# Life of Syncletica - Author: Anonymous - Latin title: *Vita sanctae Syncleticae* - Date: 5th–6th century (approximate) - Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Graeca, vol. 28 (Paris, 1857), cols. 1487–1558 (Greek text of the Benedictine edition of Athanasius, Montfaucon) (Greek text: Migne, PG 28 (1857), from library-scan OCR (public domain)) - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Editions and translations: Alexander Vasiliev, 'Life of St. Syncletica', in Anecdota Graeco-Byzantina (Moscow, 1893) (not used) - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/ - Passages: 113 ## Life of Syncletica 1 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-1 - Source: PG 28:1488a–1488b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The writer compares Syncletica to a pearl whose worth he did not at first recognize, until others taught him its beauty. ### Greek text Ἔδει πάντας ἀνθρώπους τῶν καλῶν μὴ ἀμυήτους ὑπάρχειν. Οὕτω γάρ ἂν ἐγγεγυμνασμένοι toi; σιν εί εἶεν, τὸ ἀζήμιον εἶχον ὲν βίῳ· καὶ γοῦν τοὺς ἀκεραιοτὲρους τά πολλά τῶν χρηστῶν διέλαθεν. Τοῦτο δὲ πεπόνθασιν ἐκ τοῦ τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτοῖς ἀμβλυωτέραν καθεστάναι ὑπὸ τῆς ἀμελείας. Πολλάκις γάρ καὶ μαργαρῖται πολύτιμοι είς πένητας παρῆλθον ἄνδρας. Οἱ δὲ ἀδοκίμαστον τὴν περὶ τούτων τέχνην ἔχοντες, ὡς μικρῶν τινων καὶ οὖδαμινῶν κατεφρόνησαν. Ἡμεῖς γοῦν, νηπίαν καὶ ἀνάσκητον ψυχὴν ἔχοντες, τῷ παρόντι ἐντυγχάνοντες μαργαρίτῃ, οὐδὲν μέγα τοῦτον θεωροῦμεν, τῷ σχήματι μόνῳ ἐνατενίζοντες, τῆς δὲ φύσεως αὐτοῦ, ὅσον πρὸς γνῶσιν, μακράν τυγχάνοντες. Ὠς δὲ κατʼ ὀλίγον ἐκ τῶν πέλας ὲδιδασκόμεθα τὸ κάλλος αὑτοῦ, Θεῖος ἔρως καὶ ἡμῖν ἐνεγεννᾶτο πρὸς τὸ όφθέν · καὶ γάρ αὑτά τά πράγματα ἐξωπύρει ἡμῶν πρὸς τὸν πόθον τὴν διάνοιαν. ### English translation (Claude) All people ought not to be uninitiated in good things. For if they were trained in them, they would live their lives without loss; but in fact many good things escape the more simple, and this happens to them because their understanding has been dulled by negligence. Often precious pearls have passed into the hands of poor men, who, having no tested skill concerning them, despised them as small and worthless things. So we too, having an infant and untrained soul, when we come upon the pearl now before us, think it nothing great, looking only at its outward shape and being far, as regards knowledge, from its nature. But as little by little we were taught its beauty by those near it, a divine love was born in us too for what we had seen; for the facts themselves kindled our mind to longing. ### Scripture references - Matt 13:46: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - The words after “trained” are damaged in the scan (“toi; σιν εί εἶεν”); translated by the evident sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 1 (PG 28:1488a–1488b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1). ## Life of Syncletica 2 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-2 - Source: PG 28:1488b–1488c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: No one can adequately describe Syncletica’s life, as no one can look straight at the sun. ### Greek text Τί δὲλέγω τοὺς παρόντας, ἢ καὶ ἑαυτὸν συγκιταριθμῶ τούτοις, ὥς τι εἰδότων ἡμῶν καὶ λεγόντων περὶ τῆς ἀοιδίμου καὶ μακαρίας Συγκλητικῆς; Οἶμαι γὰρ πᾶσαν ἀνθρώπων φύσιν λείπεσθαι πρὸς διήγησιν τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτῆς πράξεων. Είδὲ καί τις ἐπιχειρήσειε λέγειν τι περὶ αὐτῆς, πολὺ μὲν καὶ ἄπειρον ἀπολειφθήσεται τῶν ζητουμένων, κᾶν σοφὸς, κᾶν ἐπιστήμων τυγχάνῃ. Ὠσπερ γάρ οἱ τῷ ἡλίῳ ἀτενίσαι βουλόμενοι τὰς ὄψεις βλάπτονται, οὕτω καὶ οἱ κατοπτρίζεσθαι τῷ βίῳ ταύτης πειρώμενοι, ὑπὸ τοῦ μεγέθους τῶν κατορθωμάτων ἰλιγγιάσαντες, ὐπενδόντες ἢ καὶ άτονήσαντες, σύγχυσιν ὑφίστανται τῇ διανοίᾳ. ### English translation (Claude) But why do I speak of those present, or count myself among them, as though we knew and could say anything about the celebrated and blessed Syncletica? For I think that all human nature falls short of telling her good deeds. And if anyone should try to say something about her, he will fall very far, infinitely far, short of what is sought, even if he is wise, even if he is learned. For as those who wish to gaze at the sun damage their sight, so those who try to look into her life as into a mirror grow dizzy at the greatness of her achievements, give way or grow faint, and suffer confusion in their minds. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 2 (PG 28:1488b–1488c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/2). ## Life of Syncletica 3 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-3 - Source: PG 28:1488c–1488d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The writer explains his sources: what he learned of her, and what her contemporaries told him of her early life. ### Greek text Ἡμεῖς δὲ κατά τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν [pnis-miras; τὰ κατʼ αὐτὴν, καὶ ὲκ τῶν συνηλίκων δὲ αὐτῆς τὰ κατά τὸν πρῶτον βίον ἀκροθιγῶς ἀκούσαντες, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀμυδρῶς καταυγασθέντες, ἐπὶ τὸ γράφειν ἥκομεν, ἑαυτοῖς τροφὰς σωτηριὼδεις ἀποθησαυρίζοντες. Τὸ μὲν γάρ κατʼ ἀξίαν αὐτῆς λέγειν οὐ μόνον ἡμῖν ἀδύνατον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς πολλοῖς δυσχερές. ### English translation (Claude) But we, according to our own ability, having learned [the things] concerning her, and having heard in passing from women of her own age the facts of her early life, and having been dimly enlightened by the facts themselves, have come to write, storing up saving nourishment for ourselves. For to speak of her as she deserves is not only impossible for us but difficult even for the many. ### Translation notes - A word after “according to our own ability” is garbled in the scan (“[pnis-miras;”); “having learned” is supplied by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 3 (PG 28:1488c–1488d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/3). ## Life of Syncletica 4 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-4 - Source: PG 28:1488d–1489a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Syncletica’s family came from Macedonia and settled in Alexandria, drawn by the faith of its Christians. ### Greek text Ἢ τῆς οὐρανίου συγκλήτου ἐπώνυμος, χώρας τῆς Μακεδονίας τυγχάνει. Ἀκηκοότων γάρ τῶν emam αὐτῆς τὸ φιλόθεον καὶ φιλόχριστον τῶν Ἀλεξανδρέων. κατελάμβανον ὲκ Μακεδονίας τὴν τοῦ Μακεδόνος πόλιν. Ἐπιβάντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῇ χώρᾳ, καὶ μείζω εὑρόντες τῆς φήμης τά πράγματα, φιλοφρόνως ᾤκουν αύτήν. Οὐ πλήθει δὲ δήμων συνέχαιρον, οὔτε μὴν οἰκημάτων έθαύμαζον μέγεθος · πίστιν δὲ μονότροπον εὑρόντες σὺν εἰλικρινεῖ ἀγάπῃ, δευτέραν ἔθεντο τὴν οἰκείαν τῆς μετοικίας. ### English translation (Claude) She who bears the name of the heavenly senate (synkletos) came from the region of Macedonia. For her forebears, having heard of the love of God and love of Christ of the Alexandrians, came from Macedonia to the city of the Macedonian. When they arrived in the country and found the reality greater than the report, they gladly settled in it. They did not rejoice in the great number of its people, nor did they admire the size of its buildings; but finding a faith of one mind together with sincere love, they made their new home their second fatherland. ### Translation notes - The name Syncletica is played on: synkletos means “senate.” “The city of the Macedonian” is Alexandria, founded by Alexander. “Forebears” renders a garbled word (“emam”), probably πρόγονοι or γονέων. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 4 (PG 28:1488d–1489a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/4). ## Life of Syncletica 5 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-5 - Source: PG 28:1489a–1489b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Syncletica had a sister and two brothers; one brother died young, and the other fled on the eve of his wedding to join the company of ascetics. ### Greek text Ἦν δὲ καὶ τῷ γένει περίβλεπτος ἡ μακαρία Συγκλητικὴ, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις δὲ τοῖς κατά τὸν κόσμον τερπνοῖς νομιζομένοις ἐκεκόσμητο. Παρῆν δὲ αὐτῇ καὶ ἀδελφὴ ὁμόφρων ἅμα, καὶ ἀδελφοὶ δύο, σεμνοτάτῳ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀναχθέντες βίῳ· ὧν ὁ μὲν εἷς, ὲν τῇ παιδικῇ ἡλικίᾳ τυγχάνων, ἀπεγένετο · ὁ δὲ ἕτερος, emet; πέμπτῳ καὶ εἰκοστῷ ἔτει, παρὰ τῶν γονέων είς γάμον παρεκαλεῖτο· καὶ πάντων πρὸς τὸ ζητούμενον εὐτρεπισθέντων, καὶ τῶν ἐξ ἔθνους συμβολιη κῶν ὲκτελουμένων, ἀπέπτη ὁ νέος ὥσπερ ὄρνεον ὲκ βρόχων, ἀνταλλαγὴν ποιησάμενος τῆς ἐπιγείου νύμφης, τὴν ἄμωμον καὶ ἐλευθέραν τῶν ἁγίων σύνοδον. ### English translation (Claude) The blessed Syncletica was distinguished in family and was adorned with the other things thought pleasant in the world. She had also a sister of one mind with her, and two brothers, who were themselves brought up in a most dignified life. Of these one died in childhood; the other, in his twenty-fifth year, was urged by his parents toward marriage. When everything had been prepared for what was sought and the customary contracts were being completed, the young man flew away like a bird out of the snares, exchanging his earthly bride for the blameless and free company of the saints. ### Scripture references - Ps 124:7 (123:7 LXX): allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - A word before “twenty-fifth year” is garbled (“emet;”); the sense is clear. The flight “like a bird out of the snares” echoes Ps 124:7 (LXX 123:7). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 5 (PG 28:1489a–1489b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/5). ## Life of Syncletica 6 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-6 - Source: PG 28:1489b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: From childhood she trained her soul in love of God and watched over her natural impulses. ### Greek text Αὕτη δὲ ἔτι ὲν ταῖς πατρῴαις ἀγκάλαις τυγχάνουσα, φιλοθεῒᾳ μὲν τὸ πρῶτον τὴν ψυχὴν ἠσκεῖτο · καὶ οὐχ οὕτω τὰς τοῦ σώματος ἐπιμελείας ἐποιεῖτο, ὡς τὰς τῆς φύσεως ὁρμὰς ἐπετήρει. ### English translation (Claude) While she was still in her father’s arms, she first trained her soul in love of God; and she did not take such care of her body as she kept watch over the impulses of nature. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 6 (PG 28:1489b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/6). ## Life of Syncletica 7 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-7 - Source: PG 28:1489b–1489c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Though beautiful and sought by many suitors, she refused her parents’ plans for marriage, devoted to Christ as her Bridegroom. ### Greek text Ἦν γὰρ καὶ κατά τὸ σῶμα περικαλλεστάτη, ὡςʼ καὶ πολλοὺς αὐτῇ μνηστῆρας προσιέναι κατὰ τὴν πρώτην ἡλικίαν· τοῦτο μὲν ὑπὸ τῆς περιουσίας δελεαζομένους, τοῦτο δὲ καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν γονέων κοσμιότητος, καὶ πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις ὑπʼ αὐτῆς τῆς κόρης τοῦ κάλλους έξαπτομένους. Καὶ γοῦν οἱ γονεῖς ἀσμένως προετρέποντο τὴν νέαν είς γάμον, αὐτὸ τοῦτο ὲπείγοντες, ὼς ἐξ αὐτῆς τὴν τοῦ γένους διαδοχὴν αὐτοῖς φυλαχθῆναι. Ἦ δὲ σώφρων καὶ γενναία τῷ φρονήματι, ούδόλως συνετίθετο ταῖς τοιαύταις τῶν γονέων συμβουλίαις· ἀλλά γάμον ἀκούουσα κοσμικόν, γάμον θεῖον ἐφαντάζετο · καὶ πολλοὺς μνηστῆρας παρορῶσα, είς μόνον τὸν οὐράνιον νυμφίον εἶχε τὸ νεῦμα. ### English translation (Claude) For she was also most beautiful in body, so that many suitors came to her in her early youth, some lured by her wealth, some by the good standing of her parents, and besides these some inflamed by the beauty of the girl herself. Her parents gladly urged the young woman toward marriage, pressing for this very thing, so that the succession of the family might be preserved for them through her. But she, chaste and noble in mind, did not agree at all to such counsels of her parents; hearing of worldly marriage, she imagined divine marriage, and passing over many suitors she turned her gaze to the heavenly Bridegroom alone. ### Translation notes - The passage values virginity above marriage, as the work does throughout; translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 7 (PG 28:1489b–1489c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/7). ## Life of Syncletica 8 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-8 - Source: PG 28:1489c–1492a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Syncletica is likened to Thecla, Paul’s disciple: both brides of Christ in the Church; Thecla fought beasts and fire, Syncletica a harder battle against inward thoughts. ### Greek text Καὶ ἦν ἰδεῖν τῆς μακαρίας Θέκλης γνησίαν μαθήτριαν, τοῖς αὐτοῖς αὐτὴν ἑπομένην διδάγμασι. Καὶ γὰρ τῶν δύο εἷς μνηστήρ ἦν ὁ Χριστὸς, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν τῶν ἀμφοτέρων νυμφαγωγὸς Παῦλος· οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὸν θάλαμον αὐταῖς μὴ ἐναλλάττειν· εἷς γὰρ αὐταῖς παστὸς ἡ Ἐκκλησία, καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς Δαβὶδ μελῳδεῖ ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρων τὰ σεμνά καὶ θεῖα ᾄσματα. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν κυμβάλοις εύήχοις τέρπει τὰς Θεῷ ἀνατεθείσας ψυχάς, καὶ ἐν τυμπάνοις καὶ ἐν δεκαχόρδοις ψαλτηρίοις τὴν τελειοτάτην ᾠδὴν ἀναπέμπει. Μαριάμ δὲ τοῖς ἱεροῖς τούτοις γάμοις τὰς χορευτρίας εἰσάγει, λέγουσα· ’ᾼσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ· ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται. Καὶ τὰ ὄψα δὲ τοῦ θείου δείπνου κοινά τοῖς ἑστιωμένοις· Γεύσασθε γὰρ, καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι χρηστὸς ὀ Κύριος. Καὶ ἡ τῶν νυμφικῶν δὲ αὐταῖς περιβλημάτων μία τις ὑφή· Ὅσοι γὰρ είς Χριστόν ἐβαπτίσθησαν, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσαντο. Ὀμότροπος οὖν αὐταῖς ἦν ἡ πρὸς Κύριον ἀγάπη · τῶν γὰρ αὐτῶν ἠξιοῦντο δωρεῶν · ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀγῶσιν ἡμιλλῶντο. Τά μὲν γὰρ τῆς μακαρίας Θέκλης οὐδενὶ ἠγνόηται μαρτύρια, ὡς διὰ πυρὸς καὶ θηρίων ἀτιθάσσων αὐτὴν ὲνηθληκέναιʼ καὶ ταύτης τοὺς ἐναρετους πόνους τε καὶ ἱδρῶτας οἶμαι τοὺς πολλοὺς μὴ λανθάνειν. Εί γὰρ εἷς Σωτὴρ ἦν αὐταῖς ὁ ποθούμενος, ἀναγκαίως καὶ εἷς αὐταῖς ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος. Καὶ τῇ μὲν Θέκλῃ πραῢτέρους ὑπολαμβάνω τοὺς πόνους· καθῄρητο γὰρ ἡ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ κακία, διά τῶν ἐκτὸς αὐτῇ προσομιλοῦντος· ἐνταῦθα δὲ δριμυτέραν ἑαυτοῦ τὴν κακίαν ἁπιδείκνυται, ὲκ τῶν ἔνδον διὰ τῶν ἐναντίων καὶ ὀλεθρίων ἑαυτοῦ λογισμῶν κινούμενος. ### English translation (Claude) One could see in her a true disciple of the blessed Thecla, following the same teachings. For the two had one Bridegroom, Christ, and the same Paul led both as bride-escort; and I think their bridal chamber was not different either, for their one bridal bed is the Church, and the same David sings over both the solemn and divine songs. For with well-sounding cymbals he delights the souls dedicated to God, and with timbrels and ten-stringed psalteries he sends up the most perfect song. Miriam brings in the dancing women to these holy weddings, saying: “Let us sing to the Lord, for he has been gloriously glorified.” The dishes of the divine banquet are common to those who feast: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” And their bridal garments are of one weaving: “For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Their love for the Lord, then, was alike, for they were counted worthy of the same gifts; and they strove in the same contests. For the martyr-contests of the blessed Thecla are unknown to no one, how she struggled through fire and untamed beasts; and I think the virtuous labors and sweat of this one too are not hidden from most. For if they had one Savior whom they longed for, they necessarily had one adversary too. And I take Thecla’s labors to have been gentler; for the wickedness of the enemy was brought down in her case by his attacking her from outside; but here he shows his wickedness more bitter, moving from within through his own hostile and destructive thoughts. ### Scripture references - Ps 150:5: allusion, high confidence - Ps 150:4: allusion, high confidence - Ps 144:9 (143:9 LXX): allusion, medium confidence - Exod 15:20: allusion, high confidence - Exod 15:21: quotation, high confidence - Ps 34:8 (33:9 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Gal 3:27: quotation, high confidence ### Extrabiblical texts - Acts Paul (Acts of Paul): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Thecla is the heroine of the Acts of Paul and Thecla. Exod 15:21 (Miriam’s song) is quoted from the Greek. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 8 (PG 28:1489c–1492a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/8). ## Life of Syncletica 9 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-9 - Source: PG 28:1492a–1492b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Unmoved by finery, music or family pleas, she shut her senses and conversed with Christ, avoiding idle talk and attending to edifying words. ### Greek text Οὐκ ὲγοήτευσεν αὐτῆς τὸ ὄμμα ποικίλης ἐσθῆτος ὑφὴ, οὐδὲ λίθων πολυτελῶν διάφορα χρώματα ο οὐκ ἠπάτησεν αὐτῆς τὴν ἀκοὴν κύμβαλον, οὐδʼ nam διαλῦσαι δεδύνηται τὸν τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς τόνον. Οὐκ ἐμάλαξεν αὐτὴν γονέων δάκρυα, οὐδὲ ἑτέρα τις συγγενῶν παραίνεσις · ἀλλʼ ῶσπερ ἀδάμαντα τὸν λογισμὸν ἔχουσα, οὐ παρετράπη τὸν νοῦν ο καὶ ὅπερ θυρίδας τὰς πάσας αἰσθήσεις αὐτῆς ἀποκλείουσα, τῷ ἑαυτῆς νυμφίῳ καταμόνας προσωμίλει, τὸ γραφικὸν έκεῖνο λέγουσα ο Ὠς ἐγὼ τῷ ἀδελφιδῷ μου, καί ὁ ἀδελφιδός μου ἐμοί. Καὶ εί μὲν καπνώδεις καὶ σκοτειναῖ ὁμιλίαι παρῆσαν, ταύτας ἀπέφευγε, τοῖς ἔνδον ταμείοις τῆς ψυχῆς ἑαυτὴν συνάγουσα· ὅπου δὲ φωτειναὶ καὶ ὲπωφελεῖς παραινέσεις ἐτύγχανον, πᾶσαν ἑαυτῆς τὴν διάνοιαν ἔτεινε πρὸς προσοχὴν τῶν λεγομένων. ### English translation (Claude) No weaving of embroidered clothing bewitched her eye, nor did the varied colors of precious stones deceive her; no cymbal deceived her hearing, nor could any [music] loosen the tension of her soul. Her parents’ tears did not soften her, nor any other exhortation of her relatives; but, having her mind like adamant, she was not turned aside in thought; and, shutting all her senses like windows, she conversed with her Bridegroom alone, saying that word of Scripture: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” If smoky and dark conversations were present, she fled them, gathering herself into the inner chambers of her soul; but where bright and helpful exhortations were found, she stretched her whole mind to attend to what was said. ### Scripture references - Song 6:3: quotation, high confidence - Matt 6:6: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - A word after “nor could any” is garbled (“nam”), perhaps “flute”; translated loosely. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 9 (PG 28:1492a–1492b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/9). ## Life of Syncletica 10 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-10 - Source: PG 28:1492b–1492d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: She loved fasting as the foundation of the virtues, so that eating out of season made her pale; her body wasted while her soul flourished. ### Greek text Οὐκ ἠμέλει δὲ καὶ τοῦ κατὰ τὸ σῶμα σωτηρίου φαρμάκου τήν τε γάρ νηστείαν οὕτως εἶχε atλην, ὡς μηδένα αὐτῇ τῶν παρόντων ίσον τυγχάνειν. Φυλακὴν γὰρ καὶ θεμέλιον ταύτην ἡγεῖτο τῶν ἄλλων. Καὶ εί ποτε ἀνάγκης γενομένης παρά τὸν συνήθη καιρὸν ἐτράφη, τὸ ἐναντίον ὑφίστατο τοῖς ἐσθίουσιν ο ὠχρία γὰρ αὐτῆς τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ συνέπιπτεν ὁ τοῦ σώματος ὄγκος· τοῦ γάρ κινοῦντος ἀηδισθέντος, συναλλοιοῦται καὶ τὸ κινούμενον. Ὅπως γάρ ἂν ἡ ἀρχὴ διατεθῇ, ὡς ἐπίπαν ἀκολουθεῖ ταύτῃ καὶ τά ὲκ ταύτης ἠρτημένα. Οἷς μὲν γάρ η τροφὴ καὶ ἡδονὴν γίνεται καὶ προσφέρεται, εὐθαλὴς ὁ τοῦ σώματος ὄγκος ἐστίν · οἷς δὲ τὸ ἐναντίον συμβαίνει, ἄτροφος καὶ λεπτὴ ἢ σὰρξ τυγχάνει. Μαρτυροῦσι δέ μου τῷ λόγῳ οἱ ἄρρωστοι. Ἡ γοῦν μακαρία αὕτη, νοσηλεύειν πειρωμένη τὸ σῶμα, τῇ ψυχῇ τὸ εὐανθὲς ἔφερε· κατὰ γὰρ τὸν Ἀπόστολον λέγοντα ἔπραττεν · Ὀσῳ γάρ ὁ ἔξωθεν ἡμῶν ἅνθρωπος φθείρεται, φησιν, τοσοῦτον ό ἔνδον ἀνακαινοῦται. Οὕτω μὲν οὖν ὲνήθλει λανθάνουσα τοὺς πολλούς. ### English translation (Claude) Nor did she neglect the saving medicine of the body: she held fasting so dear that none of those around her was her equal. For she considered it the guard and foundation of the other virtues. And if ever, from necessity, she ate outside the usual time, she suffered the opposite of those who eat: her face grew pale, and the bulk of her body fell away; for when what moves is displeased, what is moved changes with it. For as the source is disposed, so for the most part are the things that depend on it. Those for whom food is a pleasure and is taken as such have a flourishing bodily bulk; those to whom the opposite happens have thin and wasted flesh. The sick bear witness to my word. This blessed woman, then, trying to discipline her body, bore the bloom in her soul; for she acted according to the apostle who says: “For though our outer man is perishing, yet the inner is being renewed.” So she struggled, unnoticed by most. ### Scripture references - 2 Cor 4:16: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “So dear” renders a garbled word (“atλην”), probably φίλην. The sentence “trying to discipline (nursing?) her body” is uncertain in the scan (νοσηλεύειν πειρωμένη). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 10 (PG 28:1492b–1492d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/10). ## Life of Syncletica 11 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-11 - Source: PG 28:1492d–1493a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: After her parents died she moved with her blind sister to a family tomb outside the city, gave her property to the poor and had a presbyter cut her hair, becoming a consecrated virgin. ### Greek text Ὅτε δὲ oi γονεῖς αὐτῆς τέλος ἔσχον τοῦ βίου, ἐπὶ πλεῖον θεοφορηθεῖσα τῷ θείῳ φρονήματι, λαμβάνει καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν μεθʼ ἑαυτῆς· ἦν γάρ στερηθεῖσα τῶν ὄψεων· καὶ τῶν μὲν πατρῴων οἴκων χωρίζεται · είς δέ τινος συγγενοῦς αὐτῆς ἡρωεῖον άπῳκισμένον τῆς πόλεως κατάγεται · καὶ διαπωλήσασα πᾶσαν τὴν καταλειφθεῖσαν αὐτῇ οὐσίαν, καὶ διανείμασα τοῖς πένησι, προσκαλεσαμένη τινὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀπέτεμεν ἑαυτῆς τοὺς πλοκάμους. Τότε τὴν πᾶσαν κοσμησιν ἀπέθετο ἔθος γάρ ταῖς γυναιξὶ κόσμον καλεῖν τὴν τρίχα. Σύμβολον δὲ ἦν τὸ γινόμενον τοῦ ἀπέριττον καὶ καθαράν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῆς γεγενῆσθαι. Τότε μὲν οῦν πρῶτον ἠξιώθη τῆς παρθενικῆς προσηγορίας. ### English translation (Claude) When her parents came to the end of their life, she, carried along still more by divine purpose, took her sister with her, for she was deprived of sight; and she left her father’s house and went to live in the tomb-chapel of a relative, away from the city. Selling all the property left to her and distributing it to the poor, she called one of the presbyters and cut off her hair. Then she laid aside all adornment; for women are accustomed to call their hair an adornment. What was done was a sign that her soul had become simple and pure. Then first she was counted worthy of the name of virgin. ### Scripture references - Matt 19:21: allusion, medium confidence - 1 Cor 11:15: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Then” (Τότε) is read for the garbled “Τίεε.” The hair as a woman’s glory recalls 1 Cor 11:15. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 11 (PG 28:1492d–1493a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/11). ## Life of Syncletica 12 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-12 - Source: PG 28:1493a–1493b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Having given away her wealth, she said she could never repay God, to whom all things belong, and she lived in humble quiet. ### Greek text Πάσαν δὲ τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτῆς τοῖς πτωχοῖς διανείμασα, ἔλεγε· Μεγάλου μὲν ἧξίωμαι ὀνόματος· Τί δὲ ἀνταποδώσω ἐπάξιον τῷ δωρησαμένῳ, οὐκ ἔχω. Ei γάρ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐκτὸς πραγμάτων, ’ἐνεκεν ἀξιώματος φθαρτοῦ, πᾶσαν ἑαυτῶν τὴν οὐσίαν ἀποβάλλουσι· πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἐμὲ, τοσαύτης ἀξιωθεῖσαν χάριτος, οὐκ ἄρα ἔδει μετὰ τῶν νομιζομένων ὑπαρχόντων προδοῦναι καὶ τὸ σῶμα; Τί δὲ λέγω κτήματα ἢ σῶμα δοῦναι, πάντων αὐτοῦ ὑπαρχόντων; Τοῦ γὰρ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς. Διά τούτων μὲν τῶν λόγων τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ὲγκομβωσαμὲνη, ἡσύχαζεν. ### English translation (Claude) Having distributed all her property to the poor, she said: “I have been counted worthy of a great name, and I have nothing worthy to give back to the Giver. For if in outward affairs people throw away all their property for the sake of a perishable rank, how much more should I, counted worthy of such grace, have given up with what are thought possessions the body too? But why do I speak of giving possessions or a body, when all are his? For the earth is the Lord’s and its fullness.” With these words she clothed herself in humility and kept quiet. ### Scripture references - Ps 116:12 (115:3 LXX): allusion, medium confidence - Ps 24:1 (23:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence - 1 Pet 5:5: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - “What shall I give back” echoes Ps 116:12 (LXX 115:3). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 12 (PG 28:1493a–1493b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/12). ## Life of Syncletica 13 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-13 - Source: PG 28:1493b–1493c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Prepared by earlier discipline, she built her spiritual house not by gathering but by emptying herself of wealth and passions, founding it on the rock. ### Greek text Ἦν μὲν οῦν καὶ ὲν ταῖς πατρικαῖς αὐλαῖς ἱκανῶς προγυμνασθεῖσα τοῖς πόνοις· καὶ ὲν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ ἀκμῇ τοῦ σταδίου ἀχθεῖσα, προέκοπτε ταῖς ἀρεταῖς. Ὅσοι μὲν οὖν ἀγυμνάστως καὶ ἀσκέπτως προσῆλθον τῷ θείῳ τούτῳ μυστηρίῳ, ἀπέτυχον τοῦ ζητουμένου, μὴ προθεωρήσαντες τά καθʼ ἕκαστον· ὥσπερ δὲ οῖ ὁδοιπορεῖν μέλλοντες τῶν ἐφοδίων πρῶτον φροντίζουσιν, οὕτως καὶ αῦτη, ὥσπερ ἐφοδίοις ἑαυτὴν, τοῖς πάλαι πόνοις εὐτρεπίσασα, ἀδεῶς τὴν ἐπὶ τὰ ἄνω πορείαν ἐποιήσατο· τά γὰρ είς τὸν ἀπαρτισμὸν τῆς οἰκίας προαποθεμένη, ὀχυρώτατον τὸν ἑαυτῆς ὲξετέλει πύργον. Καὶ τὸ μὲν καθʼ ἱστορίαν τῶν οἰκημάτων ποίημα ἐκ τῶν ἔξωθεν ὑλῶν κατασκευάζεται· αῦτη δὲ τὸ ἐναντίον πεποίηκεν· οὐ γάρ τάς ἔξωθεν ὕλας συνήγαγεν, ἀλλά μᾶλλον τὰς ἔσωθεν ὲκένωσε. Τά γάρ χρήματα ἑαυτῆς διοιδοῦσα τοῖς πένησι, καὶ καταλιποῦσα ὀργὴν καὶ μνησικακίαν, ἀπωσαμένη δὲ καὶ φθόνον καὶ φιλοδοξίαν, ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν οἰκίαν ἑαυτῆς ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, ἦς περιφανὴς ὁ πύργος καὶ ἀχείμαστος ή οῖκία. ### English translation (Claude) She had been well trained beforehand in labors in her father’s house; and brought into the very prime of the race, she advanced in the virtues. Those who came to this divine mystery untrained and unthinking failed to obtain what they sought, not having first considered each thing; but as those about to travel first take care of provisions, so she too, having prepared herself with her former labors as with provisions, made her journey upward without fear. For she had laid down beforehand what was needed for the completing of the house, and she finished her own tower very strong. In the ordinary building of houses the work is prepared from materials outside; but she did the opposite: she did not gather materials from outside but rather emptied out those within. For giving her money to the poor and leaving behind anger and the remembrance of wrongs, and thrusting away envy and love of glory, she built her house upon the rock, whose tower is conspicuous and the house untroubled by storms. ### Scripture references - Luke 14:28: allusion, high confidence - Matt 7:24: allusion, high confidence - Matt 7:25: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 13 (PG 28:1493b–1493c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/13). ## Life of Syncletica 14 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-14 - Source: PG 28:1493c–1493d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Even as a beginner she surpassed experienced ascetics. ### Greek text Καὶ τί πολλὰ λέγω; ὑπερέβαινε γάρ διὰ τῶν ἀρχῶν καὶ τὰς ὲν ἔξει τοῦ μονήρους βίου τυγχανούσας. Ὠσπερ γάρ τὰ εὐφυέστατα τῶν παιδίων, ἔτι ἐν ταῖς συλλαβαῖς ὄντα, ἁμιλλῶνται τοῖς ὲν ἡλικίᾳ καὶ πλείω χρόνον ἔχουσι παρά τοῖς διδασκάλοις· οὕτω καὶ αὕτη, ζέουσα τῷ πνεύματι, παρέτρεχε τὰς λοιπάς. ### English translation (Claude) And why say much? Even at her beginnings she surpassed those who were long practiced in the solitary life. For as the most gifted children, while still at their syllables, rival those of age who have spent more time with teachers, so she too, fervent in spirit, outran the others. ### Scripture references - Rom 12:11: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 14 (PG 28:1493c–1493d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/14). ## Life of Syncletica 15 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-15 - Source: PG 28:1493d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: She hid her ascetic practice from all, following Christ’s command that the left hand should not know what the right does. ### Greek text Τὸν μὲν οὖν ἔμπρακτον αὐτῆς καὶ ἀσκητικὸν βίον λέγειν ἀδυνατοῦμεν, ἐπείπερ οὐδὲ συνεχώρει τινὰ τούτου θεατὴν γενέσθαι. Οὐδὲ γὰρ κήρυκας τῶν αὐτῆς ἀνδραγαθημάτων ἤθελεν εἶναι τοὺς παρόντας. Οὐχ οὕτως γὰρ τὸ εὖπράττειν ἐφρόντιζεν, ὅσον τῆς τούτου φυλακῆς τε καὶ κρυβἦς. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει οὐ φθόνῳ συνεχομένη, ἀλλά θείᾳ χάριτι συγκροτουμένη. Τδ γάρ κυριακὸν ὲκεῖνο κατὰ νοῦν ἔφερε ῥῆμα, τὸ λέγον, ὡς Εἴ τι ἐὰν ποιῇ ἡ δεξιά σου, μὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερὰ σου. Οὕτως μὲν λανθάνουσα ὲξετέλει τά πρέποντα τῷ ὲπαγγέλματι. ### English translation (Claude) We are not able to tell of her active and ascetic life, since she did not allow anyone to be a spectator of it. Nor did she want those present to be heralds of her good deeds. For she did not care so much about doing well as about guarding and hiding it. She did this not constrained by envy but strengthened by divine grace. For she kept in mind that word of the Lord which says: “Whatever your right hand does, let your left hand not know.” So she carried out, unnoticed, what befitted her profession. ### Scripture references - Matt 6:3: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 15 (PG 28:1493d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/15). ## Life of Syncletica 16 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-16 - Source: PG 28:1493a–1496a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: In youth she avoided company, even of women, to escape praise and distraction. ### Greek text Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς πρώτης ἡλικίας, καὶ ἕως τῆς ἀκμαστικῆς, οὐ μόνον παντὸς ἀνδρὸς συντυχίαν ἀπέφευγεν, ἀλλά καὶ τὰς ὁμοφύλους τὰ πολλὰ mpmst δύο τούτων ἕνεκα, ἢ τοῦ μή ὼξασθῆναι τῇ augeam ἧς ἀσκήσεως, ή τοῦ μὴ ύποσυρῆναι τῆς ἀρετῆς διὰ τήν σωματικήν χρείαν. ### English translation (Claude) From her first youth to her prime she avoided not only meeting any man, but for the most part even women, for two reasons: either so as not to be glorified for her severe asceticism, or so as not to be drawn away from virtue through bodily need. ### Translation notes - The text is damaged (“τὰ πολλὰ mpmst”, “ὼξασθῆναι τῇ augeam ἧς ἀσκήσεως”); “avoided” and “glorified for her severe asceticism” are supplied by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 16 (PG 28:1493a–1496a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/16). ## Life of Syncletica 17 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-17 - Source: PG 28:1496a–1496b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: She pruned her thoughts by fasting and prayer, and punished every stirring of desire by hard bodily discipline. ### Greek text Οὕτως μὲν οὖν τὰς πρώτας τῆς ψυχῆς ἐπιδοἀς παρετήρει, μὴ συγχωροῦσα αὑταῖς σνγκαθέλκεσθαι ταῖς σωματικαῖς ἐπιθυμίαις · ῶσπερ δὲ δένδρον καθυλομανοῦν περιετέμνετο τῶν ἀκάρπων κλάδων,τά βλαστήματα · τὰς μὲν γάρ ἀκανθώδεις τῆς διανοίας ἐκφύσεις ἀφῃρεῖτο διά τε τῆς νηστείας καὶ τῆς προσευχῆς. Καὶ εί βραχύ τι ἕκαστον τούτων προέκοπτε, ποικίλας αὐτοῖς τὰς τιμωρίας προσέφερε, διὰ παντοδαπῶν πόνων τὸ σῶμα κακουχοῦσα. Οὐ μόνον γάρ τῇ τοῦ ἄρτου λιμαγχονίᾳ ἠρκεῖτο, ἀλλά γε καὶ τῇ τοῦ ὓδατος ὀλιγοδεΐᾳ. ### English translation (Claude) So she watched over the first stirrings of the soul, not allowing them to be dragged down together with bodily desires; and as with an overgrown tree, she cut away the shoots of the fruitless branches. For she removed the thorny outgrowths of the mind through fasting and prayer. And if any of these made a little progress, she brought various punishments against them, afflicting her body with all kinds of labors. For she was not content with the starving of bread alone, but also with scanty water. ### Scripture references - John 15:2: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 17 (PG 28:1496a–1496b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/17). ## Life of Syncletica 18 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-18 - Source: PG 28:1496b–1496c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Against the devil’s attacks she prayed, fasted on bran bread and little water and slept on the ground, armed with prayer, faith, hope and love. ### Greek text ὐπηνίκα μὲν πόλεμος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ πρὸς αὐτὴν συνεκροτεῖτο, προηγουμένως μὲν τὸν ἐαυτῆς Δεσπότην διʼ εὐχῆς ἐκάλει πρὸς συμμαχίαν· ού γάρ ἠρκεῖτο τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ λέοντος σβέσαι ψιλῇ ἀσκήσει. Καὶ παρά μὲν τῆς ἱκεσίας παρῆν ό Κύριος, καὶ ἀπεδίδρασκεν ὁ πολέμιος · πολλάκις δὲ καὶ ἐχρόνιζε πρὸς τὴν μάχην ὁ ἐχθρὸς, καὶ ὁ Κύριος οὐκ ἠμύνετο τὸν παλαμναῖον, αύτῷ τούτῳ τῆς ἐναρέτου ψυχῆς εἰσαύξων τὴν γυμνασίαν. Αὕτη δὲ ὥσπερ προσθήκῃ τῶν δώρων, ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἐκρατύνετο είς τὴν κατά τοῦ ἐχθροῦ νίκην. Ού μόνον γὰρ ἠρκεῖτο ταῖς ὀλιγοδεϊαις τῶν τροφῶν ἑαυτὴν νεκροῦσα, ἀλλά γε καὶ τῶν καθʼ ἡδονὴν διαιτημάτων ἐπειρᾶτο εἵργειν ἑαυτήν. Ἄρτον μὲν γὰρ πιτυρίαν ἢσθιεν· ὕδωρ δὲ πολλάκις οὑδόλως ἐλάμβανε· καὶ ἐχαμεύνει δὲ ἓως τινός. Ἕως μὲν οὖν συνεκροτεῖτο ὁ πόλεμος, τοιούτοις ὅπλοις ἐκέχρητο εὐχὴν μὲν ἐνδυομένη ἀντὶ ὅπλου καὶ θυρεοῦ ἐνδυομένη · ή δὲ περικεφαλαία αὐτῆς ἧν ἐκ πίστεως καὶ ἐλπίδος καὶ ἀγάπης συγκραθεῖσα. Ἦ γὰρ πίστις προηγεῖτο πάντων, ὅλους αύτῆς τοὺς ἀρμοὺς συσφίγγουσα. Παρῆν δὲ καὶ ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη, εί καὶ μὴ ή κατʼ ἐνέργειαν, ἀλλʼ οὖν γε ἡ κατὰ πρόθεσιν. ### English translation (Claude) Whenever a war of the enemy was mounted against her, she first called her Master to her aid by prayer; for she was not satisfied to quench the lion’s attack by bare asceticism. At her supplication the Lord was present and the enemy fled; but often the enemy persisted in the battle and the Lord did not drive off the murderer, by this very thing increasing the training of the virtuous soul. And she, as by an addition of gifts, grew stronger still for victory over the enemy. For she was not content to mortify herself by scanty food, but also tried to keep herself from pleasant fare. She ate bran bread; often she took no water at all; and for a time she slept on the ground. As long as the war was being waged she used such weapons: putting on prayer instead of armor and shield; and her helmet was compounded of faith and hope and love. For faith led all, binding together all her joints. Almsgiving too was present, if not in act, at least in intention. ### Scripture references - 1 Pet 5:8: allusion, high confidence - Eph 6:16: allusion, medium confidence - 1 Thess 5:8: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - “Weapons” renders a garbled word (“67:10:;”), probably ὅπλοις. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 18 (PG 28:1496b–1496c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/18). ## Life of Syncletica 19 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-19 - Source: PG 28:1496c–1497b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: When the attacks ceased she moderated her fasting, acting with discretion, like sailors who rest in a calm but stay watchful; she steered her soul safely to harbor by faith. ### Greek text Διά τούτων οὖν ἧτταν ὑπομένοντος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, καὶ αύτὴ ἐπεκούφιζε τῆς δριμυτάτης ἀσκήσεως. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει πρὸς τὺ μὴ ἀθρόως διαλυθῆναι τὰ τοῦ σώματος μέλη · ἥττης γὰρ ἦν τοῦτο τεκμήριον. Τῶν γάρ ὅπλων συμπεσόντων, ποία ἐλπίς ἐστι τῷ στρατιώτῃ εἱς πόλεμον; Τινὲς γοῦν, ἀμέτρως καὶ ἀνεξετάστως τῇ ἀσιτία ἑαυτοὺς καταδαπανήσαντες, καιρίαν ἑαυτοῖς τὴν πληγήν ἐπήγαγον · ῶσπερ δὲ ἐν παραιτήσει τοῦ ἀντιπάλου γενόμενοι, ἑαυτοὺς κατʼέφθειραν. Αὕτη δέ οὐχ οὕτως ἔπραττεν, ἀλλά πάντα μετὰ διακρίσεως ἐποίει · καὶ τῷ μὲν ἐχθρῷ σφοδρῶς διά τε τῶν εύχῶν καὶ τῆς ἀσκήσεως ἀπεμάχετο· πρὸς δὲ τὴν γαλήνην τῆς οἰκείας νηὸς ἐπεμελεῖτο τοῦ σώματος. Καὶ γὰρ οἱ ναυτιλλόμενοι, χειμῶνος καὶ κλύδωνος καταλαβόντος, ἄσιτοι διαμένουσι, πᾶσαν τὴν παρʼ ἑαυτῶν τέχνην τῷ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν κινδύνῳ ἀντιτιθέντες· ὁπηνίκα δέ τύχωσι τοῦ ζῇν, τότε τῆς δευτέρας σωτηρίας ποιοῦνται τὴν φροντίδα· καὶ οὐχ ἄπας αὐτῶν ὁ χρόνος πρὸς τὸν σάλον τῆς θαλάσσης καταναλίσκεται· ὥσπερ δέ ἀνάπαυλαν δέχονται τῶν πόνων τὴν βραχυτάτην γαλήνην · καὶ οὐδʼ οὕτως ἀμερίμνως διάγουσιν, οὔτε μὴν iiut/.9 βαθεῖ καθέλ mat, πεῖραν ἐσχηκότες τῶν ἀπελθόντων, καὶ ἔννοιαν λαμβάνοντες τῶν μελλόντων. El γάρ καὶ ὁ χειμὼν ἐκόπασεν, ἀλλʼ ἡ θάλασσα οὐ μεμείωται· εί παρῆλθε δεύτερον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως τὸ πρῶτον [τρίτον] μένει ’ εί καὶ τὸ γενόμενον κεχώρισται, ἀλλὰ τὸ ποιοῦν πάρεστιν. Οὕτως οῦν καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος, εἰ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἐπιθυμίας άπήλασται, ἀλλʼ ὅμως ὁ ἐξουσιάζων τούτου οὑ μακράν τυγχάνει. Ὅθεν δεῖ ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθαι διὰ τὸ ἀβέβαιον τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἁλμυρὰν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ κακίαν. Ἦ οὖν μακαρία, ἀκριβῶς είδυία τὸ παρὸν ἐν τῷ βίῳ κλυδώνιον, καὶ προβλέπουσα τὰς τῶν πνευμάτων ζάλας, ἐπιμελῶς οἰακίζουσα τὸ ἴδιον σκάφος τῇ εἰς Θεὸν εὐσεβείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ἀχείμαστον αὐτὸ τῷ σωτηρίῳ λιμένι προσώρμισεν, ἄγκυραν ἀσφαλεστάτην τὴν είς Θεὸν πίστιν ep. νη. εμενη. ### English translation (Claude) When by these means the enemy suffered defeat, she too lightened her severe asceticism. She did this so that the members of her body should not be broken down all at once; for that would be a sign of defeat. For when the weapons have fallen, what hope has the soldier in war? Some, indeed, having consumed themselves without measure or examination by not eating, have dealt themselves a mortal blow, and, as if they had gone over to the adversary, destroyed themselves. She did not act so, but did everything with discernment: she fought the enemy vigorously by prayers and asceticism, but for the calm of her own ship she took care of her body. For sailors too, when storm and surge come upon them, stay without food, setting all their skill against the danger before their eyes; but when they have escaped with their lives, then they take care for their second safety; and not all their time is spent on the tossing of the sea, but they take the briefest calm as a rest from their labors. Even so they do not live carelessly, nor do they [sleep in] deep [sleep], having experience of what has passed and taking thought of what is to come. For if the storm has died down, the sea has not been lessened; if the second wave has passed, still the third remains; if what has happened is past, yet what causes it is present. So too in the present case: even if the spirit of desire has been driven off, still the one who rules it is not far away. Hence we must pray without ceasing because of the instability of the sea and the bitter wickedness of the enemy. The blessed woman, then, knowing well the surge in this life and foreseeing the squalls of the winds, carefully steered her own boat by piety toward God; and she brought it unharmed by storm to the harbor of salvation, holding faith in God as a most secure anchor. ### Scripture references - 1 Thess 5:17: allusion, high confidence - Heb 6:19: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Several words in this section are garbled in the scan (“iiut/.9 βαθεῖ καθέλ mat”, “ep. νη. εμενη”); the sense “sleep deeply” and “holding” is supplied. Migne prints “τὸ πρῶτον [τρίτον]”; the sense requires “the third,” which is translated. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 19 (PG 28:1496c–1497b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/19). ## Life of Syncletica 20 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-20 - Source: PG 28:1497b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Her apostolic life of faith, poverty, love and humility fulfilled the promise of victory over the enemy and earned the master’s praise of the faithful servant. ### Greek text Ἀποστολικὸς μὲν οὖν αὐτῆς ὁ βίος, διὰ πίστεως καὶ ἀκτημοσόνης συσφιγγόμενος, ἔτι γε μὴν ἀγάπῃ καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ διαλάμπων. Αὕτη τοῦ σωτηρίου λόγου τὴν πρᾶξιν ἐξετέλεσεν· Ἐπιβήσῃ γὰρ ἐπὶ ἀσπίδα καὶ βασιλίσκον, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Οἰκείως αὕτη ἤκουσε τό· Εὖ, δοῦλε ἀγαθὲ καὶ πιστέ· ἐπὶ ὀλίγων ἧς πιστὸς, ἐπὶ πολλῶν σε καταστήσω. Τὸ δέ ῥητὸν, εἰ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δωρεῶν ἀνάγεται, ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐνταῦθα νοείσθω, ὡς Ὅτι ἐνίκησας τὸν ἕνυλον πόλεμον, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ ἁθλου δὲ τρόπαιον πήξεις, ἐμοῦ ὑπερασπίζοντός σου. Γνὼτωσαν τὸ μέγεθος τῆς πίστεως αἱ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεράποντός μου Παύλου ρηθεῖσαι ἀρχαὶ καὶ ἐξουσίαι· νικήσας γὰρ τὰς ἐναντίας δυνάμεις, προσομιλήσεις καὶ ταῖς κρείττοσιν. ’ ### English translation (Claude) Her life, then, was apostolic, bound together by faith and poverty, and shining moreover with love and humility. She carried out in deed the saving word: “You will tread upon the asp and the basilisk, and upon all the power of the enemy.” She properly heard the word: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many.” And though the saying refers to gifts, let it be understood here thus: “Since you have conquered in the material war and will set up a trophy over the contest, with me as your shield, let the principalities and powers spoken of by my servant Paul know the greatness of your faith; for having conquered the opposing powers, you will converse with the better ones.” ### Scripture references - Ps 91:13 (90:13 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Luke 10:19: quotation, high confidence - Matt 25:21: quotation, high confidence - Eph 6:12: allusion, high confidence - Eph 3:10: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The words given to the Lord after “understood here thus” are the writer’s paraphrase. Ps 91:13 and Luke 10:19 are combined. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 20 (PG 28:1497b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/20). ## Life of Syncletica 21 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-21 - Source: PG 28:1497b–1500b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As her fame spread, women came to ask how to be saved; after long silence and tears, and protesting that all have one Teacher in Scripture, she yielded to their pleas to speak. ### Greek text Οὕτως μὲν οὗν καθʼ ἑαυτὴν ἀναχωροῦσα, τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων τελεσιουργὸς ἐγίνετο. Τοῦ δὲ χρόνου προϊόντος, καὶ τῶν ἀρετῶν αὐτῆς άνθουσῶν, ἡ εὐωδία τῶν εὐκλεεστάτων αὐτῆς πόνων είς πολλοὺς διέβαινεν· Οὐδὲν γὰρ, φησὶ, κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ φανερωθήσεται. οἶδε γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς αὐτὸν ἀγαπῶντας καὶ διʼ ἑαυτοῦ κηρύττειν πρὸς διόρθωσιν τῶν ἀκουόντων. Τότε μὲν οὖν τῇ βουλήσει τοῦ κρείττονος ἧρξαντό τινες παραβάλλειν, καὶ πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν οἰκείαν τὰς ἐντεύξεις ποιεῖσθαι· καὶ γὰρ διὰ τῶν λόγων τά τοῦ βίου αὐτῆς ἐμπορευόμεναι ἐπὶ πλέον προσήγγιζον, ὠφελεῖσθαι βουλόμεναι. Κατὰ γὰρ τὴν συνήθη ἀκολουθίαν ἐπυνθάνοντο αὐτῆς λέγουσαι· Πῶς δεῖ σωθῆναι; ἡ δὲ, στενάξασα βαρὺ, καὶ δακρύων πλῆθος ἀφεῖσα, είς ἑαυτὴν ἐχώρει, καὶ ὥσπερ διὰ τῶν δακρύων τὴν ἀπόκρισιν ποιησαμένη, δευτέραν σιωπὴν ἧσκει. Αἱ δὲ, συνελθοῦσαι, ἐβιάζοντο λαλεῖν αὐτὴν τά μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ γάρ ἐθαύμαζον ὑπὸ ’μόνης τῆς θέας καταπληττόμεναι· καὶ αὖθις παρεκάλουν αὐτὴν φθέγξασθαι. Ἐπὶ πολὺ δὲ τῆς μακαρίας ἐκβιαζομένης, μετὰ χρόνον ἱκανὸν, πολλῆς ἡσυχίας γενομένης, ταπεινῇ τῇ φωνῇ τὸ γραφικὸν ἐκεῖνο ἔφη ῥῆμα τό ’ Μὴ ἑκβιάζου πένητα· πτωχὸς γάρ ἐστιν. Αἱ δὲ παροῦσαι ἀσμένως τὸ ῥῆμα δεξάμεναι, ὥσπερ μέλιτος καὶ κηρίου ἀπογευσάμεναι, ἐπὶ πλεῖον τῆς ἐρωτήσεως εἴχοντο· καὶ λοιπὸν διὰ τῶν γραφικῶν αὐτὴν ῥημάτων ὲπεφόρτιζον · ἔλεγον γαρ πρὸς αὐτὴν, ὡς Δωρεὰν ἔλαβες, δωρεὰν δός. Καί φησιν · Ὅρα μὴ τὴν κρυψοτάλαντον ἀντὶ τοῦ δούλου drancis-1;; δίκην. Ἡ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὰς εἶπεν· Τί οὕτως περὶ ἐμοῦ τῆς ἁμαρτωλοῧ φαντάζεσθε, ὡς πραττούσης τι ἦ λεγούσης; Κοινὸν ἔχομεν διδάσκαλον τὸν Κύριον· ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς πηγῆς ἀρυόμεθα τά πνευματικά νάματα· ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν δὲ μαζῶν γαλακτοτροφούμεθα, τῆς τε Παλαιᾶς καὶ τῆς Καινῆς Διαθήκης. Αἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτήν φασιν· Οἴδαμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτι με, ἐστιν ἡμῶν παιδαγωγὸς, ή Γραφὴ, καὶ ὀ αὐτὸς διδάσκαλος · ἀλλʼ αὐτὴ ἐπαγρύπνῳ σπουδῇ προέκοψας ταῖς ἀρεταῖς· καὶ δέον τὰς ὲν ἕξει τῶν καλῶν γενομένας, ὡς δυνατωτέρας, ἐπιπράττειν τοῖς μειρακίοις · καὶ γὰρ ὁ κοινὸς ἡμῶν διδάσκαλος τοῦτο παρακελεύεται. Ἠ δὲ μακαρία, ταῦτα ἀκούσασα, ὥσπερ τὰ ὑποτίτθια βρέφη, ὲκλαυθμύριζεν. Αἱ δὲ συνελθοῦσαι ἐν δευτέρῳ θέμεναι τὴν ἐρώτησιν, παρεκάλουν αὐτὴν τοῦ κλαυθμοῦ παύσασθαι. Καὶ ὡς ἡσύχασεν, ἐπιπολὺ πάλιν ἡσυχία ἐγένετο. Ἤρξαντο δὲ αὖθις παρακαλεῖν αὐτὴν. 'H δὲ, σπλαγχνισθεῖσα, καὶ γνοῦσα, ὅτι τά λεγόμενα οὐ νέμει αὐτῇ ἔπαινον, ταῖς δὲ παρού… ### English translation (Claude) So, living in retirement by herself, she became a doer of good works. As time went on and her virtues flourished, the fragrance of her most glorious labors spread to many; for “nothing,” it says, “is hidden that will not be made manifest.” For God knows how to proclaim through himself those who love him, for the correction of those who hear. Then, by the will of the One above, some women began to visit her and to hold conversations for their own edification; for, trading for the things of her life through her words, they drew nearer, wishing to be helped. According to the usual custom, they asked her, saying: “How must one be saved?” But she, groaning deeply and shedding a flood of tears, withdrew into herself, and, as if she had given her answer through her tears, kept a second silence. The women, gathering round, pressed her to speak of the great things of God; for they marveled, struck by the mere sight of her, and again they begged her to speak. When the blessed one had been pressed for a long time, after a considerable while, when there was much silence, she spoke in a lowly voice that word of Scripture: “Do not oppress a poor man, for he is needy.” The women present, gladly receiving the word as if they had tasted honey and the honeycomb, held all the more to their questioning; and then they burdened her with words of Scripture, saying to her: “Freely you have received, freely give.” And they said: “See that you do not [suffer] the penalty of the one who hid his talent, instead of the [good] servant.” She said to them: “Why do you imagine such things of me, a sinner, as though I did or said anything? We have a common Teacher, the Lord; we draw the spiritual streams from the same spring; we are nursed with milk from the same breasts, the Old and the New Testament.” They say to her: “We too know that Scripture is our tutor, and the same Teacher; but you, with wakeful zeal, have advanced in the virtues; and those who have come to a settled state of good things, as being stronger, ought to help the young; for our common Teacher commands this.” The blessed one, hearing this, wept like a nursing infant. The women gathering round set their question aside for a while and begged her to stop weeping. And when she had grown quiet, again there was silence for a long time. Then they began to beg her again. And she, moved with compassion and knowing that what was said would bring her no praise but to those present … ### Scripture references - Luke 8:17: quotation, high confidence - Prov 22:22: quotation, high confidence - Ps 19:10 (18:11 LXX): allusion, medium confidence - Matt 10:8: quotation, high confidence - Matt 25:25: allusion, high confidence - Gal 3:24: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 23:8: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The scan breaks off at the end of this section (“ταῖς δὲ παρού…”); the end of the sentence is lost. A clause about the hidden talent is garbled (“drancis-1;;”); “suffer the penalty” is supplied by sense. Prov 22:22 is quoted from the Greek. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 21 (PG 28:1497b–1500b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/21). ## Life of Syncletica 22 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-22 - Source: PG 28:1500b–1500c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Syncletica begins her teaching: salvation depends on keeping the two great commandments of love, on which all that profits the soul depends. ### Greek text Τεκνία, πάντες καὶ πᾶσαι τὸ σωθῆναι θέλομεν, ἀλλά διά τῆς οἰκείας ἀμελείας τῆς σωτηρίας ἀπολειπόμεθα. Δεῖ γὰρ πρῶτον τά διά τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Κυρίου γνωρισθέντα φυλάττειν. Εἰσὶ δὲ ταῦτα· Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς ἑαυτόν. Ἐκ τούτων ἡ ἀρχὴ τοῦ νόμου φυλάττεται, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς χάριτος ὲπαναπαύεται. Βραχεῖα μὲν τοῦ λόγου ὴ ὲκφώνησις, ἀλλά πολλὴ καὶ ἄπειρος ή ὲν τούτῳ τούτου δύναμις. Πάντα γὰρ τὰ ψυχωφελῆ ὲκ τούτων ἤρτηνται· καὶ μαρτυρεί Παῦλος, λέγων ὼς τέλος νόμου εἶναι τὴν ἀγάπην. Ὅσα μὲν οὖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι χρήσιμα κατά χάριν τοῦ Πνεύματος εἴπωσιν, ὲκ τῆς ἀγάπης ἐστὶ, καὶ είς αὖ ### English translation (Claude) “Children, all of us, men and women, want to be saved, but through our own negligence we fall short of salvation. For first we must keep what has been made known through the grace of the Lord. And these are: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself.’ In these the beginning of the law is kept, and in this the fullness of grace rests. Brief is the utterance of the word, but great and boundless is the power in it. For all that profits the soul depends on these; and Paul bears witness, saying that the end of the law is love. Whatever useful things, then, people say by the grace of the Spirit come from love and [lead] to …” ### Scripture references - Matt 22:37: quotation, high confidence - Matt 22:39: quotation, high confidence - Deut 6:5: allusion, medium confidence - Lev 19:18: allusion, medium confidence - Rom 13:10: allusion, high confidence - 1 Tim 1:5: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - The section breaks off at the end (“καὶ είς αὖ…”); text is lost in the scan. “The end of the law is love” combines Rom 13:10 and 1 Tim 1:5. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 22 (PG 28:1500b–1500c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/22). ## Life of Syncletica 23 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-23 - Source: PG 28:1500c–1501b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Using the parable of the hundred-, sixty- and thirtyfold yield, she urges virgins to advance and warns against those who would abandon virginity for marriage, reckoning the thirtyfold enough. ### Greek text Δεῖ δὲ καὶ τοῦτο προσθεῖναι,ὲξ αὐτῆς πάλιν τυγχάνον, τὸ ἑκάστην ἡμῶν ἐπιγινώσκουσαν ὃ ἐστιν τῶν μειζόνων ἐφίεσθαι. Αἱ δε ἠπόρουν πρὸς τὸ λεχθὲν, καὶ αὖθις ἀντηρὼτων. Ἦ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὰς ἔφη · Οὐκ ἀγνοεῖτε τὴν ὲν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ παραβολὴν περὶ τῶν ρʼ, καὶ ξʼ, καὶ λʼ · ἡ μὲν οὖν ὲκατοντάς ἐστι τὺ ἡμέτερον ἐπάγγελμα· ἡ δὲ ὲξακοντάς ἐστι τὸ τῶν ὲγκρατῶν τάγμα· ἡ δὲ τριακοντάς τῶν σωφρόνως βιούντων, Καὶ ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν τριάκοντα ἐπὶ τά ἐξήκοντα καλὸν μεταβῆναι · ἀπὸ γάρ τῶν μικρῶν ἐπὶ τὰ μείζονα καλὸν προκόπτειν · ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν μειζόνων ἐπὶ τὰ ὲλάττονα κατατρέχειν, ἐπικίνδυνον. Ὁ γὰρ ἅπαξ νεύσας ἐπὶ τά χείρω, οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ὀλίγοις στῆναι δύναται· ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ὲν βυθῷ τῆς ἀπωλείας φέρεται. Τινὲς γοῦν, παρθενίαν ἐπαγγελλόμεναι, καὶ ἀσθενοῦς γνὼμης τὸν λογισμὸν ὑποσυρόμεναι, προφάσεις ἐν ἁμαρτίαις προφασίζονται. Πρὸς γὰρ ἑαυτὰς λέγουσι, μᾶλλον δέ πρὸς τὸν διάβολον, ὅτι Ἐὰν μὲν σωφρόνως (μᾶλλον δὲ ἀφρόνως) βιώσωμεν, κᾶν τοῦ τριακοστοῦ ἀξιούμεθα ’ καὶ γάρ φησιν, ὡς πᾶσα ἡ Παλαιὰ τῆς παιδοποιίας εἴχετο. Γνωστὸν οὖν ἐστω τὴν γνώμην ταύτην τοῦ ἐχθροῦ εἶναι. Ὁ γὰρ ἐκ τῶν μειζόνων ἐπὶ τὰ ἐλάττω ἀγόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐναντίου βάλλεται· ὥσπερ γάρ στρατιώτης φυγὰς, ὀ τοῦτο δράς κρίνεται καὶ οὐχ ὅτι πρὸς τὴν ἐλάττω στρατείαν κεχώρηκε, συγγνώμης ἀξιοῦται· ἀλλʼ ὅτι ἀπέδρα, τὴν τιμωρίαν λαμβάνει. Δεῖ οὖν, καθὼς προεῖπον, ἐκ τῶν ἐλαττόνων ἐπὶ τά προσβαίνειν. Καὶ τοῦτο ὁ Ἀπόστολος διδάσκει, ὡς Τῶν ὄπισθεν ἐπιλανθανομένους, τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτείνεσθαι χρή. Δεῖ οῦν τοὺς τὴν ἐκατοντάδα κρατοῦντας, ταύτην είς ἐαυτοὺς ἀνα- Δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “This too must be added, which again comes from it: that each of us, recognizing what she is, should aim at the greater things.” They were at a loss at what was said and asked again. She said to them: “You are not ignorant of the parable in the Gospel about the hundred, the sixty and the thirty. The hundred is our profession; the sixty is the order of the continent; the thirty is that of those who live chastely [in marriage]. To pass from thirty to sixty is good; for it is good to advance from small things to greater; but to run down from greater things to lesser is dangerous. For one who has once inclined to the worse cannot stand even among the few, but is carried as into a depth of destruction. Some, indeed, who professed virginity and let their thought be drawn down by a weak mind, make excuses in sins. For they say to themselves, or rather to the devil: ‘If we live chastely (or rather senselessly), we shall at least be counted worthy of the thirtyfold; for,’ she says, ‘the whole Old Testament held to the begetting of children.’ Let it be known, then, that this thought is the enemy’s. For one who is led from greater things to lesser is struck by the adversary; for, like a deserting soldier, one who does this is judged, and is not pardoned because he went over to a lesser service, but is punished because he ran away. We must, then, as I said before, advance from the lesser to [the greater]. And the apostle teaches this: that we must forget what is behind and stretch forward to what is ahead. Those who hold the hundredfold, then, must [not] … to themselves: ‘We are unprofitable servants.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 13:8: allusion, high confidence - Matt 13:23: allusion, high confidence - Phil 3:13: quotation, high confidence - Luke 17:10: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The hundred, sixty and thirty are applied to virgins, the continent (widows) and the chastely married, an interpretation common in early ascetic writers; given as written. Text is lost near the end of the section (“ἀνα- Δοῦλοι”); “the greater” is supplied by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 23 (PG 28:1500c–1501b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/23). ## Life of Syncletica 24 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-24 - Source: PG 28:1501b–1501c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Virgins must keep chastity in every sense, guarding eyes, tongue and ears. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν ἡμᾶς τὰς τὸ ἐπάγγελμα τοῦτο ἐπανῃρημένας, σωφροσύνην τὴν είς ἀκρον κατέχειν. Καὶ γάρ καὶ παρά ταῖς κοσμικῇ δοκεῖ σωφροσύνη πολιτεύεσθαι, ἀλλά συμπάρεστιν αὐταῖς καὶ ἀφροσύνη, διὰ τὸ ταῖς ἄλλαις πάσαις αἰσθήσεσιν ἁμαρτάνειν. Καὶ γάρ ὁρῶσιν ἀπρεπῶς, καὶ γελῶσιν ἀτάκτως. Ἡμεῖς δὲ, μάλιστα καὶ ταῦτα ἀφέμεναι, ἐπαναβῶμεν ταῖς ἀρεταῖς, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἀφέλωμεν τὴν ματαίαν φαντασίαν. Καὶ γάρ φησιν ἡ Γραφή· Οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν· καὶ τὴν γλῶτταν κωλύειν τῶν τοιούτων ἁμαρτημάτων. Ἀθεμιτον γάρ τὸ τῶν ὕμνων ὄργανον αἰσχρά προφέρειν ῥήματα. Οὐ μόνον δὲ λέγειν αύτά παραιτητέον, ἀλλά καὶ ἀκούειν. ### English translation (Claude) “We, then, who have taken up this profession must keep chastity to the utmost. For among women in the world too chastity seems to be practiced, but senselessness is present with them as well, because they sin with all the other senses. For they look indecently and laugh in a disorderly way. But let us, leaving these things above all, climb up to the virtues, and take away vain imagination from our eyes. For Scripture says: ‘Let your eyes look straight’; and to restrain the tongue from such sins. For it is unlawful for the instrument of hymns to utter shameful words. Not only must one refuse to speak them, but also to hear them.” ### Scripture references - Prov 4:25: quotation, high confidence - Jas 3:10: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 24 (PG 28:1501b–1501c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/24). ## Life of Syncletica 25 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-25 - Source: PG 28:1501c–1501d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: To guard the senses virgins must avoid going out to the marketplace, where sights and words defile like smoke through open windows. ### Greek text Ταῦτα δὲ ἀδύνατον φυλάττειν, ἐὰν ταῖς προόδοις συνεχῶς χρώμεθα. Διὰ γὰρ τῶν αἰσθήσεων ἡμῶν, κᾶν μὴ βουλώμεθα, οἱ κλέπται εἰσίασι. Πῶς γάρ δύναται οἶκος, καπνοῦ ἐκ τῶν ἔξωθεν κινηθέντος, καὶ τῶν θυρίδων ἀνοιγεισῶν, μὴ μελαίνεσθαι. Ἀναγκαίως οὖν παραιτεῖσθαι προσήκει τὰς είς τὴν ἀγορὰν προελεύσεις. Εἰ γὰρ ἐπαχθὲς καὶ βαρὺ ἡγούμεθα ἀδελφοὺς καὶ γονεῖς γυμνοὺς θεάσασθαι, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἐπιβλαβὲς ἡμῖν ἔσται θεωρῆσαι ἐπὶ τῶν πλατειῶν τοὺς ἀπρεπῶς γεγυμνωμένους, ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ ἀκόλαστα ῥήματα λέγοντας; Ἐκ τούτων γάρ συμβαίνει ἀηδεῖς καὶ λοιμώδεις φαντασίας προσέρχεσθαι. ### English translation (Claude) “But it is impossible to keep these things if we constantly go out. For through our senses, even if we do not wish it, the thieves come in. For how can a house not be blackened when smoke is stirred up outside and the windows are open? We must, then, refuse going out to the marketplace. For if we think it offensive and grievous to see our brothers and parents naked, how much more harmful will it be for us to look upon those indecently stripped in the streets, and moreover saying licentious words? For from these, unpleasant and pestilent imaginations come upon us.” ### Scripture references - Jer 9:21: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 25 (PG 28:1501c–1501d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/25). ## Life of Syncletica 26 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-26 - Source: PG 28:1501d–1504a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Even in seclusion virgins must watch, for the devil moves from bodily temptation to the senses and then to the mind; consenting to impure imaginations is itself a kind of fornication. ### Greek text Ὀπηνίκα δέ καὶ είς τοὺς οἴκους ἐαυτάς καθείρξωμεν, ούδέ ἐκεῖ ὀφείλομεν ἔχειν τὸ ἀμέριμνον, ἀλλʼ ἀγρυπνεῖν · γέγραπται γάρʼ Γρηγορεῖτε. Ὅσον δὲ ἑαυτὰς ἀσφαλιζόμεθα πρὸς σωφροσύνην, τοσοῦτον δριμυτέροις συναπτόμεθα λογισμοῖς. Ὁ γὰρ προσθεὶς, φησὶ, γνῶσιν, προστίθησιν ἄλγημα. Ὅσον γὰρ προκόπτουσιν οἱ ἀθληταὶ, τοσοῦτον μείζοσι συνἀπτονται ἀνταγωνισταῖς. Ὅρα πόσον ἀνέπτης, καὶ οὐκ ὀλιγωρήσῃς πρὸς τά παρόντα. Τὴν ἐνυλον καὶ ἔμπρακτον πορνείαν ἐνίκησας; τὴν διὰ τῶν αἰσθήσεων ἐχθρός σοι προθήσει. Ὅταν δὲ καὶ ταύτης σεαυτὴν κωλύσῃς, ἐν τοῖς κατὰ διάνοιαν χωρίοις ἐμφωλεύει, τὸν άῦλόν σοι κινῶν πόλεμον. Πρόσωπα γὰρ εὐπρεπῆ καὶ ὁμιλίας ἀρχαίας, καὶ ἡσυχαζούσαις παρεισφέρεί. Δεῖ οῦν μὴ συγκατατίθεσθαι τοῖς φαντάσμασι ’ γέγραπται γὰρ, ὡς Ἐὰν πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐξουσιάζοντος ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ σὲ, τόπον σου μὴ ἀφῇς. Ἠ γὰρ πρὸς ταῦτα συγκατάθεσις, ὲφάμιλλός ἐστι κοσμικῇ πορνεία· Δυνατοὶ γὰρ, φησὶ, δυνατῶς ἐτασθήσονται. Μέγας οὖν ὁ πρὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πορνείας ἁγών. Τὸ γὰρ ὲν κακοῖς κεφάλαιον τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἀπώλειαν ψυχῆς, τοῦτό ἐστι. Καὶ τοῦτο αἰνιττόμενος ὁ μακάριος Ἰὼβ, ἔλεγε τὸν διάβολον· ὁ ἔχων τὴν δύναμιν ἐπʼ ὀμφαλοῦ γαστρός. ### English translation (Claude) “And when we shut ourselves up in our houses, not even there should we be free from care, but must keep watch; for it is written: ‘Watch.’ For the more we secure ourselves for chastity, the more we are engaged with sharper thoughts. ‘For he who adds knowledge,’ it says, ‘adds pain.’ For the more athletes advance, the greater the opponents they meet. See how high you have flown, and do not grow careless about what is at hand. Have you conquered material and actual fornication? The enemy will set before you that which comes through the senses. And when you keep yourself from this too, he lurks in the regions of the mind, stirring up immaterial war against you. For he brings in comely faces and old conversations even to those living in stillness. We must not, then, assent to the imaginations; for it is written: ‘If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place.’ For assent to these is the equal of fornication in the world: ‘For the mighty,’ it says, ‘will be mightily tested.’ Great, then, is the struggle against the spirit of fornication. For this is the chief of the enemy’s evils for the destruction of the soul. And hinting at this, blessed Job said of the devil: ‘who has his power at the navel of the belly.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 26:41: quotation, medium confidence - Eccl 1:18: quotation, high confidence - Eccl 10:4: quotation, high confidence - Job 40:16 (40:11 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Extrabiblical texts - Wis 6:6 (Wisdom of Solomon): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “If the spirit of the ruler rises against you” is Eccl 10:4 (Greek). “The mighty will be mightily tested” is Wis 6:6. Job 40:16 (LXX 40:11) is read of the devil. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 26 (PG 28:1501d–1504a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/26). ## Life of Syncletica 27 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-27 - Source: PG 28:1504b–1504c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil uses even spiritual friendships between virgins and monks to lead them into sin, disguising his snares as good. ### Greek text Πολλαῖς μὲν οὖν καὶ διαφόροις μηχαναῖς τὸ τῆς πορνείας κέντρον κινεῖ ὁ διάβολος κατά τῶν φιλοχρίστων ἀνθρώπων. Πολλάκις γοῦν καὶ ἀγάπην ἀδελφικὴν μεθώρμισεν ὁ κακόφρων είς τὴν οἰκείαν κακίαν. ’κει γὰρ παρθένους φυγούσας γάμον καὶ φαντασίαν πᾶσαν βίου, διὰ σχέσεως άδελφικῆς ὑπεσκέλισε ’ καὶ μοναχοὺς δὲ ἔτρωσε, πᾶν ὁτιοῦν ἀποφυγόντας καὶ αὐτοὺς πορνικὸν σχῆμα· ἀλλὰ καὶ ςιὐῖ τοὺς ἠπάτησε διʼ εὐλαβοῦς ὁμιλίας. Τοῦτο γὰρ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἔργον, τὸ ἀμφιεννύμενον τὰ ἀλλότρια, τὰ οἰκεῖα λανθανόντως προβάλλεσθαι. Δείκνυσι σίτου κόκκον, καὶ ὑποτίθησιν αὑτῷ παγίδα. Οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὸν Κύριον περὶ τούτου λέγειν, ᾡς Ἕρχονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ἐνδύμασι προβάτων, ἔσωθεν δέ εἱσι λύκοι ἅρπαγες. ### English translation (Claude) “With many and various devices, then, the devil moves the goad of fornication against Christ-loving people. Often the evil-minded one has steered even brotherly love into his own wickedness. For he has tripped up virgins who fled marriage and every imagination of worldly life through a sisterly-brotherly attachment; he has wounded monks too, who had fled every kind of harlotry themselves; and he has deceived even the devout through a pious conversation. For this is the enemy’s work: clothing himself in what belongs to others, he secretly puts forward his own. He shows a grain of wheat and sets a snare under it. I think the Lord too speaks of this: ‘They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 7:15: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - A word before “deceived” is garbled (“ςιὐῖ”); “the devout” is supplied by sense. The “brotherly attachment” refers to relationships between ascetic men and women. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 27 (PG 28:1504b–1504c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/27). ## Life of Syncletica 28 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-28 - Source: PG 28:1504c–1504d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Against the devil’s snares one must be wise as serpents to detect them and innocent as doves in conduct, always watchful. ### Greek text Τί οὖν πρὸς τοῦτο ποιήσωμεν; Γενὼμεθα φρόνιμοι ὡσεί ὄφεις, καί ἀκέραιοι ὡς περιστεραί, πανοῦργον κατὰ τῆς παγίδος αὐτοῦ κινοῦντες λογισμόν· τὸ μὲν γὰρ, Γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι ὡσεί ὄφεις, εἴρηται τὸ μὴ λανθάνειν ἡμᾶς τὰς ὁρμὰς τοῦ διαβόλου. Τὸ γὰρ ὅμοιον ὲκ τοῦ ὁμοίου ταχίστην ποιεῖται τὴν διάγνωσιν. Τὸ δὲ ἀκέραιον τῆς περιστερᾶς δείκνυσι τὸ καθαρὸν τῆς πράξεως. Πᾶν μὲν οὖν ἀγαθὸν ἔργον ὲν ἀποφυγῇ ἔσται τοῦ χείρονος. Πῶς δὲ φύγωμεν ὃ μὴ οἵδαμεν; Δεῖ οὖν ἡμᾶς, κατʼ ἔννοιαν λαβούσας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ τὴν δεινότητα, φυλάττεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς τούτου κακομηχανίας · φησὶ γάρ· Ὃς περιάγει ζητῶν τίνα καταπίῃ. Καὶ τὰ βρώματα αὐτοῦ ἐκλεκτά. Δέον οὖν πάντοτε γρηγορεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ διά τῶν ἔξωθεν πραγμάτων πολεμεῖ, καὶ διὰ τῶν ἔνδον λογισμῶν δαμάζει. Καὶ πλέον διὰ τῶν ἔνδον· καὶ γάρ νύκτωρ καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν ἀῢλως προσέρχεται. ### English translation (Claude) “What, then, shall we do against this? Let us become wise as serpents and innocent as doves, setting a shrewd mind against his snare. For ‘Be wise as serpents’ was said so that the devil’s attacks may not escape our notice; for like is most quickly recognized by like. And the innocence of the dove shows the purity of action. Every good work, then, will be in fleeing the worse. But how shall we flee what we do not know? We must, then, taking thought of the enemy’s terribleness, guard ourselves from his evil scheming; for it says: ‘who goes about seeking whom he may devour’; and ‘his food is choice.’ We must, then, always keep watch. For he wars both through outward things and subdues through inward thoughts, and more through the inward; for he comes immaterially by night and by day.” ### Scripture references - Matt 10:16: quotation, high confidence - 1 Pet 5:8: quotation, high confidence - Hab 1:16: quotation, medium confidence ### Translation notes - “His food is choice” is Hab 1:16 (Greek), read of the devil; the word is garbled in the scan (“enisuri”) and restored. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 28 (PG 28:1504c–1504d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/28). ## Life of Syncletica 29 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-29 - Source: PG 28:1504d–1505b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Against impure thoughts she advises prayer and asceticism, and also picturing the desired body as decaying flesh and bone, and above all controlling the belly. ### Greek text Τίνος οὖν χρεία πρὸς τὸν παρόντα πόλεμον; Δῆλον, ὡς ἀσκήσεως ἐπιπόνου καὶ καθαρᾶς προσευχῆς. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν γενικῶς ἐπὶ παντὸς λογισμοῦ ὀλεθρίου ἀλεξητήρια πέφυκε· δεῖ δὲ καὶ ἰδικαῖς τισιν ἐννοίαις χρήσασθαι πρὸς τὸ τὸν παρόντα τῆς ψυχῆς λοιμὸν ἀπώσασθαι ’ καὶ ἐπελθόντος τοῦ αἰσχίστου λογισμοῦ, ἁνθυποφέρειν αύτῷ τὰ ἐναντία. Εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο ὲν τοῖς κατὰ διάνοιαν χωρίοις ὅψεως εὐπρεποῦς φαντασία, τῷ λόγῳ τὸ παρὸν τιμωρητέον, καὶ τοῦ εἰδώλου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκκολαπτέτω, τῶν δὲ παρειῶν τάς σάρκας ἐξαιρείτω· ὑποτεμνέτω δὲ καὶ τὰ χείλη, καὶ λοιπὸν ὁράτω πῆγμα ὀστέων ψιλῶν δυσειδές· κατανοείτω λοιπὸν τί ἧν τὸ ποθούμενον · οὑτω γάρ ό λογισμὸς ἀναχαιτίσαι δυνηθείη τῆς ματαίας πλάνης. Τὸ γάρ φιλούμενον οὐδὲν ἦν ἢ αἷμα σὺν φλέγματι μεμιγμένον, ὅπερ καὶ ὑφάσματος χρείαν παρέχει τοῖς ζώοις. Οὒτω μὲν οὖν καὶ διὰ τῶν τοιούτων λογισμῶν είκὸς άποσοβεῖσθαι τὴν μιαρὰν κακίαν· καὶ καθάπερ ἥλῳ ἧλον ἐκκρούειν προσήκει τὸν δαίμονα. Ἔτι γε μὴν δέον καὶ καθʼ ὅλον τοῦ ἐρωμένου τὸ σῶμα ἐλκη βαρύοσμα καὶ σηπεδονώδη ὑπογράφειν· καὶ συντόμως φάναι, νεκρῷ παραπλήσιον, ἢ καὶ ἐαυτὸν νεκρὸν τοίς ἔνδον ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑποτιθέναι. Μεῖζον δὲ πάντων ἐστὶ τὸ γαστρὸς ἄρχειν· οὕτω γὰρ καὶ τῶν ὑπογαʼστρίων ἡδονῶν κρατῆσαι δυνατόν. ### English translation (Claude) “What, then, is needed for the present war? Clearly, laborious asceticism and pure prayer. But these are general remedies against every destructive thought; we must also use certain particular considerations to drive away the present plague of the soul: when the most shameful thought comes, set against it its opposites. For if in the regions of the mind there arises the imagination of a comely face, let what is present be punished by reason: let it dig out the eyes of the image, strip the flesh from its cheeks, cut away the lips too, and then look at an ugly frame of bare bones; let it consider then what it was that was desired. For so the mind could be reined back from vain error. For what was loved was nothing but blood mixed with phlegm, which supplies living things with the need of a covering. So by such thoughts too it is likely that the foul wickedness may be driven off; and as a nail with a nail, one should knock out the demon. Moreover one should also picture over the whole body of the beloved foul-smelling and putrid sores, and, in short, think it like a corpse, or even set oneself before the inner eyes as a corpse. But greatest of all is to rule the belly; for so one can master also the pleasures below the belly.” ### Translation notes - The meditation on the body’s decay is a common ascetic remedy; given as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 29 (PG 28:1504d–1505b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/29). ## Life of Syncletica 30 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-30 - Source: PG 28:1505b–1505c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Asked whether poverty is a perfect good, she answers that it is very good for the strong, who are cleansed by it like strong cloth, but ruins the weak. ### Greek text Ἦν μὲν οὗν θεῖον συμπόσιον τῶν παρουσῶν· ἐκ γάρ τῶν τῆς σοφίας κρατήρων ηὑφραίνοντο. Ἦν δὲ αὑταῖς οἰνοχοοῦσα τὸ θεῖον πόμα καὶ νᾶμα ἡ μακαρία Συγκλητική. Ἑκάστη δέ αὑτῶν ἐδέχετο ὅπερ ἐβούλετο, καὶ μία τῶν συνελθουσῶν ἐπύθετο αὑτῆς λέγουσα· Εἰ τέλειον ἀγαθὸν ὴ άκτημοσύνη; Ἢ δὲ εἷπε· Καὶ πάνυ ἀγαθὸν ταῖς δυναμέναις. Αἱ γὰρ ὑπομένουσαι τοῦτο, θλίψιν μὲν ἔχουσι τῇ σαρκὶ, τῇ δὲ ψυχῇ ἄνεσιν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τά στερρὰ ἱμάτια πατούμενα καί βιαίως περιστρεφόμενα πλύνεται καὶ λευκαίνεται, οὕτως καὶ ἡ ισχυρὰ ψυχὴ διά τῆς ἐκουσίου πενίας ἐπὶ πλεῖον κρατύνεται· αί δὲ ἀσθενέστερον τὸν λογισμὸν ἔχουσαι τὸ ἐναντίον ταῖς πρώταις πάσχουσι. Καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ὀλίγον θλιβεῖσαι, ὣσπερ τὰ διερρωγότα ἱμάτια, ἀπόλλυνται, μὴ φέρουσαι τὴν διά τῆς ἀρετῆς πλύσιν. Καὶ εἷς ό τεχνίτης, διάφορον δὲ τῶν ἱματίων τὸ τέλος· τά μὲν γὰρ ῥήγνυται καὶ ἀπόλλυται, τὸ δὲ λευκαίνεται καὶ ἀνακαινίζεται. Φαίη οὖν άν τις, ἀγαθὸν κειμήλιον τὴν ἀκτημοσύνην τῷ ἀνδρείῳ φρονήματι· καὶ γὰρ τῶν πρακτικῶν ἁμαρτημάτων χαλινὸς τυγχάνει. ### English translation (Claude) It was a divine banquet for those present; for they were gladdened from the mixing bowls of wisdom. And the blessed Syncletica poured out for them the divine drink and stream. Each of them received what she wished, and one of those gathered asked her, saying: “Is poverty a perfect good?” She said: “Very good indeed for those who are able. For those who endure it have affliction in the flesh but rest in the soul. For as strong garments, trodden and wrung forcibly, are washed and made white, so the strong soul is strengthened all the more by voluntary poverty; but those who have weaker minds suffer the opposite of the first. For, pressed a little, they perish like torn garments, not bearing the washing of virtue. The fuller is one, but the end of the garments differs: some are torn and perish, the other is whitened and renewed. One might say, then, that poverty is a good treasure for a courageous mind; for it is also a bridle on sins of action.” ### Scripture references - Prov 9:2: allusion, low confidence - 1 Cor 7:28: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 30 (PG 28:1505b–1505c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/30). ## Life of Syncletica 31 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-31 - Source: PG 28:1505c–1505d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Poverty should be undertaken only after training in other ascetic labors; those who rush into it often regret it. ### Greek text Δεῖ δὲ πρῶτον ἐγγυμνασθῆναι τοῖς πόνοις· λέγω δὲ, νηστείᾳ τε καὶ χαμευνίᾳ, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις κατὰ μέρος, καὶ οὑτως ταύτην τὴν ἀρετὴν κτήσασθαι. Οἱ γὰρ μὴ οὕτω ποιήσαντες, ἀθρόως δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀποβολὴν τῶν χρημάτων δραμόντες, ὡς ἐπίπαν μεταμέλῳ ἐάλωσαν. ### English translation (Claude) “But one must first be trained in labors, I mean in fasting and sleeping on the ground and the other things one by one, and so acquire this virtue. For those who have not done so, but have run all at once to throwing away their money, have for the most part been caught by regret.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 31 (PG 28:1505c–1505d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/31). ## Life of Syncletica 32 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/1/#p-32 - Source: PG 28:1505d–1508a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Gluttony and luxury must be overcome before money can be given up; Christ first asked the rich young man about keeping the law before telling him to sell his goods. ### Greek text Ὄργανον γὰρ τοῦ ἀπολαυστικοῦ βίου τά χρήματα τυγχάνει. Ἄνελε οὖν πρῶτον τὴν ἐαυτοῦ τέχνην, τουτέστι τὴν γαστριμαργίαν καὶ τὸ ἁβροδίαιτον, καὶ οὕτως εὐκόλως περιτέμνειν τὴν σαυτοῦ δυνήσῃ τῶν χρημάτων ὓλην. Βαρὺ γὰρ οἶμαι, τέχνης παρούσης, ὄργανον μὴ τυγχάνειν. Ὁ γὰρ μὴ ἀποβαλὼν τὸ πρῶτον, πῶς τὸ δεύτερον ἐξῶσαι δυνήσεται; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Σωτὴρ, πρὸς τὸν πλούσιον διαλεγόμενος, οὑκ ἁθρόως αὑτῷ τὴν ἀποβολὴν τῶν χρημάτων προστάσσει· ἀλλὰ προερωτᾷ αὑτὸν, εί τὰ τοῦ νόμου πεποίηκε. Καὶ διδασκάλου γνησίου πρόσωπον ἀναδεξάμενος ό Κύριος ἐρωτᾷ· Εἰ τὰ στοιχεῖα ἔμαθες, εί τὰς συλλαβὰς παρείληφας, καὶ ἀπλῶς εί τῶν ὀνομάτων έν ἔξει γέγονας, δεῦρο λοιπὸν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν τελεωτάτην ἀνάγνωσιν · τουτέστιν Ὕπαγε, πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, καί δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι. Καὶ τάχα οἶμαι, ὡς εί μὴ τὰ ὲξετασθέντα ἦν ὑποσχόμενος πεποιηκέναι, οὐκ ἂν αὑτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκτημοσύνην προετρέψατο. Πῶς γὰρ ἂν ἠδύνατο πρὸς ἀνάγνωσιν ὁρμῆσαι, τὴν τῶν συλλαβῶν ἀγνοῶν δύναμιν; ### English translation (Claude) “For money is the instrument of the life of enjoyment. First take away, then, its craft, that is, gluttony and luxurious living, and so you will easily be able to cut away your stock of money. For it is hard, I think, while the craft is present, not to have the instrument. For one who has not thrown away the first, how will he be able to drive out the second? Therefore the Savior too, speaking with the rich man, did not at once order him to throw away his money, but first asked him whether he had done the things of the law. And taking the part of a true teacher, the Lord asks: ‘If you have learned the letters, if you have taken in the syllables, and in short if you have become practiced in the words, come now to the most perfect reading,’ that is: ‘Go, sell your possessions, and come, follow me.’ And perhaps, I think, if he had not professed to have done what he was asked about, he would not have urged him to poverty. For how could he have gone on to reading, not knowing the force of syllables?” ### Scripture references - Matt 19:17: allusion, high confidence - Matt 19:21: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The comparison with learning letters, syllables and reading is the writer’s paraphrase of Christ’s question. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 32 (PG 28:1505d–1508a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/32). ## Life of Syncletica 33 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-33 - Source: PG 28:1508a–1508b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Poverty is good for the mature, who, rid of superfluities, look to the Lord for their food. ### Greek text Καλὴ οῦν ἡ ἀκτημοσύνη τοῖς ἐν ἕξει τῶν καλῶν γεγενημένοις· πάντων γὰρ τῶν περιττῶν τὴν ἀποβολὴν ποιησάμενοι, πρὸς τὸν Κύριον φέρουσι τὸ νεῦμα, τὸ Θεῖον ἐκεῖνο ᾄδοντες λόγιον καθαρῶς, τὸ λέγον· Οἱ ὀφθαλμοί ἡμῶν πρὸς σὲ ἐλπίζουσι· καί σὺ δίδως τὴν τροφὴν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι σε ἐν εὐκαιρίᾳ. ### English translation (Claude) “Poverty, then, is good for those who have become practiced in good things; for having thrown away everything superfluous, they turn their gaze to the Lord, singing purely that divine oracle which says: ‘Our eyes hope in you, and you give food to those who love you in due season.’” ### Scripture references - Ps 145:15 (144:15 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - Ps 145:15 (LXX 144:15) is quoted freely (“our eyes … to those who love you”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 33 (PG 28:1508a–1508b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33). ## Life of Syncletica 34 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-34 - Source: PG 28:1508b–1508c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The poor, like beasts of burden content with food, work only for daily bread and trust God, who feeds the birds. ### Greek text Ἄλλως τε πάλιν μεγάλην ὠφέλειαν εἰσπράττονται· μὴ ἔχοντες γὰρ τὸν νοῦν πρὸς τὸν ὲν γῇ θησαυρὸν, τὴν οὐρανῶν βασιλείαν ἀμφιέννυνται· καὶ τὸ ὑπὸ τοῦ ύμνῳδοῦ Δαβὶδ ῥῆμα ἐκτελοῦσι σαφῶς, τὸ λέγον· Κτηνώδης ἐγενήθην παρά σοί. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὰ ὑποζύγια, τὴν ίδίαν ἐργασίαν ποιούμενα, ταῖς πρὸς τὸ ζῇν τροφαῖς μόναις ἀρκοῦνται· οὕτω καὶ οἱ τῆς ἀκτημοσύνης ὲργάται, τὴν μὲν τοῦ ἀργυρίου χρῆσιν ὡς μηδὲν οὖσαν λογίζονται, πρὸς μόνην δὲ τὴν ἐφήμερον τροφὴν τὴν διὰ τοῦ σώματος ἐργασίαν ποιοῦνται. Οὗτοι τῆς πίστεως τὴν κρηπῖδα κατέχουσι · πρὸς αὐτοὺς γὰρ εἴρηται παρά τοῦ Κυρίου τὸ μὴ μεριμνᾲν περὶ τῆς αὔριον ’ καὶ ὅτι, Τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οὐ σπείρει, οὐδὲ θερίζει, καὶ ὁ Πατὴρ ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὑτά. Τούτοις τοῖς λόγοις ἐθάρρησαν (Θεὸς γὰρ ὁ λαλήσας), πεπαρρησιασμένως τὸ γραφικὸν έκεῖνο φθέγγονται ῥῆμα, τὸ λέγον· Ἐπίστευσα, διʼ ὃ ἐλάλησα. ### English translation (Claude) “Moreover, they gain great profit; for not having their mind on treasure on earth, they put on the kingdom of heaven; and they plainly fulfill the word of David the psalmist which says: ‘I became like a beast before you.’ For as beasts of burden, doing their own work, are content only with the food needed for life, so the workers of poverty count the use of silver as nothing and do bodily work for their daily food alone. These hold the foundation of faith; for to them the Lord said not to be anxious about tomorrow, and: ‘The birds of heaven do not sow or reap, and the heavenly Father feeds them.’ Taking courage from these words (for it is God who spoke), they boldly utter that word of Scripture which says: ‘I believed, therefore I spoke.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 6:19: allusion, high confidence - Ps 73:22 (72:22 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Matt 6:34: allusion, high confidence - Matt 6:26: quotation, high confidence - Ps 116:10 (115:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 34 (PG 28:1508b–1508c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/34). ## Life of Syncletica 35 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-35 - Source: PG 28:1508c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil cannot harm those who own nothing, since most temptations come through loss of property. ### Greek text Καὶ ὁ ἐχθρὸς δὲ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀκτημόνων πλέον ἠττᾶται · τί γὰρ βλάψῃ, ούκ ἔχει. Αἱ γὰρ πλεῖσται τῶν λυπῶν καὶ τῶν πειρασμῶν ἒν ταῖς ἀφαιρέσεσι τῶν Χρημάτων γίνονται. Τί γὰρ ἔχει ποιῆσαι τοῖς ἀκτήμοσιν ; οὐκ ἔχει. Χωρία ἐμπρῆσαι ; ού πάρεστιν. Ὑποζύγια φθεῖραι; ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ταῦτα ἔχουσι, Φιλτάτοις ἃψασθαι; ἀλλά καὶ τούτοις μακρὰν χαίρειν εἷπον. Οὐκοῦν μεγίστη κατά τοῦ ἐχθροῦ τιμωρία καὶ πολύτιμος τῇ ψυχῇ θησαυρὸς ἡ ἀκτημοσύνη. ### English translation (Claude) “And the enemy is defeated more in the case of those without possessions; for he has nothing to harm. For most griefs and temptations come with the loss of money. What can he do to those without possessions? Nothing. Burn their fields? They have none. Destroy their beasts of burden? They have none of these either. Touch their dearest ones? They have long said farewell to these too. So poverty is the greatest punishment against the enemy and a very precious treasure for the soul.” ### Scripture references - Job 1:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The examples recall the trials of Job (Job 1:13–19). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 35 (PG 28:1508c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/35). ## Life of Syncletica 36 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-36 - Source: PG 28:1508c–1509a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Love of money is the root of all evils and is never satisfied; it brings envy, which destroys its owner first, like the viper said to kill its mother at birth. ### Greek text Ὅσον μὲν οῦν αὕτη θαυμαστὴ καὶ ὑπέρογκος είς ἀρετὴν, τοσοῦτον είς κακίαν φαύλη καὶ μοχθηρά ἡ φιλαργυρία· καὶ ἀληθῶς ὁ θεσπέσιος Παῦλος περὶ ταύτης εἴρηκεν· ὡς πάντων αὐτὴν τῶν κακῶν αἰτίαν εἶναι. Ἐπιθυμία γὰρ τοῦ πλούτου, ἐπιορκία, κλοπὴ. ἁρπαγὴ, πορνεία, φθόνος, μισαδελφία, πόλεμος, εἰδωλολατρεία, πλεονεξία, καὶ αί παραφυάδες τούτων, ὑπόκρισις, κολακεία, κατάγελως· πάντων οῦν τούτων ’ αἰτία ὡμολόγηται ἡ φιλαργυρία. Ὅθεν δικαίως αὐτὴν πάντων τῶν κακῶν μητέρα ὁ Ἀπόστολος ὠνόμασεν. Οὐ μόνον δὲ ὁ Θεὸς τούτους τιμωρεῖται ἀλλά γε καὶ οἴκοθεν ἑαυτοὺς καταφθείρουσιν · ἀκόρεστον γὰρ φέροντες τὴν κακίαν, οὐκ ἔχουσι τέλος τοῦ σκοποῦ, ὅθεν ἀνίατος αύτοὶς ή πληγή. Ὁ μηδὲν ἔχων ὀλίγων ἐπιθυμεῖ· καὶ τυχὼν τούτων, τῶν πλειόνων ὀρέγεται· Ἑκατὸν χρυσίνους ἔχει, καὶ γλίχεται τῶν χιλίων · καὶ τούτων εὐπορήσας, πρὸς ἄπειρον φέρει τὸ νεῦμα. Καὶ οὕτω, μὴ ἔχοντες ἐαυτῶν στῆναι τὸ τέλος, ἀεὶ πενίαν ὀδύρονται. Φέρει δὲ ή φιλαργυρία μεθʼ ἑαυτῆς ἀεὶ τὸν φθόνον. Φθείρει δὲ καὶ οὗτος πρῶτον τὸν κτησάμενον. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἔχιδνα γεννωμένη πρῶτον τὴν ἰδίαν μητέρα φθείρει, πρὶν ἂν ἄλλους ἀδικήσῃ· οὖτω καὶ ὁ φθόνος τὸν κτησάμενον καταμαραίνει, πρὶν ἂν τοὺς ἐκ γειτόνων διανεμηθῇ. ### English translation (Claude) “As wonderful and preeminent as poverty is in virtue, so base and wicked in vice is love of money; and truly the inspired Paul said of it that it is the cause of all evils. For from desire of wealth come perjury, theft, robbery, fornication, envy, hatred of brothers, war, idolatry, greed, and their offshoots, hypocrisy, flattery, mockery: of all these love of money is admitted to be the cause. Hence the apostle rightly named it the mother of all evils. Not only does God punish such people, but they also destroy themselves from within; for, carrying an insatiable vice, they have no end to their aim; hence their wound is incurable. One who has nothing desires a little; and having got it, he reaches for more. He has a hundred gold pieces and longs for a thousand; and having got these, he turns his gaze to the infinite. And so, having no end at which to stop, they always lament their poverty. Love of money always brings envy with it; and this first destroys the one who has it. For as the viper, when it is born, first destroys its own mother before it harms others, so envy withers the one who has it before it is spread to the neighbors.” ### Scripture references - 1 Tim 6:10: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - The viper killing its mother at birth is ancient natural lore. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 36 (PG 28:1508c–1509a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/36). ## Life of Syncletica 37 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-37 - Source: PG 28:1509b–1509c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Merchants endure great dangers for worldly gain, while ascetics, gaining a little virtue, boast of it and lose it; good deeds should be kept secret. ### Greek text Μέγα ἂν χρῆμα, εί τοσούτους ἠδυνάμεθα ὑπομένειν πόνους, ζητοῦντες τὸ δόκιμον ἀργύριον, ὅσοις ἀνηκέστοις περιπίπτουσιν οἱ τοῦ ματαίου κόσμου θηραταί. Ναυάγια ὑπομένουσι, πειρατηρίοις προσομιλοῦσι, λῃσταῖς κατά γῆς περιπίπτουσιν· ἀνέχονται λοιπὸν ζάλης καὶ πνευμάτων βιαίων· καὶ πολλάκις κερδαίνοντες, πένητας ἑαυτοὺς φάσκουσι διὰ τοὺς φθονοῦντας. Ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐδόλως τῶν τοιούτων κινδύνων κατατολμῶμεν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ κέρδους. Εἰ δέ ποτε καὶ μικροῦ τινος εὐπορήσωμεν, μεγαλύνομεν ἐαυτάς, ἐπιδεικνύμεναι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · καὶ πολλάκις οὐδὲ τὸ γιγνόμενον προφέρομεν είς διήγησιν · εὐθέως δὲ καὶ ὃν δοκοῦμεν σπινθῆρα καλοῦ ἔχειν, ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ κλεπτόμεθα. Κάκεῖνοι δὲ, πολλὰ κερδαίνοντες, τῶν πλειόνων ἐφίενται· καὶ τὰ μὲν παρόντα ὡς οὐδὲν ἡγοῦνται, πρὸς δὲ τὰ μὴ παρόντα ἁποτείνονται. Ἡμείς δὲ, καὶ μηδὲν ἔχουσαι τῶν ζητουμένων, οὐδὲν θέλομεν κτήσασθαι· καὶ πενίαν ἐσχάτην νοσοῦσαι, πλουσίας ἑαυτὰς ἀναγορεύομεν. Καλὸν οῦν τὸν εὖ πράττοντα μηδενὶ ἀναγγέλλειν· μᾶλλον γὰρ οἱ τοιοῦτοι ζημιωθήσονται· καὶ γὰρ ὃ δοκοῦσιν ἔχειν ἀρθήσεται ἀπʼ αὐτῶν. ### English translation (Claude) “It would be a great thing if, seeking the tested silver, we could endure as many labors as the hunters of the vain world fall into incurable troubles. They endure shipwrecks, meet pirates, fall among robbers on land; they put up with storms and violent winds; and often, though they make gains, they call themselves poor because of those who envy them. But we dare none of such dangers for the true gain. And if ever we gain some small thing, we magnify ourselves, showing it off to people; and often we do not even keep what happens from being told; and at once even the spark of good we think we have is stolen from us by the enemy. They, though gaining much, aim at more, and count what they have as nothing, stretching toward what they do not have. But we, though having nothing of what is sought, want to acquire nothing, and sick with the utmost poverty, proclaim ourselves rich. It is good, then, for one who does well to tell no one; for such people will rather suffer loss; for even what they seem to have will be taken from them.” ### Scripture references - Rev 3:17: allusion, medium confidence - Luke 8:18: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 37 (PG 28:1509b–1509c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/37). ## Life of Syncletica 38 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-38 - Source: PG 28:1509c–1509d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Virtue should be hidden like treasure, while faults are confessed; praise melts the soul like wax before fire. ### Greek text Πᾶσαν οὖν σπουδὴν δέον θέσθαι ὑπὲρ τὸ λανθάνειν τὺ κέρδος. Οἱ δὲ τὰ ἑαυτῶν κατορθώματα διηγούμενοι πειράσθωσαν καὶ τὰ σὺν αὐτοῖς ἐλαττώματα λέγειν · εἰ δὲ ταῦτα κρύπτουσιν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ μὴ παρά τῶν ἀκουόντων ψεχθῆναι, πολὺ μᾶλλον ἐκεῖνα φυλακτέον, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀλλοτριοῦντα. Καὶ γοῦν οἱ κατʼ ἀρετὴν βιοῦντες τὸ ἀνάπαλιν ποιοῦσι, καὶ τὰ σμικρά ἑαυτῶν πταίσματα μετά καὶ προσθήκης ὧν οὐκ ἔπραξαν, ἐκδιηγοῦνται, τὴν δόξαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀποβάλλοντες · τὰ μέντοι ἀγαθά κρύπτοντες, πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν τῆς ψυχῆς. Ὠσπερ γὰρ θησαυρὸς φανερωθεὶς σπανίζεται, οὕτω καὶ ἀρετὴ γνωριζομένη καὶ δημοσιευομένη ἀφανίζεται· ὥσπερ γὰρ κηρὸς λύεται ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρὸς, οὕτω καὶ ψυχὴ ἀπὸ ἐπαίνων διαχεῖται καὶ ἀποβάλλει τὸν τόνον. ### English translation (Claude) “Every effort, then, must be made to keep one’s gain hidden. Those who tell of their own good deeds should try to tell also the faults that go with them; and if they hide these so as not to be blamed by the hearers, much more should they guard those, as estranging them from God. Indeed those who live by virtue do the opposite: they tell their small faults, even with additions of what they did not do, throwing away the glory of men, while hiding their good deeds for the safety of the soul. For as a treasure, once revealed, grows scarce, so virtue, made known and published, vanishes; for as wax melts before the fire, so the soul is dissolved by praise and loses its firmness.” ### Scripture references - Matt 13:44: allusion, low confidence - Ps 68:2 (67:3 LXX): allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 38 (PG 28:1509c–1509d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/38). ## Life of Syncletica 39 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-39 - Source: PG 28:1509d–1512a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As praise weakens the soul, reproach and insult strengthen it, as the Beatitudes and Psalms show. ### Greek text Καὶ τὸ ἐναντίον δὲ τούτων πάλιν ἔσται· εί γὰρ ἡ θερμότης ἔλυσε τὸν κηρὸν, ή ψύξις ἄρα τὴν πῆξιν αὐτοῦ ποιήσεται ’ καὶ εί ἔπαινος ἀφαιρεῖται τοῦ τόνου τὴν ψυχὴν, πάντως ὀνειδισμὸς καὶ ὕβρις είς μέγεθος αὐτὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἄγει· Χαίρετε γὰρ, φησὶ, καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτʼ ἂν πᾶν ψεῦδος εἴπωσι καθʼ ὑμῶν οἱ ἅνθρωποι. Καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησιν · Ἐν θλίψει ἐπλάτυνὰς με. Καὶ πάλιν· Ὀνειδισμὸν προσεδόκησεν ’ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν. Καὶ ἄλλα δὲ μυρία ἀγαθά τοιαῦτα ὲκ τῶν ἁγίων Γραφῶν ἔστι τῇ ψυχῇ προσοδευόμενα θεάσασθαι. ### English translation (Claude) “And the opposite of these will hold too: if heat melted the wax, cold will set it; and if praise takes away the soul’s firmness, reproach and insult certainly bring it to greatness of virtue. For ‘Rejoice,’ it says, ‘and be glad, when men say all kinds of falsehood against you.’ And elsewhere it says: ‘In affliction you enlarged me.’ And again: ‘My soul awaited reproach and misery.’ And countless other such good things can be seen in the holy Scriptures accruing to the soul.” ### Scripture references - Matt 5:11: quotation, high confidence - Matt 5:12: quotation, high confidence - Ps 4:1 (4:2 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 69:20 (68:21 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 39 (PG 28:1509d–1512a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/39). ## Life of Syncletica 40 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-40 - Source: PG 28:1512a–1512b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: There is godly grief over sin and for others’ salvation, and a destructive grief from the devil, acedia, which must be driven away by prayer and psalmody. ### Greek text Ἔστι λύπη ὲπωφελὴς, καὶ ἐστι λύπη φθοροποιός. Τῆς μὲν οὖν χρησίμης λύπης τὸ μέν ἐστι περὶ τῶν οἰκείων ἁμαρτιῶν στένειν · τὸ δὲ καὶ περὶ τῆς τῶν πλησίον ἀγνωσίας· τὸ δὲ πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐκπεσεῖν τῆς προθέσεως · τὸ δὲ καὶ ἀφικνεῖσθαι τοῦ τέλους τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης. Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τῆς γνησίας καὶ ἀγαθῆς λύπης τὰ εἴδη. Καὶ ἄλλη δέ τις λύπη, τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ὑποτιθεμένου, ἥτις ταύταις προσφύεσθαι οἶδεν. Ἐμβάλλει γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς λύπην ἀλογίας μεστήν· ἥπερ καὶ ἀκηδία πρός τινων ὠνόμασται. Δεῖ οὖν τοῦτο τὸ πνεῦμα εὐχῇ μάλιστα ἀποσοβεῖν καὶ ψαλμῳδίᾳ. ### English translation (Claude) “There is a profitable grief, and there is a destructive grief. Of useful grief, one kind is to groan over one’s own sins; another, over the ignorance of one’s neighbors; another, so as not to fall from one’s purpose; and another, to reach the end of goodness. These, then, are the kinds of true and good grief. But there is another grief, suggested by the enemy, which knows how to attach itself to these. For he too casts in a grief full of unreason, which some have also named acedia. This spirit must be driven away above all by prayer and psalmody.” ### Scripture references - 2 Cor 7:10: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 40 (PG 28:1512a–1512b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/40). ## Life of Syncletica 41 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-41 - Source: PG 28:1512b–1512c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: No life is free of care: the head’s toil stands for the ascetic life, the heart’s grief for the restless worldly life. ### Greek text Τῶν οὗν ἀγαθῶν μεριμνῶν ἐχομένας ἡμᾶς, οὐ χρὴ οἴεσθαί τινα ἐν τῷ βίῳ ἀφρόντιδα εἶναι. Φησὶ γὰρ ἡ Γραφή· Πᾶσα κεφαλὴ εὶς πόνον, καὶ πᾶσα καρδιά είς λύπην. Ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα συνέγραψε τόν τε μονήρη βίον καὶ τὸν κοσμικόν. Διά μὲν γὰρ τοῦ πόνου τῆς κεφαλῆς, τὸν μονήρη αἰνίττεται τρόπον ’ κεφαλὴ γὰρ τό ἡγεμονεῦον· Τοῦ γὰρ σοφοῦ, φησὶν, οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ αὑτοῦ. Τὸ οὖν διορατικὸν, ῶς οἶμαι, ὲν αὐτῇ τυγχάνει. Τὸν δὲ πόνον εἷπε, διότι πᾶσα ἀρετῆς βλάστη ἐκ πόνων κατορθοῦται. Διά δὲ τῆς ἐν τῇ καρδία λύπης, τὸ ἄστατον καὶ μοχθηρὸν ἐδήλωσεν ἦθος. Θυμοῦ γὰρ καὶ λύπης οἰκητήριον, τὴν καρδίαν τινὲς ἔφασαν · μὴ δοξαζόμενοι, λυποῦνταιʼ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ὀρεγόμενοι, τήκονται· πενόμενοι, δυσφοροῦσι· πλουτοῦντες, ἐκμαίνονται, διὰ τὴν τῶν παρόντων φυλακὴν μηδὲ iam τυγχάνοντες. ### English translation (Claude) “Since we are held by good cares, we must not think that anyone in this life is free from concern. For Scripture says: ‘Every head is in pain, and every heart in grief.’ In one word the Holy Spirit described both the solitary and the worldly life. By the pain of the head it hints at the solitary way of life; for the head is the ruling part: ‘For the wise man’s eyes,’ it says, ‘are in his head.’ The faculty of discernment, then, I think, lies in it. And it spoke of pain, because every shoot of virtue is achieved through labors. By the grief in the heart it showed the unstable and wretched character [of the worldly]. For some have said that the heart is the dwelling of anger and grief: when they are not honored, they grieve; desiring others’ things, they pine; when poor, they are vexed; when rich, they go mad, not even [sleeping] because of guarding what they have.” ### Scripture references - Isa 1:5: quotation, high confidence - Eccl 2:14: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - Isa 1:5 is quoted from the Greek. The last words are garbled (“μηδὲ iam τυγχάνοντες”); “sleeping” is supplied by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 41 (PG 28:1512b–1512c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/41). ## Life of Syncletica 42 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-42 - Source: PG 28:1512c–1512d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The life of married women is not carefree: childbirth, nursing and children’s illnesses and failings bring toil, and childlessness brings reproach. ### Greek text Μὴ οὖν ἡμεῖς ὑποσυρῶμεν τῷ φρονήματι, λέγουσαι τοὺς έν τῷ κόσμῳ ἀμερίμνους τυγχάνειν. Τάχα γὰρ ῶς πρὸς σύγκρισιν μᾶλλον ἡμῶν κοπιῶσι. Ταῖς δὲ γυναιξὶν ῶς ἐπίπαν μεγάλη ὲν τῷ κόσμῳ ἡ ἀπέχθεια· τίκτουσι γὰρ χαλεπῶς καὶ ἐπικινδύνως, καὶ τληπαθοῦσι πρὸς τὴν γαλακτοτροφίαν, καὶ νοσοῦσι τοῖς παιδίοις συννοσοῦσι· καὶ ταῦτα ὑπομένουσι, τέλος τοῦ κόπου μὴ ἔχουσαι. Ἢ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα πηροῦται τά κυηθέντα, ἢ κακοφροσύνη ἀναχθέντα δολοφονεῖ τοὺς γεννήσαντας. Ταῦτα οὖν εἰδυῖαι, μὴ δελεασθῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, ὡς ἀνέτου καὶ ἀμερίμνου τυγχάνοντος τοῦ βίου. Γεννῶσαι μὲν γὰρ, διὰ τῶν πόνων φθείρονται · μὴ τίκτουσαι δὲ, ὼς στεῖραι καὶ ἄγονοι ὑπὸ τῶν ὀνειδισμῶν τήκονται. ### English translation (Claude) “Let us not, then, be drawn down in mind, saying that those in the world are free from care. For perhaps, by comparison, they toil more than we do. For women in the world, generally, the hardship is great: they give birth with difficulty and danger, they suffer through nursing, and they fall sick with their sick children; and they endure these things without an end to their toil. For either the children they bore are maimed in body, or, brought up in wickedness, they plot against their parents. Knowing these things, then, let us not be lured by the enemy as though that life were easy and carefree. For those who give birth are worn out by labors, and those who do not give birth are wasted by reproaches as barren and childless.” ### Scripture references - Gen 3:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The passage contrasts married life unfavorably with virginity, as the work does throughout; given as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 42 (PG 28:1512c–1512d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/42). ## Life of Syncletica 43 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-43 - Source: PG 28:1512d–1513b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Teaching must suit the hearer: some live like land animals, some soar like birds, some are sunk in sin like fish; virgins should rise like eagles and master the devil by giving their whole mind to Christ. ### Greek text Ταῦτα δὲ ύμῖν λέγω πρὸς τὸ ἀσφαλίζεσθαι ἀπὸ ἐναντίου. Ού πᾶσι δὲ πέφυκεν ἁρμόδια τὰ λεγόμενα· ἀλλά μόνοις τοῖς τὸν μονήρη βίον ἐθέλουσιν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τοῖς ζώοις οὐ μία τροφὴ, οὕτως οὐδὲ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ὁ αὐτὸς λόγος συμφέρει· Οὐ δεῖ γὰρ οἶνον νέον βαλεῖν, φησὶν, εἰς ἀσκοὺς παλαιούς. Ἄλλως γὰρ ἑστιῶνται οἰ Θεωρίας καὶ γνώσεως ἐμφορούμενοι, ἐτέρως δὲ οἱ ἁσκητικῆς·καὶ πρακτικῆς ἀπογενόμενοι, καὶ πρὸς δύναμιν οἰ κατᾶ τὸν κόσμον δικαιοπραγοῦντες. Ὠσπερ γὰρ τῶν ζώων τινὰ μὲν ἐστι χερσαῖα, τινὰ δὲ ἔνυδρα, τινὰ δὲ πτηνά· οὕτως καὶ οἰ ἄνθρωποι οἰ μὲν τὸν μέσον βίον κατέχουσιν, ὡς τὰ χερσαῖα · οἱ δὲ πρὸς τά ῦψη ὲνατενίζουσιν, ὡς τὰ πετεινά· οἱ δὲ τοῖς ὕδασι τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰσι κεκαλυμμένοι, ὡς οἰ ἰχθύες· Ἦλθον γὰρ, φησὶν, εις τὰ βάθη τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ καταιγὶς κατεπόντισέ με. Καὶ τοιαύτη μὲν ἡ τῶν ζώων φύσις· ἡμεῖς δὲ, ὡς ἀετοὶ πτεροφυήσασαι, ἐπὶ τὰ ὑψηλότερα επιεῶμεν, καὶ καταπατησωμεν λέοντα καὶ δράκοντα· καὶ τοῦ ποτε ἄρχοντος νῦν ἄρξωμεν. Τοῦτο δὲ ποιήσομεν, ἐὰν ὅλην ἑαυτῶν τὴν διάνοιαν τῷ Σωτῆρι προσενέγκωμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “I say these things to you so that you may be on guard against the adversary. But what is said is not fitting for all, only for those who wish to live the solitary life. For as living things do not have one food, so the same word does not profit all people: ‘For one must not put new wine,’ it says, ‘into old wineskins.’ For those filled with contemplation and knowledge feast in one way, those given to the ascetic and practical life in another, and those who act justly in the world as far as they can in another. For as some living things live on land, some in water, and some fly, so among people some keep to the middle life, like land animals; some gaze at the heights, like birds; and some are covered by the waters of sins, like fish: ‘For I came,’ it says, ‘into the depths of the sea, and a storm overwhelmed me.’ Such is the nature of living things; but let us, growing wings like eagles, fly to the heights, and trample the lion and the dragon, and become rulers over the one who was once ruler. And we shall do this if we offer our whole mind to the Savior.” ### Scripture references - Matt 9:17: quotation, high confidence - Ps 69:2 (68:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Isa 40:31: allusion, medium confidence - Ps 91:13 (90:13 LXX): allusion, high confidence - John 12:31: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 43 (PG 28:1512d–1513b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/43). ## Life of Syncletica 44 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-44 - Source: PG 28:1513b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The higher one rises, the more the demons oppose, since they begrudge even earthly treasure, let alone heaven. ### Greek text Ἀλλὰ ὅσον ἡμεῖς κορυφούμεθα πρὸς τὰ {id/1;, κάκεῖνος ἐμποδίζειν πειρᾶται διὰ τῶν ἰδίων παγίδων. Καὶ τί μέγα ἔχειν ἡμᾶς ἀντιπάλους πρὸς τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὁρμώσας, ὅπου γε καὶ πρὸς τά εὐτελῆ φθονοῦσι ; καὶ γοῦν τοὺς ὑπὸ τὴν γῆν τεθαμμένους θησαυροὺς ού συγχωροῦσι λαμβάνειν ἀνθρώπους. Εἰ οῦν καὶ πρὸς τὴν γηΐνην φαντασίαν ἀντίκεινται, πόσῳ μᾶλλον πρὸς τὴν τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείαν φθονήσουσιν; ### English translation (Claude) “But the more we rise toward the heights, the more he tries to hinder us by his own snares. And what great thing is it that we have adversaries when we press toward the good, since they are envious even over cheap things? Indeed they do not allow people to take treasures buried under the earth. If, then, they oppose even an earthly fancy, how much more will they envy the kingdom of heaven?” ### Translation notes - “The heights” renders a garbled word (“{id/1;”). The belief that demons guard buried treasure is popular lore. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 44 (PG 28:1513b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/44). ## Life of Syncletica 45 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-45 - Source: PG 28:1513b–1513c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The soul, like a ship, is threatened both by outward storms and by bilge water within; inner thoughts, which rise unnoticed, are the more dangerous. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν κατʼ αὐτῶν παντοίως ὁπλίζεσθαι καὶ γάρ καὶ ἔξωθεν εἰσελαύνουσι, καὶ οὐδὲν ἦττον ἐκ τῶν ἑξωθεν κινοῦνται. Καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ, καθάπερ ναῦς, ποτε μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν ἔξωθεν τρικυμιῶν καταποντίζεται, ποτὲ δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς ἔνδοθεν ἀντλίας ὑποβρύχιος γίνεται. Καὶ γοῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς ποτὲ μὲν διὰ τῶν ἐκτὸς πρακτικῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπολλύμεθα, ποτὲ δὲ διὰ τῶν ἔνδον λογισμῶν ἀφανιζόμεθα. Δεῖ οῦν καὶ τὰς ἔξωθεν τῶν πνευμάτων ἐπιτηρεῖν προσβολὰς, καὶ τὰς ἔνδον τῶν λογισμῶν ἐξαντλεῖν ἀκαθαρσίας, πάντοτε δὲ γρηγορεῖν πρὸς τοὺς λογισμούς συνεχῶς γὰρ ἐφίστανται. Ἐπὶ μὲν ταῖς ἔξωθεν τρικυμίαις, βοώντων τῶν ναυτῶν, πολλάκις ἡ σωτηρία διὰ τῶν ὲγγυτάτων πλοίων γίνεται· αἱ δὲ ἁντλίαι, καὶ κοιμωμένων πολλάκις τῶν πλωτήρων, καὶ ἡσυχαζούσης τῆς θαλάσσης, ἐπισυμβαἰνουσι, καὶ πολλάκις αὐτοὺς θανατοῦσιν. ### English translation (Claude) “We must, then, arm ourselves against them in every way; for they both invade from outside and are no less stirred up from within. And the soul, like a ship, is sometimes sunk by the waves outside and sometimes swamped by the bilge water within. So we too are sometimes lost through outward sins of action and sometimes destroyed through inward thoughts. We must, then, both watch for the assaults of the spirits from outside and bail out the uncleanness of thoughts within, and always keep watch against the thoughts; for they come upon us constantly. In storms outside, when the sailors shout, salvation often comes through the nearest ships; but the bilge water rises often while the sailors sleep and the sea is calm, and often kills them.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 45 (PG 28:1513b–1513c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/45). ## Life of Syncletica 46 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-46 - Source: PG 28:1513c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil attacks the soul like a house, through its foundation of good works, its roof of faith or its windows of the senses, so one must be watchful everywhere. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν ὲπιπονωτέραν ποιεῖσθαι πρὸς τοὺς λογισμοὺς τῂν διάνοιαν. Ὁ γὰρ ἐχθρὸς, καθάπερ οἷκον τὴν ψυχὴν καθελεῖν βουλόμενος, ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν θεμελίων ποιεῖται αὐτῆς τὴν πτῶσιν, ἢ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀροφῆς ἀρχόμενος, πᾶσαν αὐτὴν καταφέρει, ἢ καὶ διὰ τῶν θυρίδων εἰσελθὼν, πρῶτον τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην δεσμεῖ, καὶ οῦτως χειροῦται τὰ πάντα. Θεμέλιος μὲν οῦν ἔστι τὰ καλά ἔργα, ὀροφὴ δὲ ἡ πίστις, θυρίδες δὲ αἱ αἰσθήσεις. Διὰ πάντων δὲ πολεμεῖ ὁ ἐχθρός. Ὅθεν πολυόφθαλμον δεῖ εῖναι τὸν σωθῆναι βουλόμενον. Οὐκ ἕχομεν ενταῦθα τὸ ἀμέριμνον φησὶ γὰρ ἡ Γραφή· Βλεπέτω ὁ ἑστηκὼς μὴ πέσῃ. ### English translation (Claude) “We must, then, make our mind more laborious against the thoughts. For the enemy, wishing to pull down the soul like a house, either brings about its fall from the foundations, or, beginning from the roof, brings the whole down, or, coming in through the windows, first binds the master of the house, and so subdues everything. The foundation is good works, the roof is faith, the windows are the senses. Through all of them the enemy makes war. Hence the one who wishes to be saved must be many-eyed. We have no freedom from care here; for Scripture says: ‘Let him who stands take heed lest he fall.’” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 10:12: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 46 (PG 28:1513c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/46). ## Life of Syncletica 47 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-47 - Source: PG 28:1513c–1516a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Life is a sea: ascetics sail in calm daylight and worldly people in storm and darkness, yet the worldly may be saved by vigilance and the ascetic sink through carelessness. ### Greek text Ἐν ἀδήλῳ πλέομεν· θάλασσα γὰρ ὁ βίος ἡμῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ψάλτου Δαβὶδ εἴρηται. Ἀλλά τῆς θαλάσσης τὰ μέν εἰσι πετρώδη, τά δὲ καὶ θηρίων πλήρη, τινὰ δὲ καὶ γαληνὰ. Ἡμεῖς ἐν τῷ γαληνῷ μέρει τῆς Θαλάσσης δοκοῦμεν πλέειν, οἱ δὲ κοσμικοὶ ὲν κινδυνώδεσι· καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἡμέρας πλέομεν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὁδηγούμενοι, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐν νυκτὶ, ὑπὸ τῆς ἀγνωσίας φερόμενοι. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδέχεται πολλάκις τὸν κοσμικὸν ὲν χειμῶνι καὶ ἐν σκότει τυγχάνοντα, βοήσαντα καὶ ἀγρυπνήσαντα, σῶσαι τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκάφος ἡμᾶς δὲ ἐν γαλήνῃ, ὑπὸ ἀμελείας βυθισθῆναι, τὸ πηδάλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἀφέντας. ### English translation (Claude) “We sail in uncertainty; for our life has been called a sea by the holy psalmist David. But parts of the sea are rocky, others full of beasts, and some calm. We seem to sail in the calm part of the sea, people in the world in dangerous parts; and we sail by day, guided by the sun of righteousness, they at night, carried along by ignorance. But it can often happen that a person in the world, being in storm and darkness, by crying out and keeping watch, saves his own boat, while we in calm sink through negligence, letting go of the rudder of righteousness.” ### Scripture references - Ps 104:25 (103:25 LXX): allusion, low confidence - Mal 4:2 (3:20 LXX): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - The reference to David calling life a sea may be to Ps 104:25–26 (LXX 103:25–26). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 47 (PG 28:1513c–1516a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/47). ## Life of Syncletica 48 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-48 - Source: PG 28:1516a–1516c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Those who stand must not despise the fallen but fear falling deeper themselves, and keep constant watch against the devil. ### Greek text Βλεπέτω οὖν στήκων μὴ πέσῃ. Ὁ μὲν γάρ πεσὼν μίαν ἔχει φροντίδα, τοῦ ἀναστῆναι· ὁ δὲ στήκων φυλαττέσθω τοῦ μὴ πεσεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ τά παραπτώματα διάφοραʼ οί μὲν γάρ πεσόντες τοῦ μὲν στήκειν ἐστέρηνται· κείμενοι δὲ, οὐ πάνυ τι ἐβλάβησαν. Ὀ δὲ ἑστὼς μὴ εὐτελιζέτω τὸν πεπτωκότα, ἀλλʼ ἑαυτὸν φοβείσθω, μὴ πεσὼν διαφθαρῇ, καὶ εἰς κατώτερον ἀπέλθῃ βόθρον. Εἰκὸς γὰρ, καὶ τῆς κραυγῆς ἡττηθείσης ὑπὸ τοῦ βάθους τοῦ φρέατος, μὴ βοήθειαν αἰτῆσαι. Φησὶ γὰρ ὁ δίκαιος Μὴ καταπιέτω με βυθὸς, μηδέ συσχέτω ἐπʼ ἐμὲ φρέαρ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ. Ὁ πρῶτος πεσὼν ἔμεινεν. Ὅρα σεαυτὸν, μὴ καταπεσὼν καὶ σὺ θοίνη θηρίων γένῃ. Ὁ πεσὼν οὐκ ἁσφαλίζεται τὴν θύραν· σὺ δὲ μηδόλως νυστάξῃς· ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ τὸ θεῖον ἐκεῖνο μελῴδει ῥητὸν, τὸ φάσκον· Φὼτισον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, μή ποτε ὑπνώσω είς θάνατον. Ἀγρύπνει δὲ διηνεκῶς διὰ τὸν ὠρυόμενον λέοντα. ### English translation (Claude) “Let the one who stands, then, take heed lest he fall. For the one who has fallen has one concern, to rise; but let the one who stands guard against falling. For falls differ: those who have fallen are deprived of standing, but lying down they have not been harmed much. But let the one who stands not despise the fallen, but fear for himself, lest he fall and be destroyed and go down into a lower pit. For it is likely that, his cry being overcome by the depth of the well, he cannot ask for help. For the righteous man says: ‘Let not the deep swallow me up, nor the pit shut its mouth over me.’ The first who fell stayed down. Look to yourself, lest you too fall and become a feast for beasts. The one who has fallen does not secure the door; but you, do not doze at all, but always sing that divine saying: ‘Enlighten my eyes, lest I ever sleep in death.’ Keep watch continually because of the roaring lion.” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 10:12: quotation, high confidence - Ps 69:15 (68:16 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 13:3 (12:4 LXX): quotation, high confidence - 1 Pet 5:8: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 48 (PG 28:1516a–1516c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/48). ## Life of Syncletica 49 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-49 - Source: PG 28:1516c–1517b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: After gluttony, lust and greed are overcome, the devil attacks with pride, making the ascetic forget her sins and dream of honors, as he himself fell by pride. ### Greek text Ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα συντελεί πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐπαίρεσθαι. Ὁ πεσὼν ὲν τῷ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ στενάξαι σωθήσεται. Ὅρα σὺ σαυτὴν ἡ στήκουσα. Διπλοῦς γάρ σοι ὁ φόβος ἐπίκειται, ἢ τοῦ μὴ ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς τὰ ἀρχαῖα, διʼ ὀλιγωρίας σοι τοῦ ἐχθροῦ προσπεσόντος, ἢ τοῦ μὴ τρέχουσαν σκελισθῆναι. Ὀ γὰρ ἐχθρὸς ἡμῶν διάβολος ἢ ὄπισθεν ἕλκει πρὸς ἑαυτὸν, ὁπηνίκα βραδείαν καὶ νωθράν τὴν ψυχὴν θεάσηται· ἢ δοκοῦσαν αὐτὴν σπουδαίαν εἶναι καὶ ἐπίπονον πρὸς ἄσκησιν, ἐπεισέρχεται λεπτῶς καὶ κεκρυμμένως διὰ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας· καὶ οὕτως αὔτανδρον τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπόλλυσι. Τοῦτο τὸ ὅπλον ἔσχατον καὶ κορυφαιότατον πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν κακῶν. Ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὁ διάβολος καταβέβληται, καὶ διʼ αὑτοῦ τοὺς δυνατωτέρους τῶν ἀνθρώπων πειρᾶται καθαιρεῖν. Ὠσπερ γὰρ οἱ δεινότατοι τῶν πολεμιστῶν, μετά τὸ δαπανῆσαι τὰ λεπτότερα βέλη, τὸ τηνικαῦτα ἔτι ἐπικρατούντων τῶν μαχητῶν, προβάλλονται τὴν ἰσχυροτέραν πάντων μάχαιραν· οὕτως καὶ ὁ διάβολος, μετά τὸ πρῶτα αὐτοῦ ἀποδαπανῆσαι ἄγκιστρα, τότε τῷ τελευταίῳ χρᾶται ξίφει, τῇ ὑπερηφανίᾳ. Τίνες δὲ ἦσαν αὑτοῦ αἱ πρῶται παγίδες; Δῆλον, ὡς γαστριμαργία, φιληδονία, πορνεία. Ταῦτα γὰρ μάλιστα τά πνεύματα ἐπὶ τῶν νεωτερικῶν ἡλικιῶν συμβαίνουσιν. Ἐπακολουθεί δὲ τούτοις φιλαργυρία, πλεονεξία, καὶ τά τούτοις ὅμοια. Ἡ οὖν ἀθλία ψυχὴ, ὅταν τούτων τῶν παθῶν περιγένηται, ὁπηνίκα γαστρὸς κρατῆσῃ, ὅτε καὶ τὰς ὑπογαστρίους ἡδονὰς ὑπερπηδήσῃ τῇ σεμνότητι, ὅτε ἀργυρίου καταφρονήσῃ· τότε πανταχόθεν ὁ κακόφρων, ἀπορηθεὶς, ὑποβάλλει τῇ ψυχῇ ἄτακτον κίνησιν· μεγεθύνει γὰρ αὐτὴν ἀπρεπῶς κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐπαίρεσθαι. Βαρὺ καὶ ὀλέθριον τοῦτο τοῦ ἐχθροῦ τὸ δηλητήριον. Πολλοὺς ἀθρόως ὲν τούτῳ σκοτίσας κατέβαλεν. ’Υποβάλλει γάρ τῇ ψυχῇ ἔννοιαν νόθον καὶ θανατηφόρον. Κατειληφέναι γὰρ αὐτὸν φαντάζει τὰ παρά τοῖς πολλοῖς ἀγνοούμενα, καὶ ὅτι ὲν νηστείαις ὑπερβάλλει· καὶ πλῆθος αὐτῷ ἀνδραγαθημάτων προστίθησι· πάντων δὲ ὧν ἥμαρτεν είς λήθην αὑτὸν φέρει, πρὸς τὸ κατὰ τῶν συνόντων ἐπαίρεσθαι. ’Υποκλέπτει γάρ αὐτοῦ ὲκ τοῦ νοῦ τά πλημμελήματα· ού πρὸς ὠφέλειαν δὲ αὑτοῦ τοῦτο ποιεῖ, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ μὴ δυνηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν τὴν ἰατρικὴν ἐκείνην φωνὴν, τὸ, Σοὶ μόνῳ ἥμαρτον, ἐλέησόν με. Οὔτε μὴν συγχωρήσει αὐτῷ λέγειν· Ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι, Κύριε, ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου. Ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ αὐτὸς κατὰ διάνοιαν εἷπε τό· Ἀναβήσομαι, καί θήσομαι τὸν θρόνον μου“ οὕτως καὶ τοῦτον φαντάζει είς ἀρχάς τε καὶ πρωτοκαθεδρίας, ἔτι δὲ διδασκαλίας, καὶ ἰαμάτων ἐκδόσεις. Ἡ οὖν οὕτως ἀπατωμένη ψυχὴ φθείρεται καὶ ἀπόλλυται, δυσιάτῳ ἕλκει πληγεῖσα. ### English translation (Claude) “These words serve to keep us from being lifted up. The one who has fallen will be saved by turning back and groaning. Look to yourself, you who stand. For a double fear lies on you: either of turning back to old ways, when the enemy falls upon you through carelessness, or of being tripped while you run. For our enemy the devil either drags the soul back to himself when he sees it slow and sluggish, or, if it seems zealous and laborious in asceticism, comes in subtly and hiddenly through pride, and so destroys the soul with all hands. This weapon is the last and chief of all evils. By it the devil was cast down, and by it he tries to bring down the strongest of people. For as the most formidable warriors, after spending their lighter arrows, then, while the fighters still prevail, bring out the strongest sword of all, so the devil, after spending his first hooks, then uses his last sword, pride. What were his first snares? Clearly gluttony, love of pleasure, fornication. For these spirits come especially on the younger ages. After these follow love of money, greed, and the like. When the wretched soul, then, has overcome these passions, when it has mastered the belly, when by dignity it has leapt over the pleasures below the belly, when it has despised silver, then the evil-minded one, at a loss on every side, suggests to the soul a disorderly motion: he magnifies it so that it is unbecomingly lifted up against the brothers and sisters. Grievous and deadly is this poison of the enemy. Many he has darkened by it and cast down all at once. For he suggests to the soul a false and deadly thought: he makes it imagine that it has grasped what is unknown to most, and that it excels in fasting; he adds a multitude of good deeds to it, and brings into forgetfulness all its sins, so that it may be lifted up against its companions. For he steals its offenses out of its mind; not for its benefit, but so that it cannot say that healing word, ‘Against you alone have I sinned; have mercy on me.’ Nor will he let it say, ‘I will confess to you, Lord, with my whole heart.’ But as he himself said in his mind, ‘I will go up, and I will set my throne,’ so he makes this one imagine rule and first seats, and besides teaching and the giving of cures. The soul so deceived is corrupted and destroyed, struck by a hardly curable wound.” ### Scripture references - Ps 51:4 (50:6 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 51:1 (50:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 9:1 (9:2 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Isa 14:13: quotation, high confidence - Isa 14:14: allusion, high confidence - 1 Tim 3:6: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Isa 14:13–14 is read of the devil’s fall. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 49 (PG 28:1516c–1517b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/49). ## Life of Syncletica 50 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-50 - Source: PG 28:1517b–1517c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Against pride one should meditate on texts of human lowliness; a proud solitary should be put in a community, made to eat more, rebuked, set to serve, and shown the lives of greater saints. ### Greek text Τί οὗν δεῖ ποιεῖν, τῶν τοιούτων λογισμῶν παρόντων; Ἀδιαλείπτως μελετᾷν τὸ θεῖον ἐκεῖνο λόγιον, ὅπερ ὁ μακάριος Δαβὶδ ἐβόα, λέγων τό· Ἐγὼ δέ εἰμι σκώληξ, καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος. Καὶ ὲν ἑτέρῳ φησίν· Ἐγὼ δέ ειμι γῆ καί σποδός. Ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ τὸ τοῦ Ἡσαΐου ἀκουέτω ῥῆμα τὸ λέγον, ὡς Πᾶσα δικαιοσύνη ἀνθρώπου ὡς ῥάκος ἀποκαθημένης. Καὶ εἰ μὲν ἀναχωρούσῃ καθʼ ἑαυτὴν οἱ λογισμοὶ οὗτοι παρεισέλθωσιν, ὲν κοινοβίῳ είσερχέσθω ἀναγκαζέσθω δὲ καὶ δεύτερον ἐσθίειν τῆς ἡμέρας, εί γε διʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἀσκήσεως τούτῳ ἑάλω τῷ πάθει· καὶ παρὰ τῶν συνηλίκων δὲ ἐπιτιμάσθω, καὶ όνειδιζέσθω, καὶ ὲπιτιμάσθω σφοδρῶς, ὡς μηδὲν μέγα πράττουσα· πᾶσαν δὲ ὑπηρεσίαν ποιείσθω. Προσαγέσθωσαν δὲ καὶ βίοι ἀγίων ἐξοχώτατοι είς ἐξήγησιν πειράσθωσαν δὲ αἱ συνελθοῦσαι ἐπιτείνειν ἑαυτῶν τοὺς πόνους πρὸς ἄσκησιν τὰς ὀλίγας ἡμέρας, πρὸς τὸ ἐκείνην, θεασαμένην τὸ μέγεθος τῶν ἀρετῶν, ἐλάττονα καὶ ἑαυτὴν ἡγεῖσθαι. ### English translation (Claude) “What, then, must one do when such thoughts are present? Meditate ceaselessly on that divine saying which blessed David cried out, saying: ‘But I am a worm, and not a man.’ And elsewhere he says: ‘But I am earth and ashes.’ Let her also hear the word of Isaiah which says: ‘All the righteousness of man is like a menstrual rag.’ And if these thoughts come upon her while she lives alone in retirement, let her enter a community; and let her be compelled to eat twice a day, if it was through excessive asceticism that she was caught by this passion; and let her be rebuked by her companions and reproached, and rebuked severely, as doing nothing great; and let her do every kind of service. Let the most outstanding lives of the saints be brought out to be told; and let those gathered try to increase their labors in asceticism for a few days, so that she, seeing the greatness of the virtues, may consider herself less.” ### Scripture references - Ps 22:6 (21:7 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Gen 18:27: quotation, high confidence - Isa 64:6: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “Earth and ashes” is Abraham’s word (Gen 18:27), here attributed to David. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 50 (PG 28:1517b–1517c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/50). ## Life of Syncletica 51 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-51 - Source: PG 28:1517c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Pride is preceded by disobedience and cured by obedience. ### Greek text Προηγεῖται δὲ τῆς νόσου ταύτης ἕτερον κακὸν, ἡ παρακοὴ · ὅθεν διὰ τοῦ ἐναντίου τῆς ὑπακοῆς, δυνατὸν τὴν σηπεδονώδη νομὴν τῆς ψυχῆς περικαθᾶραι· ’Υπακοὴ γάρ, φησὶν, ὑπὲρ θυσίαν. ### English translation (Claude) “Another evil goes before this disease: disobedience; hence through its opposite, obedience, the putrid spreading sore of the soul can be cleansed. ‘For obedience,’ it says, ‘is better than sacrifice.’” ### Scripture references - 1 Sam 15:22: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 51 (PG 28:1517c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/51). ## Life of Syncletica 52 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-52 - Source: PG 28:1517c–1520a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Discouraged souls should be encouraged and their sins made light of, since the devil makes beginners despair; Rahab, Paul, Matthew and the penitent thief show that none should despair. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν καθαιρεῖν ὄγκον δόξης ὲν καιρῷ, καὶ ἐπαινεῖν δὲ πάλιν καὶ θαυμάζειν ὲν καιρῷ. Εἰ γὰρ ἀμελὴς καὶ νωθρὰ εὑρεθῇ ἡ ψυχὴ, ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ ὐποναρκοῦσα είς τὴν τοῦ καλοῦ προκοπὴν, ἐπαινεῖν ταύτην προσήκει· καὶ εί μικρὸν ποιήσει τι χρηστὸν, θαυμάζειν καί μεγεθοποιεῖν δέον αὐτήν. Καὶ τά σφοδρά καὶ ἀπάνθρωπα πλημμελήματα ὡς ἐλάχιστα καὶ οὐδαμινά λεκτέον· ὁ γὰρ διάβολος, βουλόμενος πάντα διαστρέφειν, ἐπὶ μὲν τῶν σπουδαίων καί ἁσκητικῶν κρύπτειν πειρᾶται τὰ προγεγονότα ἀμαρτήματα · τὴν γὰρ ὑπερηφανίαν αὐξῆσαι βούλεται · ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν νεηλύδων καὶ άκροπαγῶν ψυχῶν, πάντα τὰ ἁμαρτήματα αὐτῶν πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν τίθησιν. Ἐμβάλλει γὰρ αὐτῇ ὅτι, Σοὶ πορνευσάσῃ ποία ἔσται συγγνώμη; Καὶ τῇ άλλη φησίν · Οῦτω σου πλεονεκτησάσης, ἀδύνατόν σε σωτηρίας τυχεῖν. Τάς οὖν οὕτω σαλευομένας ψυχὰς παραμυθητέον οὕτως· δεῖ γὰρ πρὸς αὐτὰς οὕτω λέγειν· Ῥαὰβ πόρνη ἦν, ἀλλʼ ἐσώθη διὰ πίστεως· Παῦλος διώκτης ἦν, ἀλλὰ σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς γέγονε· Ματθαῖος τελώνης ἦν, ἀλλʼ οὐδεὶς τὴν χάριν τούτου ἀγνοεῖ· καὶ ὁ λῃστὴς ἐσύλα καὶ ἐφόνευεν, ἀλλὰ πρῶτος τὴν θύραν ἀνέῳξε τοῦ παραδείσου. Τούτοις οὖν ὲνατενίζουσα, μὴ ἀπογνῷς τῆς σεαυτῆς ψυχῆς· ### English translation (Claude) “One must, then, pull down the swelling of glory at the right time, and again praise and admire at the right time. For if the soul is found careless and sluggish, and moreover numb toward progress in good, it is fitting to praise it; and if it does some small good thing, one must admire it and make much of it. And its grave and inhuman offenses must be called very small and of no account. For the devil, wishing to pervert everything, tries to hide former sins in the case of the zealous and ascetic, for he wants to increase their pride; but in the case of newcomers and those still unsure, he sets all their sins before their eyes. For he casts into one: ‘You have committed fornication; what pardon will there be for you?’ And to another he says: ‘You have been so greedy that you cannot obtain salvation.’ Souls so shaken must be comforted thus; for one must speak to them thus: ‘Rahab was a harlot, but she was saved through faith; Paul was a persecutor, but he became a chosen vessel; Matthew was a tax collector, but no one is ignorant of his grace; and the robber stole and murdered, but he was the first to open the door of paradise. Looking at these, do not despair of your own soul.’” ### Scripture references - Josh 2:1: allusion, high confidence - Heb 11:31: allusion, high confidence - Acts 9:15: allusion, high confidence - 1 Tim 1:13: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 9:9: allusion, high confidence - Luke 23:43: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 52 (PG 28:1517c–1520a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/52). ## Life of Syncletica 53 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-53 - Source: PG 28:1520a–1520c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: To humble the proud ascetic, point to others whose fasting and hardship exceed hers, and to the demons, who neither eat, drink, marry nor sleep. ### Greek text Ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτα ταύταις εὑρήσεις ἁρμόδια, δεῖ καὶ τῶν τῇ ὑπερηφανίᾳ ἁλισκομένων ποιεῖσθαι αὖτὴν τὴν θεραπείαν. Φάσκειν γὰρ δεῖ πρὸς αὐτήν· Τί φρονεῖς; Ὠς κρέα μὴ ὲσθίουσα; ἄλλοι οὐδὲ ἰχθῦν ὁρῶσι. Καὶ εί οἶνον ού πίνεις, σκόπησον ὡς ἄλλοι οὔτε ἔλαιον ἐσθίουσιν. Ἕως ὀψὲ νηστεύεις; ἄλλαι δὲ δύο καὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας συνάπτουσιν ἄσιτοι. Ἀλλʼ ὅτι ού λούῃ μέγα φρονεῐς; πολλοὶ καὶ διὰ πάθος σωματικὸν οὐδʼ ὅλως τούτῳ ἐχρήσαντο. Ἀλλά θαυμάζεις σεαυτὴν, ὅτι ὲν χαραδρίῳ καθεύδεις, καὶ ὲν τριχίνῃ στρωμνῇ; ἄλλαι δὲ χαμευνοῦσι διηνεκῶς. Ἀλλʼ εί καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσειας, οὐδὲν μέγα· τινὲς γὰρ καὶ λίθους ἑαυταῖς ὑπέβαλον, πρὸς τὸ μὴ καθʼ ἡδονὴν τῶν cpias:κῶν τυχεῖν· ἄλλοι δὲ καὶ ἐκρέμασαν ἑαυτοὺς διʼ ὅλης τῆς νυκτός. Ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ποιήσειας, καὶ τὴν ἀκροτάτην ἄσκησιν ὲπιτελέσειας, μὴ μέγα φρονήσῃς · καὶ γὰρ τὰ δαιμόνια πλείω τῶν σῶν πεποιήκασι καὶ ποιοῦσιν· οὔτε γὰρ ἐσθίουσιν, οὔτε πίνουσιν, οὔτε γαμοῦσιν, οὒτε ὑπνοῦσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ὲν ἐρήμῳ διάγουσιν, εἴγε καὶ ὲν σπηλαίῳ οἰκοῦσα δοκεῖς μέγα τι ποιειν. ### English translation (Claude) “Since you will find these remedies fitting for them, one must also give the treatment for those caught by pride. For one must say to her: ‘Why are you proud? Because you do not eat meat? Others do not even see fish. And if you do not drink wine, consider that others do not even eat oil. You fast until evening? Others go two and three days together without food. But are you proud that you do not bathe? Many, even because of bodily illness, have not used it at all. Do you admire yourself because you sleep on a rough mat and a hair blanket? Others sleep on the ground continually. But even if you do this, it is nothing great; for some have put stones under themselves so as not to get bodily rest with pleasure, and others have hung themselves up all night. But even if you do all these things and accomplish the highest asceticism, do not be proud; for the demons have done and do more than you: they neither eat nor drink, nor marry, nor sleep; they even live in the desert, if you think you do something great by living in a cave.’” ### Translation notes - “Why are you proud?” renders a garbled phrase (“Τί (pectebant;”), probably Τί φρονεῖς; “bodily rest” renders a garbled word (“cpias:κῶν”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 53 (PG 28:1520a–1520c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/53). ## Life of Syncletica 54 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-54 - Source: PG 28:1520c–1520d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Despair and pride are opposite dangers: virtue is lost by arrogance as a fire is scattered by too much wind, or by negligence as it dies without wind; asceticism must be moderated to keep it humble. ### Greek text Οὕτω μὲν οὖν, καὶ ὲκ τοιούτων λογισμῶν, δυνατὸν ἰάσασθαι τὰ ἐναντία πάθη · τήν τε ἀπόγνωσιν λέγω καὶ τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν. Ὠσπερ γάρ σφοδρῶς ἐκφυσώμενον πῦρ, διασκορπιζὸμενον ἀπόλλυται, καὶ μὴ τυχὸν δὲ πνεύματος πάλιν φθείρεται· οὕτω καὶ η ἁρετὴ ἁφίπταται διʼ ὑπεροψίαν, κᾶν πολλὴν σφοδρότητα ἀσκήσεως λάβῃ· καὶ φθείρεται δὲ πάλιν ἐξ ἀμελείας τὸ καλὸν, ὅταν μηδʼ ὅλως κινήσωμεν taurea; πρὸς ριπισμὸν τοῦ θείου Πνεύματος. Μάχαιρα ἐπακμος ῥᾳδίως ὑπὸ λίθου κατάγνυται · καὶ ἄσκησις ἐπιτεταμένη συντόμως ἐκ τοῦ ὑπερηφανεύεσθαι ἀπόλλυται. Ὅθεν προσήκει πανταχόθεν άσφαλίζεσθαι τὴν ψυχὴν, καὶ τὴν ἀκροτάτην ἄσκησιν ὲκ τοῦ καύσωνος τῆς ὑπερηφανίας περικαιομένην ὑποκάμπτειν πρὸς τοὺς σκιώδεις τόπους, ἔσθʼ ὅτε καὶ περιτέμνειν τὰ περιττὰ, πρὸς τὸ τὴν ῥίζαν εὐθαλεστέραν γενέσθαι. ### English translation (Claude) “So, then, by such thoughts it is possible to heal the opposite passions, I mean despair and pride. For as a fire blown on violently is scattered and goes out, and, if it gets no wind, dies again, so virtue flies off through arrogance, even if it has great vehemence of asceticism; and the good dies again through negligence, when we do not stir ourselves at all to be fanned by the divine Spirit. A sword at its keenest is easily broken by a stone; and intense asceticism is quickly lost through pride. Hence one must secure the soul on every side, and bend the highest asceticism, scorched by the heat of pride, toward shady places, and sometimes cut away what is superfluous, so that the root may flourish more.” ### Translation notes - “Stir ourselves” renders a garbled word (“taurea;”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 54 (PG 28:1520c–1520d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/54). ## Life of Syncletica 55 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-55 - Source: PG 28:1520d–1521a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The despairing must be encouraged like a weak plant watered by a farmer, while the overeager are pruned, as doctors treat different patients differently. ### Greek text Τὸν δὲ τῇ ἀπογνώσει ἁλισκόμενον ἀνωφερῆ βιάζεσθαι ποιεῖν τοῖς προειρημένοις λογισμοῖς. Καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα ἡ ψυχὴ χαμαιπετὴς τυγχάνει. Καὶ γοῦν τῶν γεηπόνων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐπειδὰν φυτὸν βραχὺ καὶ ἀσθενὲς θεάσωνται, ποτίζουσι δαψιλῶς, καί ἐπιμελείας πολλῆς ἀξιοῦσι πρὸς τὸ αὐξηθῆναι. Ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἐν φυτῷ πρόωρον βλάστην θεάσωνται, περιτέμνουσιν αὐτοῦ τά περιττά· φιλεῖ γὰρ ταῦτα ἑτοίμως ξηραίνεσθαι. Καὶ ἰατρῶν δὲ παῖδες τινάς μὲν τῶν ἀρρώστων τρέφουσι δαψιλῶς, καὶ πρὸς περίπατον προτρέπονται· ἐτέρους δὲ δεσμεύοντες, ἀσίτους ἐπὶ πολὺ φυλάττουσιν. ### English translation (Claude) “The one caught by despair must be forced upward by the aforesaid thoughts. For the soul is very much downcast. Indeed the best farmers, when they see a small and weak plant, water it abundantly and give it much care so that it may grow. But when they see an early shoot on a plant, they cut away its superfluous growth; for these tend to dry up quickly. And doctors too feed some of the sick abundantly and urge them to walk, while others they bind and keep without food for a long time.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 55 (PG 28:1520d–1521a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/55). ## Life of Syncletica 56 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-56 - Source: PG 28:1521a–1521b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Humility, the one virtue the devil cannot counterfeit, binds all the others together; the three youths counted the humble among those who praise God. ### Greek text Φανερὸν οὖν ἐστιν, ὡς μέγιστον ἐν κακοῖς ἡ ὑπερηφανία τυγχάνει · καὶ τοῦτο δείκνυσιν αὑτῆς τὸ ἐναντίον, ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη. Δυσχερές ἐστι κτήσασθαί τινα τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην. Εἰ μὴ γάρ τις πάσης δόξης ἐκτὸς γένηται, τούτου τοῦ θησαυροῦ τυχεῖν οὑ δυνήσεται. Οὑτω δέ ἐστι μεγάλη ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη, ὼς πάσας τὰς ἀρετὰς μιμεῖσθαι δοκεῖν τὸν διάβολον, ταύτην δὲ μηδὲ εἰδέναι τί ὅλως ἐστίν. Εἰδὼς δὲ αὑτῆς τὸ ἀσφαλὲς καὶ ἑδραῖον ὁ ἀπόστολος, προστάττει ἡμῖν ταύτην ἐγκομβώσασθαι, καὶ πάντας ποιοῦντας τά ὲπωφελῆ, ταύτην περιβάλλεσθαι. Κάν τε γάρ νηστεύῃς, κᾶν τε ὲλεῇς, κάν τε διδάσκῃς· εί δὲ καὶ σώφρων τυγχάνῃς καὶ συνετὸς, πάλιν ταύτην ἀντὶ τοιχίου ἀρραγοῦς σεαυτῷ παράστησον. Σφιγγέτω σου καὶ συνεχέτω σου τάς ἀρετὰς αὕτη ἡ καλλίστη τῶν ἀπασῶν ἀρετῶν, ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη. Ὁρᾷς καὶ τὴν τῶν ἀγίων τριῶν παίδων ὑμνολογίαν, ὅπως τῶν ἄλλων ἀρετῶν οὑ πάνυ τι μνημονεύσαντες, τοὺς ταπεινοὺς σὺν τοῖς ὑμνοῦσι συγκατηριθμήσαντο, μὴ είρηκότες σώφρονας ἦ ἀκτήμονας. Ὥσπερ γάρ ἀδύνατον ναῦν χωρὶς ἥλων κατασκευασθῆναι, οῦτως ἀδύνατον σωθῆναι χωρὶς ταπεινοφροσύνης. ### English translation (Claude) “It is clear, then, that pride is the greatest among evils; and its opposite, humility, shows this. It is hard for anyone to acquire humility. For unless one is outside all glory, he will not be able to obtain this treasure. So great is humility that the devil seems to imitate all the virtues, but does not even know what this one is. The apostle, knowing its security and firmness, commands us to put it on like an apron, and that all who do what is profitable should clothe themselves with it. Whether you fast, or give alms, or teach, or are chaste and prudent, again set this before yourself as an unbreakable wall. Let this most beautiful of all virtues, humility, bind and hold together your virtues. You see also the hymn of the three holy children, how, hardly mentioning the other virtues, they counted the humble among those who sing praise, not saying the chaste or those without possessions. For as a ship cannot be built without nails, so it is impossible to be saved without humility.” ### Scripture references - 1 Pet 5:5: allusion, high confidence - Col 3:12: allusion, medium confidence ### Extrabiblical texts - Pr Azar 65 (Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - The “hymn of the three children” is the Song of the Three Young Men (Dan 3:87 LXX, “holy and humble of heart”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 56 (PG 28:1521a–1521b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/56). ## Life of Syncletica 57 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-57 - Source: PG 28:1521b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Christ himself put on humility and told us to learn it from him; even after keeping every commandment we must call ourselves unprofitable servants. ### Greek text Ὀτι δὲ ἀγαθὴ καὶ σωτήριος πέφυκεν, ὁ Κύριος, πρὸς ἀνθρώπους οἰκονομίαν πληρῶν, αὐτὴν ἠμφιάσατο. Φησὶ γάρ· Μάθετε ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾶός εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ. Ὅρα τίς ὁ λέγων, τελείως μαθήτευσον· ἀρχή σοι καὶ τέλος τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη γινέσθω. Φρόνησιν λέγω [λέγει] ταπεινὴν, οὐ σχῆμα μόνον, τὸν ἐντὸς ἄνθρωπον αἰνίττεται ἀκολουθήσει γὰρ τούτῳ καὶ ὁ ἐκτός. Πάσας τὰς ὲντολάς πεποίηκας; Οἶδεν ὁ Κύριος · ἀλλʼ αὑτός σοι ἐντέλλεται πάλιν ἀρχὴν δουλείας λαμβάνειν· φησὶ γάρ· Ὅταν πάντα ποιήσητε, εἴπατε· Δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοι ἐσμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “That it is good and saving, the Lord showed: fulfilling his dispensation toward men, he clothed himself with it. For he says: ‘Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.’ See who it is who speaks; be his disciple perfectly; let humility be for you the beginning and end of good things. He means a humble mind, not only an outward form; he hints at the inner man, for the outer will follow it. Have you done all the commandments? The Lord knows; but he himself commands you to take again the beginning of servitude; for he says: ‘When you have done all things, say: We are unprofitable servants.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 11:29: quotation, high confidence - Luke 17:10: quotation, high confidence - Phil 2:7: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - In the scan the lines of this passage are interleaved; they are restored to their evident order by a logged correction. Migne prints “λέγω [λέγει]”; “He means” follows the bracketed reading. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 57 (PG 28:1521b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/57). ## Life of Syncletica 58 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-58 - Source: PG 28:1521b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Humility grows through insults and blows, which Christ himself endured. ### Greek text Ἦ οὖν ταπεινοφροσύνη κατορθοῦται διʼ ὀνειδισμῶν, διʼ ὕβρεων, διὰ πληγῶν· ἵνα ἀκούσῃς ἄφρων καὶ μωρὸς, πένης καὶ πτωχὸς, ἀσθενὴς καὶ εὐτελὴς, ἀπρόκοπος έν ἔργοις, ἄλογος ἐν προφορᾷ, ἄτιμος ὲν εἴδει, ἀσθενὴς εν δυνάμει. Ταῦτα τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης τά νεῦρα. Ταῦτα ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν ἤκουσε καὶ πέπονθε. Σαμαρείτην γὰρ αὑτὸν εἶπαν καὶ δαιμόνιον ἔχοντα. Δούλου μορφὴν ἀνείληφεν, ὲραπίσθη, πληγαῖς ᾐκίσθη. ### English translation (Claude) “Humility, then, is achieved through reproaches, insults and blows: that you hear yourself called senseless and foolish, poor and beggarly, weak and cheap, unsuccessful in works, inarticulate in speech, without honor in appearance, weak in strength. These are the sinews of humility. These things our Lord heard and suffered. For they called him a Samaritan and one who had a demon. He took the form of a servant, he was struck, he was tormented with blows.” ### Scripture references - John 8:48: allusion, high confidence - Phil 2:7: allusion, high confidence - Matt 26:67: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 58 (PG 28:1521b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/58). ## Life of Syncletica 59 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-59 - Source: PG 28:1521b–1524a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Feigned humility is exposed when the slightest insult provokes venom. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν καὶ ἡμᾶς μιμεῖσθαι τὴν ἔμπρακτον ταύτην ταπεινοφροσύνην. Εἰσὶ μὲν οὖν τινες καὶ διὰ τῶν ἐκτὸς σχημάτων ὑποκρινόμενοι, καὶ ταπεινοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς, αὑτῷ τούτῳ δόξαν θηρώμενοι· ἀλλʼ ἐκ τῶν καρπῶν ἐπιγινώσκονται· καὶ γὰρ ἐπιπολαίως ὑβρισθέντες, οὐκ ἤνεγκαν· ἀλλά παραυτά ὥσπερ ὄφεις τὸν ἑαυτῶν ἱὸν ὲξέμεσαν. ### English translation (Claude) “We too, then, must imitate this humility in deed. There are some who act a part even through outward forms, humbling themselves and hunting glory by this very thing; but they are known by their fruits; for when insulted even lightly they did not bear it, but at once spewed out their venom like snakes.” ### Scripture references - Matt 7:16: allusion, high confidence - Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX): allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 59 (PG 28:1521b–1524a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/59). ## Life of Syncletica 60 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-60 - Source: PG 28:1524a–1524b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Coming to God means struggle at first and then unspeakable joy, as lighting a fire means smoke and tears before the flame; some give up through impatience. ### Greek text Ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις δὲ τούτοις ἡγαλλιῶντο αἱ συνελθοῦσαι σφόδρα, και πάλιν προσεκαρτέρουν, κόρον τῶν ἀγαθῶν μὴ λαμβάνουσαι. Καὶ πάλιν πρὸς αὐτὰς ἔλεγεν ἡ μακαρία· Ἀγών ἐστι πολὺς τοῖς προσερχομένοις Θεῷ καὶ κόπος τὰ πρῶτα, ἔπειτα δὲ χαρά ἀνεκδιήγητος. Ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ πῦρ ἐξάψαι βουλόμενος πρῶτον καπνίζονται καὶ δακρύουσι, καὶ οὕτως τοῦ ζητουμένου τυγχάνουσι· καὶ γάρ φησιν · Ὀ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πῦρ καταναλίσκον· οὕτω δεῖ καὶ ἡμᾶς τὸ θεῖον πῦρ εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἐξάψαι μετὰ δακρύων καὶ κόπου. Αὐτὸς γάρ φησιν ὁ Κύριος· Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν. Καί τινες διʼ ὀλιγωρίαν τοῦ μὲν καπνοῦ ἠνέσχοντο, τὸ δὲ πῦρ οὐκ ἐξῆψαν, διὰ τὸ μακροθυμίας αὐτοὺς ἐκτὸς εἶναι, καῖ μᾶλλον αὐτῶν τὴν περὶ τὸ θεῖον σχέσιν ἀσθενῆ καὶ ἀμυδρὰν τυγχάνειν. ### English translation (Claude) At these words those gathered rejoiced greatly, and they persevered again, never having their fill of good things. And again the blessed one said to them: “There is great struggle and toil at first for those who come to God, and afterwards joy unspeakable. For as those who wish to kindle a fire are first smoked and weep, and so obtain what they seek (for it says, ‘Our God is a consuming fire’), so we too must kindle the divine fire in ourselves with tears and toil. For the Lord himself says: ‘I came to cast fire upon the earth.’ And some, through carelessness, put up with the smoke but did not kindle the fire, because they lacked patience, and still more because their attachment to God was weak and dim.” ### Scripture references - 1 Pet 1:8: allusion, medium confidence - Heb 12:29: quotation, high confidence - Luke 12:49: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 60 (PG 28:1524a–1524b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/60). ## Life of Syncletica 61 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-61 - Source: PG 28:1524b–1524c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Love is the greatest good and anger a great evil; for every weapon of the devil the Lord provides a stronger virtue. ### Greek text Ὀθεν μέγα κειμήλιον ἡ ἀγάπη· καὶ περὶ ταύτης δὲ διαβεβαιούμενος ὁ Ἀπόστολος ἔλεγεν, ὡς Ἐάν πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα διανείμῃς, καὶ τὸ σῶμα 13mπιάσῃς, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχῃς, γέγονας χαλκὸς ἠχῶν καὶ κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον. Μέγα οὖν ὲν ἀγαθοῖς ἡ ἀγάπη, ὡς καὶ δεινὸν ὲν κακοῖς ὁ θυμός · πᾶσαν γὰρ τὴν ψυχὴν σκοτίσας καὶ ἀποθηριώσας, εἰς ἀλογίαν φέρει, Ὁ δὲ Κύριος, πανταχόσε τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν κηδόμενος, οὐδʼ ὅλως συνεχώρησε βραχύ τι ἀσκεπὲς τῆς ψυχῆς. Λαγνείαν κινεῖ ὁ ὲχθρός; σωφροσύνῃ ἡμᾶς ό Κύριος ὥπλισεν. ’Υπερηφανίαν γεννᾷ; ἀλλʼ ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη οῦ μακρὰν τυγχάνει. Μῖσος ἐνεφύσησεν; ἀλλʼ ἡ ἀγάπη ὲν μέσῳ παρίσταται. Ὅσα οὖν ὁ ἐχθρὸς καθʼ ἡμῶν κινεῖ βέλη, πλείοσιν ἡμᾶς ὁ Κύριος ὅπλοις ἠσφαλίσατο, πρός τε τὴν ἡμῶν σωτηρίαν καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου κατάπτωσιν. ### English translation (Claude) “Hence love is a great treasure; and the apostle, affirming this, said: ‘If you distribute all your possessions and give your body to be burned, but do not have love, you have become sounding brass and a clanging cymbal.’ Great, then, among good things is love, as anger is terrible among evils; for, darkening and brutalizing the whole soul, it carries it into unreason. But the Lord, caring for our salvation on every side, did not leave any part of the soul uncovered at all. Does the enemy stir up lust? The Lord has armed us with chastity. Does he beget pride? Humility is not far away. Has he breathed in hatred? Love stands in the midst. However many darts, then, the enemy moves against us, the Lord has secured us with more weapons, both for our salvation and for his downfall.” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 13:3: quotation, high confidence - 1 Cor 13:1: quotation, high confidence - Eph 6:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - “Give your body to be burned” renders a garbled word (“13mπιάσῃς”); 1 Cor 13:3 is quoted loosely. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 61 (PG 28:1524b–1524c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/61). ## Life of Syncletica 62 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-62 - Source: PG 28:1524c–1524d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Anger should be directed against the demons, not against people, whom one should correct only after anger has passed. ### Greek text Κακὸν μὲν ὲν κακοῖς ὁ θυμός· Ὀργὴ γὰρ, φησὶν, ἀνδρὸς δικαιοσύνην Θεοῦ οὐ κατεργάζεται. Δεῖ οὖν αὐτὸν ἡνιοχεῖν· ὅτι ὲν καιρῷ χρήσιμος ὤφθη θυμοῦσθαι γὰρ καὶ κινεῖσθαι κατά τῶν δαιμόνων συμφέρει. Πρὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπον σφοδρῶς κινεῖσθαι οὔ προσήκει, κᾶν ἁμαρτήσας τυγχάνῃ · ἐπιστρέφειν αὑτὸν δεῖ μετά τὸ παύσασθαι τὸ τῆς ὀργῆς πάθος. ### English translation (Claude) “Anger is an evil among evils; ‘for the anger of man,’ it says, ‘does not work the righteousness of God.’ One must, then, rein it in, because at the right time it has proved useful: for it is profitable to be angry and stirred against the demons. But it is not fitting to be stirred violently against a person, even if he has sinned; one must turn him back after the passion of anger has stopped.” ### Scripture references - Jas 1:20: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 62 (PG 28:1524c–1524d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/62). ## Life of Syncletica 63 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-63 - Source: PG 28:1524d–1525a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Bearing grudges is worse than anger, for anger passes like smoke but a grudge hardens the soul beyond any beast; it disobeys Christ’s command to be reconciled. ### Greek text Καὶ τὸ μὲν ὀργίζεσθαι ὡς ὲν κακοῖς ἔλαττον· ἡ δὲ μνησικακία πάντων ἐστὶ βαρυτέρα. '0 γὰρ θυμὸς ὥσπερ καπνὸς πρὸς ὀλίγον θολώσας τὴν ψυχὴν διαλύεται· ἡ δὲ μνησικακία, ὥσπερ ὲναποπαγεῖσα τῇ ψυχῇ, θηρίου, αὐτὴν δεινοτέραν ποιεῖ· καὶ, κύων μὲν, κατά τινος ἐκμανεὶς, ὑπὸ τῆς τροφῆς θωπευθεὶς, μεταβάλλεται τῆς ὀργῆς· καὶ τάλλα δὲ θηρία ὑπὸ τῆς συνηθείας μειλίσσεται· ὁ δέ γε τῇ μνησικακίᾳ κρατούμενος οὐ παρακλήσει πείθεται, οὐ τροφῇ πραΰνεται, οὔτε μὴν ὁ πάντα μεταβάλλων χρόνος τὸ πάθος τούτου ἰάσατο. Οὗτοι οὖν ἀσεβέστατοι πάντων εἰσὶ καὶ ἀνομώτατοι. Οὐ γὰρ ὑπακούουσι τοῦ Σωτῆρος λέγοντος, ὡς Ὕπαγε, πρῶτον διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου· καὶ οὕτω πρόσαγε τὸ δῶρόν σου· καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ· Μὴ ἐπιδυέτω, φησὶν, ὁ ἥλιος ἐπὶ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν. ### English translation (Claude) “To be angry is lesser among evils; but the remembrance of wrongs is heavier than all. For anger, like smoke, troubles the soul for a little and is dissolved; but the remembrance of wrongs, as if congealed in the soul, makes it more terrible than a beast. A dog that has raged against someone, when coaxed with food, changes from its anger, and other beasts are soothed by familiarity; but one ruled by the remembrance of wrongs is not persuaded by entreaty, not softened by food, nor has time, which changes everything, healed his passion. These, then, are the most impious and lawless of all. For they do not obey the Savior who says: ‘Go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then offer your gift’; and elsewhere: ‘Let not the sun go down,’ it says, ‘on your anger.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 5:24: quotation, high confidence - Eph 4:26: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 63 (PG 28:1524d–1525a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/63). ## Life of Syncletica 64 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-64 - Source: PG 28:1525a–1525b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Anger must not outlast the day; one should hate the devil who causes the wrong, not the person; Ps 52 threatens the grudge-bearer with destruction. ### Greek text Καλὸν μὲν οὗν τὸ μὴ ὀργισθῆναι· εί δὲ καὶ γένηται, οὐδὲ μέτρον σοι ἡμέρας πρὸς τὸ πάθος συνεχώρησεν, εἷπε γὰρ μὴ έπιδῠναι τὸν ἥλιον. Σὺ δὲ ἐκδέχῃ, ἕως ἂν ὁ πᾶς σου χρόνος δύῃ. Οὐκ οἶδας είπείν· Ἀρκεῖ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἢ κακία αὐτῆς. Τί μισεῖς τὸν λυπήσαντα ἄνθρωπον ; Οὐκ αὐτὸς ἦν ό ἀδικήσας, ἀλλʼ ὁ διάβολος. Μίσησον τὴν νόσον, καὶ μὴ τὸν νοσοῦντα· Τί ἐγκαυχᾷ ἐν κακίᾳ, ὁ δυνατός; Περὶ ὑμῶν τοῦτο ὁ ψαλμὸς ἐβόησεν· Ἀνομίαν γὰρ, φησὶν, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν· τουτέστι, πάντα τὸν τῆς ζωῆς σου χρόνον παρακούεις τοῦ νομοθέτου τοῦ λέγοντος· Μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ὁ ἥλιος ἐπὶ τῷ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν. Φησὶ δὲ, ὡς Ἀδικίαν ἐλογίσατο ἡ γλῶσσά σου· οὐ παύῃ γὰρ βλασφημῶν τὸν ἀδελφόν σου, Ὅθεν δικαία σοι ή τιμωρία παρʼ αὑτοῦ τοῦ ’Υμνῳδοϋ ὲκ τοῦ Πνεύματος προσφέρεται· Διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ, φησὶν, ό Θεὸς καθελεῖ σε είς τέλος, ἐκτίλαι σε καί μεταναστεῦσαί σε ἀπὸ σκηνώματός σου, καὶ τὸ ῥίζωμὰ σου ἐκ γῆς ζώντων. Ταῦτα τῷ μνησικάκῳ τὰ δῶρα· ταῦτα τῆς κακίας τὰ ἔπαθλα. ### English translation (Claude) “It is good, then, not to be angry; but if it happens, he did not allow you even the measure of a day for the passion, for he said that the sun should not go down. But you wait until all your time goes down. You do not know how to say: ‘Sufficient for the day is its evil.’ Why do you hate the person who grieved you? It was not he who wronged you but the devil. Hate the disease and not the sick person. ‘Why do you boast in wickedness, O mighty one?’ The psalm cried this out about you: ‘For lawlessness,’ it says, ‘all the day’; that is, all the time of your life you disobey the Lawgiver who says: ‘Let not the sun go down on your anger.’ And it says: ‘Your tongue devised injustice’; for you do not stop slandering your brother. Hence a just punishment is brought on you by the psalmist himself from the Spirit: ‘Therefore,’ it says, ‘God will destroy you forever, pluck you out and remove you from your dwelling, and your root from the land of the living.’ These are the gifts for the one who bears grudges; these are the prizes of wickedness.” ### Scripture references - Eph 4:26: quotation, high confidence - Matt 6:34: quotation, high confidence - Ps 52:1 (51:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 52:2 (51:4 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 52:5 (51:7 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 64 (PG 28:1525a–1525b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/64). ## Life of Syncletica 65 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-65 - Source: PG 28:1525b–1525c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Grudges, envy and slander seem small but kill the soul unnoticed, while great sins are often healed by repentance. ### Greek text Φυλάττεσθαι οὖν δέον ἀπὸ μνησικακίας· πολλά γὰρ αὐτῇ ἀκολουθοῦσι δεινὰ, φθόνος, λύπη, καταλαλιά. Θανατηφόρος ἡ τούτων κακία, κάν μικρά δοκῇ τυγχάνειν. Ταῦτα μὲν γὰρ ὥσπερ βέλη λεπτά τοῦ ἐχθροῦ τυγχάνουσι. Καὶ πολλάκις τὰ ἀπὸ διστόμου μαχαίρας καὶ μείζονος ξίφους τραύματα, οἶά ἐστι πορνεία καὶ πλεονεξία, καὶ φόνος, ἰάθησαν πολλάκις διὰ τοῦ σωτηρίου φαρμάκου τῆς μετανοίας· ὑπερηφανία δὲ ἢ μνησικακία, ἢ καταλαλιὰ, ὥσπερ μικρά δοκοῦντα εἶναι· βέλη, λανθανόντως ἀνεῖλαν, κατὰ τῶν καιριωτέρων τῆς ψυχῆς μορίων παγέντα. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐ τῷ μεγέθει ἀναιρεῖ τῆς πληγῆς, ἀλλά τῇ ἀμελείᾳ τῶν· τρωθέντων· ὼς μηδενὸς γὰρ ὄντων καταφρονήσαντες τῆς τε καταλαλιᾶς καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν, κατὰ μικρὸν ὕπʼ αὐτῶν διεφθάρησαν. ### English translation (Claude) “We must, then, guard against the remembrance of wrongs; for many terrible things follow it: envy, grief, slander. The wickedness of these is deadly, even if it seems small. For these are like the light arrows of the enemy. Often the wounds from the two-edged blade and the greater sword, such as fornication, greed and murder, have been healed by the saving medicine of repentance; but pride, or the remembrance of wrongs, or slander, like arrows that seem small, have killed unnoticed, lodged in the more vital parts of the soul. They kill not by the size of the wound but by the negligence of the wounded; for, despising slander and the rest as nothing, people have been destroyed by them little by little.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 65 (PG 28:1525b–1525c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/65). ## Life of Syncletica 66 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-66 - Source: PG 28:1525c–1525d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Listening to slander stains prayer and colors one’s view of everyone, so one should refuse to hear it. ### Greek text Βαρὺ οὖν καὶ μοχθηρὸν ἠ καταλαλιά. τροφὴ γὰρ καὶ ἀνάπαυλά τινων ἀνθρώπων τυγχάνει. Σὺ δὲ μὴ παραδέξῃ ἀκοὴν ματαίαν, μὴ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων κακῶν δοχεῖον γένῃ. Ἀπέριττον σεαυτοῦ τὴν ψυχὴν παρασκεύαζε. Ὑποδεξαμένη γάρ τὴν δυσώδη τῶν λόγων ἀκαθαρσίαν, κηλίδας τῇ εὐχῇ σου προσάξεις διὰ τῶν λογισμῶν, καὶ ἀναιτίως μισήσεις τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας. Καταβαφείσης γάρ σου τῆς ἀκοῆς ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν κακολογούντων ἀπανθρωπίας, ἀγεννῶς πᾶσιν ὲνατενίσεις· καθάπερ ό ὀφθαλμὸς, χρώματι ἀκρατέστερον προληφθεὶς, ἀδιάκριτον ἔχει περὶ τὰ ὁρώμενα τὴν φαντασιαν. ### English translation (Claude) “Slander, then, is grievous and wicked; for it is food and recreation for some people. But do not receive a vain report; do not become a receptacle for others’ evils. Keep your soul free of superfluities. For if you receive the foul uncleanness of words, you will bring stains on your prayer through your thoughts, and you will hate without cause those you meet. For when your hearing has been dyed by the inhumanity of those who speak evil, you will look on all ignobly; as the eye, overcome by too strong a color, has an indistinct impression of what it sees.” ### Scripture references - Exod 23:1: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 66 (PG 28:1525c–1525d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/66). ## Life of Syncletica 67 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/33/#p-67 - Source: PG 28:1525d–1528a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: One must neither speak nor listen to slander, but be like the deaf and mute of the psalm. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν φυλάττεσθαι τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ τὴν ἀκοὴν, πρὸς τὸ μήτε λέγειν τι τοιοῦτον, μήτε ἀκούειν ἐμπαθῶς. Γέγραπται γὰρ, ὡς Μὴ ἀκοὴν ματαίαν παραδέξασθαι· καὶ, Τ ὧν malrum",th λάᾴα τῷ πλησίον αὑτοῦ, τοῦτον ἐξεδίωκον. Ἐν at“; Ψαλμῳδῷ φησινʼ Ὅπως ἂν μὴ λαλήσῃ τὸ στόμα μου τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ τὰ μὴ ἔργα λαλοῦμεν. Δέον οὖν μὴ πιστεύειν τοῖς λεγομένοις, μήτε μὴν κατακρίνειν τοὺς λέγοντας· ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὴν Θείαν Γραφὴν ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν· Ἐγὼ δὲ ὡσεί κωφὸς οὐκ ἢκουον, καὶ ὡσεὶ ἅλαλος οὐκ ἀνοίγων τὸ στόμα μου. ### English translation (Claude) “One must, then, guard the tongue and the hearing, so as neither to say anything of this kind nor to hear it with passion. For it is written: ‘Do not receive a vain report’; and: ‘Whoever slandered his neighbor in secret, him I drove out.’ And the psalmist says: ‘That my mouth may not speak of the works of men.’ But we speak even of things that are not works. One must, then, neither believe what is said nor condemn those who say it, but act and speak according to divine Scripture: ‘But I, like a deaf man, did not hear, and like a mute who does not open his mouth.’” ### Scripture references - Exod 23:1: quotation, high confidence - Ps 101:5 (100:5 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 17:4 (16:4 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 38:13 (37:14 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The second quotation (Ps 101:5) is garbled in the scan (“Τ ὧν malrum",th λάᾴα”) and is translated from the psalm. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 67 (PG 28:1525d–1528a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/67). ## Life of Syncletica 68 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-68 - Source: PG 28:1528a–1528b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: One should not gloat over others’ misfortunes, since in this life the same things befall righteous and sinner. ### Greek text Οὐ δεῖ ἐπὶ συμφορᾷ ἀνθρώπου ἐπιχαίρειν, κᾶν πάνυ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὑπάρχῃ. Τινὲς μὲν γὰρ, Θεασάμενοι μαστιζόμενον ἢ φυλακιζόμενον, ἀμαθῶς τὴν κοσμικὴν ἐκείνην παροιμίαν ἔφασαν, τὴν λέγουσαν, ὡς Ὁ στρώσας κακῶς ταλαιπωρήσει ἐν τῷ δείπνῳ. Σὺ οὖν, ἡ καλῶς στρώσασα ἑαυτῇ τὰ πράγματα, θαρρεῖς ἀναπαυθῆναι ὲν τῷ βίῳ; Καὶ τί ποιήσομεν τὸν λέγοντα ὡς, Ἔν συνάντημα τῷ δικαίῳ καὶ τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ ; Ἠ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἡμῶν διαγωγὴ μία ἐστὶ, κᾶν διάφορον πολιτείαν ἔχωμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “One must not rejoice at a person’s misfortune, even if he is a great sinner. For some, seeing someone flogged or imprisoned, have ignorantly quoted that worldly proverb which says: ‘He who made his bed badly will suffer at dinner.’ Do you, then, who have made your affairs well for yourself, feel confident of resting in this life? And what shall we make of the one who says: ‘One event happens to the righteous and the sinner’? For here our way of life is one, even if our conduct is different.” ### Scripture references - Eccl 9:2: quotation, high confidence - Prov 24:17: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The proverb is unidentified. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 68 (PG 28:1528a–1528b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68). ## Life of Syncletica 69 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-69 - Source: PG 28:1528b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Christ commands love of enemies; loving the lovable needs no effort, but overcoming evil requires divine teaching and toil. ### Greek text Οὐ δεῖ μισεῖν τοὺς ἐχθρούς. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος τῇ ίδίᾳ φωνῇ τοῦτο ἡμῖν προσέταξε. Φησὶ γὰρ, ὡς Μὴ μόνον τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ἀγαπᾶτε· τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι ποιοῦσι. Τὸ γὰρ καλὸν οὐ δεῖται τέχνης καὶ ἀγῶνος πρὸς θήραν· ἑαυτῷ γὰρ ἐφέλκεται τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας· τὸ δὲ φαῦλον τῆς Θείας διδασκαλίας χρῄζει πρὸς ἀπάλειψιν, καὶ κόπου πολλοῦ. Οὐ γὰρ ἀνέτων καὶ ἀμερίμνων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία οὐρανῶν, ἀλλά βιαστῶν. ### English translation (Claude) “One must not hate one’s enemies. For the Lord commanded this to us with his own voice. For he says: ‘Do not love only those who love you; for sinners and tax collectors do this too.’ For the good needs no art and struggle to be hunted, for it draws those who love it to itself; but the bad needs divine teaching to be wiped away, and much toil. For the kingdom of heaven belongs not to the easy and carefree but to the violent.” ### Scripture references - Matt 5:44: allusion, high confidence - Matt 5:46: quotation, high confidence - Matt 11:12: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 69 (PG 28:1528b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/69). ## Life of Syncletica 70 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-70 - Source: PG 28:1528c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Ps 18:26 does not mean one should avoid sinners for fear of corruption, but that one should draw the crooked to the right. ### Greek text Ὠσπερ οὖν οὐ δεῖ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς μισεῖν, οὕτως οὐδὲ τοὺς ἀμελεῖς καὶ ῥᾳθύμους φεύγειν καὶ μυκτηρίζειν. Τινὲς μὲν οὖν τὸ γραφικὸν ἐκεῖνο ῥητὸν ἑαυτοῖς προσφέρουσιν, ὡς Μετὰ ὁσίου ὅσιος ἔσῃ, καὶ μετὰ στρεβλοῦ συνδιαστρέψεις. Διά τοῦτο, φησὶν, ἀποφεύγομεν τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς, πρὸς τὸ παρʼ αὐτῶν μὴ διαστραφῆναι. Ἀγνοίᾳ dar]; οἱ τοιοῦτοι τὰ ἐναντία πράττουσι. Προστάττει γὰρ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον οὐ μετὰ τῶν στρεβλῶν συνδιαστραφῆναι, ἀλλὰ τῆς στρεβλῆς αὐτοὺς ἐπανορθώσασθαι. Συνδιαστρέψεις γὰρ, τουτέστι, συνελκύσεις αὑτὸν πρὸς σεαυτὸν, ὲκ τῶν ἀριστερῶν ἐπὶ τὰ δεξιά. ### English translation (Claude) “As one must not hate enemies, so one must not flee and sneer at the negligent and lazy. Some apply to themselves that saying of Scripture: ‘With the holy you will be holy, and with the perverse you will be perverted.’ ‘For this reason,’ they say, ‘we flee sinners, so as not to be perverted by them.’ Through ignorance such people do the opposite. For the Holy Spirit commands not that one be perverted with the perverse but that one correct them from their perversity. For ‘you will twist along with’ means: you will draw him along to yourself, from the left to the right.” ### Scripture references - Ps 18:26 (17:27 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The interpretation of Ps 18:26 (LXX 17:27) plays on the Greek verb συνδιαστρέφω (“twist together”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 70 (PG 28:1528c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/70). ## Life of Syncletica 71 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-71 - Source: PG 28:1528c–1529b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Of three kinds of people, the wicked worsen sinners, the middling avoid them for fear of contagion, and the perfect live among them to save them, like Christ eating with sinners, enduring insults out of love. ### Greek text Τρεῖς γνωμῶν ἰδέαι κατά τὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίον τυγχάνουσιν· ὧν ἡ μὲν πρώτη ἐστὶ τῆς ἀκροτάτης κακίας, ἡ δὲ δευτέρα μέσης τινὸς καταστάσεως· ὥσπερ γὰρ πρὸς τὰς ἀμφοτέρας σκοπεῖ τῶν ὁποτέρων μετέχουσα σ ἡ δὲ τρίτη, εἰς μέγεθος Θεωρίας ἀχθεῖσα, οὺ μόνον ἑαυτὴν συσφίγγει, ἁλλά γε καὶ τὰς τελευταίας πειρᾶται χειραγωγεῖν. Οἱ μὲν οὖν κακοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τοῖς χείροσι μιγνύμενοι, ἐπεὶ πλείω τῶν δεινῶν ποιοῦνται τὴν αὔξησιν· οἱ δέ γε μέσοι ἀποφεύγειν τοὺς ἀκολάστους πειρῶνται, αὐτὸ τοῦτο δεδοικότες, μὴ πάλιν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν καθελκυσθῶσι· νήπιοι γὰρ ἔτι τῶν ἀρετῶν τυγχάνουσιν· οἱ δὲ τρίτοι, ἀνδρείαν τὴν γνώμην ἔχοντες καὶ κραταιὸν τὸ φρόνημα, συνδιάγουσι τοῖς φαύλοις καὶ συνδιαιτῶνται, σῶσαι αὐτοὺς βουλόμενοι. Καὶ γοῦν ὑπὸ τῶν ἔξωθεν ὀνειδίζονται· καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θεωρούντων δὲ αὐτοὺς συνδιάγοντας τοῖς ἀμελεστέροις χλευάζονται· καὶ γάρ αὐτοὺς ὡς ὁμοίους αὐτῶν διαβάλλουσιν. υἱ δὲ ώς ἐπαίνους τὰ παρά τῶν ἀνθ ρώπων ἀκούοντες, ἀδεῶς τὸ θεῖον ἔργον ἐκτελοῦσι. Χαίρετε γὰρ, φησι, καί ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅταν πᾶν ψεῦδος εἴπωσι καθʼ ὑμῶν οι ἅνθρωποι. Δεσποτικὴ μὲν οὖν τούτων ἡ πρᾶξιςο καὶ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος μετά τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἤσθιε · μᾶλλον δὲ φιλάδελφος ἠ τούτων γνώμη ἢπερ φίλαυτος2 Ὠσπερ γάρ ἐμπρησμοὺς οἰκιῶν ὁρῶντες τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας, καὶ τῶν ἰδίων καταφρονήσαντες, τάξ ἀλλότρια καὶ ἀπολλύμενα σώζειν διισχυρίζονταιο καὶ περιφλεγόμενοι ἐκ τῶν καυστικῶν ὕβρεων, ἀνέχονται. Οί δέ γε μέσοι ἐὰν ἴδωσι τὸν ἀδελφὸν ὑπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας φλεγόμενον, ἀποφεύγουσι, δεδοικότες μὴ καὶ είς αὐτοὺς τὸ πῦρ διανεμηθῇ. Ui δέ γε τρίτοι, χαλεπῶν γειτόνων δίκην ἐπέχοντες, τοὺς καιομένους ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἐξάπτουσιν, ὔλας αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἀπώλειαν, τὴν οἰκείαν κακίαν προσφέροντες. Ὠσπερ γὰρ πισσηρῷ διαλαβόντες πλοίῳ, ἀντὶ ὓδατος κεδρίαν ἐπιβάλλουσιν. Ui δέ γε ἐναντίοι τούτοις, oi ἀγαθοὶ, τά οἰκεῖα κτήματα δεύτερα ἔθεντο τῆς ἐκείνων σωτηρίας. Ταῦτα τῆς άληθινῆς ἀγάπης τά τεκμήρια· οὗτοι τῆς εἰλικρινοῦς ἀγάπης οἱ φύλακες. ### English translation (Claude) “There are three kinds of disposition in human life. The first belongs to the utmost wickedness, the second to a middle state, for it looks toward both, sharing in each; the third, brought to greatness of contemplation, not only holds itself together but also tries to lead the last by the hand. The wicked among people, mixing with the worse, increase their evils; the middling try to flee the licentious, fearing precisely this, that they may be dragged down again by them, for they are still infants in the virtues; but the third, having a courageous disposition and a strong mind, live and spend their time with the bad, wishing to save them. And they are reproached by outsiders, and mocked by those who see them spending time with the more negligent; for they slander them as being like them. But these, hearing what people say as if it were praise, fearlessly carry out the divine work. ‘For rejoice,’ it says, ‘and be glad, when men say all kinds of falsehood against you.’ Their conduct is the Master’s own; for the Lord ate with tax collectors and sinners; and their disposition is rather brother-loving than self-loving. For, seeing sinners like houses on fire, and neglecting their own things, they strive to save what belongs to others and is perishing; and, scorched by burning insults, they endure. But the middling, if they see their brother burning with sin, flee, fearing that the fire may spread to them. And the first, like bad neighbors, kindle those who are burning still more, adding their own wickedness as fuel for their destruction. As if they had taken hold of a pitch-covered ship, they throw on cedar oil instead of water. But the good, opposite to these, have counted their own possessions second to the salvation of those others. These are the proofs of true love; these are the guardians of sincere love.” ### Scripture references - Matt 5:11: quotation, high confidence - Matt 9:10: allusion, high confidence - Jude 1:23: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 71 (PG 28:1528c–1529b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/71). ## Life of Syncletica 72 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-72 - Source: PG 28:1529b–1529c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As vices follow from greed, the virtues follow from love, which cannot be attained without poverty, since love extends to all. ### Greek text Ὥσπερ δὲ τά δεινά ἓν διʼ ἐνὸς ἤρτηται· τῇ γὰρ φιλαργυρίᾳ ἀκολουθεῖ φθόνος, δόλος, ἐπιορκία, θυμὸς, μνησικακία· οὕτω τά ἐναντία τούτων τῆς ἀγάπης ἔχεται · πραΰτης δὴ λέγω καὶ μακροθυμία, καὶ ἀνεξικακία, καὶ τὸ τέλειον ἀγαθὸν, ἠ ἀκτημοσύνη. Οὐκ ἐνδέχεται γάρ τινα ταύτης ’τῆς ἀρετῆς, λέγω δὴ τῆς ἀγάπης, ἐφικέσθαι, εἰ μὴ ἐκ τῆς ἀκτημοσύνης· οὐ γὰρ πρὸς ἕνα ἄνθρωπον ὁ Κύριος τὴν ἀγάπην ἐνετείλατο, ἀλλά πρὸς ἅπαντας. Οὐκοῦν οὐ δέον ἔχοντας παριδεῖν τοὺς χρῄζοντας. ’Υποκλέπτεται (οι) γάρ τὸ τῆς ἀγάπης. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ πᾶσιν ἐξαρκεῖν ἀδύνατον ἀνθρώπῳ · Θεοῦ δὲ τοῦτο ἔργον. ### English translation (Claude) “As evils hang one upon another (for envy, deceit, perjury, anger and remembrance of wrongs follow love of money), so their opposites hold to love: I mean meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and the perfect good, poverty. For no one can attain this virtue, I mean love, except through poverty; for the Lord commanded love not toward one person but toward all. So it is not right for those who have to overlook those in need; for what belongs to love is stolen away. To suffice for all is impossible for a human being; this is the work of God.” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 13:4: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 72 (PG 28:1529b–1529c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/72). ## Life of Syncletica 73 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-73 - Source: PG 28:1529c–1529d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Almsgiving, commanded to those in the world, is a training in love, as circumcision foreshadowed circumcision of the heart; those who have nothing should not seek property in order to give alms. ### Greek text Τί οὖν, φησὶν, ὁ μὴ ἔχων, περί ἐλεημοσύνης ἀγωνίζῃ, καὶ αὕτη σοι πρόφασις τοῦ κτήσασθαι γίνεο ταις Κοσμικοῑς τοῦτο προστέτακται. Οὐ γάρ τοσοῦτον πρὸς τὸ τραφῆναι τὸν πένητα ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη ὥρισται, ὅσον διὰ τῆν ἀγάπην. Ὁ γὰρ τὸν πλούσιον διοικῶν Θεὸς καὶ τὸν πένητα τρέφει. Περιττῶς οὖν ἠ ἐλεημοσύνη προσετάγη; Μὴ γένοιτο ιάλλά ἀρχὴ τῆς ἀγάιιὲηςετοῑὶς μὴ. εἰδόσι γίνεται. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ύπογραμμὸς ἦν η τῆς ἀκροβυστίας περιτομὴ τῆς καρδίας, οὔτως ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη τῆς ἀγάπης διδάσκαλος κατέστη. Οἷς οὖν ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ χάριτος ἐδόθη περιττὴ ή ἐλεημοσύνη. ### English translation (Claude) “Why, then, it says, do you who have nothing strive over almsgiving, and does this become for you a pretext for acquiring? This has been commanded to those in the world. For almsgiving was appointed not so much for the feeding of the poor as for the sake of love. For God, who governs the rich, also feeds the poor. Was almsgiving, then, commanded needlessly? Far from it; but it becomes the beginning of love for those who do not know it. For as the circumcision of the foreskin was an outline of the circumcision of the heart, so almsgiving was made the teacher of love. For those, then, to whom love has been given by grace, almsgiving is superfluous.” ### Scripture references - Rom 2:29: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Part of the text is garbled (“ἀρχὴ τῆς ἀγάιιὲηςετοῑὶς μὴ. εἰδόσι”); translated by the evident sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 73 (PG 28:1529c–1529d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/73). ## Life of Syncletica 74 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-74 - Source: PG 28:1529d–1532a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Having given everything away, the ascetic should aim at love, like the apostles who left all and had no silver or gold. ### Greek text Οὐ διαβάλλουσα τὸν ἔλεον ταῦτα λεγω · ἀλλά τῆς ἀκτημοσύνης τὸ καθαρὸν δεικνύουσα. Μὴ γινέ- ” σθω οὖν κώλυσις τὸ ἔλαττον τοῦ μείζονος. Ἐν ὀλίγῳ τὸ μικρὸν κατώρθωσας· πάντα γὰρ ὑφʼ ἓν δέδωκας· πρὸς τὸ μεῖζον λοιπὸν ἀνάνευσον, τὴν ἀγάπην. Σταυροφόρος γάρ τυγχάνεις. Σὺ τὴν ἐλευθέραν φωνὴν ὀφείλεις εἰπεῖν, τὸ, ἰδοὺ πάντα ἀφήκαμεν, καί ῆκολουθήσαμέν σοι. Σὺ τὴν εὐπαρρησίαστον γλῶτταν τῶν ἀποστόλων μιμήσασθαι κατηξιώθης. Φησὶ γὰρ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης, ὡς Χρυσίου· καὶ ἀργύριον οὐχ ὑπάρχει μοι. Διπλῆ μὲν ή γλῶττα, ἀλλὰ μονότροπος ή πίστις. ### English translation (Claude) “I do not say these things to disparage mercy, but to show the purity of poverty. Let not the lesser be a hindrance to the greater. In a little you have accomplished the small thing, for you gave everything at once; now look up to the greater, love. For you are a cross-bearer. You ought to speak the free word: ‘See, we have left everything and followed you.’ You have been counted worthy to imitate the bold tongue of the apostles. For Peter and John say: ‘Gold and silver I do not have.’ Double the tongue, but single the faith.” ### Scripture references - Matt 16:24: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 19:27: quotation, high confidence - Acts 3:6: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 74 (PG 28:1529d–1532a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/74). ## Life of Syncletica 75 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-75 - Source: PG 28:1532a–1532b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Alms should be given with Abraham’s heart; God set two orders, the married, under laws, and the virgins, living like angels under grace. ### Greek text Καὶ ὲν τοῖς κοσμικοῖς δὲ μὴ ἀπλῶς οὕτως ἐλεημοσύνη γινέσθω. Φησὶ γὰρ, ὡς Ἔλαιον (impensior? μὴ λιπανάτω τὴν κεφαλήν μου. Προσήκει οὖν τὸν ἐλεοῦντα Ἀβραμιαῖον ἔχειν τὸ φρόνημα, καί ὡς ἐκεῖνος τὸ δίκαιον δικαίως πράττειν. Φιλοξενῶν γὰρ ὁ δίκαιος μετά τῆς ἑστίας καὶ τὴν γνώμην παρέθηκεν. Ἔστη γάρ, φησὶν, ὑπηρετῶν, μὴ βουληθεὶς τοὺς οἰκέτας συμμεριστὰς τοῦ κέρδους γενέσθαι. Ἀληθῶς οἱ τοιοῦτοι μισθὸν τῆς έλεημοσύνης ἕξουσι, η κᾶν ἐν δευτέρῳ τάγματι τυγχάνωσιν. Ὁ γὰρ Κύριος, δημιουργήσας τὴν οἰκουμένην, διπλῆν ὲν αὐτῇ τῶν οἰκητόρων ἔθετο τὴν τάξιν. Τοῖς μὲν γάρ σεμνῶς βιοῦσι διὰ τὴν παιδοποιίαν τὸν γάμον ἔταξε· τοῖς δὲ διὰ καθαρότητα βίου τὴν ἁγνείαν προσέταξεν, ἰσαγγέλους αὐτοὺς ποιῶν καὶ τοῖς μὲν νόμους καὶ ἑκδικήσεις καὶ διδασκαλίας παρέδωκε τούτοις δέ φησινʼ Ἐμοί ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω, λέγει Κύριος. Ἐκεῖ φησιν ο Ἐρπῖίσῃ τὴν γῆν · καὶ ὦδε μὴ μεριμνῆσαι τῆς αὔριον κελεύει. Ἑκείνοις νόμον ἔδωκεν ο ἡμῖν δὲ διὰ χάριτος absorbet τὰς ἐντολὰς ἐγνώρισεν. ### English translation (Claude) “And among those in the world too, let almsgiving not be done just anyhow. For it says: ‘Let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.’ One who shows mercy, then, should have the mind of Abraham, and like him do what is just justly. For the righteous man, showing hospitality, set his heart before his guests together with the meal. For ‘he stood,’ it says, ‘serving,’ not wishing his servants to share in the gain. Truly such people will have the reward of almsgiving, even if they are in the second rank. For the Lord, having made the world, set a twofold order of its inhabitants. For those who live honorably for the begetting of children he appointed marriage; for others, for purity of life, he commanded chastity, making them equal to the angels. To the first he gave laws and punishments and teachings; but to these he says: ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ There he says, ‘Work the earth’; and here he bids them not to be anxious about tomorrow. To those he gave a law; to us he made known the commandments through grace.” ### Scripture references - Ps 141:5 (140:5 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Gen 18:8: quotation, high confidence - Luke 20:36: allusion, high confidence - Rom 12:19: quotation, high confidence - Gen 3:23: allusion, low confidence - Matt 6:34: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Ps 141:5 (LXX 140:5) is quoted from the Greek (“oil of the sinner”); the word is garbled in the scan. Abraham’s standing to serve is Gen 18:8. The two orders, married and virgin, are the writer’s, given as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 75 (PG 28:1532a–1532b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/75). ## Life of Syncletica 76 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-76 - Source: PG 28:1532b–1532c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The ascetic life is a dying to the world; mercy is shown in the soul, so that, as lust in the heart is sin, merciful intent without money counts as alms. ### Greek text Σταυρὸς ἡμῖν ἐστι τὸ τρόπαιον τῆς νίκης. Τὸ γὰρ ἐπάγγελμα ήμῶν οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἐστὶν ἢ ἁποταγὴ βίου, μελέτη θανάτου. Ὠσπερ οὖν οἱ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐνεργοῦσι τῷ σώματι, οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς. Ὅσα γὰρ ἦν διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπιτελέσαι. πεποιήκαμεν ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι. Φησὶ γὰρ ὁ Ἀπόστολος, ὡς Ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κάγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Τῇ ψυχῇ ζῶμεν ο αὐτῇ τὰς ἀρετὰς ἐπιδείξωμεν· κατὰ διάνοιαν ἐλεήσωμεν ’Μακάριοι γὰρ οἱ ἐλεήμονες τῇ ψυχῇ. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐκεῖ λέγει, ὅτι ὁ ἐπιθυμήσας κάλλους, καὶ δίχα τῆς πρά· ξεως, ἀμάρτυρον τὴν ἁμαρτίαν είργάσατοο οὕτως ἐνταῦθα ή ἐλεημοσύνη εἴρηται, τῆς γνώμης τὴν πρᾶξιν τελούσης, κᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον ἄπεστι, τῇ μείζονι ἀξίᾳ τετιμήμεθα. ### English translation (Claude) “The cross is our trophy of victory. For our profession is nothing else than renunciation of life, meditation on death. As the dead, then, do not act with the body, so neither do we. For whatever could be accomplished through it we did when we were children. For the apostle says: ‘The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’ Let us live in the soul; let us show the virtues in it; let us show mercy in mind: ‘Blessed are the merciful’ in soul. For as there he says that one who desired beauty, even without the act, has committed sin without witness, so here almsgiving is spoken of with the intention completing the act; even if silver is absent, we are honored with the greater worth.” ### Scripture references - Gal 6:14: quotation, high confidence - Matt 5:7: quotation, high confidence - Matt 5:28: allusion, high confidence - 1 Cor 13:11: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - “There” refers to Matt 5:28. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 76 (PG 28:1532b–1532c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/76). ## Life of Syncletica 77 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-77 - Source: PG 28:1532d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As masters keep some servants on the farm and bring the finest into the house, God leaves the married in the world and takes virgins into his own service. ### Greek text Ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ κατὰ τὸν κόσμον δεσπόται διαφόρους οἰκετῶν ὑπηρεσίας κέκτηνται· καὶ τοὺς μὲν ὲν τοῖς χωρίοις ἐκπέμπουσι πρὸς τὸ τὰς γαίας ἐργάζεσθαι, καὶ τὴν τοῦ γένους διαδοχὴν φυλάττειν· Ἄλλους δὲ, ἐὰν ἐπιεικεῖς καὶ περικαλλεῖς ἐξ αὐτῶν γενομένους θεάσωνται, ὲν τοῖς ἰδίοις οῖκοις μεθιστῶσι πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτῶν ὑπηρεσίαν · οὕτως καὶ ὁ Κύριος τοὺς μὲν τὸν σεμνὸν γάμον ἑλομένους, ἐν τῷ τοῦ κόσμου χωρίῳ ἔθετο· τοὺς δὲ τούτων βελτίονας, ὅσοι μάλιστα δεξιᾶς τετυχήκασι προαιρέσεως, ἑαυτῷ παρέστησεν είς λειτουργίαν. Οὗτοι πάντων τῶν γηΐνων πραγμάτων τυγχάνουσιν ἀλλότριοι· τῆς γὰρ Δεσποτικῆς τραπέζης ἠξίωνται. Οὐ μεριμνῶσι περὶ duplicetur Χριστὸν γὰρ ἐνδέδυνται. ### English translation (Claude) “For as masters in the world have various services of servants, and send some out to the farms to work the land and keep up the succession of the family; but others, if they see that some born of them are well-behaved and handsome, they move into their own houses for their own service; so too the Lord placed those who chose honorable marriage in the farm of the world, but those better than these, especially those who made the right choice, he set beside himself for service. These are strangers to all earthly affairs; for they have been counted worthy of the Master’s table. They are not anxious about clothing; for they have put on Christ.” ### Scripture references - Heb 13:4: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 6:25: allusion, medium confidence - Gal 3:27: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - A word is garbled (“duplicetur”); “clothing” is supplied from the following “they have put on Christ.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 77 (PG 28:1532d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/77). ## Life of Syncletica 78 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-78 - Source: PG 28:1533a–1533b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The married and the virgins have one Lord, like chaff and grain from one wheat; but heavenly fruit ripens only when worldly glory falls away like leaves. ### Greek text Τῶν οῦν ἀμφοτέρων ταγμάτων εἷς ἐστι δεσπότης ὁ Κύριος. Ὠσπερ γὰρ ὲκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ σίτου ἐστὶ καὶ τὸ ἄχυρον καὶ τὸ σπέρμα, οὕτως ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσι καὶ οἱ κατὰ τὸν κόσμον σεμνῶς βιοῦντες, καὶ οἱ τὸν μονήρη ἐπανῃρημένοι βίον. Καὶ γοῦν τῶν ἀμφοτέρων χρεία ἐστί · τῶν μὲν φύλλων πρὸς χρείαν καὶ φυλακὴν τοῦ σπέρματος, τοῦ δὲ καρποῦ ἀναγκαία ή κτῆσις · γένεσις γὰρ τοῦ παντὸς τυγχάνει. Ὥσπερ γὰρ οὐκ ἐγχωρεῖ κατὰ ταυτὸ καὶ βοτάνην εἶναι καὶ σπέρμα, οὕτως ἀδύνατον, τῆς κοσμικῆς δόξης ἡμῖν περικειμένης, καρπὸν οὐράνιον ποιῆσαι. Τῶν δὲ φύλλων ἀπορρυέντων, καὶ τῆς καλάμης ξηρανθείσης, ἐπιτήδειος ό στάχυς πρὸς θερισμόν ἐστι. Καὶ ἡμεῖς οῦν, ἀποβαλοῦσαι τὴν ὲκ γῆς φαντασίαν ἀντὶ τῶν φύλλων, καὶ ξηράνασαι ἑαυτῶν τὸ σῶμα ὡς τὴν καλάμην, ὑψώσασαι δὲ ἑαυτῶν τὸν λογισμὸν, δυνησόμεθα σπέρμα σωτηρίας γεννῆσαι. ### English translation (Claude) “Of both orders, then, there is one Master, the Lord. For as both the chaff and the seed come from the same wheat, so both those who live honorably in the world and those who have chosen the solitary life come from the same God. And there is need of both: the leaves for use and protection of the seed, and the possession of the fruit is necessary, for it is the origin of the whole. For as it is not possible to be at once green blade and seed, so it is impossible, while worldly glory surrounds us, to produce heavenly fruit. When the leaves have fallen and the stalk has dried, the ear is ready for harvest. So we too, casting off earthly imagination in place of the leaves, and drying our body like the stalk, and lifting up our mind, will be able to produce the seed of salvation.” ### Scripture references - Mark 4:28: allusion, medium confidence - John 12:24: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 78 (PG 28:1533a–1533b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/78). ## Life of Syncletica 79 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-79 - Source: PG 28:1533b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: One should not teach without having practiced; words without deeds are like flaking paint, but teaching by example carves Christ’s image in the soul. ### Greek text Ἐπικίνδυνον τὸν μὴ διὰ πρακτικοῦ βίου ἀχθέντα, διδάσκειν ἐπιχειρεῖν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἂν, εί τις οἰκίαν ἔχων σαθρὰν, ξένους ὑποδεξάμενος, βλάψει τῇ πτώσει τοῦ οἰκήματος ’ οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι, μὴ πρότερον ἑαυτοὺς ἀσφαλῶς οἰκοδομήσαντες, καὶ τοὺς προσελθόντας σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀπώλεσαν. Τοῖς μὲν γὰρ λόγοις προεκαλέσαντο είς σωτηρίαν, τῇ δὲ τοῦ τρόπου κακίᾳ τοὺς συλλεγέντας μᾶλλον ἠδίκησαν. Ἢ μὲν γὰρ ψιλὴ τῶν λόγων ἓκθεσις ἔοικε γραφαῖς διὰ χρωμάτων εὐαποπτώτων συνιστάσαις, ἅστινας σμικρότατος χρόνος διέλυσεν ἀνέμων ῥιπαῖς καὶ ὑετῶν σταγόσι· τὴν δὲ ἔμπρακτον διδασκαλίαν οὐδʼ ὁ πᾶς αἰὼν διαλῦσαι δυνηθείη. Τὰ γάρ στερεὰ τῆς ψυχῆς ὲκκολάπτων ὁ λόγος, αἰώνιον ἄγαλμα Χριστοῦ τοῖς πιστοῖς δωρεῖται. ### English translation (Claude) “It is dangerous for one who has not been led through the practical life to try to teach. For as someone who has a rotten house, if he receives guests, will harm them by the fall of the building, so these too, not having first built themselves up securely, have destroyed with themselves those who came to them. For they invited them to salvation with words but rather harmed those gathered by the wickedness of their way of life. For the bare setting out of words is like paintings made with colors that easily flake off, which the shortest time dissolves with gusts of wind and drops of rain; but teaching in deed not even all of time could dissolve. For the word, carving the solid parts of the soul, gives the faithful an eternal image of Christ.” ### Scripture references - Matt 7:26: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 79 (PG 28:1533b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/79). ## Life of Syncletica 80 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-80 - Source: PG 28:1533b–1536a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Having cut off their hair, ascetics must also remove the lice of slander, perjury and greed; in a clean life even small sins show, so the soul must be cleaned constantly by prayer and fasting. ### Greek text Δέον οῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς μὴ ἐπιπόλαιον τῆς ψυχῆς ποιεῖσθαι τὴν θεραπείαν, ἀλλʼ ὃλην αὐτὴν διʼ ὅλου κοσμεῖν, μάλιστα τοῦ βάθους μὴ ἀμελούσας. Τριχῶν ἐποιησάμεθα τὴν ἀφαίρεσιν συναφέλωμεν καὶ τοὺς ὲν τῇ κεφαλῇ σκώληκας· μονάσαντες γὰρ οὗτοι, ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἡμᾶς όδυνήσουσι. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ τρίχωμα ἡμῶν ἦν ὁ κατὰ τὸν βίον κόσμος, τιμαί, δόξαι, χρημάτων κτῆσις, λαμπραὶ ἐσθῆτος στολαὶ, λουτρῶν χρήσεις, βρωμάτων ἀπολαύσεις. Ταῦτα ἐδόξαμεν ἀποβάλλειν· ἀλλὰ τοὺς ψυχοφθόρους σκώληκας μᾶλλον ἐξώσωμεν. Τίνες δέ εἰσιν οῦτοι; καταλαλιὰ, ἐπιορκία, φιλαργυρία. Ἡ οὖν κεφαλὴ ἡμῶν ἐστιν ἡ ψυχή· καὶ ἕως μεν ὲν ταῖς ὕλαις τῶν κοσμικῶν πραγμάτων ἐσκέποντο τὰ θηρία, ἐδόκουν λανθάνειν ο νῦν δὲ, γυμνωθέντα, πᾶσίν ἐστιν ἔκδηλα· διὰ τοῦτο ὲν παρθένῳ ἢ ἐν μοναχῷ προφανῆ τυγχάνει καὶ τὰ εὐτελέστερα ἁμαρτήματα· ὥσπερ γὰρ ὲν καθαρῷ οἰκήματι καταφανὲς πᾶσι γίνεται τὸ όφθὲν θηρίον, κᾶν βραχύτατον τυγχάνῃ · ὲν δὲ τοῖς κοσμικοῖς ὥσπερ ὲν ἀκαθάρτοις σπηλαίοις ὲμφωλεύοντα τὰ μέγιστα τῶν ἰοβόλων λανθάνει, ὑπὸ τῆς συνεχοῦς ὕλης καλυπτόμενα. Δέον οῦν ἐφʼ ἡμῶν καθαίρειν τὸν οἶκον διηνεκῶς, καὶ περιβλέπεσθαι μή τι τῶν ψυχοφθόρων ζωῦφίων παρεισδύῃ ὲν τοῖς τῆς ψυχῆς ταμείοις καὶ θυμιᾷν δὲ τοὺς τόπους τῷ θείῳ θυμιάματι τῆς προσευχῆς. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὰ ίοβόλα ζῶα τὰ δριμύτερα τῶν φαρμάκων ἀπελαύνει, οῦτω λογισμὸν ῥυπαρὸν εύχὴ μετὰ νηστείας ἐκδιώκει. ### English translation (Claude) “We too, then, must not make the care of the soul superficial, but adorn it whole and throughout, above all not neglecting its depth. We have removed our hair; let us remove with it the worms in the head too; for if these remain, they will pain us still more. Our hair was the adornment of this life: honors, glories, possession of money, splendid robes of clothing, the use of baths, the enjoyment of foods. These we have thrown away; but let us rather drive out the soul-destroying worms. What are these? Slander, perjury, love of money. Our head, then, is the soul; and as long as the beasts were covered in the material of worldly affairs, they seemed to be hidden; but now, laid bare, they are plain to all. For this reason in a virgin or a monk even the lesser sins are conspicuous; for as in a clean house a beast that is seen becomes plain to all, even if it is very small, while in worldly people, as in unclean caves, the greatest venomous creatures lie hidden in their lairs, covered by the constant material. We must, then, clean our house continually, and look about lest any soul-destroying creature slip into the chambers of the soul, and fumigate the places with the divine incense of prayer. For as the stronger drugs drive away venomous creatures, so prayer with fasting drives out a filthy thought.” ### Scripture references - Mark 9:29: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - A leaked running head (“ινιτ. PP. Ι. v, 8, Ξθ.”) inside the text is removed by a logged correction. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 80 (PG 28:1533b–1536a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/80). ## Life of Syncletica 81 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-81 - Source: PG 28:1536a–1536b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Belief in astral fate (genesis) is a demonic snare; the virtuous ascribe good to God and choice to their own will, while the lazy blame fate to excuse themselves. ### Greek text Ἐν δὲ τῶν ψυχοφθόρων ἐστὶ θηρίων καὶ τὸ ύποσυρῆναι παρά τῶν λεγόντων εἶναι εἱμαρμένην, ἥνπερ καὶ γένεσιν καλοῦσι. Κέντρον δέ ἐστι καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ διαβόλου δεινότατον. Καὶ ταῖς μὲν σπουδαίαις ψυχαῖς πολλάκις κατά νοῦν μόνον φαντασίαν λοιμικὴν κινῆσαν, ἀφίπταται· τῶν δὲ ἀμελεστέρων καί δεσπόζει. Οὐδεὶς γάρ τῶν κατʼ ἀρετὴν βιούντων ἐμπιστεύει ἢ παραδέχεται τὸ φρενοβλαβὲς καὶ μάταιον τοῦτο φρόνημα· Θεὸν γὰρ ἀρχὴν πάντων τίθεται τῶν γενομένων καί γινομένων ἀγαθῶν · καὶ δευτέραν τὴν οἰκείαν γνώμην ἡγεμόνα καὶ κριτὴν καθίστησιν ἀρετῆς τε καὶ κακίας. ’Ὀσοι δὲ ἐξ ἀβουλίας τὰ ὲκ ῥᾳθυμίας πεπόνθασιν, εὐθὺς ἐκείνῳ τῷ δαιμονίῳ προσέρχονται. Ὠσπερ γὰρ παῖδες λειποτακτοῦντες καὶ μὴ φέροντες τὴν τῶν γονέων πρὸς ὠφέλειαν παίδευσιν, ἀποφοιτῶντες, τοὺς ἐρήμους καταλαμβάνουσι τόπους, καὶ ἀγρίοις καὶ μαρμαρὼδεσι συνάπτονται δαίμοσιν· αἰδούμενοι γάρ τὴν γνώμην τὴν αίτίαν τιθέναι τῶν παρʼ αὐτοῖς πραττομένων, συκοφαντοῦσι τά μὴ παρόντα. ### English translation (Claude) “One of the soul-destroying beasts is also being drawn away by those who say there is fate, which they also call ‘genesis.’ This too is a most terrible goad of the devil. In zealous souls it often stirs up a pestilent imagination in the mind only and flies off; but over the more negligent it even rules. For none of those who live by virtue trusts or receives this mad and vain opinion; for he sets God as the beginning of all good things that have come to be and come to be, and makes his own will, second, the guide and judge of virtue and vice. But those who through folly have suffered the effects of laziness go at once to that demon. For as children who desert their post and do not bear their parents’ discipline for their good run away, take to deserted places, and join wild and glittering demons, so they, ashamed to put the blame for their deeds on their own will, slander what does not exist.” ### Translation notes - “Genesis” is the term for astrological destiny at birth. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 81 (PG 28:1536a–1536b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/81). ## Life of Syncletica 82 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-82 - Source: PG 28:1536b–1536c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Fatalists blame their sins on the stars, which ends in despair and abolishes God’s judgment, since only voluntary sins are punishable. ### Greek text Ἐτι γε μὴν καὶ τοῦ θείου ἑαυτοὺς ἀπωσάμενοι, ὲκ τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῖς φάσκουσι τά καθʼ ἡδονὴν προσγίνεσθαι. Πορνεύοντες γάρ καὶ κλέπτοντες, φιλαργυρίαν τε νοσοῦντες καὶ δολοφροσύνην, αἰδούμενοι τάς σφῶν αὐτῶν πράξεις, ἐξέκλιναν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας. Τὸ γὰρ τέλος αὐτῶν τοῦ σκοποῦ ἡ ὀλεθροφόρος αὐτοῖς ἐστιν ἀπόγνωσις. Ἀνάγκη γὰρ ὲκ τούτων τῶν λογισμῶν ἀναιρεῖσθαι παρʼ αὐτῶν τὸν θεὸν, καὶ προσέτι τὴν κρίσιν. Φασὶ γὰρ, ὡς Εἰ τοῦτό μοι κέκριται, πορνεύειν ἢ πλεονεκτεῖν, περιττὴ ἡ κρίσις. Ἡ μὲν γάρ δικαία τιμωρία ἑκουσίων ἐστὶ πταισμάτων ο ή δὲ ὡς ἐκ τινος ἀρχῆς ἀκουσία πρᾶξις ἀναίτιον ποιεῖται τὸν δράσαντα· καὶ ἐκ τούτου ἀναιρεῖται μὲν ἡ κρίσις. ### English translation (Claude) “Moreover, having thrust themselves away from the divine, they say that the things of pleasure come to them from genesis. For committing fornication and stealing, and sick with love of money and guile, ashamed of their own deeds, they have turned away from the truth. For the end of their aim is a destructive despair. For from these thoughts they must abolish God and, moreover, the judgment. For they say: ‘If it is decreed for me to commit fornication or to be greedy, the judgment is superfluous.’ For just punishment belongs to voluntary faults; but an involuntary act, as if from some first cause, makes the doer blameless; and from this the judgment is abolished.” ### Scripture references - Rom 1:25: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 82 (PG 28:1536b–1536c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/82). ## Life of Syncletica 83 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-83 - Source: PG 28:1536c–1537a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Whether God is placed before, after or alongside fate, the fatalist view makes God the author of evil or sets two principles at war; Scripture calls such people fools. ### Greek text Πῶς δὲ καὶ τὸ θεῖον ’παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἐκβάλλεται, ἀκουστέον. Φήσουσι γάρ αὐτὸ ἢ πρῶτον, ἦ δεύτερον, ἦ ἀεὶ συνὸν τῇ αὐτῶν ματαιότητι. Εἰ μὲν οὖν πρωτεύειν εἴπωσι τὸν Θεὸν, ἀνάγκη ἀκολουθήσει πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ γεγενῆσθαι· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐν πᾶσιν ο οὐκοῦν αὐτὸς τῆς εἱμαρμένης κύριος. Εἰ δὲ πλεονέκτης, ἣ πορνοκόπος ὲκ τῆς γενέσεως, αναγκαῖον διὰ μέσου τῆς γενέσεως τὸν Θεὸν αἴτιον τῆς κακίας ὑπάρχειν· ὅπερ ἄτοπον. Εἰ δὲ δεύτερον αὐτὸ πάλιν φήσουσιν, είκὸς αὐτὸ ὑπόδουλον γενέσθαι τῷ πρώτῳ· καὶ ὅπερ βούλεται τὸ ἡγούμενον, τούτῳ ἀναγκαίως ἀκολουθήσει τὸ ἑπόμενον · καὶ πάλιν τῶν κακῶν παρʼ αὐτοῖς αίτιος ὁ Θεός· ὅπερ ἀθέμιτον. Εἰ δὲ καὶ σὐναῖδιον αὐτὸ ἐθέλουσιν εἶναι, πάντως μάχην πρὸς ἑαυτά κινήσουσιν ἐναντίας ἔχοντα φύσεις. Ἐκ τούτων οὖν τῶν λογισμῶν, ὼς ἐν κεφαλαίῳ ἀνῄρηται αὐτῶν ἡ ματαία ὑπόνοια. Περὶ τούτων εἴρηκεν ἠ Γραφή, ὥς φησιν· Εἶπεν ἄφρων ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὐκ ἔστι Θεός · καὶ, Εἰς τὸ ὕψος ἐλάλησαν ἀνομίαν. ### English translation (Claude) “How the divine is also cast out by them must be heard. For they will say that it is either first, or second, or always coexisting with their vanity. If they say that God is first, it will necessarily follow that all things have come to be through him, for he is in all; so he is lord of fate. And if one is greedy or a fornicator by genesis, God must, through genesis as a middle term, be the cause of the wickedness, which is absurd. If again they say it is second, it is likely to have become subject to the first; and whatever the leader wills, the follower will necessarily follow; and again with them God is the cause of evils, which is unlawful. And if they want it to be co-eternal, they will certainly stir up war between two things of opposite natures. By these considerations, then, their vain supposition has been destroyed in sum. Of these Scripture has spoken, as it says: ‘The fool said in his heart, There is no God’; and: ‘They spoke lawlessness on high.’” ### Scripture references - Ps 14:1 (13:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 73:8 (72:8 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 83 (PG 28:1536c–1537a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/83). ## Life of Syncletica 84 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-84 - Source: PG 28:1537a–1537b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Fatalists twist Scripture: Matthew’s “genesis” of Christ means birth, the star announced Christ, Isaiah’s “evils” are corrective hardships from God, and “ways” are life and death, not vices. ### Greek text Καί προφασίζονται δὲ ἑαυτοῖς προφάσεις ἐν ἁμαρτίαις. Ἀκρωτηριάζουσι γὰρ τὰς Γραφάς, τυφλώττοντες, ἐξ αὐτῶν τὴν κακοφροσύνην αὐτῶν πληροφορεῖν βουλόμενοι. Καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἐκ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου τὸν ἑαυτῶν ἰὸν ἐξεμεῖν πειρώμενοι, ἐκβιάζονται · φησὶ γὰρ, ὼς Τοῦ δὲ Χριστοῦ ἠ γένεσις οὔτως τὴν γέννησιν γὰρ αὑτοῦ γένεσιν ἡ θεία me ὠνόμασεν. Ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ τὸ πρὸς ἀνθρώπους αὐτὸν οἰκονομικῶς γενέσθαι ἀκολούθως γένεσις ὠνόμασται. Εἰ δὲ καὶ περί τοῦ ’ἀστέρος τι ψευδολογοῦσι, κάκεῖ πάλιν τὴν ἔνδοξον αὑτοῦ παρουσίαν μανθανέτωσαν. Εἷς ἡμῖν ἀστὴρ φωτεινότατος κῆρυξ γέγονε τῆς ἀληθείας· ἡ δὲ ἐκείνων ματαία γνώμη πολλοὺς παρεισφέρει εἰς θήραν ἀνθρωπίνης γενέσεως. Καὶ ἐκ τούτου δέδεικται, ῶς πανταχοῦ ἑαυτῇ ἀντίκειται ἡ κακία. Καὶ τὸν Ἡσαΐαν δὲ εἰς μαρτυρίαν τῆς ἑαυτῶν ἀνοίας καλοῦσι. Φάσκουσι γὰρ αὑτὸν εἰρηκέναι τό· Κύριος ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ κτίζων κακά. Ἠ μὲν οὖν εἰρήνη παρὰ πᾶσιν ὡμολόγηται ῶς Θεοῦ ἔργον τυγχάνουσα ο ἡ δέ κακία παρʼ αὐτοῖς μὲν ἀληθῶς πολιτεύεται, κακία τῆς ψυχῆς ὑπάρχουσα ο παρὰ δὲ ἡμῖν ἡ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γενηθεῖσα κακία ὠφελιμωτάτη ἐστί. Πρὸς γὰρ σωτηρίαν ψυχῆς καὶ παιδείαν σωμάτων γίνονται λιμοὶ καὶ ἀνομβρίαι, νόσοι τε καὶ πενίαι, καὶ ἄλλαι τινὲς περιστάσεις. Τὰ γὰρ σωτήρια φάρμακα, ἃ ἐκεῖνοι κακίαν ψυχῆς καὶ κακὰ οὐκ ἀληθῶς ὑπενόησαν, ταῦτα πρὸς ἐπιστροφὴν ἡμῖν παρὰ τοῦ κρείττονος προσφέρεται ° Τίς γάρ ἐστιν υίὸς ὃν οὐ παιδεύει ό πατήρ; Ἔτι δὲ καί τὸ, Οὐκ ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ, πάλιν ὁμοίως προσφέρουσιν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν καταστροφήν · ὀδοὺς γὰρ μὴ ἔχοντες, ἐξιχνιάσαι βούλονται. Ὁδὸν οὐκ ἔχει πλεονεξία, γαστριμαργία, πορνεία· ἀνυπόστατα γὰρ ταῦτα, καθʼ ἑαυτὰ μὴ ὄντα. Ταῦτα γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι ὁδοὺς εἰώθεσαν λέγειν. Ὁδοὺς δὲ ἡμῖν ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει τὰς κοινὰς πᾶσι, τήν τε ζωὴν καὶ τὸν θάνατον. Ἀληθῶς γὰρ πορεῖαί εἰσι τῆς τε ἐνταῦθα εἰσαγωγῆς καὶ τῆς ἐκ τῶν αἰσθητῶν τούτων μεταναστασεως. ### English translation (Claude) “And they make excuses for themselves in sins. For, being blind, they mutilate the Scriptures, wishing to confirm their wickedness from them. And first they try to vomit their venom from the Gospel, forcing it; for it says: ‘Now the genesis of Christ was thus.’ For divine Scripture named his birth ‘genesis.’ And moreover his coming to men by the dispensation is consequently named genesis. And if they tell lies about the star too, let them learn there again his glorious coming. One most shining star became for us the herald of truth; but their vain opinion brings in many for the hunting of human genesis. And from this it is shown that wickedness everywhere contradicts itself. They also call Isaiah to witness to their folly. For they say that he said: ‘The Lord who makes peace and creates evils.’ Peace, then, is agreed by all to be the work of God; but wickedness among them truly has its citizenship, being wickedness of soul; whereas with us the ‘evil’ that comes from God is most profitable. For famines and droughts, diseases and poverty, and other circumstances come for the salvation of the soul and the discipline of bodies. For the saving medicines, which they wrongly supposed to be wickedness of soul and evils, are brought to us by the One above for conversion: ‘For what son is there whom the father does not discipline?’ And again they likewise bring forward to their own overthrow the saying: ‘His ways are not in man.’ For having no ways, they want to trace them out. Greed, gluttony, fornication have no way; for they are without substance, not existing by themselves. For these are what they were accustomed to call ‘ways.’ But Scripture calls ways those common to all, life and death. For truly they are journeys, both of entry here and of departure from these things of sense.” ### Scripture references - Matt 1:18: quotation, high confidence - Matt 2:2: allusion, high confidence - Isa 45:7: quotation, high confidence - Heb 12:7: quotation, high confidence - Jer 10:23: quotation, high confidence - Deut 30:15: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - “His ways are not in man” is Jer 10:23 in a Greek form. A word for “Scripture” is garbled (“me”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 84 (PG 28:1537a–1537b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/84). ## Life of Syncletica 85 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-85 - Source: PG 28:1537b–1540b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Fatalism destroys free will and lets the devil steer souls; he tempts even the zealous, especially former philosophers, to credit their virtue to the stars, and suits his poisons to each person’s nature. ### Greek text Πάντα οὗν ποιοῦσιν οἱ κακοδαίμονες, ῶστε τοῦ αύτεξουσίου ἑαυτοὺς ἀπώσασθαι ο καὶ ταύτην σπουδὴν τίθενται τοῦ ἁντικαταλλάξαι τῆς ἐλευθερίας τὴν δουλείαν. Καὶ γὰρ τοῦτο τῆς κακίας ἔργον, τὸ πάντοτε τοῖς χείροσιν ἑαυτὴν συγκαθέλκειν ο ἑαυτῶν γὰρ γίνονται μάρτυρες, ῶς τῇ κακία ἑαυτοὺς πεπρακότες. Καὶ τοῦτο οὖν τοῦ διαβόλου τὸ ἀπατηλὸν τέχνασμα · τὰς γὰρ ἀμελεῖς ψυχάς διὰ τῆς κακοδοξίας κάτω κεκυφέναι παρασκευάζει, μὴ συγχωρῶν αὑτὰς ἀνανῆψαι πρὸς ἐπίγνωσιν τῆς ἀληθείας. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ναῦς ἐκτὸς πηδαλίων πλέουσα ἀεὶ χειμάζεται, οὕτω τούτοις πάντοτε ὁ κίνδυνος ἐπιπνεῖ· ούδὲ γὰρ πρὸς τὸν σωτήριον λιμένα ὁρμῆσαι δύνανται, τὸν κυβερνῶντα Κύριον καταλιπόντες. Καὶ τὰς μὲν ἐκδεδομένας αὐτῷ ψυχὰς οὕτως πλανᾷ. Πολλάκις δὲ καὶ τὰς σπουδαίας παρυσιζάνειδιά τούτων 6 ἐχθρὸς, τον ἀγα· (λιν αὐτῶν δῴμον Eni/3,1: Κατʼ ἔνεικαν ῒάρ ἐμβάλλει. ὡς καὶ τὸ εὖ πράττειν παρα τῆς mw", σεως τῶν άστρων γίνεται. Τοῦτον δὲ τὸν λογισμὸν ο ἐναντίκ πῳσάγει τοῖς ἐκ σοφίας κοσμικῆς ἐπὶ τὸν μονήρη βίον τραπεῖσι · φρόνιμος γὰρ ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς τυγχάνων ὁ διάβολος, πρὸς τὰς φύσεις τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰς παγίδας ὑποτίθησι. Τοῖς μὲν γάρ διὰ τῆς ἀπογνώσεως ἐνδελεχεῖ ο τινας δὲ διά τῆς κενοδοξίας καθέλκει, καὶ ἐτέρους διὰ τῆς φιλοχρηματίας κατορύττει. Ὠσπερ γάρ θανατηφόρος ἰατρὸς προσάγει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ δηλητήρια· καί τον μὲν ἐκ τοῦ ἧπατος ἀναιρεῖ, προσάγων αὖτῷ τὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τοξικόν· ἄλλον δὲ καρδιότρωτον ποιεῖ, τὸν θυμὸν αὑτοῦ πρὸς ὀργὴν ἐξάπτων · τινῶν δὲ καὶ τὴν ἠγεμονικὴν ἀμβλύνει δύναμιν, ἦ ἀγνοίᾳ αὐτοὺς περιβάλλων, ἦ διὰ περιεργίας αὐτοὺς στρεβλῶν. ### English translation (Claude) “The wretched ones, then, do everything to thrust themselves away from free will; and they make it their effort to exchange freedom for slavery. For this is the work of wickedness, always to drag itself down with the worse; for they become their own witnesses that they have sold themselves to wickedness. This, then, is the deceitful contrivance of the devil: he makes negligent souls stoop down through false opinion, not allowing them to come to their senses for the knowledge of the truth. For as a ship sailing without rudders is always storm-tossed, so danger always blows upon these; for they cannot make for the saving harbor, having abandoned the Lord who steers. So he leads astray the souls given over to him. Often too the enemy [tries to] sit beside even the zealous through these things, [to overturn] their good course. For he casts in the thought that even doing well comes from the motion of the stars. This thought he brings especially to those who have turned from worldly wisdom to the solitary life; for the devil, being wise in evils, sets his snares according to people’s natures. Some he presses continually through despair; some he drags down through vainglory; and others he buries through love of money. For like a murderous doctor he applies poisons to people: one he kills through the liver, applying the poison of desire; another he wounds in the heart, kindling his temper to anger; and in some he blunts the ruling power, either throwing them into ignorance or twisting them through curiosity.” ### Scripture references - 2 Tim 2:26: allusion, medium confidence - 2 Tim 3:7: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - Several lines in the middle of this section are badly garbled in the scan (“παρυσιζάνειδιά τούτων 6 ἐχθρὸς, τον ἀγα· (λιν αὐτῶν δῴμον Eni/3,1: Κατʼ ἔνεικαν ῒάρ”); the bracketed words are supplied by sense. The liver as seat of desire and the heart of anger follow ancient physiology. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 85 (PG 28:1537b–1540b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/85). ## Life of Syncletica 86 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-86 - Source: PG 28:1540b–1540d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Some were shipwrecked by speculating about God’s essence before mastering the practical life; worldly learning must be humbled, becoming like a child and a fool for God. ### Greek text Τινὲς οὖν ὲκ ζητήσεων οὐκ ὀρθῶν παρέτρεψε. Περὶ γάρ Θεοῦ καί τῆς αὖτοῦ οὐσίας διαλαβεῖν θελήσαντες, ἐναυάγησαν. Τὸν γάρ πρακτικὸν βίον ἀκοπρὸς θεωρίαν ὥρμησαν, λούθως μὴ ἡνιοχήσαντες. καὶ ἰλιγγιάσαντες πεπτώκασι. Τοῦ γὰρ πρώτου ὡς πρὸς τὴν τάξιν μὴ ἐπιλαβόμενοι, τοῦ δεύτερον ἠστόχησαν. Ὠσπερ γὰρ οἱ τῷ ἄλφα στοιχείῳ ἐντυγχάνοντες, πρῶτον αὑτοῦ τὸ σχῆμα ὁρῶσι, καὶ δεύτερον τὸ ὄνομα διδάσκονται, καὶ οὕτως τὸν ἀριθμὸν μανθάνουσι, καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον τοὺς τόνους παραλαμβάνουσιν. Εἰ οὖν ἐπὶ τοῦ πρώτου στοιχείου τοσαύτη χρεία τριβῆς καὶ τέχνης, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ ὀφείλει πόνος καὶ χρόνος προηγεῖσθαι εἰς τὴν τοῦ ἀξιουμένου Θεωρίαν τῆς ἀνεκφράστου δόξης; ἀλλὰ μή τις γαυριάτω πρὸς κατάληψιν τῶν θείων ἐκ τῶν ἔξωθεν μαθημάτων ὁρμώμενος. Φρεναπατᾷ γὰρ ἑαυτὸν ὁ τοιοῦτος, ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος φανταζόμενος. Φησὶ γὰρ ὁ Ὑμνῳδός· Ἐκ τοῦ στόματος νηπίων καὶ θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον. Καὶ ὁ Κύριος δὲ ἐν τῷ Εὑαγγελίῳ· Ἀφετε τὰ παιδία ἐλθεῖν πρός με· τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησιν· Ἐὰν μὴ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. Ταῦτα ἐπαιδεύθης διὰ τὸν κόσμον μωρὸς γενοῦ διὰ τὸν Θεόν· ἔκκοψον τὰ παλαιὰ, ἴνα νέα φυτεύσῃςο τοὺς σαθροὺς θεμελίους κάθελε. ἴνα τὴν ἀδαμάντινον τοῦ Κυρίου βάσιν ἐπιθῇς · ἵνα καὶ σὺ ὠς Ἀπόστολος ἐπὶ τὴν στερεὰν πέτραν οἱκοδομηθῇς. ### English translation (Claude) “Some, then, have gone astray through wrong inquiries. For wishing to discuss God and his essence, they suffered shipwreck. For they rushed to contemplation without having guided the practical life in due order, and growing dizzy they fell. For not having taken hold of the first in order, they missed the second. For as those who meet the letter alpha first see its shape, and second are taught its name, and so learn its number, and last take in the accents. If, then, for the first letter so much practice and skill are needed, how much more must labor and time go before the contemplation of the inexpressible glory of the Creator for one counted worthy of it? But let no one be proud, setting out from outside learning toward the grasp of divine things. For such a one deceives himself, deluded by the demon. For the psalmist says: ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have perfected praise.’ And the Lord in the Gospel: ‘Let the children come to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And elsewhere he says: ‘Unless you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ You were educated in these things for the world; become a fool for God; cut down the old so that you may plant the new; pull down the rotten foundations so that you may lay the adamantine base of the Lord; so that you too, like the apostle, may be built upon the solid rock.” ### Scripture references - 1 Tim 1:19: allusion, medium confidence - Ps 8:2 (8:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Matt 19:14: quotation, high confidence - Matt 18:3: quotation, high confidence - 1 Cor 3:18: allusion, high confidence - Matt 16:18: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The passage on learning the letter alpha is partly scrambled in the scan (“ἀκοπρὸς θεωρίαν ὥρμησαν, λούθως”); the order is restored in translation. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 86 (PG 28:1540b–1540d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/86). ## Life of Syncletica 87 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-87 - Source: PG 28:1540d–1541a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Avoid idle disputes; the astrologers’ predictions are conjectures like a sailor’s weather lore, or come from demons like the sayings of ventriloquists, so their art is vain. ### Greek text Οὐ δεῖ οὖν φιλόνεικον εἶναι ο διὰ. τὴν πολυλογίαν μὴ πολλὰ άσχοληθῇς. Καὶ γάρ διά τῆς ἀκαίρου φλυαρίας δύναται βλάπτειν ὁ διάβολος. Πολλὰς γὰρ ἔχει παγίδας, καὶ δεινός ἐστι θηρευτής · καὶ τοῖς μὲν βραχυτάτοις στρουθίοις μικρά τίθησι σκάνδαλα · τοῖς δὲ μεγάλοις ὀρνέοις ἰσχυροὺς εὐτρεπίζει τοὺς βρόχους. Βαρὺς καὶ θανατηφόρος ἐστὶ βρόχος τὸ πιστεύειν εἶναι γένεσιν. Φευκταῖος ὁ πρὸς τοῦτο λογισμός. Ἀλλὰ πείθει σε διά πραγμάτων καὶ προρρήσεων; Στοχαστικὸς ὁ τρόπος· ἀβέβαιος ἡ γνώμη. Οὐδὲ γάρ ἀναγκαίως ἀκολουθεῖ τά παρʼ αὐτῶν λεγόμενα· ὥσπερ γὰρ τοῖς ἰδιώταις καὶ τοῖς ναυτίλοις ὲκ τῆς τῶν νεφῶν ίδιότητός ἐστί τις ἀμυδρά γνῶσις ἀνέμων ἢ ὑετῶνο οὕτω τούτοις ἐκ δαιμόνων ἡ σαθρά πρόγνωσις. Καὶ γοῦν τινα καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγουσι στοχαστικῶς, ὡς καὶ οἱ ἐγγαστρίμυθοι· καὶ τοῦτο δʼ ἃν αὐτῶν μᾶλλον διασκεδάσαι δυνηθείη τὴν φαύλην διάνοιαν · εἰ γὰρ ὲκ δαιμόνων αί στοχαστικαὶ αὗται ψευδολογίαι συνέστησαν, ματαία τῶν ψηφιζόντων ἡ τέχνη. ### English translation (Claude) “One must not, then, be contentious; do not busy yourself much with much talk. For the devil can harm even through untimely chatter. For he has many snares and is a terrible hunter; for the smallest sparrows he sets small traps, but for the great birds he prepares strong nooses. A heavy and deadly noose is believing that there is ‘genesis.’ The thought toward it must be fled. But does he persuade you by events and predictions? The method is conjectural; the opinion unstable. For what they say does not necessarily follow; for as ordinary people and sailors have a dim knowledge of winds or rain from the character of the clouds, so these have a rotten foreknowledge from demons. Indeed they too say some things by conjecture, as do the ventriloquists; and this might rather scatter their bad thinking: for if these conjectural lies arise from demons, the art of the reckoners is vain.” ### Scripture references - Ps 124:7 (123:7 LXX): allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Ventriloquists” are mediums believed to speak through a spirit. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 87 (PG 28:1540d–1541a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/87). ## Life of Syncletica 88 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-88 - Source: PG 28:1541a–1541c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil’s shifting suggestions, fate, chance, the mortality of the soul, betray their falsehood; a servant of God carefully observed the sequence and duration of his thoughts. ### Greek text Εί δὲ ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἑνδελεχεῖ περὶ αὐτῶν δικαιολογούμενος ὁ ἐχθρὸς, ὲκ τούτου αὑτὸν ὲλέγξεις, ὲκ τοῦ άλλοτε ἄλλοις λογισμοῖς τῇ ψυχῇ πολεμεῖν. Τὸ γὰρ ἄστατον sessim;- ἒεδ ἐξ ἆδὲσῖιῖον ἀπωλείαις-ἐγγύῖ Οὐδὲ γὰρ τῇ πρώτῃ αὑτοῦ κακίᾳ ὲπαρκείται ὁ διάβολος · ἀλλά γε καὶ αὐτοματισμὸν ὑποβάλλει τῇ ψυχῇ · καὶ ἄνθος φύσεως τὸν ἡγεμόνα ἡμῶν νοῦν ὑπογρᾶφει· καὶ ὅτι, διαλυομένου τοῦ σώματος, συμφθείρεται καὶ ἡ ψυχή. Ταῦτα δὲ ἡμῖν πάντα ὑποβάλλει πρὸς τὸ ἀμελείᾳ τὴν ψυχὴν διαφθεῖραι. Ἀλλά προσγινομένων τούτων τῶν σκιωδῶν φαντασμάτων, μὴ ὡς ἀληθέσιν αὑτοίς συνθώμεθα. Ταῦτα γὰρ αὐτῶν τὴν κακίαν δείκνυσιν, ἄλλοτε ἄλλως προσερχόμενα, καὶ ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀφιπτάμενα. Καὶ γοῦν οἶδά τινα Θεοῦ δοῦλον κατʼ ἀρετὴν βιοῦντα, ὅστις, καθεζόμενος ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ, ἐπετήρει τῶν λογισμῶν τὰς παρεισαγωγάς, καὶ ἐμέτρει ποῖος πρῶτος, καὶ ποῖος δεύτερος, καὶ ἕκαστος αὐτῶν πόσον χρόνον κατεῖχε· καὶ εἰ ὑστέρησεν ἢ προέφθασεν τῆς παρελθούσης ἡμέρας · οὕτως ἀκριβῶς ἠπίστατο τήν τε τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριν καὶ τὴν οἰκείαν καρτερίαν τε καὶ δύναμιν, ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ καθαίρεσιν. ### English translation (Claude) “And if the enemy persists further, arguing for them, you will refute him from this, that he fights the soul at different times with different thoughts. For his instability shows his falsehood and brings destruction near. For the devil is not content with his first wickedness, but he also suggests chance to the soul, and describes our ruling mind as a flower of nature, and says that, when the body is dissolved, the soul perishes with it. All these he suggests to us so as to corrupt the soul by negligence. But when these shadowy imaginations come, let us not assent to them as true. For they show their wickedness by coming now one way, now another, and flying off in the blink of an eye. Indeed I know a certain servant of God, living by virtue, who, sitting in his cell, watched the entrances of the thoughts, and measured which was first and which second, and how long each held him, and whether it came later or earlier than the previous day; so exactly did he know both the grace of God and his own endurance and strength, and moreover the overthrow of the enemy.” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 15:52: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - The second sentence is garbled in the scan (“Τὸ γὰρ ἄστατον sessim;- ἒεδ ἐξ ἆδὲσῖιῖον ἀπωλείαις-ἐγγύῖ”); translated by the probable sense. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 88 (PG 28:1541a–1541c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/88). ## Life of Syncletica 89 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-89 - Source: PG 28:1541c–1541d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Like merchants weighing daily gains, ascetics should watch their progress, and when they fall not despair but seek the lost sheep, trusting the Lord who upholds. ### Greek text Δέον οὖν ἡμᾶς τούτους τοὺς κανόνας ὑποδεξαμένας φυλάττειν. Εἰ γὰρ οἱ ἐμπορευόμενοι τὰς προσκαίρους πραγματείας καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ζυγοστατοῦσι τά κέρδη ο καὶ ἀσμένως μὲν τὰ πλείονα ὑποδέχονται, πρὸς δὲ τὰς ζημίας ἀπεχθάνονται · πολὺ πλέον τούτων ἀγρυπνεῖν προσήκει τοὺς τὸν ἀληθινὸν θησαυρὸν ἐμπορευομένους· καὶ τῶν μὲν πλειόνων ἀγαθῶν ἐφίεσθαι · εί δὲ καὶ μικρά τις κλοπὴ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ γένοιτο, βαρέως μὲν φέρειν διὰ τὸ κρίνεσθαι, ἀλλʼ οὐ μὴν ἀπογινώσκειν ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ πάντα ῥίπτειν διὰ τὸ ἀκούσιον πταῖσμα. Ἔχεις τὰ ἐνενήκοντα ὲννέα πρόβατα, ζήτει καὶ τὸ ἀπολωλός. Μὴ λυπηθῇς διὰ τὸ ἓν, μὴ ἁποφύγῃς τὸν Δεσπότην. καὶ ό αίμοβόρος διάβολος πᾶσάν σου τὴν ἀγέλην τῶν πράξεων αἰχμαλωτίσας ἀπολέσει. Μὴ οὖν λειποτακτήσῃς διὰ τὸ ἕνʼ ἀγαθὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ Δεσπότης· φησὶ γὰρ διὰ τοῦ Ψαλμῳδοῦ, ὼς Ἐὰν πέσῃ, οὐ καταρραχθήσεται· ὅτι ὑποστηρίζει Κύριος χεῖρα αὑτοῦ. ### English translation (Claude) “We, then, having received these rules, must keep them. For if those who trade in temporary goods weigh their gains every day, and gladly receive more and hate losses, much more must those who trade in the true treasure keep watch, and aim at more good things; and if some small theft by the enemy happens, bear it heavily because of the judgment, but not despair of themselves and throw everything away because of an involuntary fall. You have the ninety-nine sheep; seek the lost one too. Do not be grieved because of the one; do not flee the Master, and the bloodthirsty devil will capture and destroy your whole flock of deeds. Do not, then, desert your post because of the one; for the Master is good; for he says through the psalmist: ‘If he falls, he will not be dashed down; for the Lord upholds his hand.’” ### Scripture references - Matt 6:20: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 18:12: allusion, high confidence - Ps 37:24 (36:24 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 89 (PG 28:1541c–1541d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/89). ## Life of Syncletica 90 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-90 - Source: PG 28:1541d–1544a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: This life is like a second womb compared to the kingdom to come; having known earthly food and light, we should long for heavenly ones. ### Greek text Ὅσα γὰρ ὲάν πράξωμεν ἢ κερδάνωμεν ἐνταῦθα, μικρά ἡγησώμεθα πρὸς τὸν μέλλοντα αίὼνιον πλοῦτον. Ἐν γὰρ τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ ὡς ὲν δευτέρᾳ μητρῴᾳ κοιλίᾳ τυγχάνομεν. Ὠσπερ γὰρ ὲν ἐκείνοις τοῖς μυχοῖς ού τοιαύτην ζωὴν εἴχομεν· οὔτε γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων στερεμνίων τροφῶν ἀπελαύομεν ὲν ἐκείνοις τοῖς χωρίοις ὡς νῦν· οὒτε μὴν οὓτως ἐνεργεῖν ἐδυνάμεθα ὡς ἐνταῦθα· καὶ γὰρ τοῦ ἡλιακοῦ φωτὸς καὶ πάσης αὐγῆς ἐκτὸς ὑπήρχομεν· ὥσπερ οὖν ἐν ἐκείνοις τοῖς ταμιείοις οὖσαι, πολλῶν τῶν ἐνταῦθα ἑλειπόμεθα · οὕτως καὶ ὲν τῷ νῦν κόσμῳ πλεονεκτούμεθα πρὸς τὴν τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείαν. Ἐλάβομεν πεῖραν τῶν ἐνταῦθα τροφῶν, τῶν θείων ὀρεχθὼμεν. Ἀπελαύσαμεν τοῦ ἐνταῦθα φωτὸς, τὸν ἣλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης ποθήσωμεν. Τὴν ἀνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἡγησώμεθα ἑαυτῶν πόλιν τε καὶ μητέρα· πατέρα διττὸν Θεὸν καλέσωμεν ἑαυτῶν. Ζήσωμεν ἐνταῦθα σωφρόνως, ἵνα τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς τύχωμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “For whatever we do or gain here, let us count it small compared with the eternal wealth to come. For on this earth we are as in a second mother’s womb. For as in those inner recesses we did not have such a life (we did not enjoy such solid foods in those places as now, nor could we act as here, for we were outside the light of the sun and every ray), so, as when we were in those chambers we lacked many things that are here, so in the present world we are at a disadvantage with respect to the kingdom of heaven. We have had experience of the foods here; let us long for the divine. We have enjoyed the light here; let us desire the sun of righteousness. Let us consider the Jerusalem above our city and mother; let us call God our double Father. Let us live here chastely, so that we may obtain eternal life.” ### Scripture references - Mal 4:2 (3:20 LXX): allusion, high confidence - Gal 4:26: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 90 (PG 28:1541d–1544a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/90). ## Life of Syncletica 91 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-91 - Source: PG 28:1544a–1544b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The righteous pass from this life to a higher one as infants to birth, sinners to deeper darkness; there are three births: bodily, baptismal, and that of repentance. ### Greek text Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὰ ὲν μήτρᾳ βρέφη, τελειωθέντα ἐξ ἐλάττονος τροφῆς τε καὶ ζωῆς, διὰ τούτου καὶ πρὸς τὴν μείζονα φέρονται σωτηρίαν · οὕτως καὶ οἱ δίκαιοι ὲκ τῆς τοῦ κόσμου διαγωγῆς πρὸς τὴν ἀνω πορείαν ἀναχωροῦσι κατά τὸ γεγραμμένον· Ἐκ δυνάμεως εις δύναμιν. Οἵ γε ἁμαρτωλοὶ, ὥσπερ τὰ κατὰ γαστρὸς ἔμβρυα ὲν τῇ μήτρᾳ τελευτήσαντα, ἐκ σκότους σκότει παραδίδονται. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν τῇ γῇ νεκροῦνται τῷ πλήθει τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων κεκαλυμμένοι· καὶ ἀπαχθέντες δὲ τοῦ βίου, εἰς ζοφώδεις καὶ ταρταρὼδεις τόπους καταφέρονται. Τρίτον τῷ βίῳ τικτόμεθα ο ὦν ἡ μὲν πρώτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐκ τῶν μητρῴων κόλπων πρόοδος, ὁπηνίκα εἰς γῆν ἀπαγώμεθα ὲκ γῆς · αἱ δὲ. λοιπαὶ δύο ὲκ γῆς ἡμᾶς εἰς οὐρανοὺς ανάγουσιν· ὧν ἡ μὲν μία ἐστὶν ὲκ χάριτος, ἡ διὰ τοῦ θείου λουτροῦ ἡμῖν προσερχομένη · καὶ γάρ ταύτην ἀληθῶς παλιγγενεσίαν καλοῦμεν ο ἡ δὲ τρίτη ἐκ τῆς μετανοίας ἡμῖν καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν πόνων προσγίνεται. Ἐν ταύτῃ νῦν ἡμεῖς ἑστήκαμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “For as infants in the womb, perfected from a lesser food and life, are carried through this to a greater salvation, so the righteous too, from their conduct in the world, depart to the journey upward, according to what is written: ‘From strength to strength.’ But sinners, like embryos that have died in the womb, are handed over from darkness to darkness. For on earth they are dead, covered by the multitude of their sins; and when led away from life they are carried down to gloomy and hellish places. Three times we are born in life. The first is the coming forth from our mothers’ bosoms, when we are led from earth to earth; the other two lead us from earth to heaven. One of these is from grace, coming to us through the divine bath; and we truly call this regeneration. The third comes to us from repentance and good labors. In this we now stand.” ### Scripture references - Ps 84:7 (83:8 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Titus 3:5: allusion, high confidence - Matt 8:12: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 91 (PG 28:1544a–1544b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/91). ## Life of Syncletica 92 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-92 - Source: PG 28:1544b–1545a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As brides adorn themselves for husbands, virgins betrothed to Christ should adorn their souls with faith, hope, love, humility, chastity and poverty, and pray with understanding, lest they lack oil like the foolish virgins. ### Greek text Ὀφείλομεν νῦν, τῷ ἀληθινῷ νυμφίῳ μνηστευθεῖσαι, εὐπρεπέστερον κοσμηθῆναι. Γινέσθω ἡμῖν οἰκοδομὴ ἡ θέα τοῦ κοσμικοῦ γάμου. Εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖναι, πρὸς τὸν εὐάλωτον συναπτόμεναι ἄνδρα, τοσαύτην τίθενται σπουδὴν λουτρῶν τε καὶ μυραλοιφιῶν, καὶ ποικίλης κοσμήσεως (ὲκ γὰρ τούτων δοκοῦσιν ἑαυτὰς ἐρασμίους μᾶλλον παρασκευάζειν), καὶ εί τοσαύτη τοῖς κατά τὸ σῶμα πολιτευομενοις φαντασία ἐντέτηκται· πόσῳ μᾶλλον δέον ἡμᾶς ἐπαναβῆναι ὲκείνας τῇ γνώμῃ, τῷ οὐρανίῳ νυμφίῳ μνηστευθείσας, καὶ ἀπολοὺσασθαι μὲν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τὸν ῥύπον τῇ ἑπιπόνῳ ἀσκήσει, ἀντικαταλλάξαι δὲ τῶν σωματικῶν ἐνδυμάτων τὰ πνευματικά. Ἐκεῖναι τὸ σῶμα τοῖς κοσμικοῖς καὶ γηῖνοις ἀνθεσι κοσμοῦσιν· ἡμεῖς τὴν ψυχὴν ταῖς ἀρεταῖς φαιδρύνωμεν καὶ ἀντὶ μὲν λίθων πολυτελῶν τῇ κεφαλῇ περιθῶμεν τὸν τρίπλοκον στέφανον, πίστιν, ἐλπίδα καὶ ἀγάπην · τῷ δὲ τραχήλῳ τὴν τιμίαν κόσμησιν περιθῶμεν, τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἀντὶ δὲ ζώνης τὴν σωφροσύνην περιζωσώμεθα· λαμπρὰ δὲ ἡμῖν περιβολὴ ἡ ἀκτημοσύνη γινέσθω · προσαγέσθω δὲ τῷ δείπνῳ τὰ μὴ φθειρόμενα ὄψα, εὐχαί τε καὶ ψαλμοί. Ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁ Ἀπόστολός φησι, μὴ μόνον τὴν γλῶτταν κίνει· ἀλλά γε καὶ τῷ πνεύματι νόει τά λεγόμενα. Πολλάκις γάρ τὸ μὲν στόμα φθέγγεται, ἡ δὲ καρδία περὶ λογισμοὺς ἀσχολεῖται. Προσέχειν δὲ δεῖ. μὴ, τοῖς θείοις γάμοις προσελθοῦσαι, πενίαν λαμπάδων, τουτέστιν ἀρετῶν, νοσήσωμεν. Μισήσει γάρ ἡμᾶς ὁ μνηστήρ, καὶ οὐδʼ ὅλως προσδέξεται, ὲάν μὴ τάς ὑποσχέσεις λάβῃ. Τίνες δέ εἰσιν αὗται; τοῦ μὲν σώματος ἥττω φροντίζειν, ἐπὶ πλείω δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν ἀρδεύειν· αὗται γάρ εἰσιν αἱ πρὸς αὐτὸν συνθῆκαι. ### English translation (Claude) “We ought now, betrothed to the true Bridegroom, to be adorned more fittingly. Let the sight of worldly marriage be an edification for us. For if those women, joining a husband easily won, give so much effort to baths and anointings and varied adornment (for by these they think to make themselves more lovable), and if so much imagination is fixed in those who live according to the body, how much more must we, betrothed to the heavenly Bridegroom, rise above them in mind, wash off the filth of sins by laborious asceticism, and exchange bodily garments for spiritual ones? They adorn the body with worldly and earthly flowers; let us brighten the soul with the virtues; and instead of precious stones let us put on our head the threefold crown, faith, hope and love; and round our neck let us put the precious ornament, humility; instead of a girdle let us gird ourselves with chastity; let poverty be our splendid robe; and let there be brought to the banquet foods that do not perish, prayers and psalms. But, as the apostle says, do not only move the tongue, but understand with the spirit what is said. For often the mouth speaks while the heart is busy with thoughts. We must take care lest, coming to the divine wedding, we suffer a poverty of lamps, that is, of virtues. For the Bridegroom will hate us and not receive us at all if he does not receive the pledges. And what are these? To care less for the body and to water the soul more; for these are the covenants with him.” ### Scripture references - 1 Cor 13:13: allusion, high confidence - 1 Cor 14:15: allusion, high confidence - Matt 25:3: allusion, high confidence - Matt 25:12: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - “Betrothed” renders a garbled word (“1:905:1θοῦσαι”), probably μνηστευθεῖσαι. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 92 (PG 28:1544b–1545a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/92). ## Life of Syncletica 93 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-93 - Source: PG 28:1545a–1545b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Like two buckets on a windlass, as the body is lightened by asceticism the soul rises filled with good. ### Greek text Ὥσπερ δὲ οὐκ ἐγχωρεῖ δύο κάδους κατά τὸ αὐτὸ ἀνάγειν πεπληρωμένους ὓδατος· διὰ γάρ τοῦ στρεφομένου ἄξονος, ὁ μὲν εἷς κοῦφος κατάγεται, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος μεστὸς ἀνάγεται· οὕτως καὶ ἐφʼ ἡμῶν ἐστιν· ὅταν γὰρ τὴν πᾶσαν κηδεμονίαν τῇ ψυχῇ προσοίσωμεν, πληρωθεῖσα τῶν καλῶν ἀνάγεται, τῶν μεταρσίων ἐφιεμένη. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα ἡμῶν, διὰ τῆς ἀσκήσεως κοῦφον γενόμενον, οὐ βρίθει τὴν ἡγεμονοῦσαν δύναμιν. Καὶ τούτου μάρτυς ὁ Ἀπόστολος, φησὶ γάρ · Ὅσον ό ἔξωθεν ἡμῶν ἅνθρωπος φθείρεται, τοσοῦτον ό ἔνδον ἀνακαινοῦται. ### English translation (Claude) “As it is not possible to raise two buckets full of water at the same time (for by the turning axle one goes down light and the other comes up full), so it is with us: when we give all our care to the soul, it rises filled with good things, aiming at things on high; and our body, made light through asceticism, does not weigh down the ruling power. And the apostle is witness of this, for he says: ‘For though our outer man is perishing, yet the inner is being renewed.’” ### Scripture references - 2 Cor 4:16: quotation, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 93 (PG 28:1545a–1545b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/93). ## Life of Syncletica 94 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-94 - Source: PG 28:1545b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: A nun or monk in a community should not move from place to place, as a bird leaving its eggs makes them barren. ### Greek text Ἐν μονῇ κοινοβίου τυγχάνεις; μὴ μεταλλάξῃς τὸν τόπον· βλαβήσῃ γὰρ μεγάλως· Ὥσπερ γὰρ ὄρνις ἐξανισταμένη τῶν ὠῶν, οὔρια ταῦτα καὶ ἄγονα παρασκευάζει· οὐτως παρθένος ἢ μοναχὸς ψυχροῦται καὶ νεκροῦται τῆς πίστεως, τόπον ἐκ τόπου μεταβαίνων. ### English translation (Claude) “Are you in a community monastery? Do not change your place; for you will be greatly harmed. For as a bird that rises from its eggs makes them addled and barren, so a virgin or monk grows cold and dead in faith by passing from place to place.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 94 (PG 28:1545b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/94). ## Life of Syncletica 95 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-95 - Source: PG 28:1545b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Do not envy the rich their fine food; fasting on plain fare surpasses their abundance. ### Greek text Μή σε δελεάσῃ ἡ τῶν κατά τὸν κόσμον πλουσίων τρυφὴ, ῶς τι χρήσιμον ἔχουσα. Ἡδονῆς ἕνεκεν τὴν ὀψαρτυτικὴν τιμῶσι τέχνην · νηστείᾳ καὶ αὐτὸς διά τῶν εὐτελῶν τὴν ἐκείνων εὐπορίαν τῶν τροφῶν ὑπερβάλλου. Φησὶ γὰρ, ὡς Ψυχὴ, ἐν πλησμονῇ οὖσα, κηρίοις ἐμπαίζει. Μὴ κορεσθῇς ἄρτου, καί οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις οἴνου. ### English translation (Claude) “Let not the luxury of the rich in the world lure you, as though it had something useful. They honor the art of cookery for the sake of pleasure; but you, by fasting with cheap foods, surpass their abundance of food. For it says: ‘A soul that is full mocks at honeycombs.’ Do not be filled with bread, and you will not desire wine.” ### Scripture references - Prov 27:7: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The last saying is unidentified as a Scripture quotation. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 95 (PG 28:1545b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/95). ## Life of Syncletica 96 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-96 - Source: PG 28:1545b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Desire, pleasure and grief are the devil’s three chief weapons; desire must be stopped at its first stirring, for once it acts the others follow in a circle. ### Greek text Τρία ἐστὶ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ τά πρῶτα κεφάλαια, ἐξ ὧν πᾶσα κακία κατάγεται· ἐπιθυμία, ἡδονὴ, λύπη. ’Ἑν ἐξ ένὸς ταῦτα ἤρτηται, καὶ ἒν ένὶ ἀκολουθεῖ· καὶ ἡδονῆς μὲν κρατῆσαι δυνατὸν μετρίως, ἐπιθυμίας δὲ ἀδύνατον. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ τῆς ἡδονῆς διὰ τοῦ σώματος τελεῖται· τὸ δὲ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς ἄρχεται· ὴ δὲ λύπη ἐκ τῶν ἀμφοτέρων κατασκευάζεται. Μὴ συγχωρήσῃς οὖν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐνεργῆσαι, καὶ τὰ λοιπά ἀποσκεδάσεις. Εἰ δὲ συγχωρήσῃς προκύψαι τὸ πρῶτον, διανεμηθήσεται πρὸς τὸ δεύτερον, κυκλικὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν ποιήσονται πρὸς έαυτά, καὶ οὐδαμῶς συγχωρήσει τῇ ψυχῇ ἀνασφῆλαι. Γέγραπται γὰρ, ὡς Μὴ δὸς ὕδατι διέξοδον. ### English translation (Claude) “There are three first heads of the enemy, from which all wickedness is derived: desire, pleasure, grief. These hang one from another and follow one another; and it is possible to master pleasure in some measure, but impossible [to master] desire [once it has acted]. For pleasure is accomplished through the body, but desire begins from the soul; and grief is produced from both. Do not allow desire to act, then, and you will scatter the rest. But if you allow the first to peep out, it will spread to the second, and they will make a circular exchange among themselves, and will not allow the soul to recover at all. For it is written: ‘Do not give water an outlet.’” ### Extrabiblical texts - Sir 25:25 (Sirach): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “Do not give water an outlet” is Sir 25:25. “Spread” renders a garbled word (“διανεmea.”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 96 (PG 28:1545b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/96). ## Life of Syncletica 97 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/68/#p-97 - Source: PG 28:1545b–1548a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Some flourish in community, others in solitude; one can be a solitary in the city or worldly in the desert, for it is the mind that counts. ### Greek text Οὐ πᾶσι πάντα συμφέρει · ἕκαστος δὲ τῷ ἰδίῳ νοῒ πληροφορείσθω. Ὅτι πολλοῖς ἐν κοινοβίῳ συμφέρει, καὶ ἄλλοις κατʼ ίδίαν ἀναχωρεῖν ὠφέλιμον τυγχάνει. Ὥσπερ γάρ τῶν φυτῶν τά μὲν ἐν τοῖς διύγροις τόποις τυγχάνοντα εὐθαλέστερα γίνονται, τά δὲ ὲν τοῖς ξηροτέροις μονιμώτερα· οὕτω καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οι μὲν έν τοῖς ὑψηλοτέροις τόποις εὖ πράττουσιν, οἱ δὲ έν τοῖς ταπεινοτέροις διασώζονται. Πολλοὶ οὖν ἐν πόλει, τὰ τῆς ἐρήμου φανταζόμενοι, ἐσώθησαν καὶ πολλοὶ, ὲν ὄρει ὄντες, τά τῶν δημοτῶν πράττοντες, ἀπώλοντο. Δυνατὸν μετά ὄντα μονάζειν τῇ γνώμῃ, καὶ μόνον ὄντα μετὰ ὄχλων τῇ διανοίᾳ συνδιάγειν. ### English translation (Claude) “Not everything profits everyone; let each be fully persuaded in his own mind. For many it is profitable to be in a community, and for others it is useful to withdraw alone. For as some plants flourish more in moist places and others are more lasting in drier ones, so among people some do well in higher places and others are kept safe in lower ones. Many, then, in a city, imagining the things of the desert, have been saved; and many, being on a mountain, doing the things of townsfolk, have perished. It is possible to be with many and alone in mind, and to be alone and live with crowds in one’s thoughts.” ### Scripture references - Rom 14:5: allusion, high confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 97 (PG 28:1545b–1548a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/97). ## Life of Syncletica 98 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-98 - Source: PG 28:1548a–1548c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil afflicts with sickness those he cannot tempt with pleasure; the sinner should accept illness as chastisement, the righteous as refining, like Paul’s thorn, looking to the refreshment to come. ### Greek text Πολλά τοῦ διαβόλου τὰ κέντρα. Διά πενίας ού μετεκίνησε ψυχήν; πλοῦτον προσάγει εἰς δέλεαρ. Διʼ ὕβρεων καὶ ὀνειδισμῶν οὐκ ἴσχυσεν, ἐπαίνους καὶ δόξαν προβάλλεται. Διά τῆς ὑγείας ἡττήθης; νοσοποιεῖ τὸ σῶμα. Ταῖς γὰρ ἡδοναῖς μὴ δυνηθεὶς ἀπατῆσαι, διὰ τῶν ἀκουσίων πόνων τὴν παρατροπὴν τῆς ψυχῆς πειρᾶται ποιῆσαι ἀπροαίρετον καὶ ἀβούλητον. Νόσους γάρ τινας καὶ βαρυτάτας ἐξ αἰτήσεως προσάγει. πρὸς τὸ διὰ τούτων ὀλιγωρήσαντας ὲπιθολῶσαι αὐτῶν τὴν πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπην. Ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ κατατέμνεται τὸ σῶμα, καὶ πυρετοῖς σφοδροτάτοις καταφλέγεται, ἔτι μὴν καὶ δίψει ἀνιάτῳ καὶ ἀσχὲτῳ καταθλίβεται· εί μὲν ἁμαρτωλὸς ὢν ταῦτα ὑφίστασαι, ὑπομνήσθητι τῆς μελλούσης κολάσεως, καὶ τοῦ αἰωνίου πυρὸς καὶ τῶν δικαστικῶν τιμωριῶν, καὶ οὐκ ὀλιγωρήσεις πρὸς τά παρόντα. Χαῖρε, ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατό σε ὁ Κύριος, καὶ τὸ εὔφημον δὲ ἐκεῖνο ῥητὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γλώσσης ἔχε, ὼς Παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ό Κύριος · τῷ δὲ θανάτῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας οὐ παρέδωκέ με. Σίδηρος ἐτύγχανες, ἀλλά διά τοῦ πυρὸς τὸν ἰὸν ἀποβάλλῃ. Εἰ δὲ καὶ δίκαιος ὢν ἀρρωστεῖς, ἀπὸ τῶν μεγάλων ἐπὶ τά μείζω προκόπτεις. Χρυσὸς εἷ, ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦ πυρὸς δοκιμώτερος γίνῃ. Ἐδόθη σοι ἄγγελος Σατᾶν τῇ σαρκὶ, ἀγαλλιὰ βλέπε τίνι ὅμοιος γέγονας ο τῆς γὰρ Παύλου δωρεᾶς ἡξιὼθης. Διά τοῦ πυρετοῦ δοκιμάζῃ · διὰ ῥίγους παιδεύῃ ἀλλά φησιν ή Γραφή ο Διήλθομεν διὰ πυρός καὶ ὕδατος. Λοιπὸν τὸ ἀναψυκτήριον ἡτοίμασται. Ἐτυχες τοῦ πρώτου, προσδόκα τὸ δεύτερον. Πράττων [πάσχων] με τά τοῦ ἁγίου Δαβὶδ ῥήματα· φησὶ γὰρ, ὡς Πένης καὶ πτωχὸς καὶ ἀλγῶν ειμι ἐγώ. Τέλειος γενήσῃ διὰ τῆς τριάδος. Καὶ γάρ φησιν · Ἐν θλίψει ἐπλάτυνάς με. Ἐν τούτοις μάλιστα τοῖς γυμνασίοις τᾲς ψυχὰς ἀσκηθῶμεν· ἐπʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς γὰρ ὁρῶμεν τὸν ἀντίπαλον. ### English translation (Claude) “Many are the goads of the devil. Has he not moved the soul through poverty? He brings wealth as bait. Has he not prevailed through insults and reproaches? He puts forward praise and glory. Were you overcome through health? He makes the body sick. For, unable to deceive by pleasures, he tries through involuntary sufferings to bring about the turning aside of the soul against its choice and will. For, having asked permission, he brings certain diseases, even most severe, so as through them to trouble the love for God of those who grow faint. But even if the body is cut up and burned with most violent fevers, and moreover afflicted with incurable and unquenchable thirst: if you suffer these things as a sinner, remember the punishment to come, and the eternal fire, and the judicial punishments, and you will not grow faint at what is present. Rejoice that the Lord has visited you, and have on your tongue that auspicious saying: ‘The Lord has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to the death of sin.’ You were iron, but through the fire you throw off rust. And if you are sick while righteous, you advance from great things to greater. You are gold, but through the fire you become more tested. An angel of Satan has been given to you in the flesh: rejoice; see whom you have become like, for you have been counted worthy of the gift of Paul. You are tested by fever; you are disciplined by cold; but Scripture says: ‘We went through fire and water.’ What remains is the place of refreshment prepared. You have obtained the first; expect the second. Doing [suffering], say the words of holy David; for he says: ‘I am poor and needy and in pain.’ You will become perfect through this triad. For it says: ‘In affliction you enlarged me.’ In these exercises above all let us train our souls; for we see the adversary before our eyes.” ### Scripture references - Job 2:6: allusion, medium confidence - Ps 118:18 (117:18 LXX): quotation, high confidence - 1 Pet 1:7: allusion, medium confidence - 2 Cor 12:7: quotation, high confidence - Ps 66:12 (65:12 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 69:29 (68:30 LXX): quotation, high confidence - Ps 4:1 (4:2 LXX): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “Having asked permission” reflects Job 1–2. Migne prints “Πράττων [πάσχων]”, giving a variant. Ps 118:18 is quoted with “death of sin” for “death.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 98 (PG 28:1548a–1548c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98). ## Life of Syncletica 99 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-99 - Source: PG 28:1548c–1549a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Sickness that prevents prayer and fasting does their work for them; enduring it with thanksgiving is the great asceticism, for loss of the senses frees the inner man. ### Greek text Μὴ λυπηθῶμεν, ὡς διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν καὶ τὴν πληγὴν τοῦ σώματος μὴ δυνάμενοι εἰς εὐχὴν στῆναι, ἢ ψάλλειν μετά φωνῆς πάντα ἡμῖν ταῦτα ἤνυτο πρὸς καθαίρεσιν ἐπιθυμιῶν. Καὶ γὰρ νηστεία καὶ χαμευνία διὰ τὰς αἰσχίστους ἡμῖν ἡδονὰς νενομοθέτηνται. Εί οὖν νόσος ταύτας ἤμβλυνε, περιττὸς ὁ πόνος. Τί δὲ λέγω περιττός; ὥσπερ γὰρ μείζονί τινι καὶ ἰσχυροτέρῳ φαρμάκῳ τῇ νόσῳ τά ὀλεθροφόρα συμπτὼματα κεκοίμηνται. Καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ή μεγάλη ἄσκησις, τὸ ὲν ταῖς νόσοις ἐγκαρτερεῖν, καὶ εὐχαριστηρίους ὕμνους ἀναπέμπειν τῷ κρείττονι. Ἀφαιρούμεθα ὀφθαλμῶν; μὴ βαρέως ὲνέγκωμεν · τά γὰρ τῆς ἀπληστίας ὄργανα ἀπεβάλομεν, ἀλλά τοῖς ἔνδον ὀφθαλμοῖς τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου κατοπτριζόμεθα. Ἐκωφεύσαμεν; εὐχαριστήσωμεν τὴν ματαίαν ἀκοὴν τέλεον ἀποβαλόντες. Τὰς χεῖρας πεπόνθαμεν ; ἀλλὰ τὰς ἔνδον ἔχομεν εύτρεπισθείσας πρὸς τὸν κατά τοῦ ἐχθροῦ πόλεμον. Ἀρῤωστία καθʼ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα κρατεῖ; ἀλλʼ ἡ κατά τὸν ἔσω ἄνθρωπον ὑγεία μᾶλλον αὔξει. ’ ### English translation (Claude) “Let us not be grieved because, through weakness and the blow to the body, we cannot stand for prayer or sing psalms aloud; all these were for the destruction of desires. For fasting and sleeping on the ground have been prescribed for us because of the most shameful pleasures. If, then, sickness has blunted these, the labor is superfluous. And why do I say superfluous? For the deadly symptoms have been put to sleep by the sickness as by some greater and stronger medicine. And this is the great asceticism: to persevere in sicknesses and to send up hymns of thanksgiving to the One above. Are we deprived of eyes? Let us not take it hard; for we have lost the organs of greediness, but with the inner eyes we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. Have we become deaf? Let us give thanks, having entirely thrown away vain hearing. Have our hands suffered? But we have the inner ones ready for war against the enemy. Does sickness rule the whole body? But the health of the inner man grows all the more.” ### Scripture references - 2 Cor 3:18: allusion, high confidence - 2 Cor 4:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - A leaked column number (“Ι 549”) is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 99 (PG 28:1548c–1549a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/99). ## Life of Syncletica 100 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-100 - Source: PG 28:1549a–1549c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: In community, obedience is better than extreme asceticism; true fasting is distinguished from the demonic and heretical kind by measure and right faith, as true coins by their stamp. ### Greek text Ἐν κοινοὸίῳ οὖσαι, τὴν ὑπακοὴν μᾶλλον τῆς ἀσκήσεως προκρίνωμεν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ὑπεροψίαν διδάσκει, ἡ δὲ ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐπαγγέλλεται. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὲκ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ὲπιτεταμένη ἄσκησις. Καὶ γὰρ οί αὑτοῦ μαθηταὶ τοῦτο ποιοῦσι. Πῶς οὖν διακρίνωμεν τὴν θείαν καὶ βασιλικὴν ἄσκησιν τῆς τυραννικῆς καὶ δαιμονιώδους; δῆλον, ὡς ἀπὸ τῆς συμμετρίας. Ἅπας σοι ὁ χρόνος εἷς κανὼν νηστείας ὑπαρχέτω. Μὴ τέσσαρας ἢ πέντε νηστεύσῃς, καὶ τὴν ἀλλην πλήθει τροφῶν καταλύσῃς τὴν δύναμιν. Τοῦτο ήδὺ τῷ ἐχθρῷ. Πανταχοῦ ἡ ἀμετρία φθοροποιὸς τυγχάνει. Μὴ ὑφʼ ἒν σου τά ὅπλα ἀναλώσῃς, καὶ γυμνὸς εὑρεθεὶς ὲν τῷ πολέμῳ εὐάλωτος γενήσῃ. Τά ὅπλα ήμῶν ἐστι τὸ σῶμα· ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ ό στρατιώτης· καὶ τῶν ἀμφοτέρων ἐπιμελοῦ πρὸς τὰς χρείας. Νέος ὢν καὶ ὑγιὴς, νήστευσον. Ἥξει γὰρ τὸ γῆρας μετά ἀσθενείας. Ὠς δύνῃ, θησαύρισον τροφὰς, ἵνα, μὴ δυνάμενος, εὕρῃς. Νήστευε μετά λόγου καὶ ἀκριβείας. Ὅρα μὴ ὁ ἐχθρὸς ἐπεισέλθῃ τῇ ἐμπορίᾳ τῆς νηστείας· καὶ τάχα οἶμαι περὶ τούτου τὸν Σωτῆρα εἰρηκέναι τό· Γίνεσθε δόκιμοι τραπεζῖται· τουτέστι, τὸ βασιλικὸν χάραγμα ἀκριβῶς γινώσκετε· εἰσὶ γὰρ καὶ παραχαράγματα· καὶ ἡ μὲν τοῦ χρυσοῦ φύσις ἡ αὐτή, διαφέρει δὲ τῷ χαράγματι. Ὀ μὲν χρυσός ἐστι νηστεία, ἐγκράτεια, ἐλεημοσύνη· ἀλλά καὶ Ἑλλήνων παῖδες τὴν τυραννικὴν αὐτῶν εἰκόνα τούτοις ἐντίθενται, καὶ αίρετικοὶ δὲ πάντες διὰ τούτων σεμνύνονται. Ὀρᾷν δὲ δεῖ τούτους, καὶ ἀποφεύγειν ὡς παραχαράκτας. Βλέπε μὴ, ἀγυμνάστως περιπεσὼν αὐτοῖς, ζημιωθῇς. Δέχου οὖν μετὰ ἀσφαλείας τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ σταυρὸν διεντετυπωμένον ταῖς ἀρεταῖς· τουτέστι, πίστιν ὀρθὴν μετὰ σεμνῶν πράξεων. ### English translation (Claude) “Being in a community, let us prefer obedience to asceticism; for the one teaches arrogance, the other promises humility. There is also an intense asceticism from the enemy; for his disciples do this too. How, then, shall we distinguish the divine and royal asceticism from the tyrannical and demonic? Clearly by its measure. Let your whole time have one rule of fasting. Do not fast four or five days and then break down your strength on the next with a mass of food. This is sweet to the enemy. Everywhere lack of measure is destructive. Do not spend your weapons all at once, lest, found naked in the war, you be easily captured. Our weapons are the body, and the soul is the soldier; take care of both for what is needed. While you are young and healthy, fast; for old age will come with weakness. While you can, store up food, so that when you cannot you may find it. Fast with reason and exactness. Take care lest the enemy slip into the commerce of your fasting. And I think the Savior spoke of this: ‘Be approved money-changers’; that is, know exactly the royal stamp; for there are also counterfeits; and the nature of the gold is the same, but it differs in the stamp. The gold is fasting, continence, almsgiving; but the sons of the Greeks too put their tyrannical image on these, and all the heretics pride themselves on them. One must see these and flee them as counterfeiters. Look out lest, falling among them untrained, you suffer loss. Receive, then, with security the cross of Christ imprinted with the virtues, that is, right faith with dignified deeds.” ### Scripture references - 1 Sam 15:22: allusion, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Be approved money-changers” is an unwritten saying (agraphon) of Jesus widely cited by early writers. The heretics’ asceticism is the writer’s polemic, given as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 100 (PG 28:1549a–1549c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/100). ## Life of Syncletica 101 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-101 - Source: PG 28:1549c–1549d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: In community one must obey the superior and not seek one’s own will; having chosen exile from the world, the nun accepts reproach and want as a voluntary prison for her sins. ### Greek text Δεῖ ἡμᾶς πάσῃ διακρίσει κυβερνᾷν τὴν ψυχὴν, καὶ ἐν κοινοβίῳ οὔσας, μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητεῖν, μήτε μὴν οἰκείᾳ δουλεύειν γνώμῃ, ἀλλὰ τῇ κατά πίστιν μητρὶ πειθαρχεῖν. Ἐξορίᾳ ἑαυτὰς παρεδώκαμεν ° τουτέστι τῶν κοσμικῶν ὅρων ἔξω ἐγενόμεθα· οὐκοῦν ἐκβεβλήμεθα· μὴ τὰ αὐτὰ ζητήσωμεν. Ἐκεῖ δόξαν εἴχομεν, ὧδε ὀνειδισμόν· ἐκεῖ δαψίλειαν τροφῶν, ὧδε καὶ τοῦ ἄρτου ἔνδειαν. Ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ οἱ πταίοντες, καὶ μὴ βουλόμενοι είς φυλακὴν βάλλονται καὶ ἡμεῖς διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν ἑαυτὰς φυλακίσωμεν, ἵνα τὸ ἑκούσιον τῆς γνώμης τὴν μέλλουσαν κόλασιν ἀπο- ### English translation (Claude) “We must steer the soul with all discernment, and, being in a community, not seek our own things, nor serve our own will, but obey our mother in the faith. We have given ourselves over to exile, that is, we have gone outside the bounds of the world; so we have been cast out; let us not seek the same things. There we had glory, here reproach; there abundance of food, here even lack of bread. In the world those who offend are thrown into prison even against their will; let us too imprison ourselves for our sins, so that the willingness of our choice may [avert] the punishment to come …” ### Scripture references - Phil 2:21: allusion, medium confidence - 1 Cor 10:24: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The section breaks off at the end in the scan (“ἀπο-”); the rest is lost. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 101 (PG 28:1549c–1549d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/101). ## Life of Syncletica 102 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-102 - Source: PG 28:1549d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Sickness is no excuse for not fasting, since non-fasters fall ill too. ### Greek text Νηστεύεις; μὴ προφασίσῃ νόσον. Καὶ γὰρ οἱ μὴ νηστεύοντες τοῖς αὐτοῖς περιέπεσον νοσήμασιν. ### English translation (Claude) “Are you fasting? Do not make sickness an excuse. For those who do not fast have fallen into the same diseases.” ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 102 (PG 28:1549d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/102). ## Life of Syncletica 103 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-103 - Source: PG 28:1549d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Once the good is begun, one should persevere against the enemy, who is defeated by patience. ### Greek text Ἥρξω τοῦ καλοῦ; μὴ ἀναχαιτίσῃς, τοῦ ἐχθροῦ σε ἐγκύπτοντος. Αὐτὸς γάρ τῇ ὑπομονῇ σου καταργεῖται. ### English translation (Claude) “Have you begun the good? Do not draw back when the enemy bends over you. For he is made powerless by your patience.” ### Translation notes - A leaked footnote and running head at the end of the section in the scan are removed. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 103 (PG 28:1549d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/103). ## Life of Syncletica 104 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-104 - Source: PG 28:1552a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: As sailors persist through contrary winds, the ascetic should set the cross as her sail and continue. ### Greek text Καὶ γὰρ οἱ πλεῖν ἀρχόμενοι, πρῶτον μὲν δεξιοῦ πνεύματος τυγχάνουσι ἀπλὼσαντες τά ἱστία· αὖθις δὲ ἐναντίος ἄνεμος ἀπαντᾷ· ἀλλʼ οἱ ναυτικοὶ διά τὸ παρεμπεσὸν πνεῦμα οὑκ ἀποσκευάζουσι τὴν ναῦν· μικρὸν δὲ ἡσυχάσαντες ἢ καὶ ἀπομαχησάμενοι τῇ ζάλῃ, τὸν πλοῦν ποιοῦνται· οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐναντίου πνεύματος προσπεσόντος, τὸν σταυρὸν ἀντὶ ἱστίου τανύσασαι, ἀδεῶς τὸν πλοῦν ἐκτελέωμεν. ### English translation (Claude) “For those who begin to sail first meet a favorable wind and spread their sails; but then an opposing wind meets them; yet sailors do not unload the ship because of the wind that has befallen; but, waiting a little or even fighting against the squall, they make their voyage. So we too, when an opposing wind falls upon us, stretching the cross instead of a sail, let us complete the voyage without fear.” ### Translation notes - Debris from the facing column and apparatus interleaved in the scan is removed by logged corrections. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 104 (PG 28:1552a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/104). ## Life of Syncletica 105 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-105 - Source: PG 28:1552a–1552b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Envying the good she did, the devil asked leave to afflict Syncletica in a final contest, striking her inward organs with incurable pain. ### Greek text Ταῦτα τῆς σεμνῆς καὶ πανέρέτου Συγκλητικῆς τά διδάγματα· καὶ μᾶλλον πράξεις ἢ ῥήματα· ναὶ-ξ ἀλλα ego)... καὶ μεγάλα ὑπʼ· αὐτῆς ἐγνωρίσθη ὠφέλειαν τῶν ἀκουσάντων τε καὶ θεασαμένων. Τοσοῦτον δέ πλῆθος ἐξ αὐτῆς ἀγαθῶν ἐβλάστησεν, ὅσον ἀνθρωπίνη γλῶσσα ἀπορήσειεν ἀν ἐκφράσαι. Ὁ δὲ μισόκαλος διάβολος, μὴ φέρων τὴν τοσαύτην τῶν ’καλῶν ἀφθονίαν, ἐξετήκετο, καὶ είς ἐαυτὸν ἐδραματούργει, ὅπως ἂν δυνηθείη ἐπιθολῶσαι τὴν τῶν χρηστῶν ἀνατολήν. Καὶ λοιπὸν ἐξαιτεῖται πρὸς τὸν τελευταῖον ἀγῶνα τὴν γενναιοτάτην παρθένον· καὶ τοσοῦτον αὐτῇ τῇ ἔχθρᾳ ἀμύνεται, ὡς μηδέ τῶν ἔξωθεν μελῶν ἐνάρξασθαι τῆς πληγῆς· τῶν ἐνδοσθίων ἁψάμενος, βύθιον αὐτῇ τὴν ἀλγηδόνα ἀπένεμεν · ὼς ἀπαραμύθητον αὐτὴν ἐκ τῆς ἀνθρώπων ἐπικουρίας γενέσθαι. ### English translation (Claude) These are the teachings of the venerable and all-virtuous Syncletica, or rather deeds than words; and many other great things were made known by her for the benefit of those who heard and saw. So great a multitude of good things sprang from her that a human tongue would be at a loss to express it. But the devil, hater of good, not bearing such abundance of good things, was consumed with envy and plotted within himself how he might trouble the dawning of good things. And then he asks for the most noble virgin for the last contest; and he wars against her with such hatred that he did not begin the blow with the outer members, but, touching the inward parts, he dealt her a deep pain, so that she was beyond comfort from human help. ### Scripture references - Job 2:6: allusion, medium confidence - Luke 22:31: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - A phrase near the beginning is garbled in the scan (“ναὶ-ξ ἀλλα ego)...”); “many other great things” is supplied by sense. “Asks for” recalls Satan’s request in Job 1–2 and Luke 22:31. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 105 (PG 28:1552a–1552b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/105). ## Life of Syncletica 106 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-106 - Source: PG 28:1552b–1553a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: In her eightieth year the devil struck her lungs with consumption and fever for three and a half years, a trial harsher than Job’s or the martyrs’, since it burned from within. ### Greek text Καὶ πρῶτον μὲν τὸ ἀναγκαιότατον ἐν ζωῇ πλήττει μόριον, τὸν πνεύμονα, καὶ διὰ νόσων ὀλεθροφὸρων ὀλίγον ἐξάπτει τὴν κακίαν. Ἐνεχὼρει μὲν γάρ καὶ ἐν ὀλίγῳ διά τῆς ἐξαιτήσεως συντεμεῖν αὐτῆς τὴν τελευτήν · ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ αἱμοβόρος δήμιος, διὰ πληγῶν πολλῶν καὶ χρόνου μακροῦ δεινότητα ἐνδείκνυται. Κατά μικρὸν γάρ ἀναλύων τὸν πνεύμονα διὰ τῶν ἀναγομένων πτυσμάτων, τοῦτον ἀπέβαλλε. Παρῆσαν δέ καὶ πυρετοὶ ἀδιάλειπτοι, ῥίνης δίκην ἀποδαπανῶντες τὸ σῶμα. Ἤδη ὀγδοηκοστὸν ἦγεν ἔτος, ὅτε ὁ διάβολος τὰ τοῦ Ἰὼβ ἆθλα είς ταύτην μετέφερεν · αὐταῖς μὲν γὰρ καὶ τότε ἐκέχρητο ταῖς μάστιξιν ο ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος συντέμνει τὸν χρόνον, φορτικωτέρας ποιούμενος τὰς ἀλγηδόνας. Πέμπτον μὲν καὶ τριακοστὸν ἔτος ὁ μακάριος Ἰὼβ ἐν τῇ πληγῇ πεποίηκεν · ἐνταῦθα δὲ ὁ ἐχθρὸς, ὥσπερ ἀπαρχάς τινας τοὺς τῶν δεκάδων χρόνους ἀποσυλήσας, πρὸς τάς πληγάς συνάπτει τῷ ἱέρῴ ταύτης σώματι. Τρία γὰρ ἥμισυ ἐτη διὰ τῶν τούτων πόνων τῷ ἐχθρῷ ἀπεμαχήσατο, Ἐπὶ μὲν οῦν τοῦ Ἰὼβ ἐκ τῶν ἔξω τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν τραυμάτων ἐποιεῖτο ὁ διάβολος · ἐπὶ δὲ ταύτης ἐκ τῶν ἐσω πρόσεισι ταῖς τιμωρίαις. Τῷ γάρ ἐνδοσθίων αὐτῆς μελῶν ἅπτεσθαι, μείζονας αύτῇ καὶ χαλεπωτέρας τὰς ἀλγηδόνας ἀπένειμεν. Οὐχ οὕτως οἶμαι τοὺς γενναιοτάτους ἐνηθληκέναι μάρτυρας, ὡς τὴν ἀοίδιμον Συγκλητικήν. Ἐκείνους μὲν γὰρ ἐκ τῶν ἐξω Σιξροσ-ᾑειὸ παλαμναῖος. Κάν τε γὰρ ξίφος, κᾶν τε πῦρ αὐτοῖς προσέφερεν, ἠπιώτερον ὑπῆρχε τῶν παρόντων αὐτῇ πειρατηρίων. Ἀντὶ μὲν γὰρ καμίνου πεπυρωμένης τὰ. σπλάγχνα αὐτῆς ύπέκαιεν, ἐκ τῶν ἔσω τὸ πῦρ κατʼ ὀλίγον ἐξάπτων· καὶ ῥίνης δίκην διὰ μακροῦ χρόνου ἀπεδαπάνα τὸ σῶμα. Καὶ ἐστιν ἀληθῶς βαρὺ τοῦτο καὶ ἀπάνθρωπον εἰπεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ οἱ τὰς δικαστικάς ἐμπεπιστευμένοι ἀρχὰς, ὁπηνίκα ἂν βουληθῶσι τοῖς ἀμαρτήσασι βαρυτέρας ἐπιθεῖναι τιμωρίας, διά βληχροτάτου πυρὸς τούτους ἀναλίσκουσιν· καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν ἐποιεῖτο τὴν τιμωρίαν. ### English translation (Claude) And first he strikes the part most necessary for life, the lung, and through deadly diseases he kindles his wickedness little by little. For he could have cut short her death in a short time through his request; but like a bloodthirsty executioner he displays his cruelty through many blows and a long time. For dissolving the lung little by little through the sputum brought up, he destroyed it. There were also continual fevers, wearing away the body like a file. She was already in her eightieth year when the devil transferred Job’s contests to her; for he used the same scourges then too, but in the present case he cut short the time, making the pains heavier. Blessed Job spent the thirty-fifth year under the blow; but here the enemy, stripping off the years of the tens as a kind of first-fruits, joins them to the blows on her holy body. For three and a half years she fought the enemy through these sufferings. In Job’s case the devil began the wounds from outside; but in hers he advances to the punishments from within. For by touching her inward members he dealt her greater and harsher pains. I do not think the most noble martyrs struggled as the celebrated Syncletica did. For the murderer [warred against] them from outside. Whether he brought a sword or fire against them, it was gentler than the present trials of hers. For instead of a heated furnace he burned her inward parts, kindling the fire from within little by little; and like a file he wore away the body over a long time. And this is truly heavy and inhuman to tell. For those entrusted with judicial authority, when they wish to inflict heavier punishments on wrongdoers, consume them with the slowest fire; and [so too] he carried out the punishment by day. ### Scripture references - Job 2:7: allusion, high confidence - Dan 3:19: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The comparison of years with Job (“thirty-fifth year … tens as first-fruits”) is obscure in the Greek; translated as written. A phrase about the martyrs is garbled (“Σιξροσ-ᾑειὸ παλαμναῖος”); “warred against” is supplied. The last clause appears defective. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 106 (PG 28:1552b–1553a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/106). ## Life of Syncletica 107 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-107 - Source: PG 28:1553a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Despite her illness she went on teaching, healing souls wounded by the devil and protecting others by exposing his snares. ### Greek text Καὶ ταύτην δὲ τὴν πληγὴν γενναίως ὑποφέρουσα οὐ συνέπιπτε τῷ φρονήματι· ἀλλά πάλιν ἡ μακαρία κατὰ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἠγωνίζετο. Καὶ γοῦν πάλιν ταῖς ἀγαθαῖς διδασκαλίαις τοὺς ὑπʼ αὑτοῦ τραυματιζομένους ἰᾶτο · καὶ γάρ ὥσπερ ἐκ λέοντος αἱμοβόρου τὰς ψυχὰς ἀπλήγους ἀνέσπα. Ἐθεράπευε δὲ τοὺς τραυματίας τοῖς σωτηρίοις τοῦ Κυρίου φαρμάκοις. Τινάς δὲ καὶ ἀτρώτους διεφύλαττεν · ὑποδεικνύουσα γάρ αὐτοῖς τοῦ διαβόλου τὰς δολεράς παγίδας, ἐλευθέρους ἐποιεῖτο τῆς ἁμαρτίας. ### English translation (Claude) Bearing this blow nobly too, she did not collapse in spirit; but again the blessed one fought against the enemy. And indeed she again healed with good teachings those wounded by him; for she drew souls unharmed as from a bloodthirsty lion. She treated the wounded with the Lord’s saving medicines. And some she kept unwounded; for, showing them the devil’s deceitful snares, she made them free of sin. ### Scripture references - 1 Pet 5:8: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 107 (PG 28:1553a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/107). ## Life of Syncletica 108 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-108 - Source: PG 28:1553b–1553c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Those dedicated to God must always be watchful, for the devil waits for any lapse; even the virtuous have faults, as even the wicked have some good. ### Greek text Ἔλεγε δὲ ἡ θαυμασία, ὼς μὴ δεῖν ἀμεριμνᾷν ποτε τάς Θεῷ ἀνακειμένας ψυχάς. Ταύταις γὰρ μάλιστα ἀντίκειται ὁ ἐχθρός. Καὶ γάρ, ἡσυχαζουσῶν αὐτῶν, βρύχει, καὶ ἡττώμενος ἀνιᾶται· καὶ μικρὸν ἀποχωρήσας, ἐπιτηρεῖ· κᾶν βραχύ τι ἀφυπνώσωσιν, οὕτως ἐπεισέρχεται· καὶ διʼ ὧν νομίζει τις ἔχειν τὸ ἀμέριμνον, διὰ τούτων αὐτῶν ὑποσκελίζει· ὥσπερ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοὺς πάνυ φαύλους μὴ ἔχειν καὶ σπινθῆρα καλοῦ, οὕτω τὸ ἐναντίον τοῖς χρηστοῖς πρόσεστι. Τῶν γάρ μαχομένων μοῖρά τις ἐν τοῖς ἀντικειμένοις μέρεσι τυγχάνει. Πολλάκις γοῦν ἄνθρωπος παντὶ αίσχίστῳ περιεστοίχισται, καὶ πάσῃ ἀκολασίᾳ συμπέφυρται· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐλεήμων τυγχάνει· καὶ ἐν σπουδαίοις πολλάκις ἐμπολιτεύεται σωφροσύνη, νηστεία, ἐπίπονος ἄσκησις · εἰσὶ δὲ φειδωλοὶ καὶ κατάλαλοι. ### English translation (Claude) The wonderful woman said that souls dedicated to God must never be free from care. For the enemy opposes these above all. For when they are at rest, he gnashes his teeth, and when defeated he is grieved; and withdrawing a little, he watches; and if they doze off a little, then he slips in; and through the very things by which one thinks oneself free from care, he trips one up. For as it is impossible for the very bad not to have even a spark of good, so the opposite is present in the good. For some share of the combatants is found in the opposing ranks. Often, indeed, a person is surrounded with every shame and mixed up in every licentiousness, and yet is merciful; and in the zealous chastity, fasting and laborious asceticism often have their citizenship, yet they are stingy and slanderers. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 108 (PG 28:1553b–1553c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/108). ## Life of Syncletica 109 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-109 - Source: PG 28:1553c–1553d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Small faults must not be neglected; God delivers from great dangers by grace but leaves small ones to our free effort, as a father lets a child take small steps. ### Greek text Δεῖ οὖν τῶν σμικρῶν μὴ ἀμελεῖν, ὡς μὴ δυναμένων βλάπτειν. Καὶ γάρ ὕδωρ λίθον τῷ χρόνῳ διέλυσε. Τά μὲν οὖν μέγιστα τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποις καλῶν ἐκ θείας χάριτος αὐτοῖς προσγίνεται· τὰ δὲ δοκοῦντα σμικρά τυγχάνειν διʼ ἑαυτῶν ἀποσοβεῖν δεδιδάγμεθα. Ὁ οὖν τῷ μεγάλῳ διὰ τῆς χάριτος ἀπομαχησάμενος, τοῦ δέ σμικροῦ καταφρονήσας, μεγάλως βλαβήσεται. Ὁ γὰρ Κύριος ἡμῶν, ὥσπερ γνήσιος Πατὴρ, ἀρτίως τῶν παιδίων αὑτοῦ ὁρμώντων πρὸς βάδισιν, ὀρέγει τὴν χεῖρα · καὶ κατὰ πᾶν ὁτιοῦν τῶν μεγάλων ἡμᾶς κινδύνων ῥυόμενος, είς τά μικρά συγχωρεῖ ἡμῖν ἀφʼ ἐαυτῶν κινεῖσθαι. καθάπερ ποσί· τούτοις τὴν γνώμην δεικνὺς ἐλευθέραν. Ὁ γὰρ πρὸς τὰ μικρὰ εὐάλωτος, πῶς ἀν τὰ μείζω φυλάξαι δυνηθείη; ### English translation (Claude) “One must not, then, neglect small things as unable to harm. For water has worn through stone in time. The greatest goods among people come to them from divine grace; but what seem small things we have been taught to drive away by ourselves. One who has fought off the great by grace but despised the small will be greatly harmed. For our Lord, like a true Father, stretches out his hand when his children are just beginning to walk; and rescuing us from great dangers in every way, he lets us move by ourselves in small things, showing by these, as with feet, that the will is free. For one who is easily caught in small things, how could he guard the greater?” ### Scripture references - Job 14:19: allusion, medium confidence - Luke 16:10: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 109 (PG 28:1553c–1553d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/109). ## Life of Syncletica 110 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-110 - Source: PG 28:1553d–1556a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil then struck her mouth so she could no longer speak, but the sight of her endurance taught her visitors more than words. ### Greek text Πάλιν ὀρῶν αὐτὴν διισχυριζομένην καθʼ ἐαυτοῦ ὁ μισόκαλος, ἦχθετο. Καὶ ὁρῶν ἑαυτοῦ τὴν τυραννίδα καθαιρουμένην, ἔτερόν τινα μηχανᾶται κακίας τρόπον καὶ πλήττει τὰ φωνητικὰ ὄργανα, πρὸς τὸ τὸν προφορικὸν ἐκκόψαι λόγον, δοκῶν διὰ τούτου λιμαγχονῆσαι τῶν θείων λόγων τάς συνερχομένας. Ἀλλʼ εί καὶ τὴν ἀκοὴν τῆς ὠφελείας ἐστέρησεν, ἐν τῷ μείζονι τδ κέρδος δεδώρηται· τῇ γὰρ δψει μεοᾶ πάθεσιν ἐνατενίξουσαι, μᾶλλον, ἐκραταιοῦντο τὴν γνώμην. Τά γὰρ ἐκείνης τοῦ σώματος τραύματα τὰς πεπληγμένας ψυχὰς ἰᾶτο· καὶ ἦν ἰδεῖν προφυλακὴν καὶ θεραπείαν τῶν θεωμένων τὴν τῆς μακαρίας μεγαλοψυχίαν τε καὶ καρτερίαν. ### English translation (Claude) Again the hater of good, seeing her holding firm against him, was vexed. And seeing his tyranny being destroyed, he contrives another manner of wickedness and strikes the organs of speech, so as to cut off her spoken word, thinking by this to starve those who came of divine words. But if he deprived them of hearing what was profitable, he gave them gain in the greater; for, gazing with their eyes at her sufferings, they were the more strengthened in mind. For the wounds of her body healed their stricken souls; and one could see the magnanimity and endurance of the blessed one become a protection and a healing for those who watched. ### Scripture references - Isa 53:5: allusion, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 110 (PG 28:1553d–1556a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/110). ## Life of Syncletica 111 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-111 - Source: PG 28:1556a–1556b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: A diseased tooth spread gangrene through her jaw with a terrible stench; she refused treatment as part of her contest, but accepted the physician’s embalming spices for the sake of the women who nursed her. ### Greek text Πρόφασιν μὲν οὖν αὐτῇ τῆς πληγῆς ποιεῖται ταύτην ὁ ἐχθρός· μίαν γὰρ μύλην ὀδυνήσας, σήπει παραυτά τὸ οὖλον · καὶ ἐκπίπτει μὲν τὸ ὀστέον · ἡ δὲ νομὴ διατρέχει είς ἃπασαν τὴν γένυν, καὶ γίνεται φθορά τῶν ἐπικειμένων σωμάτων· καὶ ἐν τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέραις τερηδονίζεται τὸ ὀστέον* καὶ μετά διμηναῖον χρόνον, γίνεται ἐκτρησις. Μελανθέντες οὖν ἦσαν ἅπαντες οἱ πέριξ τόποι. Τὸ δέ ὀστέον καὶ αὐτὸ φθαρέν, κατʼ ὀλίγον ἐδαπανᾶτο ο σῆψις δὲ καὶ βαρυτάτη δυσωδία καθ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα ἐκράτει· ὡς τὰς ὑπουργούσας πλέον αὐτῆς πάσχειν. Καὶ τὸν μὲν πλείονα χρόνον ἐχωρίζοντο, μὴ φέρουσαι τὴν ἀπάνθρωπον ὀσμήν ὅτε δὲ χρεία ἐκάλει, θυμιαμάτων ύπεκκαίουσαι πλῆθος προσῄεσαν, καὶ αὖθις ὑπεχώρουν διὰ τὸ τῆς δυσωδίας ἀπάνθρωπον. Ἥ δὲ μακαρία προφανῶς ἐθεώρει τὸν ἀντίπαλον, καὶ οὐδʼ ὅλως συνεχώρει αὐτῇ ἀνθρώπινον προσαχθῆναι βοήθημα· δεικνύουσα καὶ ὲν τούτῳ τὴν οἰκείαν ἀνδρείαν. Αἱ δὲ συνελθοῦσαι παρεκάλουν κᾶν μύροις τοὺς τόπους ὑπαλείφειν διὰ τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀσθένειαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπείθετο. Ἠγεῖτο γὰρ διὰ τῆς συμμαχίας τῶν ἐκτὸς καθαιρεῖσθαι τοῦ ἐνδόξου ἀγῶνος. Καὶ δή τινα ἰατρὸν αἱ συνελθοῦσαι μεταστέλλονται, ὡς, εί γε δυνηθείη, κᾶν αὐτὸς πεῖσαι θεραπείας τυχεῖν. Ἢ δέ πάλιν ούκ ἠνείχετο, λέγουσα ο Τί με τῆς ἀγαθῆς πάλης ταύτης ἐγκόπτετε; Τί ζητεῖτε τὸ φαινόμενον, ἀγνοοῦσαι τὸ κρυπτόμενον; Τί πολυπραγμονεῖτε τὸ γινόμενον, τὸν ποιοῦντα μὴ θεωροῦσαι; Καὶ πρὸς αὑτήν φησιν ὁ παρὼν ίατρός Ούχ ἕνεκεν θεραπείας τινὸς ἢ παραμυθίας προσφέρομεν φάρμακον, ἀλλʼ ἵνα τὸ ήλλοτριωμένον καὶ νεκρὸν μόριον κατά τὴν συνήθειαν θάψωμεν, πρὸς τὸ μὴ τοὺς παρόντας συνδιαφθαρῆναι. Ὅπερ γὰρ τοῖς τεθνεῶσι προσάγουσι, τοῦτο καὶ ήμεῖς νῦν ποιοῦμεν· ἀλόην ἀμα σμύρνῃ καὶ μυρσίνῃ οίνῳ δεύσας προστίθημι. Ἠ δὲ, ἀποδεξαμένη τὴν συμβουλίαν ἠνείχετο. τὰς συνελθούσας μᾶλλον ἐλεήσασα· ὲκαθαίρετο γὰρ ἐκ τούτου ή ἀμετρία τῆς δυσωδίας. ### English translation (Claude) The enemy made this the occasion of the blow: causing pain in one molar, he at once rotted the gum; the bone fell out; the gangrene spread through the whole jaw, and corruption of the neighboring tissues followed; and in forty days the bone was eaten through, and after two months an opening was made. All the surrounding places were blackened. The bone itself, corrupted, was consumed little by little; rot and a most grievous stench prevailed throughout the body, so that those serving her suffered more than she. For most of the time they kept away, not bearing the inhuman smell; and when need called, they came near burning a quantity of incense, and withdrew again because of the inhumanity of the stench. But the blessed one plainly saw the adversary, and did not at all allow human help to be brought to her, showing in this too her courage. The women gathered begged her at least to anoint the places with ointments because of their own weakness, and she was not persuaded. For she thought that by the alliance of outside help she would be brought down from the glorious contest. So the women gathered sent for a physician, so that, if he could, he at least might persuade her to accept treatment. But again she would not bear it, saying: “Why do you hinder me from this good wrestling? Why do you seek what appears, not knowing what is hidden? Why do you busy yourselves with what is happening, not seeing the one who does it?” And the physician present says to her: “We are not bringing a remedy for any treatment or comfort, but so that we may bury, according to custom, the estranged and dead part, lest those present be corrupted with it. For what they apply to the dead, we too are now doing: I am applying aloe with myrrh and myrtle soaked in wine.” And she, accepting the advice, bore it, pitying the women gathered rather; for by this the excess of the stench was purged. ### Scripture references - John 19:39: allusion, medium confidence ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 111 (PG 28:1556a–1556b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/111). ## Life of Syncletica 112 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-112 - Source: PG 28:1556b–1557a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: The devil struck her where her words had flowed, but was caught like a fish on a hook by despising a weak woman; for three months, unable to eat or sleep, she was sustained by divine power. ### Greek text Τίς οὑκ ἔφριξε τήν τηλικαύτην πληγὴν θεασάμενος; Τίς ούκ ὠφελήθη τὴν καρτερίαν τῆς μακαρίας θεασάμενος, καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τὴν κατάπτωσιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἐννοήσας; Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ ἔστησε τὴν πληγὴν, ὅθεν ἡ σωτήριος καὶ γλυκυτάτη τῶν λόγων πηγὴ, καὶ τὸ ὑπερβάλλον αὑτοῦ τῆς δεινότητος πᾶσαν παράκλησιν ἀπεσκέδασεν. Ὥσπερ γάρ θηρίον αἱμοβόρον, πᾶσαν τῶν συνερχομένων τὴν σπουδὴν ἀπεσόβησε, πρὸς τὸ σπαράξαι τὸ προσπεσὸν θήραμα· καὶ θοίνην ζητῶν, βορά γέγονε. Ἐδελεάσθη γάρ ὥσπερ διʼ ἀγκίστρου τῇ τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενείᾳ· γυναῖκα ὀρῶν, κατεφρόνει· ἠγνόει γὰρ αὐτῆς τὸ ἀνδρεῖον φρόνημα. Νοσοῦντα τά μέλη κατεμάνθανεν ο ἐτύφλωττε γάρ, τὸν ἰσχυρότατον αὐτῆς λογισμὸν κατοπτεῦσαι μὴ δυνάμενος. Μησὶ μὲν οὖν τρισὶ καὶ πρὸς τοῦτον τὸν ἀγῶνα ἐνήθλησε. Δυνάμει δὲ θείᾳ τὸ ὅλον παρεκρατεῖτο σῶμα. Τά γὰρ συντελοῦντα πρὸς τὴν διαμονὴν αὐτοῦ ἐμεμείωτο. Ἀτροφία μὲν οὖν πῶς γὰρ ἠδύνατο σιτίων μεταλαβεῖν, τοσαύτης σήψεως καὶ δυσωδίας κρατούσης; Ἀποκεχώριστο δὲ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς καὶ ὁ ’ὑπνος ὑπὸ τῶν ἀλγηδόνων ἐλαυνόμενος. ### English translation (Claude) Who did not shudder at seeing so great a blow? Who was not helped at seeing the endurance of the blessed one, and recognizing in it the downfall of the enemy? For he set the blow there, where the saving and sweetest spring of words was, and by the excess of his cruelty scattered all comfort. For like a bloodthirsty beast, he drove away all the zeal of those who came, so as to tear the prey that had fallen to him; and seeking a feast, he became food. For he was baited as by a hook with the weakness of the body; seeing a woman, he despised her; for he did not know her courageous mind. He observed the sick members; but he was blind, unable to spy out her strongest thought. For three months she struggled in this contest too. By divine power the whole body was held together; for what contributes to its survival had been lessened. There was want of food; for how could she partake of food when such rot and stench prevailed? And sleep too had departed from her, driven away by the pains. ### Translation notes - “Driven away” renders a garbled word (“Ennomoμενος”). ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 112 (PG 28:1556b–1557a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/112). ## Life of Syncletica 113 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/98/#p-113 - Source: PG 28:1557a–1557d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-11-05 Summary: Near death she saw angels, virgins and the light of paradise, foretold her death in three days, and departed to the Lord. ### Greek text Ὅτε δὲ αὐτῆς τὸ πέρας τῆς νίκης καὶ τοῦ στεφάνου ἐγγὺς ἐγένετο, καὶ ὀπτασίας ἐθεώρησε καὶ ἀγγέλων ἐπιστασίας, καὶ παρθένων ἁγίων προτροπὰς πρὸς τὴν ἄνοδον, καὶ ὲλλάμψεις ἀνεκλαλήτου φωτὸς, καὶ παραδείσου χῶρον ° καὶ μετὰ τὴν θέαν τούτων, ὥσπερ εἰς ἑαυτὴν γενομένη, κατήγγειλε ταῖς παρούσαις, γενναίως τε φέρειν, καὶ μὴ ὀλιγωρεῖν πρὸς τὸ παρόν. Εἶπε δὲ αὐταῖς, καὶ ώς ὅτι Μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας χωρισθήσομαι τοῦ σώματος. Οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν ώραν τῆς ἀφίξεως τῶν ἐνταῦθα ἐδήλωσε. Καὶ συντελεσθέντος τοῦ χρόνου, ἀπῆλθεν ἡ μακαρία Συγκλητικὴ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον, ἔπαθλον τῶν ἀγώνων παρʼ αὐτοῦ δεξαμένη τὴν τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείαν· εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθʼ οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ παναγίῳ Πνεύματι είς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. ### English translation (Claude) When the end of her victory and crown was near, she saw visions and the presence of angels, and holy virgins urging her to the ascent, and shinings of unspeakable light, and the place of paradise; and after seeing these, as if coming to herself, she told those present both to bear up nobly and not to grow faint at what was at hand. And she told them that “after three days I shall be separated from the body.” Not only this, but she also made known the hour of her departure from here. And when the time was fulfilled, the blessed Syncletica departed to the Lord, receiving from him the kingdom of heaven as the prize of her contests, to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the all-holy Spirit be glory to the ages of ages. Amen. ### Scripture references - 2 Tim 4:8: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The colophon that follows in Migne (a prayer of the copyist and a note on the collection of Arsenius “of the Springs”) is not part of the Life and is removed by a logged correction. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Athanasius, Vit. Sync. 113 (PG 28:1557a–1557d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ps-athanasius-vita-syncleticae/113).