολύ ἐστι. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀλλ᾿ ἕως ἐνιαυτοῦ; Καὶ εἶπε πάλιν ὁ γέρων· Πολύ ἐστιν. Οἱ δὲ παρόντες ἔλεγον· "Εως τεσσαράκοντα ἡμερῶν; Καὶ πάλιν εἶπε· Πολύ ἐστιν· εἶπε δὲ· Ἐγὼ λέγω, ὅτι ἐὰν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας μετανοήσῃ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ μὴ προσθῇ ἔτι ποιεῖν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, καὶ εἰς τρεῖς ἡμέρας δέχεται αὐτὸν ὁ Θεός.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn Epoiēsa hamartian megalēn, kai thelō metanoēsai tria etē. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Poly esti. Kai eipen autǭ ho adelphos; All᾿ heōs eniautou? Kai eipe palin ho gerōn; Poly estin. Hoi de parontes elegon; "Eōs tessarakonta hēmerōn? Kai palin eipe; Poly estin; eipe de; Egō legō, hoti ean ex holēs kardias metanoēsę̄ anthrōpos, kai mē prosthę̄ eti poiein tēn hamartian, kai eis treis hēmeras dechetai auton ho Theos.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “I have committed a great sin, and I want to do penance for three years.” The old man says to him, “That is a lot.” And the brother said to him, “Then up to a year?” And again the old man said, “That is a lot.” Those present said, “Up to forty days?” And again he said, “That is a lot.” And he said, “I say that if a man repents with his whole heart and does not go on to commit the sin again, God accepts him even in three days.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen teaches that wholehearted repentance is accepted by God even in three days.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.12 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-12
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-12) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.13PG 65:325
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ μοναχοῦ ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς φαίνεται.
Eipe palin, hoti To sēmeion tou monachou en tois peirasmois phainetai.
He also said, “The mark of the monk appears in temptations.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Temptation reveals the true monk.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.13 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-13
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-13) · 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.
89.14PG 65:325
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ὥσπερ ὁ σπαθάριος τοῦ βασιλέως παρίσταται αὐτῷ διαπαντὸς ἕτοιμος· οὕτως δεῖ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑτοίμην εἶναι πρὸς τὸν δαίμονα τῆς πορνείας.
Eipe palin; Hōsper ho spatharios tou basileōs paristatai autǭ diapantos hetoimos; houtōs dei tēn psychēn hetoimēn einai pros ton daimona tēs porneias.
He also said, “As the king’s sword-bearer stands by him always ready, so the soul must be ready against the demon of sexual immorality.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The soul must always be on guard against sexual temptation.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.14 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-14
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-14) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.15PG 65:325
Ἡρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα περὶ τῶν ἀκαθάρτων λογισμῶν ὧν γεννᾷ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ περὶ τῶν ματαίων ἐπιθυμιῶν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μὴ δοξασθήσεται ἀξίνη ἄνευ τοῦ κόπτοντος ἐν αὐτῇ; καὶ σὺ, μὴ δώσεις αὐτοῖς χεῖρα καὶ ἀργοῦσιν.
Hērōtēsen ho abbas Anoub ton abban Poimena peri tōn akathartōn logismōn hōn genną hē kardia tou anthrōpou, kai peri tōn mataiōn epithymiōn. Kai legei autǭ ho abbas Poimēn; Mē doxasthēsetai axinē aneu tou koptontos en autę̄? kai sy, mē dōseis autois cheira kai argousin.
Abba Anoub asked abba Poemen about the unclean thoughts that the heart of man produces, and about vain desires. And abba Poemen says to him, “Shall the axe boast itself without the one who cuts with it? So you too, do not give them a hand, and they will be idle.”
Isa 10:15 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Unclean thoughts are powerless if one does not lend them a hand, as an axe is powerless without the woodcutter.
- Quotation of Isa 10:15.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.15 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-15
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-15) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.16PG 65:325
Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Εἰ μὴ Ναβουζαρδὰν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος ἦλθεν, οὐκ ἂν ἐνεπρήσθη ὁ ναὸς Κυρίου. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐστιν· Εἰ μὴ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις ἦλθε γαστριμαργίας εἰς τὴν ψυχὴν, οὐκ ἂν ὁ νοῦς κατέπιπτεν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ.
Eipe palin ho abbas Poimēn; Ei mē Nabouzardan ho archimageiros ēlthen, ouk an eneprēsthē ho naos Kyriou. Touto de estin; Ei mē hē anapausis ēlthe gastrimargias eis tēn psychēn, ouk an ho nous katepipten en tǭ polemǭ tou echthrou.
Abba Poemen also said, “If Nebuzaradan the chief cook had not come, the temple of the Lord would not have been burned. That is: if the comfort of gluttony had not come into the soul, the mind would not fall in the war of the enemy.”
2 Kgs 25:8 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Kgs 25:9 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Gluttony, like Nebuzaradan the “chief cook,” lets the enemy burn the temple of the soul.
- The LXX calls Nebuzaradan ἀρχιμάγειρος, “chief cook” (2 Kgs 25:8–9); Poemen builds on the word.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.16 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-16
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-16) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.17PG 65:325
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος, ὅτι καλούμενος εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν παρὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, ἀπήρχετο δακρύων, ἵνα μὴ παρακούσῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ λυπήσῃ αὐτόν. τη΄. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μὴ οἰκήσῃς εἰς τόπον, οὗ βλέπεις τινὰς ἔχοντας ζῆλον κατὰ σοῦ· εἰ δὲ μήγε, οὐ προκόπτεις.
Elegon peri tou abba Poimenos, hoti kaloumenos eis to phagein para to thelēma autou, apērcheto dakryōn, hina mē parakousę̄ ton adelphon autou, kai lypēsę̄ auton. tē΄. Eipe palin ho abbas Poimēn; Mē oikēsę̄s eis topon, hou blepeis tinas echontas zēlon kata sou; ei de mēge, ou prokopteis.
They said of abba Poemen that when he was invited to eat against his will, he went weeping, so as not to disobey his brother and grieve him. [18] Abba Poemen also said, “Do not live in a place where you see some who have jealousy against you; otherwise you will not make progress.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen ate against his will rather than grieve a brother; and (saying 18) he warned against living among the jealous.
- The scan runs Poemen 18 (τηʹ) into this saying; marked [18].
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.17 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-17
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-17) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.19PG 65:325
Διηγήσαντό τινες τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι περί τινος μοναχοῦ, ὅτι οὐ πίνει οἶνον. Καὶ εἶπεν· Ὁ οἶνος ὅλως οὐκ ἔστι τῶν μοναχῶν.
Diēgēsanto tines tǭ abbą Poimeni peri tinos monachou, hoti ou pinei oinon. Kai eipen; Ho oinos holōs ouk esti tōn monachōn.
Some told abba Poemen about a monk that he did not drink wine. And he said, “Wine is not for monks at all.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen says wine is not for monks at all.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.19 (PG 65:325; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-19
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-19) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.20PG 65:327
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἡσαΐας τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα περὶ τῶν ῥυπαρῶν λογισμῶν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ωσπερ κάμπτρα μεστὴ ἱματίων, καὶ ἐὰν ἀφῇ αὐτά τις, τῷ χρόνῳ σήπονται οὕτως καὶ οἱ λογισμοί· ἐὰν μὴ ποιήσωμεν αὐτοὺς σωματικῶς, τῷ χρόνῳ ἀφανίζονται ἤτοι σήπονται.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Hēsaïas ton abban Poimena peri tōn rhyparōn logismōn. Kai legei autǭ ho abbas Poimēn; Ōsper kamptra mestē himatiōn, kai ean aphę̄ auta tis, tǭ chronǭ sēpontai houtōs kai hoi logismoi; ean mē poiēsōmen autous sōmatikōs, tǭ chronǭ aphanizontai ētoi sēpontai.
Abba Isaiah asked abba Poemen about filthy thoughts. And abba Poemen says to him, “Just as a chest full of clothes, if someone leaves them, rots in time, so it is with thoughts: if we do not act them out bodily, in time they vanish or rot.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Unacted thoughts rot away like clothes left in a chest.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip): ἀεβᾶς → ἀββᾶς.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.20 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-20). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-20
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-20) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.21PG 65:327
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ὥσπερ ἐάν τις ὄφιν καὶ σκορπίον βάλῃ εἰς ἀγγεῖον, καὶ φράξῃ, πάντως τῷ χρόνῳ ἀποθνήσκουσιν· οὕτως καὶ οἱ πονηροί λογισμοὶ, ἀπὸ τῶν δαιμόνων βλαστάνοντες, διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ἐκλείπουσιν.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Iōsēph ton auton logon kai eipen autǭ ho abbas Poimēn; Hōsper ean tis ophin kai skorpion balę̄ eis angeion, kai phraxę̄, pantōs tǭ chronǭ apothnēskousin; houtōs kai hoi ponēroi logismoi, apo tōn daimonōn blastanontes, dia tēs hypomonēs ekleipousin.
Abba Joseph asked the same question, and abba Poemen said to him, “Just as if someone puts a snake and a scorpion in a jar and stops it up, they will certainly die in time, so too the evil thoughts that spring from the demons die out through endurance.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Evil thoughts die out through patience like snakes sealed in a jar.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.21 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-21). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-21
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-21) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.22PG 65:327
Ἀδελφὸς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Σπείρω τὸν ἀγρόν μου, καὶ ποιῶ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπην. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Καλῶς ποιεῖς. Καὶ ἀπῆλθε μετὰ προθυμίας, καὶ προσέθηκε τῇ ἀγάπῃ. Καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ τὸν λόγον, καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένι· Οὐ φοβῇ τὸν Θεὸν, οὕτως λαλήσας τῷ ἀδελφῷ; Καὶ ἐσιώπησεν ὁ γέρων. Καὶ μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας ἔπεμψεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν ἐπὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀκούοντος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀνούβ· Τί εἶπές μοι τῇ ἄλλῃ; ὅτι ὁ νοῦς μου ἀλλαχοῦ ἦν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Εἶπον, ὅτι σπείρω τὸν ἀγρόν μου, καὶ ποιῶ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπην. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐνόμιζον ὅτι περὶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου τοῦ κόσμου ἐλάλησας· εἰ δὲ σὺ εἶ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο, οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο μοναχοῦ. Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ἐλυπήθη, λέγων· Ἄ̓́λλο ἔργον οὐδὲν οἶδα, εἰ μὴ τοῦτο, καὶ οὐ δύναμαι μὴ σπείρειν τὸν ἀγρόν μου. Ὅτε οὖν ἀνεχώρησεν, ἔβαλεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ μετάνοιαν, λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Κἀγὼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ᾔδειν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔργον μοναχοῦ· ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸν λογισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ προθυμίαν εἰς τὴν προκοπὴν τῆς ἀγάπης. Νῦν δὲ ἀπῆλθε λυπούμενος, καὶ πάλιν τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ.
Adelphos ēlthe pros ton abban Poimena, kai legei autǭ; Speirō ton agron mou, kai poiō ex autou agapēn. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Kalōs poieis. Kai apēlthe meta prothymias, kai prosethēke tę̄ agapę̄. Kai ēkousen ho abbas Anoub ton logon, kai legei tǭ abba Poimeni; Ou phobę̄ ton Theon, houtōs lalēsas tǭ adelphǭ? Kai esiōpēsen ho gerōn. Kai meta dyo hēmeras epempsen ho abbas Poimēn epi ton adelphon, kai legei autǭ akouontos tou abba Anoub; Ti eipes moi tę̄ allę̄? hoti ho nous mou allachou ēn. Legei autǭ ho adelphos; Eipon, hoti speirō ton agron mou, kai poiō ex autou agapēn. Kai eipen autǭ ho abbas Poimēn; Enomizon hoti peri tou adelphou sou tou kosmou elalēsas; ei de sy ei ho poiōn to ergon touto, ouk esti touto monachou. Ho de akousas elypēthē, legōn; Allo ergon ouden oida, ei mē touto, kai ou dynamai mē speirein ton agron mou. Hote oun anechōrēsen, ebalen autǭ ho abbas Anoub metanoian, legōn; Synchōrēson moi. Kai legei ho abbas Poimēn; Kagō ex archēs ę̄dein hoti ouk estin ergon monachou; alla pros ton logismon autou elalēsa, kai edōka autǭ prothymian eis tēn prokopēn tēs agapēs. Nyn de apēlthe lypoumenos, kai palin to auto poiei.
A brother came to abba Poemen and says to him, “I sow my field and give alms from it.” The old man says to him, “You do well.” And he went away eagerly and increased his alms. And abba Anoub heard the word, and says to abba Poemen, “Do you not fear God, speaking so to the brother?” And the old man kept silent. And after two days abba Poemen sent for the brother, and says to him in abba Anoub’s hearing, “What did you tell me the other day? For my mind was elsewhere.” The brother says to him, “I said that I sow my field and give alms from it.” And abba Poemen said to him, “I thought you were speaking of your brother in the world; but if you are the one doing this work, it is not for a monk.” Hearing this, he was grieved, saying, “I know no other work but this, and I cannot not sow my field.” So when he had gone, abba Anoub made a prostration to him, saying, “Forgive me.” And abba Poemen says, “I too knew from the beginning that it is not the work of a monk; but I spoke according to his thought, and gave him eagerness to advance in love. But now he has gone away grieved, and he will do the same again.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen first praises a farming monk’s almsgiving to encourage him, then, challenged by Anoub, tells him it is not monk’s work, and the brother leaves grieved.
- The scan moves the clause “when he had gone, abba Anoub made a prostration to him” into the middle of the saying, together with variant notes and a stray line; the notes and line are removed and the clause is put back in its place.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: breathing lost; OCR: wrong accent; displaced clause (restored below), variant notes (“Al.”) and a stray line removed; displaced clause restored to its place (same words as in the scan)): άνεχώρησεν, ἔβαλεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ μετάνοιαν, ΑΙ. κοσμικοῦ. ΑΙ. ποιεῖ. ΑΙ. δοκιμώτερον. καὶ πᾶσα ἀκαθαρσία ἐν αὐτῇ κεῖται. → ; Ὅτε οὖν λέγων → Ὅτε οὖν ἀνεχώρησεν, ἔβαλεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ μετάνοιαν, λέγων; έλυπήθη → ἐλυπήθη; τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεί. → τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ..
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.22 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-22). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-22
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-22) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.23PG 65:327
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐὰν ἁμαρτήσῃ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἀρνήσηται, λέγων, Οὐχ ἥμαρτον, μὴ ἐλέγξῃς αὐτόν· εἰ δὲ μήγε, ἐκκόπτεις αὐτοῦ τὴν προθυμίαν. Ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ· Μὴ ἀθυμήσῃς, ἀδελφὲ, ἀλλὰ φύλαξαι τοῦ λοιποῦ, διεγείρεις αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχὴν πρὸς μετάνοιαν.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn; Ean hamartēsę̄ anthrōpos, kai arnēsētai, legōn, Ouch hēmarton, mē elenxę̄s auton; ei de mēge, ekkopteis autou tēn prothymian. Ean de eipę̄s autǭ; Mē athymēsę̄s, adelphe, alla phylaxai tou loipou, diegeireis autou tēn psychēn pros metanoian.
Abba Poemen said, “If a man sins and denies it, saying, ‘I did not sin,’ do not rebuke him; otherwise you cut off his eagerness. But if you say to him, ‘Do not lose heart, brother, but guard yourself in future,’ you rouse his soul to repentance.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Gentle encouragement, not rebuke, moves a denying sinner to repent.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.23 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-23). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-23
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-23) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.24PG 65:327
Εἶπε πάλιν· Καλὴ ἡ πεῖρα· αὕτη γὰρ διδάσκει σὲ τὸν ἄνθρωπον δόκιμον
Eipe palin; Kalē hē peira; hautē gar didaskei se ton anthrōpon dokimon
He also said, “Experience is good; for it teaches a man to be tested.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Experience makes a man proven.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): διδά σκει → διδάσκει.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.24 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-24). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-24
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-24) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.25PG 65:327
Εἶπε πάλιν· "Ανθρωπος διδάσκων, μὴ ποιῶν δὲ ἃ διδάσκει, ὅμοιός ἐστι κρήνῃ· ὅτι πάντας ποτίζει καὶ πλύνει, ἑαυτὴν δὲ οὐ δύναται καθαρίσαι
Eipe palin; "Anthrōpos didaskōn, mē poiōn de ha didaskei, homoios esti krēnę̄; hoti pantas potizei kai plynei, heautēn de ou dynatai katharisai
He also said, “A man who teaches but does not do what he teaches is like a spring: it gives drink to everyone and washes them, but cannot cleanse itself.”
Rom 2:21 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A teacher who does not practice is like a spring that cannot cleanse itself.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.25 (PG 65:327; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-25). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-25
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-25) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.26PG 65:327–329
Παρερχόμενός ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον, εἶδε γυναῖκα ἐν μνημείῳ καθεζομένην, καὶ κλαίουσαν πικρῶς. Καὶ λέγει· Ἐὰν ἔλθωσι πάντα τὰ τερπνὰ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, οὐ μὴ μεταστήσωσι τὴν ψυχὴν ταύτης ἀπὸ τοῦ πένθους. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ μοναχὸς ὀφείλει διαπαντὸς τὸ πένθος ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ.
Parerchomenos pote ho abbas Poimēn eis tēn Aigypton, eide gynaika en mnēmeiǭ kathezomenēn, kai klaiousan pikrōs. Kai legei; Ean elthōsi panta ta terpna tou kosmou toutou, ou mē metastēsōsi tēn psychēn tautēs apo tou penthous. Houtōs kai ho monachos opheilei diapantos to penthos echein en heautǭ.
Once as abba Poemen was passing through Egypt, he saw a woman sitting at a tomb and weeping bitterly. And he says, “If all the delights of this world came, they would not move this woman’s soul from mourning. So the monk too ought always to have mourning within himself.”
Matt 5:4 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A widow’s grief at a tomb shows the constant mourning a monk should have.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.26 (PG 65:327–329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-26). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-26
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-26) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.27PG 65:329
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος δοκῶν σιωπᾶν, καὶ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ κατακρίνει ἄλλους· ὁ τοιοῦτος πάντοτε λαλεῖ. Καὶ ἔστιν ἄλλος, ἀπὸ πρωΐ ἕως ἑσπέρας λαλῶν, καὶ σιωπὴν κρατεῖ· τουτέστιν ὅτι ἐκτὸς ὠφελείας οὐδὲν λαλεῖ.
Eipe palin, hoti Estin anthrōpos dokōn siōpan, kai hē kardia autou katakrinei allous; ho toioutos pantote lalei. Kai estin allos, apo prōï heōs hesperas lalōn, kai siōpēn kratei; toutestin hoti ektos ōpheleias ouden lalei.
He also said, “There is a man who seems to be silent, but his heart condemns others; such a one is always talking. And there is another who talks from morning to evening and keeps silence; that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.”
Notes and citation
Summary: True silence is in the heart; one may talk all day yet keep it.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.27 (PG 65:329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-27). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-27
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-27) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.28PG 65:329
Ἀδελφός τις ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ, πολλοὺς λογισμοὺς ἔχω, καὶ κινδυνεύω ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐκφέρει αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων εἰς τὸν ἀέρα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἅπλωσον τὸν κόλπον σου, καὶ κράτησον τοὺς ἀνέμους. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οὐ δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ τοῦτο οὐ δύνασαι ποιῆσαι, οὐδὲ τοὺς λογισμοὺς δύνασαι κωλῦσαι ἐλθεῖν· ἀλλὰ σὸν ἐστι τὸ ἀντιστῆναι αὐτοῖς.
Adelphos tis ēlthe pros ton abban Poimena, kai legei autǭ; Abba, pollous logismous echō, kai kindyneuō ap᾿ autōn. Kai ekpherei auton ho gerōn eis ton aera, kai legei autǭ; Haplōson ton kolpon sou, kai kratēson tous anemous. Ho de eipen; Ou dynamai touto poiēsai. Kai legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei touto ou dynasai poiēsai, oude tous logismous dynasai kōlysai elthein; alla son esti to antistēnai autois.
A brother came to abba Poemen and says to him, “Abba, I have many thoughts, and I am in danger from them.” And the old man takes him out into the open air and says to him, “Spread out the fold of your garment and catch the winds.” He said, “I cannot do that.” And the old man says to him, “If you cannot do this, neither can you stop thoughts from coming; but it is yours to resist them.”
Notes and citation
Summary: One cannot stop thoughts coming any more than catch the wind, but one can resist them.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.28 (PG 65:329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-28). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-28
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-28) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.29PG 65:329
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Ἐὰν εἰσι τρεῖς ἐπιτοαυτὸ, καὶ ὁ εἷς μὲν ἡσυχάζει καλῶς, ὁ δὲ εἷς ἀσθενῶν καὶ εὐχαριστῶν, ὁ δὲ ἄλλος ὑπηρετεῖ μετὰ καθαροῦ λογισμοῦ· οἱ τρεῖς μιᾶς ἐργασίας εἰσίν.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Ean eisi treis epitoauto, kai ho heis men hēsychazei kalōs, ho de heis asthenōn kai eucharistōn, ho de allos hypēretei meta katharou logismou; hoi treis mias ergasias eisin.
Abba Poemen said, “If there are three together, and one keeps stillness well, another is sick and gives thanks, and the third serves with a pure mind, the three are of one work.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Stillness, thankful sickness, and pure service are equal works.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.29 (PG 65:329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-29). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-29
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-29) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.30PG 65:329
Εἶπε πάλιν· Γέγραπται· Ὃν τρόπον ἐπιποθεῖ ἡ ἔλαφος ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων, οὕτως ἐπιποθεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου πρὸς σὲ, ὁ Θεός. Ἐπειδὴ αἱ ἔλαφοι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ πολλὰ καταπίνουσιν ἑρπετά· καὶ ὡς κατακαίει αὐτὰς ὁ ἰὸς, ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα· πίνουσαι δὲ καταψύχουσιν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱοῦ τῶν ἑρπετῶν οὕτως καὶ οἱ μοναχοὶ, ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθεζόμενοι, καίονται ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱοῦ τῶν πονηρῶν δαιμόνων, καὶ ἐπιποθοῦσι τὸ Σάββατον καὶ τὴν Κυριακὴν, ὥστε ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων, τουτέστιν, ἐπὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ αἷμα τοῦ Κυρίου ἵνα καθαρισθῶσιν ἀπὸ πικρότητος τοῦ πονηροῦ.
Eipe palin; Gegraptai; Hon tropon epipothei hē elaphos epi tas pēgas tōn hydatōn, houtōs epipothei hē psychē mou pros se, ho Theos. Epeidē hai elaphoi en tę̄ erēmǭ polla katapinousin herpeta; kai hōs katakaiei autas ho ios, epithymousin elthein epi ta hydata; pinousai de katapsychousin apo tou hiou tōn herpetōn houtōs kai hoi monachoi, en tę̄ erēmǭ kathezomenoi, kaiontai apo tou hiou tōn ponērōn daimonōn, kai epipothousi to Sabbaton kai tēn Kyriakēn, hōste elthein epi tas pēgas tōn hydatōn, toutestin, epi to sōma kai haima tou Kyriou hina katharisthōsin apo pikrotētos tou ponērou.
He also said, “It is written, ‘As the deer longs for the springs of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.’ For deer in the desert swallow many reptiles; and when the venom burns them, they long to come to the waters; and drinking, they are cooled from the venom of the reptiles. So too monks living in the desert are burned by the venom of the evil demons, and they long for Saturday and Sunday, to come to the springs of water, that is, to the body and blood of the Lord, so that they may be cleansed of the bitterness of the evil one.”
Ps 42:1 (41:2 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen likens monks thirsting for the weekend Eucharist to deer seeking water after swallowing serpents.
- Quotation of Ps 42:1 (LXX 41:2). The belief that deer eat snakes was common in ancient natural lore.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray accent; OCR: wrong accent): ἐπιποθὲῖ → ἐπιποθεῖ; τουτἐστιν → τουτέστιν.
Topics: Eucharist
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.30 (PG 65:329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-30). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-30
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-30) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.31PG 65:329
Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, πῶς χρὴ νηστεύειν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐγὼ θέλω τὸν ἐσθίοντα καθ' ἡμέραν παρὰ μικρὸν ἐσθίειν, ἵνα μὴ χορτάζηται. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσήφ· Ὅτε ἧς νεώτερος, οὐκ ἐνήστευες δύο δύο, ἀββᾶ; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων Φύσει καὶ τρεῖς, καὶ τέσσαρας καὶ ἑβδομάδα. Καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἐδοκίμασαν οἱ Πατέρες, ὡς δυνατοί· καὶ εὗρον ὅτι καθ' ἡμέραν ἐσθίειν, παρὰ μικρὸν δὲ· καὶ παρέδωκαν ἡμῖν τὴν βασιλικὴν ὁδὸν, ὅτι ἐλαφρά ἐστιν.
Ērōtēsen ho abbas Iōsēph ton abban Poimena, pōs chrē nēsteuein. Legei autǭ ho abbas Poimēn; Egō thelō ton esthionta kath' hēmeran para mikron esthiein, hina mē chortazētai. Legei autǭ ho abbas Iōsēph; Hote hēs neōteros, ouk enēsteues dyo dyo, abba? Kai eipen ho gerōn Physei kai treis, kai tessaras kai hebdomada. Kai tauta panta edokimasan hoi Pateres, hōs dynatoi; kai heuron hoti kath' hēmeran esthiein, para mikron de; kai paredōkan hēmin tēn basilikēn hodon, hoti elaphra estin.
Abba Joseph asked abba Poemen how one ought to fast. Abba Poemen says to him, “I want one who eats every day to eat a little less, so as not to be full.” Abba Joseph says to him, “When you were young, did you not fast two days at a time, abba?” And the old man said, “Truly, and three, and four, and a week. And the Fathers tested all these things, being strong; and they found that it is good to eat every day, but a little less; and they handed down to us the royal road, because it is light.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen recommends eating a little less every day, the royal road the Fathers found best.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.31 (PG 65:329; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-31). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-31
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-31) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.32PG 65:329–331
Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος, ὅτι ὅταν ἤμελλεν εἰς σύναξιν ἐλθεῖν ἐκάθητο κατ' ἰδίαν διακρίνων τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτοῦ, ὡσεὶ ὥραν μίαν· καὶ οὕτως ἐξήρχετο. Αγ'. Ἀδελφὸς ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Κατελείφθη μοι κληρονομία· τί ποιήσω αὐτήν; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἄπελθε, καὶ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐλθὲ, καὶ λέγω σοι. Ἦλθε δὲ, καθὼς ὥρισεν αὐτῷ. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Τί ἔχω σοι εἰπεῖν, ἀδελφέ; Ἐὰν εἴπω σοι, Δὸς αὐτὰ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν, ἐκεῖ ἀριστοποιοῦσιν. Ἐὰν εἴπω σοι, Δὸς αὐτὰ συγγενεῖ σου, οὐκ ἔστι σοι μισθός. Ἐὰν δὲ εἶπω σοι, Δὸς αὐτὰ πτωχοῖς, ἁμεριμνεῖς. Εἴ τι οὖν θέλεις, ποίησον· ἐγὼ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἔχω.
Elegon peri tou abba Poimenos, hoti hotan ēmellen eis synaxin elthein ekathēto kat' idian diakrinōn tous logismous autou, hōsei hōran mian; kai houtōs exērcheto. Ag'. Adelphos hērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn; Kateleiphthē moi klēronomia; ti poiēsō autēn? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Apelthe, kai meta treis hēmeras elthe, kai legō soi. Ēlthe de, kathōs hōrisen autǭ. Kai eipen ho gerōn; Ti echō soi eipein, adelphe? Ean eipō soi, Dos auta eis ekklēsian, ekei aristopoiousin. Ean eipō soi, Dos auta syngenei sou, ouk esti soi misthos. Ean de eipō soi, Dos auta ptōchois, hamerimneis. Ei ti oun theleis, poiēson; egō pragma ouk echō.
They said of abba Poemen that when he was about to go to the synaxis, he sat alone examining his thoughts for about an hour; and then he went out. [33] A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “An inheritance has been left to me; what shall I do with it?” The old man says to him, “Go away, and come back after three days, and I will tell you.” He came as he had fixed. And the old man said, “What have I to tell you, brother? If I tell you, ‘Give it to the church,’ they will make banquets there. If I tell you, ‘Give it to your relative,’ you have no reward. But if I tell you, ‘Give it to the poor,’ you will be free from care. So do what you wish; it is not my affair.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen examined his thoughts before the synaxis; and (saying 33) he leaves a brother free to choose what to do with an inheritance.
- The scan runs Poemen 33 (numbered in the print) into this saying; marked [33]. A stray word is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: stray letter; stray word from another line): ὅταν Ο ἤμελλεν → ὅταν ἤμελλεν; λέγων· ἐξέρχεσθαι. Κατελείφθη → λέγων· Κατελείφθη; οὐκ ἔστι τοι μισθός → οὐκ ἔστι σοι μισθός.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.32 (PG 65:329–331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-32). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-32
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-32) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.34PG 65:331
Ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς, λέγων· Τί ἐστι, Μὴ ἀποδώσεις κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τὸ πάθος τοῦτο τέσσαρας ἔχει τρόπους· πρῶτον ἀπὸ καρδίας, δεύτερον ἀπὸ ὄψεως, τρίτον γλώσσης, τέταρτόν ἐστι, τὸ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Ἐὰν δύνασαι καθαρίσαι τὴν καρδίαν σου, οὐκ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν ὄψιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ εἰς τὴν ὄψιν, φυλάττου τὸ μὴ λαλεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ λαλήσῃς, ταχὺ κόψον τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ.
Ērōtēsen auton allos adelphos, legōn; Ti esti, Mē apodōseis kakon anti kakou? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; To pathos touto tessaras echei tropous; prōton apo kardias, deuteron apo opseōs, triton glōssēs, tetarton esti, to mē poiēsai kakon anti kakou. Ean dynasai katharisai tēn kardian sou, ouk erchetai eis tēn opsin; ean de elthę̄ eis tēn opsin, phylattou to mē lalein; ean de kai lalēsę̄s, tachy kopson tou mē poiēsai kakon anti kakou.
Another brother asked him, saying, “What is ‘Do not repay evil for evil’?” The old man says to him, “This passion has four forms: first from the heart, second from the look, third from the tongue, and fourth is not to do evil in return for evil. If you can cleanse your heart, it does not come to the look; but if it comes to the look, guard against speaking; and if you do speak, cut it off quickly so as not to do evil in return for evil.”
Rom 12:17 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Pet 3:9 (quotation, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen traces revenge from heart to look to tongue to deed, and urges stopping it at each stage.
- Rom 12:17; 1 Pet 3:9.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray mark): ἀντὶ' κακοῦ → ἀντὶ κακοῦ.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.34 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-34). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-34
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-34) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.35PG 65:331
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Τὸ φυλάσσειν, καὶ ἑαυτῷ προσέχειν, καὶ ἡ διάκρισις, αἱ τρεῖς αὗται ἀρεταὶ ὁδηγοί εἰσι τῆς ψυχῆς.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti To phylassein, kai heautǭ prosechein, kai hē diakrisis, hai treis hautai aretai hodēgoi eisi tēs psychēs.
Abba Poemen said, “Watchfulness, attention to oneself, and discernment: these three virtues are guides of the soul.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Watchfulness, self-attention, and discernment guide the soul.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.35 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-35). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-35
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-35) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.36PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Τὸ ῥίψαι ἑαυτὸν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὸ μὴ ἑαυτὸν μετρεῖν, καὶ τὸ βάλλειν ὀπίσω τὸ ἴδιον θέλημα, ἐργαλεῖά εἰσι τῆς ψυχῆς.
Eipe palin, hoti To rhipsai heauton enōpion tou Theou, kai to mē heauton metrein, kai to ballein opisō to idion thelēma, ergaleia eisi tēs psychēs.
He also said, “To throw oneself down before God, not to measure oneself, and to put one’s own will behind: these are the tools of the soul.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Self-abasement before God, not measuring oneself, and renouncing one’s will are the soul’s tools.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong accent): ἐργαλεῖὰ → ἐργαλεῖά.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.36 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-36). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-36
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-36) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.37PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν· Πᾶς κόπος ὃς ἂν ἐπέλθῃ σοι, ἡ νίκη αὐτοῦ ἐστι σιωπᾶν.
Eipe palin; Pas kopos hos an epelthę̄ soi, hē nikē autou esti siōpan.
He also said, “In every trouble that comes upon you, the victory over it is to keep silent.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silence is the victory over every trouble.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.37 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-37). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-37
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-37) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.38PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν· Βδέλυγμά ἐστι Κυρίῳ πᾶσα σωματικὴ ἀνάπαυσις.
Eipe palin; Bdelygma esti Kyriǭ pasa sōmatikē anapausis.
He also said, “All bodily comfort is an abomination to the Lord.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Bodily comfort is an abomination to the Lord.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.38 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-38). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-38
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-38) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.39PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν· Τὸ πένθος διπλοῦν ἐστιν· ἐργάζεται, καὶ φυλάσσει.
Eipe palin; To penthos diploun estin; ergazetai, kai phylassei.
He also said, “Mourning is twofold: it works and it guards.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Mourning both works and guards.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.39 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-39). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-39
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-39) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.40PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ σοι λογισμὸς περὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων τοῦ σώματος χρειῶν, καὶ διατάξῃς ἅπαξ, καὶ πάλιν δεύτερον ἔλθῃ καὶ διατάξης· τὸ τρίτον ἐὰν ἔλθῃ, μὴ πρόσχῃς αὐτῷ· ἀργὸς γάρ ἐστι
Eipe palin; Ean elthę̄ soi logismos peri tōn anankaiōn tou sōmatos chreiōn, kai diataxę̄s hapax, kai palin deuteron elthę̄ kai diataxēs; to triton ean elthę̄, mē proschę̄s autǭ; argos gar esti
He also said, “If a thought comes to you about the necessary needs of the body, and you arrange it once, and it comes a second time and you arrange it, if it comes the third time, pay no attention to it; for it is idle.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Attend twice to thoughts about bodily needs, then ignore them as idle.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.40 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-40). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-40
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-40) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.41PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ἀδελφὸς ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀλώνιον, λέγων· Τί ἐστιν ἐξουδένωσις; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων Τὸ εἶναί σε ὑποκάτω τῶν ἀλόγων, καὶ εἰδέναι ὅτι τὰ ἀκατάκριτά εἰσιν.
Eipe palin, hoti Adelphos hērōtēse ton abban Alōnion, legōn; Ti estin exoudenōsis? Kai eipen ho gerōn To einai se hypokatō tōn alogōn, kai eidenai hoti ta akatakrita eisin.
He also said that a brother asked abba Alonius, saying, “What is contempt of self?” And the old man said, “To be beneath the irrational animals, and to know that they are not condemned.”
Notes and citation
Summary: True self-abasement is to count oneself below the beasts, which are not judged.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.41 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-41). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-41
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-41) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.42PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ἐὰν μνησθῇ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ γεγραμμένου ῥητοῦ, ὅτι Ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου δικαιωθήσῃ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου καταδικασθήσῃ, αἱρεῖται μᾶλλον τὸ σιωπᾶν.
Eipe palin, hoti Ean mnēsthę̄ anthrōpos tou gegrammenou rhētou, hoti Ek tōn logōn sou dikaiōthēsę̄, kai ek tōn logōn sou katadikasthēsę̄, haireitai mallon to siōpan.
He also said, “If a man remembers the written saying, ‘By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,’ he chooses rather to keep silent.”
Matt 12:37 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Remembering that words will judge us leads to silence.
- Quotation of Matt 12:37.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.42 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-42). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-42
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-42) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.43PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν Ἀρχὴ κακῶν ἐστιν ὁ περισπασμός.
Eipe palin Archē kakōn estin ho perispasmos.
He also said, “Distraction is the beginning of evils.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Distraction is the beginning of evils.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): περι σπασμός → περισπασμός.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.43 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-43). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-43
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-43) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.44PG 65:331
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσίδωρος ὁ πρεσβύτερος τῆς Σκήτεως ἐλάλησε ποτε τῷ λαῷ, λέγων· Ἀδελφοὶ, οὐχὶ ἕνεκεν κόπου ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον; Καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἔτι ἔχει κόπον. Ἐγὼ οὖν σκευάσας τὴν μηλωτήν μου ἀπέρχομαι ὅπου ἐστὶ κόπος, καὶ ἐκεῖ εὑρίσκω ἀνάπαυσιν.
Eipe palin, hoti ho abbas Isidōros ho presbyteros tēs Skēteōs elalēse pote tǭ laǭ, legōn; Adelphoi, ouchi heneken kopou ēlthomen eis ton topon touton? Kai nyn ouk eti echei kopon. Egō oun skeuasas tēn mēlōtēn mou aperchomai hopou esti kopos, kai ekei heuriskō anapausin.
He also said that abba Isidore, the presbyter of Scetis, once spoke to the people, saying, “Brothers, did we not come to this place for the sake of labor? And now there is no more labor here. So I, having made ready my sheepskin, am going where there is labor, and there I find rest.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Isidore leaves Scetis when it no longer offers hardship, seeking labor elsewhere.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.44 (PG 65:331; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-44). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-44
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-44) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.45PG 65:331–333
Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι Ἐὰν θεάσωμαι πρᾶγμα, θέλεις εἴπω αὐτό; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Γέγραπται· Ὃς ἐὰν ἀποκρίνηται λόγον πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι, ἀφροσύνη αὐτῷ ἐστι καὶ ὄνειδος. Ἐὰν ἐπερωτηθῇς, εἰπέ· εἰ δὲ μὴ, σιώπα.
Adelphos eipe tǭ abbą Poimeni Ean theasōmai pragma, theleis eipō auto? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Gegraptai; Hos ean apokrinētai logon prin akousai, aphrosynē autǭ esti kai oneidos. Ean eperōtēthę̄s, eipe; ei de mē, siōpa.
A brother said to abba Poemen, “If I see something, do you want me to tell it?” The old man says to him, “It is written, ‘Whoever answers a word before hearing, it is folly and reproach to him.’ If you are asked, speak; but if not, keep silent.”
Prov 18:13 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Speak only when asked.
- Quotation of Prov 18:13.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.45 (PG 65:331–333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-45). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-45
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-45) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.46PG 65:333
Ἠρώτησέ τις ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων Δύναται ἄνθρωπος πεποιθέναι ἐπὶ τῇ μιᾷ πράξει; Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων, ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ Κολοβός εἶπεν, ὅτι Ἐγὼ θέλω μεταλαβεῖν μικρόν τι ἐκ πασῶν τῶν ἀρετῶν.
Ērōtēse tis adelphos ton abban Poimena, legōn Dynatai anthrōpos pepoithenai epi tę̄ mią praxei? Kai eipen autǭ ho gerōn, hoti ho abbas Iōannēs ho Kolobos eipen, hoti Egō thelō metalabein mikron ti ek pasōn tōn aretōn.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “Can a man rely on one practice?” And the old man said to him that abba John the Dwarf said, “I want to take a little from all the virtues.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen cites John the Dwarf: take a little of every virtue rather than rely on one.
- Cf. John the Dwarf 34 (43.34).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.46 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-46). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-46
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-46) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.47PG 65:333
Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ γέρων, ὅτι ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ, εἰ καλὸν ἐπαινεῖν τὸν πλησίον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Καλὸν μᾶλλόν ἐστι τὸ σιωπᾷν.
Eipe palin ho gerōn, hoti adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Pambō, ei kalon epainein ton plēsion; kai eipen autǭ Kalon mallon esti to siōpąn.
The old man also said that a brother asked abba Pambo whether it is good to praise one’s neighbor; and he said to him, “It is better to keep silent.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silence is better than praising one’s neighbor.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.47 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-47). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-47
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-47) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.48PG 65:333
Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος καινὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ καινὴν γῆν, οὐ δύναται ἀμεριμνῆσαι.
Eipe palin ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Ean poiēsę̄ anthrōpos kainon ouranon kai kainēn gēn, ou dynatai amerimnēsai.
Abba Poemen also said, “Even if a man makes a new heaven and a new earth, he cannot be free of care.”
Isa 65:17 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: No achievement frees a person from care.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.48 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-48). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-48
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-48) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.49PG 65:333
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ὁ ἄνθρωπος δέεται τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ τοῦ φόβου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὥσπερ τῆς πνοῆς ἐκπορευομένης ἐκ τῆς ῥινὸς αὐτοῦ. ν. Ἀδελφὸς ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀβραὰμ ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, μνημεῖον ἠγόρασεν ἑαυτῷ, καὶ διὰ τοῦ τάφου ἐκληρονόμησε τὴν γῆν. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός Τί ἐστι τάφος; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων. Τόπος κλαυθμοῦ καὶ πένθους. να΄. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι Ἐὰν δῶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μικρὸν ἄρτον, ἢ ἕτερόν τι, οἱ δαίμονες μολύνουσιν αὐτὰ ὡς κατὰ ἀνθρωπαρεσκίαν γινόμενα. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ καὶ κατὰ ἀνθρωπαρεσκίαν γίνεται, ἀλλ᾽ ἡμεῖς τὴν χρείαν δώσωμεν τῷ ἀδελφῷ. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ παραβολὴν τοιαύτην· Δύο ἄνθρωποι ἦσαν γεωργοὶ ἐν πόλει οἰκοῦντες μιᾷ· καὶ ὁ εἷς μὲν ἐξ αὐτῶν σπείρας ἐποίησε μικρὰ ἀκάθαρτα· ὁ δὲ ἄλλος, ἀμελήσας τοῦ σπεῖραι, ἐποίησεν ὅλως οὐδέν λιμοῦ γενομένου, τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο εὑρίσκει ζῆσαι; Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἀδελφός Ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ὀλίγα καὶ ἀκάθαρτα. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς, σπείρωμεν ὀλίγα, εἰ καὶ ἀκάθαρτα, ἵνα μὴ τῷ λιμῷ ἀποθάνωμεν.
Eipe palin, hoti Ho anthrōpos deetai tēs tapeinophrosynēs kai tou phobou tou Theou, hōsper tēs pnoēs ekporeuomenēs ek tēs rhinos autou. n. Adelphos hērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn; Ti poiēsō? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Abraam hote eisēlthen eis tēn gēn tēs epangelias, mnēmeion ēgorasen heautǭ, kai dia tou taphou eklēronomēse tēn gēn. Legei ho adelphos Ti esti taphos? Legei autǭ ho gerōn. Topos klauthmou kai penthous. na΄. Adelphos eipe tǭ abbą Poimeni Ean dō tǭ adelphǭ mou mikron arton, ē heteron ti, hoi daimones molynousin auta hōs kata anthrōpareskian ginomena. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Ei kai kata anthrōpareskian ginetai, all᾽ hēmeis tēn chreian dōsōmen tǭ adelphǭ. Eipe de autǭ kai parabolēn toiautēn; Dyo anthrōpoi ēsan geōrgoi en polei oikountes mią; kai ho heis men ex autōn speiras epoiēse mikra akatharta; ho de allos, amelēsas tou speirai, epoiēsen holōs ouden limou genomenou, tis ek tōn dyo heuriskei zēsai? Apekrithē ho adelphos Ho poiēsas ta oliga kai akatharta. Legei autǭ ho gerōn; Houtōs oun kai hēmeis, speirōmen oliga, ei kai akatharta, hina mē tǭ limǭ apothanōmen.
He also said, “A man needs humility and the fear of God as much as the breath that goes out from his nostrils.” [50] A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “What shall I do?” The old man says to him, “Abraham, when he entered the land of promise, bought himself a tomb, and through the tomb he inherited the land.” The brother says, “What is the tomb?” The old man says to him, “A place of weeping and mourning.” [51] A brother said to abba Poemen, “If I give my brother a little bread or something else, the demons defile these things as done to please men.” The old man says to him, “Even if it is done to please men, let us give the brother what he needs.” And he told him this parable: “There were two farmers living in one city; one of them sowed and produced a small and unclean crop; the other, neglecting to sow, produced nothing at all. When famine came, which of the two finds a way to live?” The brother answered, “The one who produced the little and unclean crop.” The old man says to him, “So too let us sow a little, even if unclean, so that we may not die of hunger.”
Gen 23:20 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen likens humility to breath, mourning to Abraham’s tomb, and imperfect charity to a poor crop that still saves from famine.
- The scan runs Poemen 50 and 51 (numbered in the print) into this saying; marked [50] and [51]. Abraham’s purchase of a tomb: Gen 23.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter lost; OCR: stray letter; OCR: stray letters; OCR: word split): ταπεινοφροσύνης τὰ καὶ → ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ; Ἀδελφὸ, εἶπε → Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε; γινόμενα τ. Λέγει → γινόμενα. Λέγει; ἀνθρωπ αρεσκίαν → ἀνθρωπαρεσκίαν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.49 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-49). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-49
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-49) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.52PG 65:333
Εἶπεν πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς, ὅτι Ποιεῖ ἄνθρωπος ὅλον τὸν χρόνον αὐτοῦ βαστάζων ἀξίνην, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει κατενεγκεῖν τὸ δένδρον. "Εστι δὲ ἄλλος ἔμπειρος τοῦ κόπτειν, καὶ ἀπὸ ὀλίγων καταφέρει τὸ δένδρον. Ἔλεγε δὲ τὴν ἀξίνην εἶναι τὴν διάκρισιν.
Eipen palin ho abbas Poimēn, hoti eipen ho abbas Ammōnas, hoti Poiei anthrōpos holon ton chronon autou bastazōn axinēn, kai ouch heuriskei katenenkein to dendron. "Esti de allos empeiros tou koptein, kai apo oligōn katapherei to dendron. Elege de tēn axinēn einai tēn diakrisin.
Abba Poemen also said that abba Ammonas said, “A man may spend his whole time carrying an axe and not succeed in felling the tree. But there is another, experienced in cutting, who brings the tree down with a few strokes.” And he said that the axe is discernment.
Notes and citation
Summary: Discernment is the axe that fells the tree with few strokes.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split): ἀβ βᾶς → ἀββᾶς.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.52 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-52). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-52
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-52) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from Cotelier's Greek text as printed in Migne PG 65 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
89.53PG 65:333
Ἀδελφὸς ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Πῶς ὀφείλει ἄνθρωπος πολιτεύσασθαι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Ὁρῶμεν τὸν Δανιήλ, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη κατ' αὐτοῦ κατηγορία, εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς λειτουργίαις Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ.
Adelphos hērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn; Pōs opheilei anthrōpos politeusasthai? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Horōmen ton Daniēl, hoti ouch heurethē kat' autou katēgoria, ei mē en tais leitourgiais Kyriou tou Theou autou.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “How ought a man to live?” The old man says to him, “We see Daniel, that no charge was found against him except in the service of the Lord his God.”
Dan 6:5 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: One should live like Daniel, blameless except in serving God.
- Dan 6:5.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.53 (PG 65:333; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-53). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-53
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-53) · 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.
89.54PG 65:333–335
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Τὸ θέλημα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τεῖχός ἐστι χαλκοῦν ἀναμέσον αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ πέτρα ἀντιδέρουσα. Ἐὰν οὖν καταλείψῃ αὐτὸ ἄνθρωπος, λέγει καὶ αὐτὸς, Ἐν τῷ Θεῷ μου ὑπερβήσομαι τεῖχος. Ἐὰν οὖν τὸ δικαίωμα συνέλθῃ τῷ θελήματι, κάμνει ὁ ἄνθρωπος.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti To thelēma tou anthrōpou teichos esti chalkoun anameson autou kai tou Theou, kai petra antiderousa. Ean oun kataleipsę̄ auto anthrōpos, legei kai autos, En tǭ Theǭ mou hyperbēsomai teichos. Ean oun to dikaiōma synelthę̄ tǭ thelēmati, kamnei ho anthrōpos.
Abba Poemen said, “The will of man is a wall of bronze between him and God, and a stone that strikes back. So if a man gives it up, he too says, ‘In my God I will leap over the wall.’ But if justification joins with the will, the man is worn down.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Ps 18:29 (17:30 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Self-will is a bronze wall between man and God; abandon it and one leaps over.
- Variant notes are removed. Quotation of Ps 18:29 (LXX 17:30). δικαίωμα here is self-justification.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; variant notes (“Al.”) inside a word): ἀνΑΙ. ὀφείλει. το ΑΙ. γινόμενον. ΑΙ. δώσομεν εἰ δῶμεν. θρώπου → ἀνθρώπου; χαικοῦν → χαλκοῦν.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.54 (PG 65:333–335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-54). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-54
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-54) · 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.
89.55PG 65:335
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Καθεζομένων ποτὲ γερόντων καὶ ἐσθιόντων, ἵστατο ὑπηρετῶν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀλώνιος καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπήνεσαν. Ὁ δὲ τὸ σύνολον οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη. Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ τις κατ᾿ ἰδίαν Διατί οὐκ ἀπεκρίθης τοῖς γέρουσιν ἐπαινοῦσί σε Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀλώνιος Εἰ ἀπεκρίθην αὐτοῖς, εὑρίσκομαι ὡς καταδεξάμενος τὸν ἔπαινον.
Eipe palin, hoti Kathezomenōn pote gerontōn kai esthiontōn, histato hypēretōn ho abbas Alōnios kai idontes auton epēnesan. Ho de to synolon ouk apekrithē. Legei oun autǭ tis kat᾿ idian Diati ouk apekrithēs tois gerousin epainousi se Legei autǭ ho abbas Alōnios Ei apekrithēn autois, heuriskomai hōs katadexamenos ton epainon.
He also said that once when old men were sitting and eating, abba Alonius stood serving; and seeing him, they praised him. But he did not answer at all. So someone says to him privately, “Why did you not answer the old men who praised you?” Abba Alonius says to him, “If I had answered them, I would be found accepting the praise.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Alonius keeps silent when praised, lest he seem to accept it.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.55 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-55). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-55
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-55) · 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.
89.56PG 65:335
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐν τῷ τελείῳ λαλοῦσι, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλαχίστῳ ἐργάζονται.
Eipe palin, hoti Hoi anthrōpoi en tǭ teleiǭ lalousi, kai en tǭ elachistǭ ergazontai.
He also said, “People speak about perfection but work at the least things.”
Notes and citation
Summary: People talk of perfection while doing little.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.56 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-56). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-56
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-56) · 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.
89.57PG 65:335
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Ὥσπερ ὁ καπνὸς ἐκδιώκει τὰς μελίσσας, καὶ τότε αἴρεται τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν ἡ γλυκύτης οὕτως καὶ ἡ σωματικὴ ἀνάπαυσις ἐκδιώκει τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ ἀπολύει αὐτῆς πᾶσαν τὴν ἐργασίαν
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Hōsper ho kapnos ekdiōkei tas melissas, kai tote airetai tēs ergasias autōn hē glykytēs houtōs kai hē sōmatikē anapausis ekdiōkei ton phobon tou Theou apo tēs psychēs, kai apolyei autēs pasan tēn ergasian
Abba Poemen said, “Just as smoke drives away the bees, and then the sweetness of their work is taken, so bodily comfort drives the fear of God from the soul and destroys all its work.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Bodily comfort drives away the fear of God as smoke drives off bees.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.57 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-57). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-57
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-57) · 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.
89.58PG 65:335
Ἀδελφὸς παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι εἰς τὰς δύο ἑβδομάδας τῆς Τεσσαρακοστῆς, καὶ ἐξειπὼν τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τυχὼν ἀναπαύσεως, λέγει αὐτῷ· Παρὰ βραχύ κατεσχέθην παραγενέσθαι ὧδε σήμερον. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Διατί; Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός Εἶπον μήποτε διὰ τὴν Τεσσαρακοστὴν οὐκ ἀνοίγεταί μοι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐμάθομεν κλείειν τὴν ξυλίνην θύραν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὴν τῆς γλώσσης θύραν.
Adelphos parebale tǭ abbą Poimeni eis tas dyo hebdomadas tēs Tessarakostēs, kai exeipōn tous logismous autou, kai tychōn anapauseōs, legei autǭ; Para brachy kateschethēn paragenesthai hōde sēmeron. Legei autǭ ho gerōn Diati? Legei ho adelphos Eipon mēpote dia tēn Tessarakostēn ouk anoigetai moi. Legei autǭ ho abbas Poimēn Hēmeis ouk emathomen kleiein tēn xylinēn thyran, alla mallon tēn tēs glōssēs thyran.
A brother visited abba Poemen in the two weeks of Lent, and having told him his thoughts and found rest, he says to him, “I was almost kept from coming here today.” The old man says to him, “Why?” The brother says, “I said, ‘Perhaps because of Lent he will not open to me.’” Abba Poemen says to him, “We have not learned to shut the wooden door, but rather the door of the tongue.”
Ps 141:3 (140:3 LXX) (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen opens his door in Lent, saying the door to keep shut is the tongue.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray accent; OCR: word split): Ἀδέλφὸς → Ἀδελφὸς; ἀδελ φός → ἀδελφός.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.58 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-58). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-58
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-58) · 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.
89.59PG 65:335
Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Φεύγειν δεῖ τὰ σωματικά. Ὅταν γὰρ εἶ ἄνθρωπος ἐγγὺς τοῦ σωματικοῦ πολέμου, ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ στήκοντι ἐπάνω λάκκου βαθυτάτου· καὶ οἴαν δ᾽ ἂν ὥραν δόξῃ τῷ ἐχθρῷ αὐτοῦ, εὐκόλως αὐτὸν ῥίπτει κάτω. Ἐὰν δὲ σωματικῶν μακρὰν ᾖ, ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντι τοῦ λάκκου, ἵνα κἂν ἕλκῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἐχθρὸς βαλεῖν κάτω, ἐν ὅσῳ αὐτὸν ἕλκει καὶ βιάζεται, ὁ Θεὸς ἀποστέλλει αὐτῷ βοήθειαν.
Eipe palin ho abbas Poimēn; Pheugein dei ta sōmatika. Hotan gar ei anthrōpos engys tou sōmatikou polemou, eoiken andri stēkonti epanō lakkou bathytatou; kai oian d᾽ an hōran doxę̄ tǭ echthrǭ autou, eukolōs auton rhiptei katō. Ean de sōmatikōn makran ę̄, eoiken andri makran apechonti tou lakkou, hina kan helkę̄ auton ho echthros balein katō, en hosǭ auton helkei kai biazetai, ho Theos apostellei autǭ boētheian.
Abba Poemen also said, “One must flee bodily things. For when a man is near the bodily war, he is like a man standing over a very deep pit; and whenever it seems good to his enemy, he easily throws him down. But if he is far from bodily things, he is like a man standing far from the pit, so that even if the enemy drags him to throw him down, while he is dragging and forcing him, God sends him help.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Keeping far from occasions of sin is like standing far from a pit, so God has time to help.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.59 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-59). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-59
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-59) · 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.
89.60PG 65:335
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἡ πενία καὶ ἡ θλίψις καὶ ἡ στενοχωρία καὶ ἡ νηστεία, ταῦτά εἰσι τὰ ἐργαλεῖα τοῦ μονήρους βίου. Γέγραπται γὰρ, ὅτι Ἐὰν ὦσιν οἱ τρεῖς οὗτοι ἄνδρες, Νῶε, Ἰὼβ καὶ Δανιὴλ, ζῶ ἐγώ, λέγει Κύριος. Νῶε πρόσωπόν ἐστι τῆς ἀκτημοσύνης, Ἰὼβ δὲ τοῦ πόνου, καὶ Δανιὴλ τῆς διακρίσεως. Ἐὰν οὖν ὦσιν αἱ τρεῖς αὗται πράξεις ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, ὁ Κύριος οἰκεῖ ἐν αὐτῷ.
Eipe palin; Hē penia kai hē thlipsis kai hē stenochōria kai hē nēsteia, tauta eisi ta ergaleia tou monērous biou. Gegraptai gar, hoti Ean ōsin hoi treis houtoi andres, Nōe, Iōb kai Daniēl, zō egō, legei Kyrios. Nōe prosōpon esti tēs aktēmosynēs, Iōb de tou ponou, kai Daniēl tēs diakriseōs. Ean oun ōsin hai treis hautai praxeis en tǭ anthrōpǭ, ho Kyrios oikei en autǭ.
He also said, “Poverty, affliction, distress, and fasting: these are the tools of the solitary life. For it is written, ‘If these three men are there, Noah, Job, and Daniel, as I live, says the Lord.’ Noah represents poverty, Job toil, and Daniel discernment. So if these three practices are in a man, the Lord dwells in him.”
Ezek 14:14 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen reads Noah, Job, and Daniel as poverty, toil, and discernment, the tools of the monk.
- Quotation of Ezek 14:14, 16.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: wrong accent): ταῦτὰ εἰσι → ταῦτά εἰσι.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.60 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-60). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-60
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-60) · 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.
89.61PG 65:335
Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ, ὅτι Καθημένων ἡμῶν μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος, ὠνόμασε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀγάθωνα. Καὶ λέγομεν αὐτῷ Νεώτερός ἐστι, καὶ διατί καλεῖς αὐτὸν ἀββᾶν; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Ὅτι τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν καλεῖσθαι ἀββᾶν.
Elegen ho abbas Iōsēph, hoti Kathēmenōn hēmōn meta tou abba Poimenos, ōnomase ton abban Agathōna. Kai legomen autǭ Neōteros esti, kai diati kaleis auton abban? Kai eipen ho abbas Poimēn Hoti to stoma autou epoiēsen auton kaleisthai abban.
Abba Joseph said, “When we were sitting with abba Poemen, he named abba Agathon ‘abba.’ And we say to him, ‘He is young; why do you call him abba?’ And abba Poemen said, ‘Because his mouth has made him to be called abba.’”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen calls young Agathon “abba” because of his wise speech.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.61 (PG 65:335; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-61). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-61
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-61) · 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.
89.62PG 65:335–337
Ἦλθέ ποτε ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσω, Πάτερ, ὅτι θλίβομαι ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀπῆλθον πρὸς ἀββᾶν Ἰβιστίωνα, καὶ λέγει μοι· Οὐκ ὀφείλεις ἐᾶσαι αὐτὴν χρονίζειν ἐπὶ σέ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Ἀ̓ββᾶς Ἰβιστίων, αἱ πράξεις αὐτοῦ ἄνω μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰσὶ, καὶ λανθάνει αὐτὸν ὅτι ἐγὼ καὶ σὺ ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ ἐσμέν. Ἐὰν κρατήσῃ μοναχὸς τὴν κοιλίαν καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν, καὶ τὴν ξενιτείαν, θάρσει, οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει.
Ēlthe pote adelphos pros ton abban Poimena, kai legei autǭ; Ti poiēsō, Pater, hoti thlibomai apo tēs porneias kai idou apēlthon pros abban Ibistiōna, kai legei moi; Ouk opheileis easai autēn chronizein epi se. Legei autǭ ho abbas Poimēn Abbas Ibistiōn, hai praxeis autou anō meta tōn angelōn eisi, kai lanthanei auton hoti egō kai sy en tę̄ porneią esmen. Ean kratēsę̄ monachos tēn koilian kai tēn glōssan, kai tēn xeniteian, tharsei, ouk apothnēskei.
Once a brother came to abba Poemen and says to him, “What shall I do, father, for I am afflicted by sexual temptation? And look, I went to abba Ibistion, and he tells me, ‘You must not let it linger with you.’” Abba Poemen says to him, “Abba Ibistion’s deeds are above with the angels, and it escapes him that you and I are in sexual temptation. If a monk controls his belly and his tongue and lives as a stranger, take courage, he will not die.”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen comforts a tempted brother, saying control of belly and tongue and exile will keep him alive.
- Variant notes are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split; variant notes (“Al.”) from Migne’s apparatus): ἀπὸ ΑΙ. ηὑρισκόμην. ΑΙ. ἀγαθήν. τῆς πορνείας → ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας; ἀπο θνήσκει → ἀποθνήσκει.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.62 (PG 65:335–337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-62). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-62
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-62) · 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.
89.63PG 65:337
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Δίδαξον τὸ στόμα σου λαλεῖν ἢ ἔχει ἡ καρδία σου.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn Didaxon to stoma sou lalein ē echei hē kardia sou.
Abba Poemen said, “Teach your mouth to speak what your heart holds.”
Luke 6:45 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Let your mouth speak what is in your heart.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.63 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-63). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-63
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-63) · 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.
89.64PG 65:337
Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Ἐὰν ἴδω πταῖσμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου, καλόν ἐστι σκεπάσαι αὐτό; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Οἷαν ὥραν σκεπάσομεν τὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν πταῖσμα, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς σκεπάζει τὸ ἡμέτερον· καὶ ἐν ᾗ ὥρᾳ ἐκφαίνομεν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐκφαίνει τὸ ἡμέτερον.
Ērōtēsen adelphos ton abban Poimena, legōn; Ean idō ptaisma tou adelphou mou, kalon esti skepasai auto? Legei autǭ ho gerōn Hoian hōran skepasomen to tou adelphou hēmōn ptaisma, kai ho Theos skepazei to hēmeteron; kai en hę̄ hōrą ekphainomen tou adelphou, kai ho Theos ekphainei to hēmeteron.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “If I see my brother’s fault, is it good to cover it?” The old man says to him, “Whenever we cover our brother’s fault, God also covers ours; and whenever we expose our brother’s, God also exposes ours.”
1 Pet 4:8 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God covers our faults as we cover our brother’s.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.64 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-64). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-64
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-64) · 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.
89.65PG 65:337
Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Ἡρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Παΐσιόν τίς ποτε, λέγων Τί ποιήσω τῇ ψυχῇ μου, ὅτι ἀναισθητεῖ καὶ οὐ φοβεῖται τὸν Θεόν Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ἄπελθε, κολλήθητι ἀνθρώπῳ φοβουμένῳ τὸν Θεόν· καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν ἐκείνῳ, διδάσκει σὲ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεόν.
Eipe palin ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Hērōtēse ton abban Païsion tis pote, legōn Ti poiēsō tę̄ psychę̄ mou, hoti anaisthētei kai ou phobeitai ton Theon Kai legei autǭ Apelthe, kollēthēti anthrōpǭ phoboumenǭ ton Theon; kai en tǭ engizein ekeinǭ, didaskei se phobeisthai ton Theon.
Abba Poemen also said that someone asked abba Paësius, saying, “What shall I do with my soul, for it is insensible and does not fear God?” And he says to him, “Go, attach yourself to a man who fears God; and by being near him, he will teach you to fear God.”
Notes and citation
Summary: To learn the fear of God, stay near one who fears God.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.65 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-65). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-65
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-65) · 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.
89.66PG 65:337
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ἐὰν δύο πράγματα νικήσῃ ὁ μοναχὸς, δύναται ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀδελφός Ποῖα ταῦτα; Καὶ εἶπε· Τὴν σαρκικὴν ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ τὴν κενοδοξίαν.
Eipe palin, hoti Ean dyo pragmata nikēsę̄ ho monachos, dynatai eleutheros genesthai apo tou kosmou. Kai eipen ho adelphos Poia tauta? Kai eipe; Tēn sarkikēn anapausin, kai tēn kenodoxian.
He also said, “If a monk overcomes two things, he can become free from the world.” And the brother said, “What are they?” And he said, “Bodily comfort and vainglory.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Overcoming comfort and vainglory frees the monk from the world.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.66 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-66). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-66
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-66) · 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.
89.67PG 65:337
Ἠρώτησεν Ἀβραὰμ, ὁ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀγάθωνος, τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Πῶς οἱ δαίμονες πολεμοῦσί με Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Σὲ πολεμοῦσιν οἱ δαίμονες; Οὐ πολεμοῦσι μεθ' ἡμῶν, ἐφ᾽ ὅσον τὰ θελήματα ἡμῶν, ποιοῦμεν. Τὰ γὰρ θελήματα ἡμῶν δαίμονες γεγόνασι καὶ αὐτοὶ εἰσιν οἱ θλίβοντες ἡμᾶς, ἵνα πληρώσωμεν αὐτά, Εἰ δὲ θέλεις ἰδεῖν μετὰ τίνων ἐπολέμησαν οἱ δαίμονες· μετὰ Μωϋσέως, καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων αὐτοῦ.
Ērōtēsen Abraam, ho tou abba Agathōnos, ton abban Poimena, legōn; Pōs hoi daimones polemousi me Kai eipen autǭ ho abbas Poimēn Se polemousin hoi daimones? Ou polemousi meth' hēmōn, eph᾽ hoson ta thelēmata hēmōn, poioumen. Ta gar thelēmata hēmōn daimones gegonasi kai autoi eisin hoi thlibontes hēmas, hina plērōsōmen auta, Ei de theleis idein meta tinōn epolemēsan hoi daimones; meta Mōÿseōs, kai tōn homoiōn autou.
Abraham, the disciple of abba Agathon, asked abba Poemen, saying, “How do the demons fight against me?” And abba Poemen said to him, “The demons fight against you? They do not fight with us as long as we do our own wills. For our wills have become the demons, and it is they that afflict us so that we may fulfill them. But if you want to see with whom the demons fought: with Moses and those like him.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen says our own wills are our demons; the real demons fight only saints like Moses.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.67 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-67). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-67
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-67) · 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.
89.68PG 65:337
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν, ὅτι Ταύτην τὴν πολιτείαν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, τὸ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν παρὰ φύσιν· τουτέστι, ὀργῆς, καὶ θυμοῦ, καὶ ζήλου, καὶ μίσους, καὶ καταλαλιᾶς κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ· καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῆς παλαιότητος.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Tautēn tēn politeian edōken ho Theos tǭ Israēl, to apechesthai tōn para physin; toutesti, orgēs, kai thymou, kai zēlou, kai misous, kai katalalias kata tou adelphou; kai ta loipa tēs palaiotētos.
Abba Poemen said, “This is the way of life God gave to Israel: to abstain from things contrary to nature, that is, from wrath, anger, jealousy, hatred, and slander against a brother, and the rest of the old ways.”
Notes and citation
Summary: God’s law for Israel was to abstain from anger, jealousy, hatred, and slander.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.68 (PG 65:337; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-68). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-68
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-68) · 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.
89.69PG 65:337–339
Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, ὅτι Οἱ Πατέρες τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ πράγματος ἣν ἔθεντο, πένθος ἐστί. Λέγει πάλιν ὁ ἀδελφός Εἰπέ μοι ἄλλο ῥῆμα, Ἀποκρίνεται ὁ γέρων Ὅσον δύνῃ ἐργάζου ἐργόχειρον, ἵνα ἐξ αὐτοῦ ποιήσῃς ἔλεος. Γέγραπται γὰρ, ὅτι ἐλεημοσύνη καὶ πίστις καθαίρουσιν ἁμαρτίας Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Τί ἐστι πίστις; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Πίστις ἐστὶ τὸ ἐν ταπεινοφροσύνῃ διάγειν, καὶ ποιεῖν ἔλεος. σ'. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων, ὅτι Ἐὰν ἴδω ἀδελφὸν περὶ οὗ ἤκουσα πταῖσμα, οὐ θέλω εἰσενεγκεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου ἐὰν δὲ ἴδω καλὸν, χαίρω μετ' αὐτοῦ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων Εἰ ποιεῖς τῷ καλῷ ἀδελφῷ μικρὸν ἀγαθὸν, διπλοῦν ποίησον μετ' ἐκείνου. Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἀσθενῶν. Ἦν γάρ τις ἐν κοινοβίῳ ὀνόματι Τιμόθεος ἀναχωρητῆς· καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ ἡγούμενος φήμην περί τινος ἀδελφοῦ περὶ πειρασμοῦ, καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν Τιμόθεον περὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνεβούλευσεν αὐτῷ, ἐκβαλεῖν τὸν ἀδελφόν. Ὅτε οὖν ἐξέβαλεν αὐτὸν, ἐτέθη ὁ πειρασμὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ Τιμοθέου, ἕως οὗ ἐκινδύνευσεν. Ἔκλαιεν οὖν ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, λέγων· Ἡμάρτηκα, συγχώρησόν μοι. Καὶ ἦλθεν αὐτῷ φωνὴ λέγουσα· Τιμόθεε, μὴ νομίσῃς ὅτι ταῦτα ἐποίησα σοι δι᾿ ἄλλο τι, ἢ ὅτι παρεῖδες τὸν ἀδελφόν σου ἐν καιρῷ τοῦ πειρασμοῦ αὐτοῦ.
Ērōtēsen adelphos ton abban Poimena, legōn; Eipe moi rhēma. Kai legei autǭ, hoti Hoi Pateres tēn archēn tou pragmatos hēn ethento, penthos esti. Legei palin ho adelphos Eipe moi allo rhēma, Apokrinetai ho gerōn Hoson dynę̄ ergazou ergocheiron, hina ex autou poiēsę̄s eleos. Gegraptai gar, hoti eleēmosynē kai pistis kathairousin hamartias Legei ho adelphos; Ti esti pistis? Legei ho gerōn; Pistis esti to en tapeinophrosynę̄ diagein, kai poiein eleos. s'. Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn, hoti Ean idō adelphon peri hou ēkousa ptaisma, ou thelō eisenenkein auton eis to kellion mou ean de idō kalon, chairō met' autou. Legei autǭ ho gerōn Ei poieis tǭ kalǭ adelphǭ mikron agathon, diploun poiēson met' ekeinou. Houtos gar estin ho asthenōn. Ēn gar tis en koinobiǭ onomati Timotheos anachōrētēs; kai ēkousen ho hēgoumenos phēmēn peri tinos adelphou peri peirasmou, kai epērōtēse ton Timotheon peri autou; kai synebouleusen autǭ, ekbalein ton adelphon. Hote oun exebalen auton, etethē ho peirasmos tou adelphou epanō tou Timotheou, heōs hou ekindyneusen. Eklaien oun ho Timotheos enōpion tou Theou, legōn; Hēmartēka, synchōrēson moi. Kai ēlthen autǭ phōnē legousa; Timothee, mē nomisę̄s hoti tauta epoiēsa soi di᾿ allo ti, ē hoti pareides ton adelphon sou en kairǭ tou peirasmou autou.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “Tell me a word.” And he says to him, “The beginning of the matter that the Fathers laid down is mourning.” The brother said again, “Tell me another word.” The old man answers, “As far as you can, do handiwork, so that you may give alms from it. For it is written that alms and faith cleanse sins.” The brother says, “What is faith?” The old man says, “Faith is to live in humility and to give alms.” [70] A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “If I see a brother about whom I have heard of a fault, I do not want to bring him into my cell; but if I see a good one, I rejoice with him.” The old man says to him, “If you do a little good to the good brother, do double with that one. For he is the one who is sick. For there was a certain anchorite in a community named Timothy; and the superior heard a report about a brother concerning a temptation, and asked Timothy about him; and he advised him to expel the brother. So when he had expelled him, the brother’s temptation was laid upon Timothy, until he was in danger. So Timothy wept before God, saying, ‘I have sinned; forgive me.’ And a voice came to him, saying, ‘Timothy, do not think that I have done this to you for any other reason than that you despised your brother in the time of his temptation.’”
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Prov 16:6 (15:27 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Gal 6:1 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen teaches mourning and almsgiving; then (saying 70) he urges double kindness to a fallen brother, telling of Timothy, who suffered the temptation of the brother he had expelled.
- The scan runs Poemen 70 (its numeral misread as σʹ) into this saying; marked [70]. Variant notes (on the wording of the proverb) are removed. Prov 15:27a (LXX) = 16:6.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: letter slip; OCR: word split; variant notes from Migne’s apparatus inside the sentence): πεοὶ → περὶ; πταῖσμα, οὐ μοσύναι καὶ πίσται εἰσίν· ἐκκαθαίρονται ἁμαρτίαι. μοσύναις καὶ πίστεσιν. → πταῖσμα, οὐ ; ἀδελ φός → ἀδελφός.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.69 (PG 65:337–339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-69). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-69
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-69) · 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.
89.71PG 65:339
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τοσούτοις πειρασμοῖς κείμεθα, ὅτι τὰ ὀνόματα ἡμῶν καὶ τὴν τάξιν οὐ φυλάσσομεν, καθὼς καὶ ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει. Οὐχ ὁρῶμεν τὴν γυναῖκα τὴν Χαναναίαν, τὴν ὑποδεξαμένην τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἀνέπαυσεν αὐτὴν ὁ Σωτήρ; Πάλιν Αβιγαίαν, ὅτι εἶπε τῷ Δαβίδ, ὅτι Ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐστιν ἡ ἁμαρτία, καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτῆς, καὶ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὴν. Αβιγαῖα πρόσωπον λαμβάνει τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ Δαβὶδ τῆς Θεότητος. Ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ψυχὴ ἑαυτὴν μέμψηται ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, ἀγαπᾷ αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti Dia touto en tosoutois peirasmois keimetha, hoti ta onomata hēmōn kai tēn taxin ou phylassomen, kathōs kai hē Graphē legei. Ouch horōmen tēn gynaika tēn Chananaian, tēn hypodexamenēn to onoma autēs, hoti anepausen autēn ho Sōtēr? Palin Abigaian, hoti eipe tǭ Dabid, hoti En emoi estin hē hamartia, kai ēkousen autēs, kai ēgapēsen autēn. Abigaia prosōpon lambanei tēs psychēs, kai Dabid tēs Theotētos. Ean oun hē psychē heautēn mempsētai enōpion Kyriou, agapą autēn ho Kyrios.
Abba Poemen said, “We are in so many temptations because we do not keep our names and our rank, as the Scripture says. Do we not see the Canaanite woman, who accepted her name, and the Savior gave her rest? Again Abigail, who said to David, ‘The sin is on me,’ and he heard her and loved her. Abigail stands for the soul, and David for the Godhead. So if the soul blames itself before the Lord, the Lord loves it.”
Matt 15:27 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Sam 25:24 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Like the Canaanite woman and Abigail, the soul that blames itself is loved by the Lord.
- The Canaanite woman accepting the name “dog”: Matt 15:26–28; Abigail: 1 Sam 25:24.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with doubled letters): μέμε ψηται → μέμψηται.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.71 (PG 65:339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-71). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-71
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-71) · 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.
89.72PG 65:339
Παρήρχετό ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀνοὺβ εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Διόλκου καὶ ἐλθόντες περὶ τὰ μνημεῖα θεωροῦσι γυναῖκα δεινῶς κοπτομένην καὶ κλαίουσαν πικρῶς· καὶ στάντες κατενόουν αὐτήν. Μικρὸν δὲ προβάντες συνήντησάν τινι· καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, λέγων Τί ἔχει ἡ γυνὴ αὕτη, ὅτι πικρῶς κλαίει; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὅτι ἀπέθανεν αὐτῆς ὁ ἀνὴρ καὶ ὁ υἱὸς καὶ ὁ ἀδελφός. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, λέγει τῷ ἀββᾶ Ἀνούβ· Λέγω σοι, ὅτι ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν μὴ νεκρώσῃ τὰ θελήματα τῆς σαρκὸς πάντα, καὶ κτήσηται τὸ πένθος τοῦτο, οὐ δύναται γενέσθαι μοναχός. Ὅλος γὰρ ὁ βίος αὐτῆς καὶ ὁ νοῦς εἰς τὸ πένθος ἐστίν.
Parērcheto pote ho abbas Poimēn meta tou abba Anoub eis ta merē tēs Diolkou kai elthontes peri ta mnēmeia theōrousi gynaika deinōs koptomenēn kai klaiousan pikrōs; kai stantes katenooun autēn. Mikron de probantes synēntēsan tini; kai ērōtēsen auton ho abbas Poimēn, legōn Ti echei hē gynē hautē, hoti pikrōs klaiei? Kai legei autǭ; Hoti apethanen autēs ho anēr kai ho huios kai ho adelphos. Kai apokritheis ho abbas Poimēn, legei tǭ abba Anoub; Legō soi, hoti anthrōpos ean mē nekrōsę̄ ta thelēmata tēs sarkos panta, kai ktēsētai to penthos touto, ou dynatai genesthai monachos. Holos gar ho bios autēs kai ho nous eis to penthos estin.
Once abba Poemen was passing with abba Anoub through the region of Diolcos; and coming near the tombs, they see a woman beating herself terribly and weeping bitterly; and they stood and watched her. Going on a little, they met someone; and abba Poemen asked him, saying, “What is wrong with this woman, that she weeps bitterly?” And he says to him, “Her husband and her son and her brother have died.” And abba Poemen answered and says to abba Anoub, “I tell you, unless a man puts to death all the wills of the flesh and acquires this mourning, he cannot become a monk. For her whole life and mind are in mourning.”
Notes and citation
Summary: A widow mourning her family teaches Poemen the mourning a monk must have.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.72 (PG 65:339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-72). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-72
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-72) · 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.
89.73PG 65:339
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν Μὴ μέτρει σεαυτὸν, ἀλλὰ κολλήθητι τῷ καλῶς ἀναστρεφομένῳ.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn Mē metrei seauton, alla kollēthēti tǭ kalōs anastrephomenǭ.
Abba Poemen said, “Do not measure yourself, but attach yourself to one who lives well.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not measure yourself; cling to one who lives well.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.73 (PG 65:339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-73). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-73
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-73) · 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.
89.74PG 65:339
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι ἐὰν παρέβαλεν ἀδελφὸς τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ κολοβῷ, παρεδίδει αὐτῷ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν ἐν τῷ Ἀποστόλῳ· Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ, χρηστεύεται.
Eipe palin, hoti ean parebalen adelphos tǭ abbą Iōannę̄ tǭ kolobǭ, paredidei autǭ tēn agapēn tēn en tǭ Apostolǭ; Hē agapē makrothymei, chrēsteuetai.
He also said that whenever a brother visited abba John the Dwarf, he handed on to him the love in the Apostle: “Love is patient, is kind.”
1 Cor 13:4 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: John the Dwarf taught every visitor Paul’s hymn to love.
- Quotation of 1 Cor 13:4.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.74 (PG 65:339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-74). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-74
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-74) · 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.
89.75PG 65:339
Εἶπε πάλιν διὰ τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ, ὅτι εἶπε περὶ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεὸν ἐποίησε τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ οἰκεῖν ἐν αὐτῷ.
Eipe palin dia ton abban Pambō, hoti eipe peri autou ho abbas Antōnios, hoti ek tou phobeisthai ton Theon epoiēse to Pneuma tou Theou oikein en autǭ.
He also said of abba Pambo that abba Antony said about him that by fearing God he made the Spirit of God dwell in him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Through the fear of God Pambo had the Spirit dwell in him.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.75 (PG 65:339; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-75). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-75
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-75) · 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.
89.76PG 65:339–341
Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββα Ποιμένος καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ᾤκουν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ἐπιθυμοῦσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῶν ἰδεῖν αὐτοὺς οὐκ ἠδύνατο. Παρετηρήσατο δὲ ἀπερχομένων αὐτῶν εἰς ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς. Οἱ δὲ θεασάμενοι αὐτὴν, ὑπέστρεψαν, καὶ ἔκλεισαν τὴν θύραν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς. Ἡ δὲ πρὸς τὴν θύραν ἔκραζε κλαίουσα μετὰ οἴκτου πολλοῦ, καὶ λέγουσα Ἴδω ὑμᾶς, τέκνα μου ἠγαπημένα. Ἀκούσας δὲ αὐτῆς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων Τί ποιήσωμεν τῇ γραΐδι ταύτῃ κλαιούσῃ πρὸς τὴν θύραν; Καὶ ἔνδοθεν στὰς, ἤκουσεν αὐτῆς κλαιούσης μετὰ οἴκτου πολλοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Τί οὕτως κράζεις, γραῦ; Ἡ δὲ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσασα πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐκραύγαζε, κλαίουσα καὶ λέγουσα Θέλω ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν, τέκνα μου. Τί γάρ ἐστιν ἐὰν ἴδω ὑμᾶς; μὴ οὐκ εἰμὶ μήτηρ ὑμῶν; μὴ οὐκ ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐθήλασα; ὅλη εἰμὶ πολιά Ακούσασα γὰρ τῆς φωνῆς σου ἐταράχθην. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ γέρων· Ωδε θέλεις ἡμᾶς ἰδεῖν, ἢ εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖ κόσμον Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ὑμᾶς ὧδε, βλέπω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖ κόσμον; Λέγει αὐτῇ Ἐὰν σεαυτὴν βιάσῃ μὴ ἰδεῖν ἡμᾶς ὧδε, ὁρᾶς ἡμᾶς ἐκεῖ. Ἀπῆλθε οὖν χαίρουσα, καὶ λέγουσα· Εἰ ὅλως ὁρῶ ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ, οὐ θέλω ὧδε ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν.
Diēgēsato tis tōn Paterōn peri tou abba Poimenos kai tōn adelphōn autou, hoti ǭkoun en Aigyptǭ kai epithymousa hē mētēr autōn idein autous ouk ēdynato. Paretērēsato de aperchomenōn autōn eis ekklēsian, kai apēntēsen autois. Hoi de theasamenoi autēn, hypestrepsan, kai ekleisan tēn thyran eis to prosōpon autēs. Hē de pros tēn thyran ekraze klaiousa meta oiktou pollou, kai legousa Idō hymas, tekna mou ēgapēmena. Akousas de autēs ho abbas Anoub eisēlthe pros ton abban Poimena, legōn Ti poiēsōmen tę̄ graïdi tautę̄ klaiousę̄ pros tēn thyran? Kai endothen stas, ēkousen autēs klaiousēs meta oiktou pollou; kai eipen autę̄; Ti houtōs krazeis, grau? Hē de tēs phōnēs autou akousasa pollǭ mallon ekraugaze, klaiousa kai legousa Thelō hymas idein, tekna mou. Ti gar estin ean idō hymas? mē ouk eimi mētēr hymōn? mē ouk egō hymas ethēlasa? holē eimi polia Akousasa gar tēs phōnēs sou etarachthēn. Legei autę̄ ho gerōn; Ōde theleis hēmas idein, ē eis ton ekei kosmon Legei autǭ; Ean mē idō hymas hōde, blepō hymas eis ton ekei kosmon? Legei autę̄ Ean seautēn biasę̄ mē idein hēmas hōde, horas hēmas ekei. Apēlthe oun chairousa, kai legousa; Ei holōs horō hymas ekei, ou thelō hōde hymas idein.
One of the Fathers related about abba Poemen and his brothers that they lived in Egypt, and their mother, longing to see them, could not. She watched for them going to church and met them. But when they saw her, they turned back and shut the door in her face. She cried out at the door, weeping with great pity and saying, “Let me see you, my beloved children.” Hearing her, abba Anoub went in to abba Poemen, saying, “What shall we do about this old woman weeping at the door?” And standing inside, he heard her weeping with great pity; and he said to her, “Why are you crying out like this, old woman?” Hearing his voice, she cried out all the more, weeping and saying, “I want to see you, my children. What harm is it if I see you? Am I not your mother? Did I not nurse you? I am all grey; and hearing your voice I was troubled.” The old man says to her, “Do you want to see us here, or in the other world?” She says to him, “If I do not see you here, shall I see you in the other world?” He says to her, “If you force yourself not to see us here, you will see us there.” So she went away rejoicing and saying, “If I am indeed to see you there, I do not want to see you here.”
Luke 14:26 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen refuses to see his mother, promising she will see her sons in the next world.
- The monks’ refusal to see their mother reflects the ascetic renunciation of family; translated as written.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray mark; OCR: word split): αὐ τοὺς → αὐτοὺς; ὑμᾶς ὧδε. βλέπω → ὑμᾶς ὧδε, βλέπω.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.76 (PG 65:339–341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-76). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-76
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-76) · 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.
89.77PG 65:341
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Τὰ ὑψηλὰ τί ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· δικαίωμα.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn; Ta hypsēla ti esti? Legei autǭ ho gerōn; dikaiōma.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “What are the lofty things?” The old man says to him, “Self-justification.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The “lofty things” are self-justification.
- δικαίωμα could also mean “righteousness”; in Poemen’s sayings it usually means justifying oneself (cf. 89.54).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: word split with a stray letter): λέν γων → λέγων.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.77 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-77). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-77
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-77) · 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.
89.78PG 65:341
Ηλθόν ποτέ τινες αἱρετικοὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββάν Ποιμένα, καὶ ἤρξαντο καταλαλεῖν τοῦ ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἀλεξανδρείας, ὡς ὅτι παρὰ πρεσβυτέρων ἔχει τὴν χειροτονίαν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων σιωπήσας ἐφώνησε τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπε· Παράθες τὴν τράπεζαν, καὶ ποίησον αὐτοῖς φαγεῖν, καὶ πέμψον αὐτοὺς μετ' εἰρήνης.
Ēlthon pote tines hairetikoi pros ton abban Poimena, kai ērxanto katalalein tou archiepiskopou Alexandreias, hōs hoti para presbyterōn echei tēn cheirotonian. Ho de gerōn siōpēsas ephōnēse ton adelphon autou, kai eipe; Parathes tēn trapezan, kai poiēson autois phagein, kai pempson autous met' eirēnēs.
Once some heretics came to abba Poemen and began to speak against the archbishop of Alexandria, saying that he had his ordination from presbyters. The old man kept silent, called his brother, and said, “Set the table, give them something to eat, and send them away in peace.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Poemen answers heretics’ slander of the archbishop only by feeding them and sending them away.
- The charge that the archbishop of Alexandria was ordained by presbyters (not bishops) is reported as the heretics’ slander.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: stray letters): ποίησον αὐτοῖς οἱ φαγεῖν → ποίησον αὐτοῖς φαγεῖν.
Topics: Heresy, Church office
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.78 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-78). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-78
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-78) · 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.
89.79PG 65:341
Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν, ὅτι ἀδελφὸς συνοικῶν ἀδελφοῖς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Βισαρίωνα Τί ποιήσω; Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Σιώπα, καὶ μὴ μετρῇς ἑαυτόν.
Eipen ho abbas Poimēn, hoti adelphos synoikōn adelphois ērōtēse ton abban Bisariōna Ti poiēsō? Ho de gerōn eipen autǭ; Siōpa, kai mē metrę̄s heauton.
Abba Poemen said that a brother living with brothers asked abba Bessarion, “What shall I do?” The old man said to him, “Keep silent, and do not measure yourself.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Keep silent and do not compare yourself.
- The same saying stands under Bessarion (17.10).
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.79 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-79). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-79
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-79) · 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.
89.80PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν· Εἰς ὃν ἡ καρδία σου οὐ πληροφορεῖται, μὴ πρόσχης τούτῳ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου.
Eipe palin; Eis hon hē kardia sou ou plērophoreitai, mē proschēs toutǭ tę̄ kardią sou.
He also said, “Do not give your heart to one your heart is not sure of.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not trust your heart to one you are unsure of.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.80 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-80). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-80
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-80) · 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.
89.81PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι Ἐὰν σεαυτὸν εὐτελίσῃς, ἕξεις ἀνάπαυσιν, εἰς οἷον δ᾽ ἂν τόπον καθίσῃς.
Eipe palin, hoti Ean seauton eutelisę̄s, hexeis anapausin, eis hoion d᾽ an topon kathisę̄s.
He also said, “If you make yourself of little account, you will have rest wherever you live.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Humility brings rest anywhere.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.81 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-81). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-81
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-81) · 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.
89.82PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης, ὅτι Ἔστιν αἰσχύνη, ἀφοβίας ἔχουσα ἁμαρτίαν.
Eipe palin, hoti elegen ho abbas Sisoēs, hoti Estin aischynē, aphobias echousa hamartian.
He also said that abba Sisoes said, “There is a shame that has the sin of fearlessness.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Some shame carries the sin of fearlessness.
- Cf. Sir 4:21, “There is a shame that brings sin.” The sense of Sisoes’ saying is obscure.
Extrabiblical texts: Sir 4:21 (Sirach [in RC, EO, ETH canons]; echo)
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.82 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-82). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-82
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-82) · 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.
89.83PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν ὅτι τὸ θέλημα, καὶ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις, καὶ ἡ τούτων συνήθεια, καταβάλλει τὸν ἄνθρωπον.
Eipe palin hoti to thelēma, kai hē anapausis, kai hē toutōn synētheia, kataballei ton anthrōpon.
He also said that self-will, comfort, and the habit of these overthrow a man.
Notes and citation
Summary: Self-will, comfort, and habit overthrow a man.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.83 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-83). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-83
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-83) · 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.
89.84PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐὰν ἧς σιωπητικὸς, ἕξεις ἀνάπαυσιν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ οὗ ἐὰν οἰκήσῃς.
Eipe palin; Ean hēs siōpētikos, hexeis anapausin en panti topǭ hou ean oikēsę̄s.
He also said, “If you are silent, you will have rest in every place where you live.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Silence brings rest everywhere.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.84 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-84). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-84
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-84) · 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.
89.85PG 65:341
Εἶπε πάλιν περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πίωρ, ὅτι ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ἐτίθει ἀρχήν.
Eipe palin peri tou abba Piōr, hoti hekastēs hēmeras etithei archēn.
He also said of abba Pior that every day he made a new beginning.
Notes and citation
Summary: Pior made a new beginning every day.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.85 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-85). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-85
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-85) · 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.
89.86PG 65:341
Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα, λέγων· Ἐὰν προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ, συγχωρεῖται παρὰ Θεῷ; Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀλλ' ὁ ἐντειλάμενος Θεὸς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ποιεῖν, οὐχὶ μᾶλλον αὐτὸς ποιήσει; Ἐνετείλατο γὰρ τῷ Πέτρῳ λέγων· "Εως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά.
Adelphos ērōtēse ton abban Poimena, legōn; Ean prolēphthę̄ anthrōpos en tini paraptōmati, kai epistrepsę̄, synchōreitai para Theǭ? Ephē autǭ ho gerōn; All' ho enteilamenos Theos tois anthrōpois touto poiein, ouchi mallon autos poiēsei? Eneteilato gar tǭ Petrǭ legōn; "Eōs hebdomēkontakis hepta.
A brother asked abba Poemen, saying, “If a man is overtaken in some fault and turns back, is he forgiven by God?” The old man said to him, “Will not God, who commanded men to do this, do it much more himself? For he commanded Peter, saying, ‘Up to seventy times seven.’”
Matt 18:22 (quotation, high confidence) · Gal 6:1 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God who commands us to forgive seventy times seven will forgive the repentant much more.
- Quotation of Matt 18:22.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR: breathing lost): έβδομηκοντάκις → ἑβδομηκοντάκις.
Cite (SBL): Apophthegmata Patrum, Apoph. Patr. (alph.) 89.86 (PG 65:341; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-86). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/apophthegmata-alphabetica/89-86
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-apophthegmata-alphabetica-89-86) · 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.