C14_XI

XI

Ἀρχὴ τοῦ Ξ στοιχείου.

XOIUS. 14_01

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ξοΐου

1. A brother asked Abba Xoius, this question, If I happen to eat three loaves, is that a lot?’ The old man said to him, ‘Brother, have you come to the threshing-floor to beat grain?’ So he said, ‘If I drink three cups of wine, is that a lot?’ He said to him, ‘If the devil did not exist, it would not be a lot, but since he exists, it is a lot. Wine is alien to monks who live according to God.’

α. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ξόϊον͵ λέγων· Ἐὰν εὑρεθῶ πούποτε͵ καὶ φάγω τρία ψωμία͵ μὴ πολύ ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰς τὴν ἅλωνα ἦλθες͵ ἀδελφέ; Εἶπε δὲ πάλιν· Ἐὰν πίω τρία πο τήρια οἴνου͵ μὴ πολύ ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐὰν οὐκ ἔστι δαίμων͵ οὐκ ἔνι πολύ· ἐὰν δὲ ἔνι͵ πολύ ἐστιν. Ὁ γὰρ οἶνος ἀλλότριός ἐστι τῶν μοναχῶν τῶν κατὰ Θεὸν ζώντων

2. One of the Fathers said of Abba Xoius the Theban that one day he went to the mountain of Sinai and when he set out from there, a brother met him, groaning and saying, Abba, we are in distress through lack of rain.’ The old man said to him, ‘Why do you not pray and ask God for some?’ The brother said to him: ‘We pray, we say litanies and it does not rain.’ The old man said to him, ‘It is because you do not pray with intensity. Do you want to see that this is so?’ Then he stretched his hands towards heaven in prayer and immediately it rained. Seeing this, the brother was filled with fear and threw himself face downwards on the ground, bending low before him, but the old man fled and the brother told everyone what had happened. When they heard this, they glorified God.

β. Ἔλεγέ τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ξοΐου τοῦ Θηβαίου͵ ὅτι εἰσῆλθέ ποτε εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινᾶ· καὶ ἐξερχομένου αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖθεν͵ συνήντησεν αὐτῷ͵ ἀδελφὸς͵ καὶ στενάζων ἔλεγε· Θλιβόμεθα. ἀββᾶ͵ διὰ τὴν ἀβροχίαν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Καὶ ³¹³ διατί οὐκ εὔχεσθε καὶ παρακαλεῖτε τὸν Θεόν; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Καὶ εὐχόμεθα͵ καὶ λιτανεύομεν͵ καὶ οὐ βρέχει. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πάντως οὐκ εὔχεσθε ἐκτενῶς. Θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι ὅτι οὕτως ἐστί; Καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐν προσ ευχῇ͵ καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔβρεξεν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἐφοβήθη͵ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον͵ καὶ προσεκύ νησεν αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἔφυγεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀδελφὸς ἀνήγγειλε πᾶσι τὸ γεγονός. Καὶ οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐδό ξασαν τὸν Θεόν.

XANTHIAS 14_02

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ξανθία

1. Abba Xanthias said, ‘The thief was on the cross and he was justified by a single word; and Judas who was counted in the number of the apostles lost all his labour in one single night and descended from heaven to hell. Therefore, let no-one boast of his good works, for all those who trust in themselves fall.’

α. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ξανθίας· Ὁ λῃστὴς ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ ἦν͵ καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου ἑνὸς ἐδικαιώθη· καὶ Ἰούδας μετὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων συνηριθμημένος ἦν͵ καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ μιᾷ ἀπώλεσε πάντα τὸν κάματον͵ καὶ κατέβη ἐξ οὐρανῶν εἰς ᾅδην. Διὸ μηδεὶς εὐπραγῶν καυχάσθω· πάντες γὰρ οἱ πεποιθότες ἐφ΄ ἑαυτοῖς ἔπεσον

2. Abba Xanthias went up from Scetis to Terenuthis one day. In the place where he rested he was offered a little wine, because of the demands of the journey. When they heard that he was there, some others brought him one possessed by the devil. The devil began to insult the old man, ‘You have brought me to this winebibber!’ The old man did not want to cast him out, but because of the insult he said, ‘I have confidence in Christ that I shall not finish this cup before you have gone out.’ When the old man began to drink, the devil cried out, saying, ‘You are burning me, you are burning me!’ and before he had finished the devil went out by the grace of Christ.

β. Ἀνέβη ποτὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ξανθίας ἀπὸ Σκήτεως εἰς Τερενοῦθιν· καὶ ὅπου κατέλυσε͵ διὰ τὸν κόπον τῆς ἀσκήσεως ἤνεγκαν αὐτῷ ὀλίγον οἶνον. Ἀκούσαντες δέ τινες ἤνεγκαν αὐτῷ δαιμονιζόμενον. Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ δαίμων λοιδορεῖν τὸν γέροντα· Πρὸς τὸν οἰνοπότην τοῦτον ἠνέγκατέ με. Καὶ ὁ μὲν γέρων οὐκ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἐκβαλεῖν· διὰ δὲ τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν ἔλεγε· Πι στεύω τῷ Χριστῷ͵ ὅτι οὐ μὴ τελέσω τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτο͵ ἕως οὗ ἐξέλθῃς. Καὶ ὡς ἤρξατο ὁ γέρων πί νειν͵ ἔκραξεν ὁ δαίμων͵ λέγων· Καίεις με͵ καίεις με. Καὶ πρὸ τοῦ τελέσαι͵ ἐξῆλθε διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

3. The same abba said, A dog is better than I am, for he has love and he does not judge.’

γ. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Ὁ κύων κρείσσων μού ἐστι· διότι καὶ ἀγάπην ἔχει͵ καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρ χεται.

C15_OMICRON

OMICRON

Ἀρχὴ τοῦ Ο στοιχείου.

OLYMPIUS 15_01

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ὀλυμπίου

1. Abba Olympius said this, ‘One of the pagan priests came down from Scetis one day and came to my cell and slept there. Having reflected on the monks’ way of life, he said to me, “Since you live like this, do you not receive any visions from your God?” I said to him, “No.” Then the priest said to me, “Yet when we make a sacrifice to our God, he hides nothing from us, but discloses his mysteries; and you, giving yourselves so much hardship, vigils, prayer and asceticism, say that you see nothing? Truly, if you see nothing, then it is because you have impure thoughts in your hearts, which separate you from your God, and for this reason his mysteries are not revealed to you.” So I went to report the priest’s words to the old men. They were filled with admiration and said this was true. For impure thoughts separated God from man.’

α. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀλύμπιος͵ ὅτι Κατέβη ποτὲ ἱερεὺς τῶν Ἑλλήνων εἰς Σκῆτιν͵ καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου͵ καὶ ἐκοιμήθη· καὶ θεασάμενος τὴν δια γωγὴν τῶν μοναχῶν͵ λέγει μοι· Οὕτως διάγοντες͵ οὐδὲν θεωρεῖτε παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ὑμῶν; Καὶ λέγω αὐτῷ· Οὐχί. Καὶ λέγει μοι ὁ ἱερεύς· Τέως ἡμῶν ἱερουρ γούντων τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν͵ οὐδὲν κρύπτει ἀφ΄ ἡμῶν͵ ἀλλὰ ἀποκαλύπτει ἡμῖν τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὑμεῖς τοσούτους κόπους ποιοῦντες͵ ἀγρυπνίας͵ ἡσυ χίας καὶ ἀσκήσεις͵ λέγεις ὅτι Οὐδὲν θεωροῦμεν; Πάντως οὖν͵ εἰ οὐδὲν θεωρεῖτε͵ λογισμοὺς πονη ροὺς ἔχετε εἰς τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν͵ τοὺς χωρίζοντας ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν͵ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀποκα λύπτεται ὑμῖν τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἀπῆλθον͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλα τοῖς γέρουσι τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ ἱερέως. Καὶ ἐθαύμασαν͵ καὶ εἶπαν ὅτι οὕτως ἐστίν. Οἱ γὰρ ἀκάθαρτοι λογισμοὶ χωρίζουσι τὸν Θεὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀν θρώπου

2. Abba Olympius of the Cells was tempted to fornication. His thoughts said to him, ‘Go, and take a wife.’ He got up, found some [ 160 ] Orsisius [161 mud, made a woman and said to himself, ‘Here is your wife, now you must work hard in order to feed her.’ So he worked, giving himself a great deal of trouble. The next day, making some mud again, he formed it into a girl and said to his thoughts, ‘Your wife has had a child, you must work harder so as to be able to feed her and clothe your child.’ So, he wore himself out doing this, and said to his thoughts, ‘I cannot bear this weariness any longer.’ They answered, If you cannot bear such weariness, stop wanting a wife.’ God, seeing his efforts, took away the conflict from him and he was at peace.

β. Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀλύμπιος ὁ τῶν Κελλίων ἐπολε μήθη εἰς πορνείαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ λογισμός· Ὕπαγε͵ λάβε γυναῖκα. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐποίησε πηλὸν͵ καὶ ἔπλασε γυναῖκα͵ καὶ λέγει ἑαυτῷ· Ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνή σου· χρεία οὖν ἐργάζεσθαι πολλὰ͵ ἵνα θρέψεις αὐ τήν. Καὶ ἠργάζετο κοπιῶν πολλά. Καὶ μεθ΄ ἡμέραν͵ ³¹⁶ πάλιν ποιήσας πηλὸν͵ ἔπλασεν ἑαυτῷ θυγατέρα͵ καὶ λέγει τῷ λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ· Ἔτεκεν ἡ γυνή σου· χρείαν ἔχεις περισσότερον ἐργάσασθαι͵ ἵνα δυνηθῇς θρέψαι τὸ τέκνον σου͵ καὶ σκεπάσαι. Καὶ οὕτως ποιῶν ἔτηξεν ἑαυτὸν͵ καὶ λέγει τῷ λογισμῷ· Οὐκ ἔτι ἰσχύω ὑποφέρειν τὸν κόπον. Καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰ οὐκ ἰσχύεις ὑποφέρειν τὸν κόπον͵ μηδὲ γυναῖκα ζητή σῃς. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόπον αὐτοῦ͵ ἦρεν ἀπ΄ αὐ τοῦ τὸν πόλεμον͵ καὶ ἀνεπάη.

ORSISIUS 15_02

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ὀρσισίου

1. Abba Orsisius said, If an unbaked brick is put in the foundations near to the river, it does not last for a single day, but baked, it lasts like stone. So the man with a carnal disposition of soul, who has not been in the fire through fear of God like Joseph, utterly disintegrates when he accepts a position of authority. For many are the temptations of those who live among men. It is good for him who knows his limitations to avoid the weight of being in charge of anything; but those who are firm in faith remain unmoved. If anyone wished to speak of the great saint Joseph he would have to say that he was not worldly. How greatly was he tempted and in that place where there had not yet been any trace of devotion towards God? But the God of his Fathers was with him and he delivered him out of all his trouble and now he is with his Fathers in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us, therefore, know our limitations and let us fight; even so we shall scarcely escape the judgement of God.’

α. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὀρσίσιος· Πλίνθος ὠμὴ͵ βαλ λομένη εἰς θεμέλιον ἐγγὺς ποταμοῦ͵ οὐχ ὑπομένει μίαν ἡμέραν· ὀπτὴ δὲ͵ ὡς λίθος διαμένει. Οὕτως ἄνθρωπος σαρκικὸν φρόνημα ἔχων͵ καὶ μὴ πυρωθεὶς κατὰ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ λύεται προ ελθὼν εἰς ἀρχήν. Πολλοὶ γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων οἱ πει ρασμοὶ͵ ἐν μέσῳ ἀνθρώπων ὄντων. Καλὸν δέ τινα εἰδότα τὰ ἴδια μέτρα͵ ἀποφεύγειν τὸ βάρος τῆς ἀρ χῆς. Οἱ δὲ ἑδραῖοι τῇ πίστει͵ ἀμετακίνητοί εἰσι. Περὶ αὐτοῦ γὰρ τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου Ἰωσὴφ ἐὰν θελήσῃ τις λαλῆσαι͵ λέγει͵ ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίγειος ἦν. Πόσα ἐπει ράσθη͵ καὶ ἐν ποίᾳ χώρᾳ͵ ὅπου οὐκ ἦν τότε ἴχνος θεοσεβείας; Ἀλλ΄ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἧν μετ΄ αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ἐξείλετο αὐτὸν ἐκ πάσης θλίψεως͵ καὶ νῦν ἐστι μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν. Καὶ ἡμεῖς τοίνυν ἐπιγνόντες τὰ ἑαυ τῶν μέτρα͵ ἀγωνισώμεθα· μόλις γὰρ οὕτω δυνησό μεθα ἐκφυγεῖν τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ Θεοῦ

2. He has also said, I think that if a man does not guard his heart well, he will forget and neglect everything he has heard, and thus the enemy, finding room in him, will overthrow him. It is like a lamp filled with oil and lit; if you forget to replenish the oil, gradually it goes out and eventually darkness will prevail. It is still worse if a rat happens to get near the lamp and tries to eat the wick; it cannot do so before the oil is exhausted, but when it sees the lamp not only without light, but also without heat, it tries to pull out the wick and 1 it brings the lamp down. If it is earthenware it breaks, but if it is brass, the master of the house will fill it with oil again. In the same way, through the soul’s negligence, the Holy Spirit gradually withdraws until his warmth is completely extinguished. Finally the enemy devours the ardour of the soul and wickedness spoils the body, too. But if a man is sound in his attachment to God, and has only been led away through negligence, God, in his mercy, sends his fear to him and the remembrance of punishment and so prepares him to be vigilant and to guard himself with more prudence in the future, until his visitation.’

β. Εἶπε πάλιν· Νομίζω ἐὰν μὴ ἄνθρωπος φυλάξῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ καρδίαν καλῶς͵ πάντα ὅσα ἤκουσεν ἐπι λανθάνεται καὶ ἀμελεῖ· καὶ οὕτως ὁ ἐχθρὸς εὑρὼν ἐν αὐτῷ τόπον͵ καταβάλλει αὐτόν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ λύ χνος σκευασθεὶς καὶ φαίνων͵ ἐὰν ἀμεληθῇ λαβεῖν ἔλαιον͵ κατ΄ ὀλίγον σβέννυται͵ καὶ λοιπὸν ἐνδυνα μοῦται τὸ σκότος κατ΄ αὐτοῦ· οὐ μόνον δὲ͵ ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνι ὅταν καὶ μῦς περὶ αὐτὸν ἐρχόμενος καὶ ζητῶν τὸ ἐλλύχνιον καταφαγεῖν͵ πρὸ μὲν τοῦ σβεσθῆναι τὸ ἔλαιον͵ οὐ δύναται· ἐὰν δὲ ἴδῃ ὅτι οὐ μόνον φῶς οὐκ ἔχει͵ ἀλλ΄ οὐδὲ θέρμην πυρὸς͵ τότε τὸ ἐλλύχνιον ἀνασπάσαι θέλων͵ καταβάλλει καὶ τὸν λύχνον· καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ ὀστράκινον͵ συντρίβεται· ἐὰν δὲ χαλκοῦν εὑρεθῇ͵ ὑπὸ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου σκευάζεται ἄνωθεν· οὕτως ἀμελούσης ψυχῆς͵ ὅσον ὅσον τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὑποχωρεῖ͵ ἕως τέλεον ἀποσβεσθῇ τῆς θέρμης αὐτῆς· καὶ λοιπὸν ὁ ἐχθρὸς͵ καταφαγὼν τὴν προθυ μίαν τῆς ψυχῆς͵ καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἀφανίζει κακία. Ἐὰν δὲ ᾖ ἐκεῖνος καλὸς τῇ διαθέσει πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν͵ ἁπλῶς δὲ ἡρπάγει εἰς ἀμέλειαν͵ ὁ Θεὸς ὡς οἰκτίρμων͵ βα λὼν εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν φόβον αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ τῶν κολάσεων τὴν μνήμην͵ παρασκευάζει νήφειν αὐτὸν͵ καὶ τηρεῖν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὰ ἔμπροσθεν μετὰ ἀσφαλείας πολλῆς͵ ἕως τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς αὐτοῦ.

C16_PI

PI

³¹⁷ Ἀρχὴ τοῦ Π στοιχείου.

POEMEN 16_01

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος

(called the Shepherd) The Sayings attributed to Poemen form one seventh of the whole of the Alphabetical Collection. It seems probable that this was the nucleus out of which the whole book grew. He figures also in many other Sayings in this book and in other collections. It is not certain that all these Sayings belong to one Poemen, since Poemen, ‘the Shepherd’, was a common title in Egypt. Nor is it certain which Poemen is meant: there is the Poemen who met Rufinus at Pispir in the 370s, and the Sayings connected with Anthony, Ammonas, Pior, Pambo and Joseph would fit in well with him, as an elder in Scetis in the last decade of the fourth century. He may be the same, or he may not, as the Poemen who left Scetis with his seven brothers in 408, and outlived Arsenius (+449). His contacts were with those closer to the devastation of Scetis, John the Dwarf, Agathon, and Moses. It seems most probable that it is from this group that settled at Terenuthis that this collection comes; it would be appropriate for such a commemoration of the Sayings of the great Old Men to be begun when the first age seemed to have passed. [ 163 ] 1 The involvement of Poemen with his family is worth noticing: besides his brothers, his mother, his nephew and a child related to him are mentioned. The close ties of Egyptian monks with their families and their villages were constantly having to be broken in favour of the freedom of the desert.

1. While he was still young, Abba Poemen went one day to an old man to ask him about three thoughts. Having reached the old man, he forgot one of the three and went back to his cell. But as he was stretching out his hand to turn the key, he remembered the thought which he had forgotten and leaving the key, he returned to the old man. The old man said to him, ‘You come quickly, brother.’ He told him, ‘At the moment when I was putting out my hand to grasp the key, I remembered the thought which I was trying to find; so I did not open the door, but have retraced my steps.’ Now the length of the way was very great and the old man said to him, ‘Poemen, Shepherd of the flock, your name will be known throughout Egypt.’

α. Ἀπῆλθέ ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτε ἦν νεώ τερος͵ πρός τινα γέροντα͵ ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτῷ τρεῖς λο γισμούς. Ὡς οὖν ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ ἐληθάρ γησεν ἕνα ἐκ τῶν τριῶν· καὶ ἀνέκαμψεν εἰς τὸ κελ λίον ἑαυτοῦ· καὶ ὡς ἔθηκε τὴν χεῖρα ἀνοῖξαι τὸ κλειδίον͵ ἐμνήσθη τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐληθάργησε· καὶ ἀφῆκε τὸ κλειδίον͵ καὶ ἀνέκαμψε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐτάχυνας τοῦ ἐλθεῖν͵ ἀδελφέ. Καὶ διηγήσατο αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι Ὅτε ἔθηκα τὴν χεῖρά μου λαβεῖν τὸ κλειδίον͵ ἐμνήσθην τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐζήτουν͵ καὶ οὐκ ἤνοιξα͵ διὰ τοῦτο ἀνέκαμψα. ῏Ην δὲ τὸ μῆκος τῆς ὁδοῦ πολὺ σφόδρα. Ἔλεγε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀγγέλων Ποιμήν· καὶ λαληθή σεταί σου τὸ ὄνομα ἐν πάσῃ γῇ Αἰγύπτου

2. Once Paesius, the brother of Abba Poemen, made friends with someone outside his cell. Now Abba Poemen did not want that. So he got up and fled to Abba Ammonas and said to him, ‘Paesius, my brother, holds converse with someone, so I have no peace.’ Abba Ammonas said to him, ‘Poemen, are you still alive? Go, sit down in your cell; engrave it on your heart that you have been in the tomb for a year already.’

β. Ἔσχε ποτὲ Παήσιος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποι μένος σχέσιν μετά τινος ἔξω τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν οὐκ ἤθελε͵ καὶ ἀναστὰς ἔφυγε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀμμωνᾶν͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Παή σιος ὁ ἀδελφός μου ἔχει πρός τινα σχέσιν͵ καὶ οὐκ ἀναπαύομαι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς· Ποιμὴν͵ ἀκμὴν ζῇς; Ὕπαγε͵ κάθου εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου͵ καὶ θὲς εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου͵ ὅτι ἤδη ἔχεις ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν τῷ μνήματι

3. One day the priests of the district came to the monasteries where Abba Poemen was. Abba Anoub came and said to him, ‘Let us invite the priests in today.’ But he stood for a long time without giving him any reply, and, quite offended, Abba Anoub went away. Those who were sitting beside Poemen said to him, Abba, why didn’t you answer him?’ Abba Poemen said to them, ‘It is not my business, for I am dead and a dead man does not speak.’

γ. ῏Ηλθόν ποτε πρεσβύτεροι τῆς χώρας εἰς τὰ μοναστήρια ὅπου ἦν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Καλέσωμεν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους ὧδε σήμερον. Καὶ στάντος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πολὺ͵ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν. Καὶ λυπηθεὶς ἐξῆλθε. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ καθήμενοι ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ· Ἀββᾶ͵ διατί οὐκ ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐγὼ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἔχω· ἀπέθανον γάρ· ὁ δὲ νεκρὸς οὐ λαλεῖ

4. Before Abba Poemen’s group came there, there was an old man in Egypt who enjoyed considerable fame and repute. But when Abba Poemen’s group went up to Scetis, men left the old man to go to see Abba Poemen. Abba Poemen was grieved at this and said to his disciples, ‘What is to be done about this great old man, for Poemen (called the Shepherd) [165 men grieve him by leaving him and coming to us who are nothing? What shall we do, then to comfort this old man?’ He said to them, ‘Make ready a little food, and take a skin of wine and let us go to see him and eat with him. And so we shall be able to comfort him.’ So they put together some food, and went. When they knocked at the door the old man’s disciple answered, saying, ‘Who are you?’ They responded, ‘Tell the abba it is Poemen who desires to be blessed by him.’ The disciple reported this and the old man sent him to say, ‘Go away, I have no time.’ But in spite of the heat they persevered, saying, ‘We shall not go away till we have been allowed to meet the old man.’ Seeing their humility and patience, the old man was filled with compunction and opened the door to them. Then they went in and ate with him. During the meal he said, ‘Truly, not only what I have heard about you is true, but I see that your works are a hundred-fold greater,’ and from that day, he became their friend.

δ. Γέρων τις ἦν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ πρὸ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν τοὺς περὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ εἶχε γνῶσιν καὶ τιμὴν πολλήν. Ὡς οὖν ἀνέβησαν οἱ περὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα ἀπὸ τῆς Σκήτεως͵ ἀφῆκαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνθρω ποι͵ καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα. Καὶ ἐθλί βετο͵ καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ· Τί ποιήσωμεν τῷ μεγάλῳ γέροντι τούτῳ͵ ὅτι εἰς θλίψιν ἔβαλον ἡμᾶς οἱ ἄνθρωποι͵ καταλιπόντες τὸν γέροντα͵ καὶ ἡμῖν μηδὲν οὖσι προσέχοντες; πῶς οὖν δυνάμεθα θε ραπεῦσαι τὸν γέροντα; Λέγει δὲ αὐτοῖς· Ποιήσατε μικρὰ βρώματα͵ καὶ λάβετε σαΐτην οἴνου· καὶ ἄγωμεν πρὸς αὐτὸν͵ γευσώμεθα ὁμοῦ· τάχα ἐν τούτῳ δυνησώμεθα θεραπεῦσαι αὐτόν. Ἐβάστασαν οὖν τὰ βρώματα͵ καὶ ἀπῆλθον. Καὶ ὡς ἔκρουσαν τὴν θύραν͵ ἐπήκουσεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ͵ λέγων· Τίνες ἐστέ; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Λάλησον τῷ ἀββᾷ͵ ὅτι ὁ Ποιμήν ἐστι θέλων εὐλογηθῆναι παρὰ φοῦ. Καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ μαθητοῦ ³²⁰ ἀναγγείλαντος͵ ἐδήλωσεν͵ εἰπών· Ὕπαγε͵ οὐ σχο λάζω. Οἱ δὲ ὑπέμειναν εἰς τὸ καῦμα͵ λέγοντες· Οὐκ ἀναχωροῦμεν͵ ἐὰν μὴ καταξιωθῶμεν τοῦ γέροντος. Ὁ δὲ γέρων͵ ἰδὼν τὴν ταπείνωσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν ὑπο μονὴν͵ κατανυγεὶς͵ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῖς. Καὶ εἰσελθόντες ἐγεύσαντο μετ΄ αὐτοῦ. Ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν͵ ἔλεγε· Ἐπ΄ ἀληθείας͵ οὐκ εἰσὶ μόνα ἃ ἀκήκοα περὶ ὑμῶν͵ ἀλλ΄ ἑκατονταπλασίονα εἶδον ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ ὑμῶν. Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτῶν φίλος ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης

5. One day the magistrate of that district wanted to see Abba Poemen but the old man did not want to see him. So, he seized his sister’s son and threw him into prison, under the pretext that he was a criminal saying, ‘If the old man comes to intercede for him I will let him go.’ Then his sister came to weep at Poemen’s door, but he gave her no answer. Then she reproached him in these words, saying, ‘Heart of stone, have pity on me, for he is my only son.’ But he only said to her, ‘Poemen has not brought forth any sons.’ At that, she went away. When he heard this, the magistrate sent Poemen this message, ‘If you only ask me by a word, I will let him go.’ The old man replied, ‘Judge him according to the law; if he is worthy of death, put him to death, if not, do what you choose.’

ε. Ἠθέλησέ ποτε ὁ ἄρχων τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης ἰδεῖν τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ οὐ κατεδέχετο ὁ γέ ρων. Προφάσει δὲ ὡς κακοῦργον κατέσχε τὸν υἱὸν τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς φυλακὴν͵ λέγων· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ὁ γέρων͵ καὶ παρακαλέσῃ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ͵ ἐγὼ ἀπολύω αὐτόν. Καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ κλαίου σα πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ ἀπό κρισιν. Ἡ δὲ ἐλοιδόρει αὐτὸν͵ λέγουσα· Χαλκό σπλαγχνε͵ ἐλέησόν με͵ ὅτι μονογενής μοί ἐστιν. Ὁ δὲ πέμψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Ποιμὴν τέκνα οὐκ ἐγέννησε. Καὶ οὕτως ἀνεχώρησεν. Ἀκούσας δὲ ἄρχων͵ ἔπεμψε λέγων· Κἂν λόγῳ κελεύσῃ͵ ἀπολύω αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἀντεδήλωσε͵ λέγων· Ἐξέτασον κατὰ τοὺς νόμους· καὶ εἰ ἄξιός ἐστι θανάτου͵ ἀποθανέτω· εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν͵ ὡς βούλει ποίησον.

6. One day a brother sinned in a monastery. Now there was an anchorite in the district who had not gone out for a long time. The abba of the monastery went to see him and to give him the news that the brother had sinned. The anchorite said, ‘Drive him away.’ So the brother left the monastery and he went into a cave and wept there. Now it happened that some brothers were going to see Abba Poemen and they heard him weeping. They entered, found him in great misery and invited him to go to see the old man, but he refused, saying, ‘I am going to die here.’ So when they reached Abba Poemen’s cell they told him about the brother. And he exhorted them, and he sent them away saying, ‘Say to him, Abba Poemen sends for you.’ Then the brother came. Seeing he was in such distress, Abba Poemen stood up, embraced him and was kind to him and invited him to eat. Then he sent one of the brethren to the anchorite, saying, ‘For many years I have desired to see you, having heard of you. But because of our lethargy, we have not yet met. Now, however, if God wills it and you have the time, give yourself the trouble of coming here, and we will see one another.’ The old man had never left his cell but when he heard this he said, ‘If God had not inspired the old man, he would not have sent someone to summon me.’ So he got up and went to see Poemen. They embraced one another with joy and sat down. Abba Poemen said to him, ‘Two men dwelt in one place and someone belonging to each of them died; the first one, leaving his own dead, went to weep over the other’s.’ Hearing these words, the anchorite was filled with compunction and he remembered what he had done and said, ‘Poemen, you have gone up to heaven and I have gone down to the earth.’

ϛ. Ἐσφάλη ποτὲ ἀδελφὸς ἐν κοινοβίῳ· ἦν δὲ ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις ἀναχωρητής· καὶ πολλῷ χρόνῳ οὐ προῆλθεν. Ἐλθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς τοῦ κοινοβίου πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ περὶ τοῦ σφαλέντος. Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Διώξατε αὐτόν. Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ κοινοβίου͵ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς χαράδραν͵ καὶ ἔκλαιεν ἐκεῖ. Εὐκαίρησαν δὲ ἀδελφοὶ ἀπερχόμενοι πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ ἤκουσαν αὐτοῦ κλαίοντος· καὶ εἰσελθόντες εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν μεγάλῳ πόνῳ· καὶ παρ εκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἆραι πρὸς τὸν γέροντα. Καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε͵ λέγων· Ὧδε ἐγὼ ἀποθνήσκω. Ἐλθόντες δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ. Καὶ παρακαλέσας αὐτοὺς͵ ἀπέστειλε λέγων· Εἴπατε αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν φωνεῖ σε. ῏Ηλθε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἀδελφός· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων τεθλιμμένον͵ ἀναστὰς ἠσπάσατο͵ καὶ χαριεντιζόμενος μετ΄ αὐτοῦ͵ παρεκάλεσε γεύσα σθαι. Ἀπέστειλε δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τινα πρὸς τὸν ἀναχωρητὴν͵ λέγων· Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ἐπεθύμουν σε ἰδεῖν͵ ἀκούων τὰ περὶ σοῦ͵ καὶ ἀπὸ ὀκνηρίας ἀμφοτέρων οὐ συνετύχομεν ἀλλήλοις. Νῦν οὖν Θεοῦ θέλοντος͵ καὶ ἀφορμῆς γενομένης͵ σκύλθητι ἕως τῶν ὧδε καὶ βλέπομεν ἀλλήλους. ῏Ην δὲ μὴ ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀκούσας ἔλεγεν· Εἰ μὴ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπληροφόρησε τὸν γέροντα͵ οὐκ ἂν ἔπεμψεν ἐπ΄ ἐμέ. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι ἀλλήλους μετὰ χαρᾶς ἐκάθισαν. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Δύο ἄν θρωποι ἦσαν ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ͵ καὶ ἀμφότεροι νεκροὺς εἶχον· ἀφῆκε δὲ ὁ εἷς τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ἀπῆλθε κλαῦσαι τὸν τοῦ ἑτέρου. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ γέρων κατ ενύγη ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ͵ καὶ ἐμνήσθη ὃ ἐποίησε͵ καὶ εἶ ³²¹ πεν· Ποιμὴν͵ ἄνω εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν· ἐγὼ δὲ κάτω κάτω εἰς τὴν γῆν

7. Many old men came to see Abba Poemen and one day it happened that a member of Abba Poemen’s family came, who had a child whose face, through the power of the devil, was turned backwards. The father seeing the number of Fathers present, took the child and sat down outside the monastery, weeping. Now it happened that one of the old men came out and seeing him, asked him, ‘Man, why are you weeping?’ He replied, ‘I am related to Abba Poemen, and see the misfortune which has overtaken my child. Though I want to bring him to the old man, we are afraid he does not want to see us. Each time he hears I am here, he has me driven away. But since you are with him, I have dared to come. If you will, Father, have pity on me, take the child inside and pray for him.’ So the old man took the child, went inside and behaved with good sense. He did not immediately present him to Abba Poemen, but began with the lesser brethren, and said, ‘Make the sign of the cross over this little child.’ Having had him signed by all in turn, he presented him at last to Abba Poemen. Abba Poemen did not want to make the sign of the cross over him, but the others urged him, saying, ‘Do as everyone else has done.’ So groaning he stood up and prayed, saying, ‘God, heal your creature, that he be not ruled by the enemy.’ When he had signed him, the child was healed immediately and given back whole to his father. Poemen (called the Shepherd)

ζ. Παρέβαλόν ποτε γέροντες πολλοὶ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· καὶ ἰδού τις τῶν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος εἶχε παιδίον͵ καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ κατ΄ ἐνέργειαν ἐστράφη ὀπίσω. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Πατέρων͵ λαβὼν τὸ παιδίον ἔξω τοῦ μοναστη ρίου ἐκάθητο κλαίων. Εὐκαίρησε δέ τινι γέροντι ἐξελθεῖν· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εἶπε· Τί κλαίεις͵ ἄνθρωπε; Ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Συγγενής εἰμι τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος· καὶ ἰδοὺ συνέβη τῷ παιδίῳ τούτῳ ὁ πειρασμὸς οὗτος· καὶ θέλοντες τῷ γέροντι προσενεγκεῖν αὐτὸ͵ ἐφοβή θημεν· οὐ γὰρ θέλει ἰδεῖν ἡμᾶς. Καὶ νῦν ἐὰν μάθῃ ὅτι ὧδέ εἰμι͵ πέμπει καὶ διώκει με· ἐγὼ δὲ βλέπων τὴν παρουσίαν ὑμῶν͵ ἐτόλμησα ἐλθεῖν. Ὡς θέλεις οὖν͵ ἀββᾶ͵ ἐλέησόν με͵ καὶ λάβε τὸ παιδίον ἔσω͵ καὶ εὔξασθε περὶ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λαβὼν αὐτὸ ὁ γέρων εἰσῆλθε͵ καὶ ἐχρήσατο φρονίμως͵ καὶ οὐ προσήνεγκεν αὐτὸ εὐθέως τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ ἀλλὰ ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν μικροτέρων ἀδελφῶν͵ ἔλεγε· Σφραγίσατε τὸ παιδίον. Ποιήσας δὲ πάντας κατὰ ἀκολουθίαν σφρα γῖσαι αὐτὸ͵ ὕστερον ἤνεγκε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελε αὐτὸ ἐγγίσαι. Οἱ δὲ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν͵ λέγοντες· Ὥσπερ πάντες͵ καὶ σὺ͵ Πάτερ. Καὶ στενάξας͵ ἀναστὰς εὔξατο͵ λέγων· Ὁ Θεὸς͵ ἴασαι τὸ πλάσμα σου͵ ἵνα μὴ κυριευθῇ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Καὶ σφραγίσας αὐτὸ εὐθέως ἐθεράπευσε͵ καὶ ἀπ έδωκε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ὑγιές

8. A brother from Abba Poemen’s neighbourhood left to go to another country one day. There he met an anchorite. The latter was very charitable and many came to see him. The brother told him about Abba Poemen. When he heard of his virtue, the anchorite wanted to see him. Some time afterwards when the brother had returned to Egypt the anchorite went there to see the brother who had formerly paid him a visit. He had told him where he lived. When he saw him, the brother was astonished and very pleased. The anchorite said to him, ‘Please will you be so kind as to take me to Abba Poemen.’ So he brought him to the old man and presented him, saying, ‘This is a great man, full of charity, who is held in high estimation in his district. I have spoken to him about you, and he has come because he wants to see you.’ So Abba Poemen received him with joy. They greeted one another and sat down. The visitor began to speak of the Scriptures, of spiritual and of heavenly things. But Abba Poemen turned his face away and answered nothing. Seeing that he did not speak to him, the other went away deeply grieved and said to the brother who had brought him, ‘I have made this long journey in vain. For I have come to see the old man, and he does not wish to speak to me.’ Then the brother went inside to Abba Poemen and said to him, Abba, this great man who has so great a reputation in his own country has come here because of you. Why did you not speak to him?’ The old man said, ‘He is great and speaks of heavenly things and I am lowly and speak of earthly things. If he had spoken of the passions of the soul, I should have replied, but he speaks to me of spiritual things and I know nothing about that.’ Then the brother came out and said to the visitor, ‘The old man does not readily speak of the Scriptures, but if anyone consults him about the passions of the soul, he replies.’ Filled with compunction, the visitor returned to the old man and said to him, ‘What should I do, Abba, for the passions of the soul master me?’ The old man turned towards him and replied joyfully, ‘This time, you come as you should. Now open your mouth concerning this and I will fill it with good things.’ Greatly edified, the other said to him, ‘Truly, this is the right way!’ He returned to his own country giving thanks to God that he had been counted worthy to meet so great a saint.

η. Ἀπῆλθέ τις ἀδελφός ποτε ἀπὸ τῶν μερῶν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος ἐπὶ ξένης· καὶ κατήντησε πρός τινα ἀναχωρητὴν ἐκεῖ· ἦν γὰρ ἔχων ἀγάπην͵ καὶ πολλοὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτόν. Ἀνήγγειλε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφὸς τὰ περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος. Καὶ ἀκούσας τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπεπόθησεν αὐτὸν ἰδεῖν. Ἀνακάμψαντος δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ εἰς Αἴγυπτον͵ μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ ἀνα στὰς ὁ ἀναχωρητὴς͵ ἦλθεν ἀπὸ τῆς ξένης εἰς Αἴ γυπτον πρὸς τόν ποτε παραβαλόντα αὐτῷ ἀδελφόν· ἦν γὰρ εἰπὼν αὐτῷ ποῦ μένει. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ νος ἐθαύμασε͵ καὶ ἐχάρη λίαν. Εἶπε δὲ ὁ ἀναχωρη τής· Ποίησον ἀγάπην͵ ἆρόν με πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα. Καὶ λαβὼν αὐτὸν ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ͵ λέγων͵ ὅτι Μέγας ἄνθρωπός ἐστι͵ καὶ πολλὴν ἀγάπην ἔχων͵ καὶ πολ λὴν τιμὴν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ. Ἀνήγγειλα δὲ αὐτῷ περὶ σοῦ͵ καὶ ἐπιθυμῶν ἰδεῖ σε ἦλθεν. Ἐδέξατο οὖν αὐτὸν μετὰ χαρᾶς͵ καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι ἀλλήλους ἐκάθισαν. Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ ξενικὸς λαλεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς Γρα φῆς͵ περὶ πνευματικῶν καὶ οὐρανίων. Ἔστρεψε δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὅτι οὐ λαλεῖ μετ΄ αὐτοῦ͵ λυπηθεὶς ἐξῆλθε͵ καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ ἐνέγκαντι αὐτόν· Εἰς μάτην ἐποίησα ὅλην τὴν ἀποδημίαν ταύ την. ῏Ηλθον γὰρ πρὸς τὸν γέροντα· καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐδὲ λαλῆσαι θέλει μετ΄ ἐμοῦ. Εἰσῆλθε δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ͵ διὰ σὲ ἦλθεν ὁ μέγας ἄνθρωπος οὗτος͵ ἔχων τοσαύτην δόξαν ³²⁴ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ· καὶ διατί οὐκ ἐλάλησας μετ΄ αὐτοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Αὐτὸς τῶν ἄνω ἐστὶ͵ καὶ ἐπουράνια λαλεῖ͵ ἐγὼ δὲ τῶν κάτω εἰμὶ͵ καὶ ἐπίγεια λαλῶ. Εἰ ἐλάλησέ μοι περὶ παθῶν ψυχῆς͵ ἐγὼ ἂν ἀπεκρινάμην αὐτῷ· εἰ δὲ περὶ πνευματικῶν͵ ἐγὼ ταῦτα οὐκ οἶδα. Ἐξελθὼν οὖν ὁ ἀδελφὸς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ γέρων οὐ ταχέως ἀπὸ Γραφῆς λαλεῖ· ἀλλ΄ ἐάν τις αὐτῷ λαλῇ περὶ παθῶν ψυχῆς͵ ἀποκρίνεται αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ κατανυγεὶς εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσω͵ ἀββᾶ͵ ὅτι κατακυριεύου σί μου τὰ πάθη τῆς ψυχῆς; Καὶ προσέσχεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων χαίρων͵ καὶ εἶπεν· Ἄρτι καλῶς ἦλθες· νῦν ἄνοιξόν σου τὸ στόμα περὶ τούτων͵ καὶ πλη ρώσω αὐτὸ ἀγαθῶν. Ὁ δὲ πολλὰ ὠφεληθεὶς ἔλεγεν· Ὄντως αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀληθινὴ ὁδός. Καὶ εὐχαριστῶν τῷ Θεῷ ἀνέκαμψεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν͵ ὅτι τοιούτῳ ἁγίῳ κατηξιώθη συντυχεῖν

9. One day the chief magistrate of the district seized one of the men of Abba Poemen’s village, and everyone came to beg the old 1 man to go and have him released. He replied, ‘Leave me for three days and I will go.’ Abba Poemen prayed to the Lord in these words, ‘Lord, do not give me this grace, otherwise they will never let me stay in this place.’ Then the old man went to intercede with the magistrate, who replied, ‘Will you intercede for a brigand, abba?’ The old man rejoiced that he had not been granted this grace.

θ. Ἐκράτησέ ποτε ὁ ἄρχων τῆς χώρας τινὰ τῆς κώμης τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος· καὶ ἦλθον πάντες παρα καλοῦντες τὸν γέροντα ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἐκβαλεῖν αὐ τόν. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἐάσατέ με τρεῖς ἡμέρας͵ καὶ οὕ τως ἔρχομαι. Εὔξατο οὖν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν πρὸς Κύριον͵ λέγων· Κύριε͵ μὴ δῷς μοι τὴν χάριν ταύ την. Ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀφιοῦσί με καθίσαι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ. ῏Ηλθεν οὖν ὁ γέρων παρακαλῶν τὸν ἄρχοντα. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη· Περὶ λῃστοῦ παρακαλεῖς͵ ἀββᾶ; Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἐχάρη͵ ὅτι οὐκ ἐδέξατο χάριν παρ΄ αὐτοῦ

10. They said that one day Abba Poemen and his brethren were making ropes and the work was delayed because they had nothing with which to buy flax. One of their friends told a friendly merchant about this. Now Abba Poemen did not want to receive anything from anyone because of the trouble it causes. But the merchant wanted to do something for the old man, so he pretended to need ropes and brought a camel and took them away. When the brothers came to see Abba Poemen and learned what the merchant had done, they said, intending to praise him, ‘Truly, Abba, he has taken them though he did not need them so as to do us a service.’ Hearing that he had taken them without needing them, Abba Poemen said to the brother, ‘Get up, hire a camel and bring them back, and if you do not bring them back, Poemen will no longer live here with you. I do not want to do wrong to someone who does not need those ropes, lest he should suffer loss by it and take my reward from me.’ The brother went away with much labour and brought them back; otherwise the old man would have gone away from them. When he saw the ropes, he rejoiced as though he had found a great treasure.

ι. Διηγήσαντό τινες͵ ὅτι ποτὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰργάζοντο σκολάκιν· καὶ οὐ προεχώρει͵ μὴ ἔχοντες ἀγοράσαι λινάρια. Καί τις αὐτῶν ἀγαπητὸς διηγήσατό τινι πραγματευτῇ πιστῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν οὐκ ἤθελε λαμβάνειν παρά τινός τί ποτε͵ διὰ τὴν ὄχλησιν. Ὁ δὲ πραγματευτὴς θέλων ποιῆσαι ἔργον τῷ γέροντι͵ προεφασίζετο χρείαν ἔχειν τῶν σκολακίων͵ καὶ ἤνεγκε τὴν κάμηλον͵ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτά. Καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ ἀκούσας ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ πραγματευτὴς͵ ὡς θέλων ἐπαινέσαι αὐτὸν͵ εἶπε· Φύσει͵ ἀββᾶ͵ καὶ μὴ χρῄζων αὐτὰ ἔλαβεν͵ ἵνα ποιήσῃ ἡμῖν ἔργον. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν ὅτι μὴ χρῄζων αὐτὰ ἔλαβεν͵ εἶπε τῷ ἀδελφῷ· Ἀνάστα͵ μί σθωσαι κάμηλον͵ καὶ φέρε αὐτά· ἐὰν δὲ οὐκ ἐνέγκῃς αὐτὰ͵ Ποιμὴν ὧδε οὐ καθέζεται μεθ΄ ὑμῶν. Οὐ γὰρ ἀδικῶ τινα ἄνθρωπον μὴ χρῄζοντα͵ ἵνα ζημίαν ποιή σῃ͵ καὶ λάβῃ τὸ κέρδος μου. Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ πολλοῦ κόπου͵ καὶ ἤνεγκεν αὐτά· εἰ δὲ μὴ͵ ὁ γέρων ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν ἀνεχώρει. Ὡς οὖν εἶδεν αὐτὰ͵ ἐχάρη͵ ὡσεὶ μέγαν εὑρὼν θησαυρόν

11. A priest of Pelusia heard it said of some brethren that they often went to the city, took baths and were careless in their behaviour. He went to the synaxis, and took the habit away from them. Afterwards, his heart was moved, he repented and went to see Abba Poemen, obsessed by his thoughts. He brought the monastic habits of the brothers and told him all about it. The old man said to him, ‘Don’t you sometimes have something of the old Adam in you?’ The priest said, ‘I have my share of the old Adam.’ The abba said to him, Look, you are just like the brethren yourself; if you have even a little share of the old Adam, then you are subject to sin in the same way.’ So the priest went and called the brothers and asked their pardon; and he clothed them in the monastic habit again and let them go.

ια. ῎Ηκουσέ ποτε ὁ πρεσβύτερος τοῦ Πηλουσίου περί τινων ἀδελφῶν͵ ὅτι συνεχῶς εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἰσὶ͵ καὶ λούονται͵ καὶ ἀμελοῦσιν ἑαυτῶν· καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν σύναξιν͵ ἦρεν ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν τὸ σχῆμα. Καὶ μετὰ ³²⁵ τοῦτο ἔτυψεν αὐτὸν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ μετεμελήθη͵ καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ μεθύων τοῖς λο γισμοῖς͵ βαστάζων καὶ τοὺς λεβήτωνας τῶν ἀδελ φῶν͵ καὶ ἀναγγέλλει τὸ πρᾶγμα τῷ γέροντι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ ἔχεις σύ τί ποτε τοῦ πα λαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου; ἀπεδύσω αὐτόν; Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτε ρος εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Μετέχω τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ οὖν καὶ σὺ ὡς οἱ ἀδελφοί. Εἰ γὰρ μικρὸν μετέχεις τῆς παλαιότητος͵ ὅμως ὑπό κεισαι τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ. Τότε ἀπελθὼν ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκάλεσε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς͵ καὶ μετενόησε τοῖς ἕνδεκα͵ καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ μοναχοῦ͵ καὶ ἀπέλυσεν

12. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘I have committed a great sin and I want to do penance for three years.’ The old man said to him, ‘That is a lot.’ The brother said, ‘For one year?’ The old man said again, ‘That is a lot.’ Those who were present said, ‘For forty days?’ He said again, ‘That is a lot.’ He added, ‘I myself say that if a man repents with his whole heart and does not intend to commit the sin any more, God will accept him after only three days.’

ιβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἐποίησα ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην͵ καὶ θέλω μετανοῆσαι τρία ἔτη. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πολύ ἐστι. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀλλ΄ ἕως ἐνιαυτοῦ; Καὶ εἶπε πά λιν ὁ γέρων· Πολύ ἐστιν. Οἱ δὲ παρόντες ἔλεγον· Ἔως τεσσαράκοντα ἡμερῶν; Καὶ πάλιν εἶπε· Πολύ ἐστιν· εἶπε δέ· Ἐγὼ λέγω͵ ὅτι ἐὰν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας μετανοήσῃ ἄνθρωπος͵ καὶ μὴ προσθῇ ἔτι ποιεῖν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν͵ καὶ εἰς τρεῖς ἡμέρας δέχεται αὐτὸν ὁ Θεός

13. He also said, ‘The distinctive mark of the monk is made clear through temptations.’

ιγ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ μοναχοῦ ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς φαίνεται

14. He also said, ‘Just as the king’s body-guard stands always on guard at his side, so the soul should always be on guard against the demon of fornication.’

ιδ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ὥσπερ ὁ σπαθάριος τοῦ βασι λέως παρίσταται αὐτῷ διαπαντὸς ἕτοιμος· οὕτως δεῖ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑτοίμην εἶναι πρὸς τὸν δαίμονα τῆς πορνείας

15. Abba Anoub asked Abba Poemen about the impure thoughts which the heart of man brings forth and about vain desires. Abba Poemen said to him, ‘Is the axe any use without someone to cut with it? (Is. 10.15) If you do not make use of these thoughts, they will be ineffectual too.’

ιε. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα περὶ τῶν ἀκαθάρτων λογισμῶν ὧν γεννᾷ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου͵ καὶ περὶ τῶν ματαίων ἐπιθυ μιῶν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μὴ δοξα σθήσεται ἀξίνη ἄνευ τοῦ κόπτοντος ἐν αὐτῇ; καὶ σὺ͵ μὴ δώσεις αὐτοῖς χεῖρα͵ καὶ ἀρ γοῦσιν

16. Abba Poemen also said, ‘If Nabuzardan, the head-cook, had not come, the temple of the Lord would not have been burned: (2 Kings 24. 8f.) that is to say: if slackness and greed did not come into the soul, the spirit would not be overcome in combat with the enemy.’

ιϛ. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Εἰ μὴ Ναβου ζαρδὰν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος ἦλθεν͵ οὐκ ἂν ἐνεπρήσθη ὁ ναὸς Κυρίου. Τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν· Εἰ μὴ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις ἦλθε γαστριμαργίας εἰς τὴν ψυχὴν͵ οὐκ ἂν ὁ νοῦς κατέπιπτεν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ

17. It was said of Abba Poemen that if he was invited to eat against his will, he wept but he went, so as not to refuse to obey his brother and cause him pain.

ιζ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὅτι καλού μενος εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν παρὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ͵ ἀπήρχε το δακρύων͵ ἵνα μὴ παρακούσῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ λυπήσῃ αὐτόν

18. Abba Poemen also said, ‘Do not live in a place where you see that some are jealous of you, for you will not make progress.’

ιη. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μὴ οἰκήσῃς εἰς τόπον͵ οὗ βλέπεις τινὰς ἔχοντας ζῆλον κατὰ σοῦ· εἰ δὲ μήγε͵ οὐ προκόπτεις

19. Some brothers told Abba Poemen of a brother who did not drink wine. He said, ‘Wine is not for monks.’

ιθ. Διηγήσαντό τινες τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι περί τινος μοναχοῦ͵ ὅτι οὐ πίνει οἶνον. Καὶ εἶπεν· Ὁ οἶνος ὅλως οὐκ ἔστι τῶν μοναχῶν. ³²⁸

20. Abba Isaiah questioned Abba Poemen on the subject of impure thoughts. Abba Poemen said to him, ‘It is like having a chest full of clothes, if one leaves them in disorder they are spoiled in the course of time. It is the same with thoughts. If we do not do anything about them, in time they are spoiled, that is to say, they disintegrate.’

κ. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἡσαΐας τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα περὶ τῶν ῥυπαρῶν λογισμῶν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀβ βᾶς Ποιμήν· Ὥσπερ κάμπτρα μεστὴ ἱματίων͵ καὶ ἐὰν ἀφῇ αὐτά τις͵ τῷ χρόνῳ σήπονται· οὕτως καὶ οἱ λογισμοί· ἐὰν μὴ ποιήσωμεν αὐτοὺς σωματικῶς͵ τῷ χρόνῳ ἀφανίζονται ἤτοι σήπονται

21. Abba Joseph put the same question and Abba Poemen said to him, ‘If someone shuts a snake and a scorpion up in a bottle, in time they will be completely destroyed. So it is with evil thoughts: they are suggested by the demons; they disappear through patience.’

κα. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ὥσπερ ἐάν τις ὄφιν καὶ σκορπίον βάλῃ εἰς ἀγγεῖον͵ καὶ φράξῃ͵ πάν τως τῷ χρόνῳ ἀποθνήσκουσιν· οὕτως καὶ οἱ πονηροὶ λογισμοὶ͵ ἀπὸ τῶν δαιμόνων βλαστάνοντες͵ διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ἐκλείπουσιν

22. A brother came to see Abba Poemen and said to him, ‘I sow my field and give away in charity what I reap from it.’ The old man said to him, ‘That is good,’ and he departed with fervour and intensified his charity. Hearing this, Abba Anoub said to Abba Poemen, ‘Do you not fear God, that you have spoken like that to the brother?’ The old man remained silent. Two days later Abba Poemen saw the brother coming and in the presence of Abba Anoub said to him, ‘What did you ask me the other day? I was not attending.’ The brother said, ‘I said that I sow my field and give away what I gain in charity.’ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘I thought you were speaking of your brother who is in the world. If it is you who are doing this, it is not right for a monk.’ At these words the brother was saddened and said, ‘I do not know any other work and I cannot help sowing the fields.’ When he had gone away, Abba Anoub made a prostration and said, ‘Forgive me.’ Abba Poemen said, ‘From the beginning I too knew it was not the work of a monk but I spoke as I did, adapting myself to his ideas and so I gave him courage to increase his charity. Now he has gone away full of grief and yet he will go on as before.’

κβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Σπείρω τὸν ἀγρόν μου͵ καὶ ποιῶ ἐξ αὐ τοῦ ἀγάπην. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Καλῶς ποιεῖς. Καὶ ἀπῆλθε μετὰ προθυμίας͵ καὶ προσέθηκε τῇ ἀγάπῃ. Καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ τὸν λόγον͵ καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· Οὐ φοβῇ τὸν Θεὸν͵ οὕτως λαλήσας τῷ ἀδελφῷ; Καὶ ἐσιώπησεν ὁ γέρων. Καὶ μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας ἔπεμψεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν ἐπὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀκούοντος τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀνούβ· Τί εἶπές μοι τῇ ἄλλῃ; ὅτι ὁ νοῦς μου ἀλλαχοῦ ἦν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Εἶπον͵ ὅτι σπείρω τὸν ἀγρόν μου͵ καὶ ποιῶ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπην. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐνόμιζον ὅτι περὶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου τοῦ κόσμου ἐλάλησας· εἰ δὲ σὺ εἶ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο͵ οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο μοναχοῦ. Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ἐλυ πήθη͵ λέγων· Ἄλλο ἔργον οὐδὲν οἶδα͵ εἰ μὴ τοῦτο͵ καὶ οὐ δύναμαι μὴ σπείρειν τὸν ἀγρόν μου. Ὅτε οὖν ἀνεχώρησεν͵ ἔβαλεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ μετάνοιαν͵ λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποι μήν· Κἀγὼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ᾔδειν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔργον μο ναχοῦ· ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸν λογισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐλάλησα͵ καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ προθυμίαν εἰς τὴν προκοπὴν τῆς ἀγά πης. Νῦν δὲ ἀπῆλθε λυπούμενος͵ καὶ πάλιν τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ

23. Abba Poemen said, ‘If a man has sinned and denies it, saying: “I have not sinned,” do not reprimand him; for that will discourage him. But say to him, “Do not lose heart, brother, but be on guard in future,” and you will stir his soul to repentance.’

κγ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐὰν ἁμαρτήσῃ ἄν θρωπος͵ καὶ ἀρνήσηται͵ λέγων͵ Οὐχ ἥμαρτον͵ μὴ ἐλέγξῃς αὐτόν· εἰ δὲ μήγε͵ ἐκκόπτεις αὐτοῦ τὴν προ θυμίαν. Ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ· Μὴ ἀθυμήσῃς͵ ἀδελφὲ͵ ἀλλὰ φύλαξαι τοῦ λοιποῦ͵ διεγείρεις αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχὴν πρὸς μετάνοιαν

24. He also said, ‘Experience is a good thing; it is that which tests a man.’

κδ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Καλὴ ἡ πεῖρα· αὕτη γὰρ διδά σκει τὸν ἄνθρωπον δόκιμον

25. He also said, A man who teaches without doing what he teaches is like a spring which cleanses and gives drink to everyone, but it not able to purify itself.’

κε. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἄνθρωπος διδάσκων͵ μὴ ποιῶν δὲ ἃ διδάσκει͵ ὅμοιός ἐστι κρήνῃ· ὅτι πάντας ποτίζει καὶ πλύνει͵ ἑαυτὴν δὲ οὐ δύναται καθα ρίσαι

26. Going into Egypt one day, Abba Poemen saw a woman who was sitting in a tomb and weeping bitterly. He said, ‘If all the delights of the world were to come, they could not drive sorrow away from the soul of this woman. Even so the monk would always have compunction in himself

κ. Παρερχόμενός ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον͵ εἶδε γυναῖκα ἐν μνημείῳ καθεζομένην͵ καὶ κλαίουσαν πικρῶς. Καὶ λέγει· Ἐὰν ἔλθωσι πάντα τὰ τερπνὰ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου͵ οὐ μὴ μεταστήσωσι ³²⁹ τὴν ψυχὴν ταύτης ἀπὸ τοῦ πένθους. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ μοναχὸς ὀφείλει διαπαντὸς τὸ πένθος ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ

27. He also said, ‘A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others he is babbling ceaselessly. But there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent; that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.’

κζ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος δοκῶν σιω πᾷν͵ καὶ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ κατακρίνει ἄλλους· ὁ τοιοῦτος πάντοτε λαλεῖ. Καὶ ἔστιν ἄλλος͵ ἀπὸ πρωῒ ἕως ἑσπέρας λαλῶν͵ καὶ σιωπὴν κρατεῖ· τουτέστιν ὅτι ἐκτὸς ὠφελείας οὐδὲν λαλεῖ

28. A brother came to see Abba Poemen and said to him, Abba, I have many thoughts and they put me in danger.’ The old man led him outside and said to him, ‘Expand your chest and do not breathe in.’ He said, ‘I cannot do that.’ Then the old man said to him, ‘If you cannot do that, no more can you prevent thoughts from arising, but you can resist them.’

κη. Ἀδελφός τις ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ͵ πολλοὺς λογισμοὺς ἔχω͵ καὶ κινδυνεύω ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐκφέρει αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων εἰς τὸν ἀέρα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἅπλωσον τὸν κόλπον σου͵ καὶ κράτησον τοὺς ἀνέμους. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οὐ δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ τοῦτο οὐ δύνασαι ποιῆσαι͵ οὐδὲ τοὺς λογισμοὺς δύνασαι κωλῦσαι ἐλθεῖν· ἀλλὰ σόν ἐστι τὸ ἀντιστῆναι αὐ τοῖς

29. Abba Poemen said, ‘If three men meet, of whom the first fully preserves interior peace, and the second gives thanks to God in illness, and the third serves with a pure mind, these three are doing the same work.’

κθ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ἐάν εἰσι τρεῖς ἐπιτοαυτὸ͵ καὶ ὁ εἷς μὲν ἡσυχάζει καλῶς͵ ὁ δὲ εἷς ἀσθενῶν καὶ εὐχαριστῶν͵ ὁ δὲ ἄλλος ὑπηρετεῖ μετὰ καθαροῦ λογισμοῦ· οἱ τρεῖς μιᾶς ἐργασίας εἰσίν

30. He also said, ‘It is written: “As the hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for Thee, O God.” (Ps. 42.1) For truly harts in the desert devour many reptiles and when their venom burns them, they try to come to the springs, to drink so as to assuage the venom’s burning. It is the same for the monks: sitting in the desert they are burned by the venom of evil demons, and they long for Saturday and Sunday to come to be able to go to the springs of water, that is to say, the body and blood of the Lord, so as to be purified from the bitterness of the evil one.’

λ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Γέγραπται· Ὃν τρόπον ἐπιποθεῖ ἡ ἔλαφος ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων͵ οὕτως ἐπιποθεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου πρὸς σὲ͵ ὁ Θεός. Ἐπειδὴ αἱ ἔλαφοι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ πολλὰ καταπίνουσιν ἑρπετά· καὶ ὡς κατακαίει αὐτὰς ὁ ἰὸς͵ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα· πίνουσαι δὲ καταψύχουσιν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰοῦ τῶν ἑρπετῶν· οὕτως καὶ οἱ μοναχοὶ͵ ἐν τῇ ἐρή μῳ καθεζόμενοι͵ καίονται ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰοῦ τῶν πονηρῶν δαιμόνων͵ καὶ ἐπιποθοῦσι τὸ Σάββατον καὶ τὴν Κυ ριακὴν͵ ὥστε ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων͵ τουτ έστιν͵ ἐπὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ αἷμα τοῦ Κυρίου͵ ἵνα καθαρισθῶσιν ἀπὸ πικρότητος τοῦ πονηροῦ

31. Abba Joseph asked Abba Poemen, ‘How should one fast?’ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘For my part, I think it better that one should eat every day, but only a little, so as not to be satisfied.’ Abba Joseph said to him, ‘When you were younger, did you not fast two days at a time, abba?’ The old man said: ‘Yes, even for three days and four and the whole week. The Fathers tried all this out as they were able and they found it preferable to eat every day, but just a small amount. They have left us this royal way, which is light.’ 1

λα. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα͵ πῶς χρὴ νηστεύειν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποι μήν· Ἐγὼ θέλω τὸν ἐσθίοντα καθ΄ ἡμέραν παρὰ μικρὸν ἐσθίειν͵ ἵνα μὴ χορτάζηται. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσήφ· Ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος͵ οὐκ ἐνήστευες δύο δύο͵ ἀββᾶ; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Φύσει καὶ τρεῖς͵ καὶ τέσσαρας͵ καὶ ἑβδομάδα. Καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἐδοκίμασαν οἱ Πατέρες͵ ὡς δυνατοί· καὶ εὗρον ὅτι καθ΄ ἡμέραν ἐσθίειν͵ παρὰ μικρὸν δέ· καὶ παρέδωκαν ἡμῖν τὴν βασιλικὴν ὁδὸν͵ ὅτι ἐλαφρά ἐστιν

32. It was said of Abba Poemen that every time he prepared to go to the synaxis, he sat alone and examined his thoughts for about an hour and then he set off.

λβ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὅτι ὅταν ἤμελλεν εἰς σύναξιν ἐλθεῖν͵ ἐκάθητο κατ΄ ἰδίαν͵ διακρίνων τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτοῦ͵ ὡσεὶ ὥραν μίαν· καὶ οὕτως ἐξήρχετο

33. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘An inheritance has been left me, what ought I to do?’ The old man said to him, ‘Go, come back in three days and I will tell you.’ So he returned as it had been decided. Then the old man said, ‘What shall I say to you, brother? If I tell you to give it to the church, they will make banquets with it; if I tell you to give it to your relations, you will not receive any profit from it; if I tell you to give it to the poor, you will not do it. Do as you like, it is none of my business.’

λγ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· ³³² Κατελείφθη μοι κληρονομία· τί ποιήσω αὐτήν; Λέ γει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἄπελθε͵ καὶ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐλθὲ͵ καὶ λέγω σοι. ῏Ηλθε δὲ͵ καθὼς ὥρισεν αὐτῷ. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Τί ἔχω σοι εἰπεῖν͵ ἀδελφέ; Ἐὰν εἴπω σοι͵ Δὸς αὐτὰ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν͵ ἐκεῖ ἀριστοποιοῦ σιν. Ἐὰν εἴπω σοι͵ Δὸς αὐτὰ συγγενεῖ σου͵ οὐκ ἔστι σοι μισθός. Ἐὰν δὲ εἴπω σοι͵ Δὸς αὐτὰ πτωχοῖς͵ ἀμερι μνεῖς. Εἴ τι οὖν θέλεις͵ ποίησον· ἐγὼ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἔχω

34. Another brother questioned him in these words: ‘What does, “See that none of you repays evil for evil” mean?’ (1 Thess. 5.15) The old man said to him, ‘Passions work in four stages - first, in the heart; secondly, in the face; thirdly, in words; and fourthly, it is essential not to render evil for evil in deeds. If you can purify your heart, passion will not come into your expression; but if it comes into your face, take care not to speak; but if you do speak, cut the conversation short in case you render evil for evil.’

λδ. Ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς͵ λέγων· Τί ἐστι͵ Μὴ ἀποδώσεις κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τὸ πάθος τοῦτο τέσσαρας ἔχει τρό πους· πρῶτον ἀπὸ καρδίας͵ δεύτερον ἀπὸ ὄψεως͵ τρί τον γλώσσης͵ τέταρτόν ἐστι͵ τὸ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Ἐὰν δύνασαι καθαρίσαι τὴν καρδίαν σου͵ οὐκ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν ὄψιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ εἰς τὴν ὄψιν͵ φυλάττου τὸ μὴ λαλεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ λαλήσῃς͵ ταχὺ κόψον τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ

35. Abba Poemen said, ‘Vigilance, self-knowledge and discernment; these are the guides of the soul.’

λε. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Τὸ φυλάσσειν͵ καὶ ἑαυτῷ προσέχειν͵ καὶ ἡ διάκρισις͵ αἱ τρεῖς αὗται ἀρεταὶ ὁδηγοί εἰσι τῆς ψυχῆς

36. He also said, ‘To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul.’

λ. Εἶπεν πάλιν͵ ὅτι Τὸ ῥίψαι ἑαυτὸν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ καὶ τὸ μὴ ἑαυτὸν μετρεῖν͵ καὶ τὸ βάλλειν ὀπίσω τὸ ἴδιον θέλημα͵ ἐργαλεῖά εἰσι τῆς ψυχῆς

37. He also said, ‘The victory over all the afflictions that befall you, is, to keep silence.’

λζ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Πᾶς κόπος ὃς ἂν ἐπέλθῃ σοι͵ ἡ νίκη αὐτοῦ ἐστι σιωπᾷν

38. He also said, All bodily comfort is an abomination to the Lord.’

λη. Εἶπε πάλιν· Βδέλυγμά ἐστι Κυρίῳ πᾶσα σω ματικὴ ἀνάπαυσις

39. He also said, ‘Compunction has two sides: it is a good work and a good protection.’

λθ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Τὸ πένθος διπλοῦν ἐστιν· ἐργά ζεται͵ καὶ φυλάσσει

40. He also said, If a thought about bodily needs overtakes you, put the matter right at once; and if it comes a second time, put it right again, but the third time, if it presents itself, do not pay any attention to it, for it is not being any use to you.’ Poemen (called the Shepherd)

μ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ σοι λογισμὸς περὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων τοῦ σώματος χρειῶν͵ καὶ διατά ξῃς ἅπαξ͵ καὶ πάλιν δεύτερον ἔλθῃ καὶ διατάξῃς· τὸ τρίτον ἐὰν ἔλθῃ͵ μὴ πρόσχῃς αὐτῷ· ἀργὸς γάρ ἐστι

41. He also said that a brother questioned Abba Adonias saying, ‘What does it mean to become nothing?’ The old man said, ‘It means to place oneself beneath irrational beings and to know what they are without blame.’

μα. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀλώνιον͵ λέγων· Τί ἐστιν ἐξουδένωσις; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Τὸ εἶναί σε ὑποκάτω τῶν ἀλόγων͵ καὶ εἰ δέναι ὅτι ἀκατάκριτά εἰσιν

42. He also said, ‘If man remembered that it is written: “By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned,” (Matt. 12.37) he would choose to remain silent.’

μβ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν μνησθῇ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ γεγραμμένου ῥητοῦ͵ ὅτι Ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου δι καιωθήσῃ͵ καὶ ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου καταδικασθήσῃ͵ αἱρεῖται μᾶλλον τὸ σιωπᾷν

43. He also said, ‘The beginning of evil is heedlessness.’

μγ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἀρχὴ κακῶν ἐστιν ὁ περι σπασμός

44. He also said that Abba Isidore, the priest of Scetis, spoke to the people one day saying, ‘Brothers, is it not in order to endure affliction that we have come to this place? But now there is no affliction for us here. So I am getting my sheepskin ready to go where there is some affliction and there I shall find peace.’

μδ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσίδωρος ὁ πρεσβύ τερος τῆς Σκήτεως ἐλάλησέ ποτε τῷ λαῷ͵ λέγων· Ἀδελφοὶ͵ οὐχὶ ἕνεκεν κόπου ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον; Καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἔτι ἕχει κόπον. Ἐγὼ οὖν σκευάσας τὴν μηλωτήν μου ἀπέρχομαι ὅπου ἐστὶ κό πος͵ καὶ ἐκεῖ εὑρίσκω ἀνάπαυσιν

45. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘If I see something, do you want me to tell you about it?’ The old man said to him, ‘It is written: “If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Prov. 18.13) If you are questioned, speak; if not, remain silent.’

με. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· Ἐὰν θεά ³³³ σωμαι πρᾶγμα͵ θέλεις εἴπω αὐτό; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Γέγραπται· Ὃς ἐὰν ἀποκρίνηται λόγον πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι͵ ἀφροσύνη αὐτῷ ἐστι καὶ ὄνειδος. Ἐὰν ἐπερωτηθῇς͵ εἰπέ· εἰ δὲ μὴ͵ σιώπα

46. A brother asked Abba Poemen saying, ‘Can a man put his trust in one single work?’ The old man said to him that Abba John the Dwarf said, ‘I would rather have a bit of all the virtues.’

μϛ. Ἠρώτησέ τις ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Δύναται ἄνθρωπος πεποιθέναι ἐπὶ τῇ μιᾷ πράξει; Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάν νης ὁ Κολοβὸς εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Ἐγὼ θέλω μεταλαβεῖν μι κρόν τι ἐκ πασῶν τῶν ἀρετῶν

47. The old man said that a brother asked Abba Pambo if it is good to praise one’s neighbour and that the old man said to him, ‘It is better to be silent.’

μζ. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ͵ εἰ καλὸν ἐπαινεῖν τὸν πλησίον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Καλὸν μᾶλλόν ἐστι τὸ σιωπᾷν

48. Abba Poemen said, ‘Even if a man were to make a new heaven and earth, he could not live free of care.’

μη. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος καινὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ καινὴν γῆν͵ οὐ δύναται ἀμεριμνῆσαι

49. He also said, As the breath which comes out of his nostrils, so does a man need humility and the fear of God.’

μθ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ὁ ἄνθρωπος δέεται τῆς τα πεινοφροσύνης καὶ τοῦ φόβου τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ ὥσπερ τῆς πνοῆς ἐκπορευομένης ἐκ τῆς ῥινὸς αὐτοῦ

50. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What should I do?’ The old man said to him, ‘When Abraham entered the promised land he bought a sepulchre for himself and by means of this tomb, he inherited the land.’ The brother said to him, ‘What is the tomb?’ The old man said, ‘The place of tears and compunction.’

ν. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀβραὰμ ὅτε εἰσῆλ θεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας͵ μνημεῖον ἠγόρασεν ἑαυτῷ͵ καὶ διὰ τοῦ τάφου ἐκληρονόμησε τὴν γῆν. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Τί ἐστι τάφος; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τόπος κλαυθμοῦ καὶ πένθους

51 . A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘If I give my brother a little bread or something else, the demons tarnish these gifts saying it was only done to please men.’ The old man said to him, ‘Even if it is to please men, we must give the brother what he needs.’ He told him the following parable, ‘Two farmers lived in the same town; one of them sowed and reaped a small and poor crop, while the other, who did not even trouble to sow reaped absolutely nothing. If a famine comes upon them, which of the two will find something to live on?’ The brother replied, ‘The one who reaped the small poor crop.’ The old man said to him, ‘So it is for us; we sow a little poor grain, so that we will not die of hunger.’

να. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· Ἐὰν δῶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μικρὸν ἄρτον͵ ἢ ἕτερόν τι͵ οἱ δαίμονες μολύνουσιν αὐτὰ͵ ὡς κατὰ ἀνθρωπαρεσκίαν γινόμε να. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ καὶ κατὰ ἀνθρωπ αρεσκίαν γίνεται͵ ἀλλ΄ ἡμεῖς τὴν χρείαν δώσωμεν τῷ ἀδελφῷ. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ παραβολὴν τοιαύτην· Δύο ἄνθρωποι ἦσαν γεωργοὶ ἐν πόλει οἰκοῦντες μιᾷ· καὶ ὁ εἷς μὲν ἐξ αὐτῶν σπείρας ἐποίησε μικρὰ ἀκά θαρτα· ὁ δὲ ἄλλος͵ ἀμελήσας τοῦ σπεῖραι͵ ἐποίησεν ὅλως οὐδέν· λιμοῦ γενομένου͵ τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο εὑρί σκει ζῆσαι; Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἀδελφός· Ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ὀλίγα καὶ ἀκάθαρτα. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς͵ σπείρωμεν ὀλίγα͵ εἰ καὶ ἀκάθαρτα͵ ἵνα μὴ τῷ λιμῷ ἀποθάνωμεν

52. Abba Poemen said that Abba Ammonas said, A man can spend his whole time carrying an axe without succeeding in cutting down the tree; while another, with experience of tree-felling brings the tree down with a few blows. He said that the axe is discernment.’

νβ. Εἶπεν πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ ἀβ βᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς͵ ὅτι Ποιεῖ ἄνθρωπος ὅλον τὸν χρόνον αὐτοῦ βαστάζων ἀξίνην͵ καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει κατενεγκεῖν τὸ δένδρον. Ἔστι δὲ ἄλλος ἔμπειρος τοῦ κόπτειν͵ καὶ ἀπὸ ὀλίγων καταφέρει τὸ δένδρον. Ἔλεγε δὲ τὴν ἀξί νην εἶναι τὴν διάκρισιν

53. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘How should a man behave?’ The old man said to him, ‘Look at Daniel: no-one found anything in him to complain about except for his prayers to the Lord his God.’

νγ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Πῶς ὀφείλει ἄνθρωπος πολιτεύσασθαι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὁρῶμεν τὸν Δανιὴλ͵ ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη κατ΄ αὐτοῦ κατηγορία͵ εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς λειτουργίαις Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ

54. Abba Poemen said, ‘The will of man is a brass wall between him and God and a stone of stumbling. When a man renounces it, he is also saying to himself, “By my God, I can leap over the wall.” (Ps. 18.29) If a man’s will is in line with what is right, then he can really labour.’

νδ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Τὸ θέλημα τοῦ ἀν ³³⁶ θρώπου τεῖχός ἐστι χαλκοῦν ἀναμέσον αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ καὶ πέτρα ἀντιδέρουσα. Ἐὰν οὖν καταλείψῃ αὐτὸ ἄνθρωπος͵ λέγει καὶ αὐτὸς͵ Ἐν τῷ Θεῷ μου ὑπερβήσομαι τεῖχος. Ἐὰν οὖν τὸ δικαίωμα συνέλθῃ τῷ θελήματι͵ κάμνει ὁ ἄνθρωπος

55. He also said, As the old men were sitting at a meal one day, Abba Alonius got up to serve and when they saw that, they praised him. But he answered absolutely nothing. So one of them said to him privately, “Why don’t you answer the old men who are complimenting you?” Abba Alonius said to him, “If I were to reply to them I should be accepting their praises.” ‘

νε. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Καθεζομένων ποτὲ γερόντων καὶ ἐσθιόντων͵ ἵστατο ὑπηρετῶν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀλώνιος· καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπῄνεσαν. Ὁ δὲ τὸ σύνολον οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη. Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ τις κατ΄ ἰδίαν· Διατί οὐκ ἀπεκρίθης τοῖς γέρουσιν ἐπαινοῦσί σε; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀλώνιος· Εἰ ἀπεκρίθην αὐτοῖς͵ εὑρίσκομαι ὡς καταδεξάμενος τὸν ἔπαινον

56. He also said, ‘Men speak to perfection but they do precious little about it.’

νϛ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐν τῷ τελείῳ λα λοῦσι͵ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλαχίστῳ ἐργάζονται

57. Abba Poemen said, ‘Just a smoke drives the bees away and also takes the sweetness out of their work, so bodily ease drives the fear of God from the soul and dissipates all its activity.’

νζ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ὥσπερ ὁ καπνὸς ἐκδιώκει τὰς μελίσσας͵ καὶ τότε αἴρεται τῆς ἐργα σίας αὐτῶν ἡ γλυκύτης· οὕτως καὶ ἡ σωματικὴ ἀνά παυσις ἐκδιώκει τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ψυχῆς͵ καὶ ἀπολύει αὐτῆς πᾶσαν τὴν ἐργασίαν

58. A brother came to see Abba Poemen in the second week of Lent and told him about his thoughts; he obtained peace, and said Poemen (called the Shepherd) [175 to him, ‘I nearly did not come here today.’ The old man asked him why. The brother said, ‘I said to myself, “Perhaps he will not let me in because it is Lent.” ‘ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘We have not been taught to close the wooden door but the door of our tongues.’

νη. Ἀδελφὸς παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι εἰς τὰς δύο ἑβδομάδας τῆς Τεσσαρακοστῆς͵ καὶ ἐξειπὼν τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ τυχὼν ἀναπαύσεως͵ λέγει αὐ τῷ· Παρὰ βραχὺ κατεσχέθην παραγενέσθαι ὧδε σή μερον. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Διατί; Λέγει ὁ ἀδελ φός· Εἶπον͵ μήποτε διὰ τὴν Τεσσαρακοστὴν οὐκ ἀνοίγεταί μοι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐμάθομεν κλείειν τὴν ξυλίνην θύραν͵ ἀλλὰ μᾶλ λον τὴν τῆς γλώσσης θύραν

59. Abba Poemen said, ‘You must flee from sensual things. Indeed, every time a man comes near to a struggle with sensuality, he is like a man standing on the edge of a very deep lake and the enemy easily throws him in whenever he likes. But if he lives far away from sensual things, he is like a man standing at a distance from the lake, so that even if the enemy draws him in order to throw him to the bottom, God sends him help at the very moment he is drawing him away and doing him violence.’

νθ. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Φεύγειν δεῖ τὰ σωματικά. Ὅταν γὰρ εἶ ἄνθρωπος ἐγγὺς τοῦ σω ματικοῦ πολέμου͵ ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ στήκοντι ἐπάνω λάκ κου βαθυτάτου· καὶ οἵαν δ΄ ἂν ὥραν δόξῃ τῷ ἐχθρῷ αὐτοῦ͵ εὐκόλως αὐτὸν ῥίπτει κάτω. Ἐὰν δὲ σωματι κῶν μακρὰν ᾖ͵ ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντι τοῦ λάκκου͵ ἵνα κἂν ἕλκῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἐχθρὸς βαλεῖν κάτω͵ ἐν ὅσῳ αὐτὸν ἕλκει καὶ βιάζεται͵ ὁ Θεὸς ἀποστέλλει αὐ τῷ βοήθειαν

60. He also said, ‘Poverty, hardship, austerity and fasting, such are the instruments of the solitary life. It is written, “When these three men are together, Noah, Job, and Daniel, there am I, says the Lord.” (of. Ezek. 14.14) Noah represents poverty, Job suffering and Daniel discernment. So, if these three works are found in a man, the Lord dwells in him.’

ξ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἡ πενία καὶ ἡ θλίψις καὶ ἡ στε νοχωρία καὶ ἡ νηστεία͵ ταῦτά εἰσι τὰ ἐργαλεῖα τοῦ μονήρους βίου. Γέγραπται γὰρ͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν ὦσιν οἱ τρεῖς οὗτοι ἄνδρες͵ Νῶε͵ Ἰὼβ καὶ Δανιὴλ͵ ζῶ ἐγὼ͵ λέγει Κύριος. Νῶε πρόσωπόν ἐστι τῆς ἀκτη μοσύνης͵ Ἰὼβ δὲ τοῦ πόνου͵ καὶ Δανιὴλ τῆς διακρί σεως. Ἐὰν οὖν ὦσιν αἱ τρεῖς αὗται πράξεις ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ͵ ὁ Κύριος οἰκεῖ ἐν αὐτῷ

61. Abba Joseph said, ‘While we were sitting with Abba Poemen he mentioned Agathon as “abba”, and we said to him, “He is very young, why do you call him ‘abba?’ “ Abba Poemen said, “Because his speech makes him worthy to be called abba.” ‘

ξα. Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ͵ ὅτι Καθημένων ἡμῶν μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὠνόμασε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀγά θωνα. Καὶ λέγομεν αὐτῷ· Νεώτερός ἐστι͵ καὶ διατί καλεῖς αὐτὸν ἀββᾶν; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ὅτι τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν καλεῖσθαι ἀβ βᾶν

62. A brother came to Abba Poemen one day and said to him, ‘What should I do, Father, for I am tempted to fornication? I went to Abba Ibiston and he said to me, “You must not let it stay with you.’“ Abba Poemen said to him, Abba Ibiston’s deeds are in heaven with the angels and he does not realise that you and I remain in fornication. If a monk controls his belly and his tongue and if he lives like an exile, be confident, he will not die.’

ξβ. ῏Ηλθέ ποτε ἀδελφὸς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσω͵ Πάτερ͵ ὅτι θλίβομαι ἀπὸ ³³⁷ τῆς πορνείας· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀπῆλθον πρὸς ἀββᾶν Ἰβι στίωνα͵ καὶ λέγει μοι· Οὐκ ὀφείλεις ἐᾶσαι αὐτὴν χρο νίζειν ἐπὶ σέ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἀββᾶς Ἰβιστίων͵ αἱ πράξεις αὐτοῦ ἄνω μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέ λων εἰσὶ͵ καὶ λανθάνει αὐτὸν ὅτι ἐγὼ καὶ σὺ ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ ἐσμέν. Ἐὰν κρατήσῃ μοναχὸς τὴν κοιλίαν καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν͵ καὶ τὴν ξενιτείαν͵ θάρσει͵ οὐκ ἀπο θνήσκει

63. Abba Poemen said, ‘Teach your mouth to say that which you have in your heart.’

ξγ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Δίδαξον τὸ στόμα σου λαλεῖν ἃ ἔχει ἡ καρδία σου

64. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘If I see my brother committing a sin, is it right to conceal it?’ The old man said to him, At the very moment when we hide our brother’s fault, God hides our own and at the moment when we reveal our brother’s fault, God reveals ours too.

ξδ. Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἐὰν ἴδω πταῖσμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου͵ καλόν ἐστι σκε πάσαι αὐτό; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οἵαν ὥραν σκεπά σομεν τὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν πταῖσμα͵ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς σκε πάζει τὸ ἡμέτερον· καὶ ἐν ᾗ ὥρᾳ ἐκφαίνομεν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ͵ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐκφαίνει τὸ ἡμέτερον

65. He said that someone asked Abba Paesius, ‘What should I do about my soul, because it is insensitive and does not fear God?’ He said to him, ‘Go, and join a man who fears God, and live near him; he will teach you, too, to fear God.’

ξε. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Παΐσιόν τίς ποτε͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω τῇ ψυ χῇ μου͵ ὅτι ἀναισθητεῖ καὶ οὐ φοβεῖται τὸν Θεόν; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἄπελθε͵ κολλήθητι ἀνθρώπῳ φοβουμένῳ τὸν Θεόν· καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν ἐκείνῳ͵ διδάσκει καὶ σὲ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεόν

66. He also said, ‘If a monk can overcome two things, he can become free from the world.’ The brother asked him what these two things were and he said, ‘Bodily ease and vain-glory.’

ξ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν δύο πράγματα νικήσῃ ὁ μοναχὸς͵ δύναται ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀδελφός· Ποῖα ταῦτα; Καὶ εἶπε· Τὴν σαρκικὴν ἀνάπαυσιν͵ καὶ τὴν κενοδοξίαν

67. Abraham, the disciple of Abba Agathon, questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘How do the demons fight against me?’ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘The demons fight against you? They do not fight against us at all as long as we are doing our own will. For our own wills become the demons, and it is these which attack us in order that we may fulfil them. But if you want to see who the demons really fight against, it is against Moses and those who are like him.’

ξζ. Ἠρώτησεν Ἀβραὰμ͵ ὁ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀγάθωνος͵ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Πῶς οἱ δαίμονες πολεμοῦσί με; Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Σὲ πολεμοῦσιν οἱ δαίμονες; Οὐ πολεμοῦσι μεθ΄ ἡμῶν͵ ἐφ΄ ὅσον τὰ θε λήματα ἡμῶν ποιοῦμεν. Τὰ γὰρ θελήματα ἡμῶν δαίμονες γεγόνασι· καὶ αὐτοί εἰσιν οἱ θλίβοντες ἡμᾶς͵ ἵνα πληρώσωμεν αὐτά. Εἰ δὲ θέλεις ἰδεῖν μετὰ τίνων ἐπολέμησαν οἱ δαίμονες· Μετὰ Μωϋσέως͵ καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων αὐτοῦ

68. Abba Poemen said, ‘God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits of passion, jealousy, hatred and slandering the brethren; in short, everything that is characteristic of the old man.’

ξη. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ταύτην τὴν πολι τείαν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰσραὴλ͵ τὸ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν παρὰ φύσιν· τουτέστι͵ ὀργῆς͵ καὶ θυμοῦ͵ καὶ ζήλου͵ καὶ μίσους͵ καὶ καταλαλιᾶς κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ· καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῆς παλαιότητος

69. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘Give me a word.’ And he said to him, ‘The Fathers put compunction as the beginning of every action.’ The brother said again, ‘Give me another word.’ The old man replied, As far as you can, do some manual work so as to be able to give alms, for it is written that alms and faith purify from sin.’ The brother said, ‘What is faith?’ The old man said, ‘Faith is to live humbly and to give alms.’

ξθ. Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι Οἱ Πατέρες τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ πράγματος ἣν ἔθεντο͵ πένθος ἐστί. Λέγει πάλιν ὁ ἀδελφός· Εἰπέ μοι ἄλλο ῥῆμα. Ἀποκρίνεται ὁ γέρων· Ὅσον δύνῃ ἐργάζου ἐργόχειρον͵ ἵνα ἐξ αὐ τοῦ ποιήσῃς ἔλεος. Γέγραπται γὰρ͵ ὅτι ἐλεημοσύνη καὶ πίστις καθαίρουσιν ἁμαρτίας. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελ φός· Τί ἐστι πίστις; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Πίστις ἐστὶ τὸ ἐν ταπεινοφροσύνῃ διάγειν͵ καὶ ποιεῖν ἔλεος

70. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, If I see a brother whom I have heard is a sinner, I do not want to take him into my cell, but when I see a good brother I am happy to be with him.’ The old man said, If you do a little good to the good brother, do twice as much for the other. For he is sick. Now, there was an anchorite called Timothy in a coenobium. The abbot, having heard of a brother who was being tempted, asked Timothy about him, and the anchorite advised him to drive the brother away. Then when he had been driven away, the brother’s temptation fell upon Timothy to the point where he was in danger. Then Timothy stood up before God and said, “I have sinned. Forgive me.” Then a voice came Poemen (called the Shepherd) [177 which said to him, “Timothy, the only reason I have done this to you is because you despised your brother in the time of his temptation.” ‘

ο. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν ἴδω ἀδελφὸν περὶ οὗ ἤκουσα πταῖσμα͵ οὐ ³⁴⁰ θέλω εἰσενεγκεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου· ἐὰν δὲ ἴδω καλὸν͵ χαίρω μετ΄ αὐτοῦ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ ποιεῖς τῷ καλῷ ἀδελφῷ μικρὸν ἀγαθὸν͵ διπλοῦν ποίησον μετ΄ ἐκείνου. Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἀσθενῶν. ῏Ην γάρ τις ἐν κοινοβίῳ ὀνόματι Τιμόθεος ἀναχωρη τής· καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ ἡγούμενος φήμην περί τινος ἀδελφοῦ περὶ πειρασμοῦ͵ καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν Τιμό θεον περὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνεβούλευσεν αὐτῷ͵ ἐκβαλεῖν τὸν ἀδελφόν. Ὅτε οὖν ἐξέβαλεν αὐτὸν͵ ἐτέθη ὁ πειρα σμὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ Τιμοθέου͵ ἕως οὗ ἐκιν δύνευσεν. Ἔκλαιεν οὖν ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ λέγων· Ἡμάρτηκα͵ συγχώρησόν μοι. Καὶ ἦλθεν αὐ τῷ φωνὴ λέγουσα· Τιμόθεε͵ μὴ νομίσῃς ὅτι ταῦτα ἐποίησά σοι δι΄ ἄλλο τι͵ ἢ ὅτι παρεῖδες τὸν ἀδελφόν σου ἐν καιρῷ τοῦ πειρασμοῦ αὐτοῦ

71. Abba Poemen said, ‘The reason why we are so greatly tempted is because we do not guard our name and status, as Scripture says. Do we not see that the Saviour gave peace to the Canaanite woman, accepting her as she was? (cf. Matt. 15) And the same for Abigail, because she said to David, “Upon me alone be the guilt,” (1 Sam. 25.24) the Lord heard her and loved her. Abigail stands for the soul and David for God. So when the soul accuses herself before the Lord, the Lord loves her.’

οα. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τοσού τοις πειρασμοῖς κείμεθα͵ ὅτι τὰ ὀνόματα ἡμῶν καὶ τὴν τάξιν οὐ φυλάσσομεν͵ καθὼς καὶ ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει. Οὐχ ὁρῶμεν τὴν γυναῖκα τὴν Χαναναίαν͵ τὴν ὑποδεξαμένην τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς͵ ὅτι ἀνέπαυσεν αὐτὴν ὁ Σωτήρ; Πάλιν Ἀβιγαῖαν͵ ὅτι εἶπε τῷ Δαβὶδ͵ ὅτι Ἐν ἐμοί ἐστιν ἡ ἁμαρτία͵ καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτῆς͵ καὶ ἠγάπησεν αὐ τήν. Ἀβιγαῖα πρόσωπον λαμβάνει τῆς ψυχῆς͵ καὶ Δαβὶδ τῆς Θεότητος. Ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ψυχὴ ἑαυτὴν μέμ ψηται ἐνώπιον Κυρίου͵ ἀγαπᾷ αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος

72. One day Abba Poemen went with Abba Anoub to the district of Diolcos. Arriving at the cemetery, they saw a woman in great sorrow, weeping bitterly. Standing there they watched her. Going a little further they met someone and Abba Poemen asked him, ‘What is this woman weeping so bitterly for?’ He said, ‘Because her husband is dead and her son and her brother.’ Abba Poemen said to the brother, ‘I tell you, if a man does not mortify all his carnal desires and acquire compunction like this, he cannot become a monk. Truly the whole of this woman’s life and soul are turned to compunction.’

οβ. Παρήρχετό ποτε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν μετὰ τοῦ ἀβ βᾶ Ἀνοὺβ εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Διόλκου· καὶ ἐλθόντες περὶ τὰ μνημεῖα θεωροῦσι γυναῖκα δεινῶς κοπτο μένην καὶ κλαίουσαν πικρῶς· καὶ στάντες κατενόουν αὐτήν. Μικρὸν δὲ προβάντες συνήντησάν τινι· καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ λέγων· Τί ἔχει ἡ γυνὴ αὕτη͵ ὅτι πικρῶς κλαίει; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὅτι ἀπέθανεν αὐτῆς ὁ ἀνὴρ καὶ ὁ υἱὸς καὶ ὁ ἀδελφός. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ λέγει τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἀνούβ· Λέγω σοι͵ ὅτι ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν μὴ νεκρώσῃ τὰ θελήματα τῆς σαρκὸς πάντα͵ καὶ κτήσηται τὸ πένθος τοῦτο͵ οὐ δύναται γενέσθαι μοναχός. Ὅλος γὰρ ὁ βίος αὐτῆς καὶ ὁ νοῦς εἰς τὸ πένθος ἐστίν

73. Abba Poemen said, ‘Do not judge yourself, but live with someone who knows how to behave himself properly.’

ογ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μὴ μέτρει σεαυτὸν͵ ἀλλὰ κολλήθητι τῷ καλῶς ἀναστρεφομένῳ

74. He said that when a brother went to see Abba John the Dwarf, he offered him that charity of which the apostle speaks, ‘Charity suffers long and is kind.’ (1. Cor. 13.4)

οδ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ἐὰν παρέβαλεν ἀδελφὸς τῷ ἀβ βᾷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ κολοβῷ͵ παρεδίδει αὐτῷ αὐτῷ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν ἐν τῷ Ἀποστόλῳ· Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ͵ χρη στεύεται

75. He said of Abba Pambo that Abba Anthony used to say of him, ‘Through fearing God, he caused the spirit of God to dwell in him.’

οε. Εἶπε πάλιν διὰ τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ͵ ὅτι εἶπε περὶ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεὸν ἐποίησε τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ οἰκεῖν ἐν αὐτῷ

76. One of the Fathers related this about Abba Poemen and his brethren: ‘When they were living in Egypt, their mother wanted to see them and was not able to do so. So she took note of the time when they went to church and went to meet them. But when they saw her, they made a detour and closed the door in her face. But she beat on the door and cried with tears and groans, saying, “I must see you, my beloved children!” Hearing her, Abba Anoub went to 1 Abba Poemen and said to him, “What shall we do with this old woman who is weeping against the door?” From inside where he was standing, he heard her weeping with many groans and he said to her, “Woman, why are you crying out like this?” When she heard his voice, she cried out even more, weeping and saying, “I want to see you, my children. What will happen if I do see you? Am I not your mother? Was it not I who suckled you? So I was troubled when I heard your voice.” The old man said to her, “Would you rather see us here or in the age which is to come?” She said to him, “If I do not see you here, shall I see you in the age to come?” He said to her, “If you refrain from seeing us now, you will see us yonder.” So she departed full of joy and said, “If I shall see you perfectly yonder, I do not want to see you here.’“

ο. Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ͵ ὅτι ᾤκουν ἐν Αἰ γύπτῳ· καὶ ἐπιθυμοῦσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῶν ἰδεῖν αὐ τοὺς οὐκ ἠδύνατο. Παρετηρήσατο δὲ ἀπερχομένων αὐτῶν εἰς ἐκκλησίαν͵ καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς. Οἱ δὲ ³⁴¹ θεασάμενοι αὐτὴν͵ ὑπέστρεψαν͵ καὶ ἔκλεισαν τὴν θύ ραν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς. Ἡ δὲ πρὸς τὴν θύραν ἔκραζε κλαίουσα μετὰ οἴκτου πολλοῦ͵ καὶ λέγουσα· Ἴδω ὑμᾶς͵ τέκνα μου ἠγαπημένα. Ἀκούσας δὲ αὐ τῆς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσωμεν τῇ γραΐδι ταύτῃ κλαιούσῃ πρὸς τὴν θύραν; Καὶ ἔνδοθεν στὰς͵ ἤκουσεν αὐτῆς κλαιού σης μετὰ οἴκτου πολλοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Τί οὕτως κράζεις͵ γραῦ; Ἡ δὲ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσασα πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐκραύγαζε͵ κλαίουσα καὶ λέγουσα· Θέλω ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν͵ τέκνα μου. Τί γάρ ἐστιν ἐὰν ἴδω ὑμᾶς; μὴ οὐκ εἰμὶ μήτηρ ὑμῶν; μὴ οὐκ ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐθήλασα; ὅλη εἰμὶ πολιά. Ἀκούσασα γὰρ τῆς φωνῆς σου ἐταράχθην. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ γέρων· Ὧδε θέ λεις ἡμᾶς ἰδεῖν͵ ἢ εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖ κόσμον; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ὑμᾶς ὧδε͵ βλέπω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖ κό σμον; Λέγει αὐτῇ· Ἐὰν σεαυτὴν βιάσῃ μὴ ἰδεῖν ἡμᾶς ὧδε͵ ὁρᾷς ἡμᾶς ἐκεῖ. Ἀπῆλθε οὖν χαίρουσα͵ καὶ λέγουσα· Εἰ ὅλως ὁρῶ ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ͵ οὐ θέλω ὧδε ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν

77. A brother asked Abba Poemen saying, ‘High things, what are they?’ The old man said to him, ‘Righteousness.’

οζ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Τὰ ὑψηλὰ τί ἐστι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τὸ δικαίωμα

78. Some heretics came to Abba Poemen one day and began to speak evil of the archbishop of Alexandria suggesting that he had received the laying on of hands from priests. The old man, who had remained silent till then, called his brother and said, ‘Set the table, give them something to eat and send them away in peace.’

οη. ῏Ηλθόν ποτέ τινες αἱρετικοὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ ἤρξαντο καταλαλεῖν τοῦ ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἀλεξανδρείας͵ ὡς ὅτι παρὰ πρεσβυτέρων ἔχει τὴν χειροτονίαν. Ὁ δὲ γέρων σιωπήσας ἐφώνησε τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ εἶπε· Παράθες τὴν τράπεζαν͵ καὶ ποίησον αὐτοῖς φαγεῖν͵ καὶ πέμψον αὐτοὺς μετ΄ εἰρήνης

79. Abba Poemen said that a brother who lived with some other brothers asked Abba Bessarion, ‘What ought I to do?’ The old man said to him, ‘Keep silence and do not always be comparing yourself with others.’

οθ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι ἀδελφὸς συνοικῶν ἀδελφοῖς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Βισαρίωνα· Τί ποιήσω; Ὁ δὲ γέρων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Σιώπα͵ καὶ μὴ μετρῇς ἑαυτόν

80. He also said, ‘Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.’

π. Εἶπε πάλιν· Εἰς ὃν ἡ καρδία σου οὐ πληροφο ρεῖται͵ μὴ πρόσχῃς τούτῳ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

81. He also said, If you take little account of yourself, you will have peace, wherever you live.’

πα. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν σεαυτὸν εὐτελίσῃς͵ ἕξεις ἀνάπαυσιν͵ εἰς οἷον δ΄ ἂν τόπον καθίσῃς

82. He also said that Abba Sisoes said, ‘There is a kind of shame that contains a culpable lack of fear.’

πβ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης͵ ὅτι Ἔστιν αἰσχύνη͵ ἀφοβίας ἔχουσα ἁμαρτίαν

83. He also said, ‘When self-will and ease become habitual, they overthrow a man.’

πγ. Εἶπε πάλιν ὅτι τὸ θέλημα͵ καὶ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις͵ καὶ ἡ τούτων συνήθεια͵ καταβάλλει τὸν ἄνθρωπον

84. He also said, ‘If you are silent, you will have peace wherever you live.’ Poemen (called the Shepherd)

πδ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἐὰν ᾖς σιωπητικὸς͵ ἕξεις ἀνά παυσιν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ οὗ ἐὰν οἰκήσῃς

85. He also said concerning Abba Pior that every day he made a new beginning.

πε. Εἶπε πάλιν περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πίωρ͵ ὅτι ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ἐτίθει ἀρχήν

86. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘If a brother is involved in a sin and is converted, will God forgive him?’ The old man said to him, ‘Will not God, who has commanded men to act thus, do as much himself and even more? For God commanded Peter to forgive till seventy times seven.’ (Matt. 18.22)

π. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἐὰν προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι͵ καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ͵ συγχωρεῖται παρὰ Θεῷ; Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀλλ΄ ὁ ἐντειλάμενος Θεὸς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ποιεῖν͵ οὐχὶ μᾶλλον αὐτὸς ποιήσει; Ἐνετείλατο γὰρ τῷ Πέτρῳ λέγων· Ἕως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά. ³⁴⁴

87. A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, ‘Is it good to pray?’ The old man said that Abba Anthony said, This word comes from the mouth of the Lord, who said, “Comfort, comfort my people.” ‘ as. 40.1)

πζ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Καλὸν τὸ προσεύχεσθαι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος͵ ὅτι Ἡ φωνὴ αὕτη ἐκπορεύε ται ἐκ προσώπου Κυρίου͵ λέγουσα· Παρακαλεῖτε τὸν λαόν μου͵ λέγει Κύριος͵ παρακαλεῖτε

88. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Can a man keep all his thoughts in control, and not surrender one to the enemy?’ And the old man said to him, ‘There are some who receive ten and give one.’

πη. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Δύναται ἄνθρωπος κατασχεῖν ὅλους τοὺς λογισμοὺς͵ καὶ μηδένα ἐξ αὐτῶν διδόναι τῷ ἐχθρῷ; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ἔστιν ὁ λαμβάνων δέκα. καὶ διδῶν ἕνα

89. The same brother put the same question to Abba Sisoes who said to him, ‘It is true that there are some who give nothing to the enemy.’

πθ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀδελφὸς τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Φύσει ὅτι ἐστὶν͵ ὃς οὐδὲν παρέχει τῷ ἐχθρῷ.

90. There was a great hesychast in the mountain of Athlibeos. Some thieves fell upon him and the old man began to cry out. When they heard this the neighbours seized the robbers and took them to the magistrate who threw them into prison. The brothers were very sorry about this and they said, ‘It is through us that they have been put in prison.’ They got up and went to Abba Poemen to tell him about it. He wrote to the old man saying, ‘Consider the first betrayal and where it comes from and then examine the second. In truth, if you had not first failed within, you would not have committed the second betrayal.’ On hearing Abba Poemen’s letter read (for he was renowned in all the district for not coming out of his cell), he arose, went to the city, got the robbers out of prison and liberated them in public.

ϛ.. ῏Ην τις μέγας ἡσυχαστὴς ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῆς Ἀθλί βεως· καὶ ἦλθον ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ λῃσταί· καὶ ἔκραξεν ὁ γέρων· καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ γείτονες αὐτοῦ ἐπίασαν τοὺς λῃστὰς͵ καὶ ἔπεμψαν αὐτοὺς τῷ ἡγεμόνι͵ καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς φυλακήν. Καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ͵ λέ γοντες͵ ὅτι Δι΄ ἡμᾶς παρεδόθησαν. Καὶ ἀναστάντες ἀπῆλθον πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν αὐτῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Καὶ ἔγραψε πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ λέ γων· Ἐννόησον τὴν πρώτην προδοσίαν πόθεν γέγονε͵ καὶ τότε βλέπεις τὴν δευτέραν. Εἰ μὴ γὰρ προεδόθης πρότερον ἐκ τῶν ἔσωθεν͵ οὐκ ἂν τὴν δευτέραν προ δοσίαν ἐποίησας. Ἀκούσας δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος (ἦν δὲ ὀνομαστὸς εἰς ὅλην τὴν χώραν͵ καὶ μὴ ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ)͵ ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν͵ καὶ ἐξέβαλε τοὺς λῃστὰς ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς͵ καὶ δημοσίᾳ ἠλευθέρωσεν αὐτούς

91. Abba Poemen said, A monk does not complain of his lot, a monk does not return evil for evil, a monk is not angry.’

ϛα. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Οὐκ ἔστι μοναχὸς μεμψίμοιρος· οὐκ ἔστι μοναχὸς ποιῶν ἀνταπόδομα· οὐκ ἔστι μοναχὸς ὀργίλος

92. Some old men came to see Abba Poemen and said to him, ‘When we see brothers who are dozing at the synaxis, shall we rouse them so that they will be watchful?’ He said to them, ‘For my part when I see a brother who is dozing, I put his head on my knees and let him rest.’

ϛβ. Παρέβαλόν τινες τῶν γερόντων πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· Θέλεις͵ ἐὰν ἴδωμεν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς νυστάζοντας εἰς τὴν σύναξιν͵ νύξωμεν αὐ τοὺς͵ ἵνα γρηγορῶσιν εἰς τὴν ἀγρυπνίαν; Ὁ δὲ λέ γει αὐτοῖς· Ἐγὼ τέως ἐὰν ἴδω τὸν ἀδελφὸν νυστά ζοντα͵ τιθῶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατά μου͵ καὶ ἀναπαύω αὐτόν

93. It was said of a brother that he had to fight against blasphemy and he was ashamed to admit it. He went where he heard some great old men lived to see them, in order to open his heart to them but when he got there, he was ashamed to admit his temptation. So he kept going to see Abba Poemen. The old man saw he was worried, and he was sorry he did not tell him what was wrong. So one day he forestalled him and said, ‘For a long time you have been coming here to tell me what is troubling you, and when you are here you will not tell me about it, but each time you go away unhappy, keeping your thoughts to yourself. Now tell me, my child, what it is all about.’ He said to him, ‘The demon wars against me to make me blaspheme God and I am ashamed to say so.’ So he told him all about it and immediately he was relieved. The old man said to him, ‘Do not be unhappy, my child, but every time this thought comes to you say, “It is no affair of mine, may your blasphemy remain upon you, Satan, for my soul does not want it.” Now everything that the soul does not desire, does not long remain,’ and the brother went away healed.

ϛγ. Ἔλεγον περί τινος ἀδελφοῦ͵ ὅτι ἐπολε μήθη εἰς βλασφημίαν͵ καὶ ᾐσχύνετο εἰπεῖν· καὶ ὅπου ἤκουε μεγάλους γέροντας͵ παρέβαλε αὐτοῖς. ὥστε ἀναγγεῖλαι· καὶ ὡς ἔφθανεν͵ ᾐσχύνετο ὁμολογῆσαι. Πολλάκις οὖν παρέβαλε καὶ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι. Καὶ ἔβλεπεν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων ἔχοντα λογισμοὺς͵ καὶ ἐλυ πεῖτο͵ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μὴ ἀναγγέλλοντος. Ἐν μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν͵ προπέμπων αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ τοσοῦτον χρόνον ἔρχῃ ὧδε ἔχων λογισμοὺς τοῦ ἀναγ γεῖλαί μοι͵ καὶ ὅταν ἔρχῃ οὐ θέλεις αὐτοὺς εἰπεῖν͵ ἀλλὰ κατὰ ἅπαξ ὑπάγεις θλιβόμενος ἔχων αὐτούς. Εἰπέ μοι οὖν͵ τέκνον͵ τί ἐστιν ὃ ἔχεις. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὅτι εἰς βλασφημίαν Θεοῦ πολεμεῖ με ὁ δαί μων͵ καὶ ᾐσχυνόμην εἰπεῖν. Καὶ διηγησάμενος αὐτῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα͵ εὐθέως ἐλαφρύνθη. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Μὴ θλίβου͵ τέκνον· ἀλλ΄ ὅταν ἔρχηται ὁ λο ³⁴⁵ γισμὸς οὗτος͵ λέγε· Ἐγὼ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἔχω· ἡ βλασ φημία σου ἐπάνω σου͵ Σατανᾶ. Τοῦτο γὰρ τὸ πρᾶγμα οὐ θέλει ἡ ψυχή μου. Πᾶν δὲ πρᾶγμα ὃ οὐ θέλει ἡ ψυχὴ͵ ὀλιγοχρόνιόν ἐστι. Καὶ θεραπευθεὶς ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἀπῆλθεν

94. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘I see that wherever I go I find support.’ The old man said to him, ‘Even those who hold a sword in their hands have God who takes pity on them in the present time. If we are courageous, he will have mercy on us.’

ϛδ. Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ὁρῶ ἐμαυτὸν͵ ὅτι ὅπου δ΄ ἂν ἀπέλθω͵ εὑρίσκω ἀντί ληψιν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Καὶ οἱ μετὰ χεῖρας ἔχοντες τὸ ξίφος ἔχουσι τὸν Θεὸν ἐλεοῦντα αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ παρόντι καιρῷ. Ἐὰν οὖν ὦμεν ἀνδρεῖοι͵ ποιεῖ μεθ΄ ἡμῶν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

95. Abba Poemen said, ‘If a man accuses himself, he is protected on all sides.’

ϛε. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν ἄνθρωπος ἑαυτὸν μέμψηται͵ καρτερεῖ πανταχοῦ. .

96. He said that Abba Ammonas said, A man may remain for a hundred years in his cell without learning how to live in the cell.’

ϛϛ.Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀμμωνᾶς͵ ὅτι Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ὃς ποιεῖ ἑκατὸν ἔτη ἐν τῷ κελ λίῳ͵ καὶ οὐ μανθάνει πῶς δεῖ ἐν κελλίῳ καθίσαι

97. Abba Poemen said, ‘If a man has attained to that which the Apostle speaks of “to the pure, everything is pure,” (Titus 1.15) he sees himself less than all creatures.’ The brother said, ‘How can I deem myself less then a murderer?’ The old man said, ‘When a man has really comprehended this saying, if he sees a man committing a murder he says, “He has only committed this one sin but I commit sins every day.’

ϛζ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν φθάσῃ ἄνθρω πος εἰς τὸ ῥητὸν τοῦ Ἀποστόλου͵ τὸ͵ Πάντα καθαρὰ τοῖς καθαροῖς· ὁρᾷ ἑαυτὸν ἐλάττονα πάσης τῆς κτί σεως. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Πῶς δύναμαι ἐμαυτὸν ἐλάτ τονα τοῦ φονέως ἡγεῖσθαι; Λέγει ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν φθάσῃ ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο͵ καὶ ἴδῃ ἄνθρω πον φονεύοντα͵ λέγει͵ ὅτι Ταύτην τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησε μόνην οὗτος͵ ἐγὼ δὲ φονεύω καθ΄ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν

98. A brother put the same question to Abba Anoub, telling him what Abba Poemen had said. Abba Anoub said to him, ‘If a man really affirms this saying, when he sees his brother’s faults he sees that his integrity exceeds his faults.’ The brother said, ‘What is integrity?’ The old man replied, ‘Always to accuse himself.’

ϛη. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς τὸ αὐτὸ ῥῆμα τὸν ἀβ βᾶν Ἀνοὺβ͵ ὡς ὅ τι εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν φθάσῃ ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο͵ καὶ ἴδῃ τὰ ὑστερήματα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ͵ ποιεῖ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ καταπιεῖν αὐτά. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Ποία ἐστὶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐ τοῦ; Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ γέρων· Ἵνα πάντοτε καταμέμφη ται ἑαυτόν

99. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘If I fall into a shameful sin, my conscience devours and accuses me saying: “Why have you fallen?” ‘ The old man said to him, At the moment when a man goes astray, if he says, I have sinned, immediately the sin ceases.’

ϛθ. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν πα ραπέσω ἐν οἰκτρῷ παραπτώματι͵ κατεσθίει με ὁ λο γισμός μου͵ καὶ κατηγορεῖ͵ Διατί παρέπεσες; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐν ᾗ ὥρᾳ ὑποπίπτει ἄνθρωπος σφάλ ματι͵ καὶ εἴπῃ͵ ῞Ημαρτον͵ παραυτὰ πέπαυται

100. A brother asked Abba Poemen saying, ‘Why do the demons persuade my soul to look up to him who is superior to me and make me despise him who is my inferior?’ The old man replied, About that, the Apostle has this to say: “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware; and if anyone purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.’“ (2 Tim. 2.20-21)

ϛρ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Διατί πείθουσι τὴν ψυχήν μου οἱ δαίμονες͵ εἶναι μετὰ τοῦ ὑπερβαίνοντός με͵ καὶ ποιοῦσί με ἐξουδενῶσαι τὸν ἐλάττονά μου; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Διὰ τοῦτο εἶπεν ὁ Ἀπόστολος͵ ὅτι Ἐν μεγάλῃ οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔστιν μόνον σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ. ἀλλὰ καὶ ξύλινα καὶ ὀστράκινα. Ἐὰν οὖν ἐκκαθάρῃ τις ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ πάντων τούτων͵ ἔσται σκεῦος εἰς τιμὴν͵ εὔ χρηστον τῷ Δεσπότῃ͵ ἡτοιμασμένον εἰς πᾶν ἔρ γον ἀγαθόν

101. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Why should I not be free to do without manifesting my thoughts to the old men?’ The old man replied, Abba John the Dwarf said, “The enemy rejoices over nothing so much as over those who do not manifest their thoughts.’“

ρα. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Πῶς οὐκ ἀφίεμαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι μετὰ τῶν γε ρόντων ἐν τοῖς λογισμοῖς μου; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ Κολοβὸς͵ ὅτι Οὐ χαίρει ἐπ΄ οὐδενὶ οὕτως ὁ ἐχθρὸς͵ ὡς ἐπὶ τοῖς μὴ ἐκφαίνουσι τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτῶν. ³⁴⁸

102. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘My heart becomes lukewarm when a little suffering comes my way.’ The old man said to him, ‘Do we not admire Joseph, a young man of seventeen, for enduring his temptation to the end? And God glorified him. Do we not also see Job, how he suffered to the end, and lived in endurance? Temptations cannot destroy hope in God.’

ρβ. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ ὅτι Ἡ καρ δία μου παρειμένη ἐστὶν͵ ἐὰν καταλάβῃ με καμεῖν μικρόν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐ θαυμάζομεν τὸν Ἰωσὴφ μειράκιον ὄντα ἐτῶν δεκαεπτὰ͵ πῶς ὑπέμεινε τὸν πειρασμὸν εἰς τέλος; καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐδόξασεν αὐ τόν. Οὐχ ὁρῶμεν καὶ τὸν Ἰὼβ͵ πῶς οὐκ ἐνέδωκεν ἕως τέλους κατέχων τὴν ὑπομονήν; καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυ σαν οἱ πειρασμοὶ παρασαλεῦσαι αὐτὸν τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ Θεοῦ

103. Abba Poemen said, ‘Life in the monastery demands three things: the first is humility, the next is obedience, and the third which sets them in motion and is like a goad is the work of the monastery.’

ργ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Χρῄζει τὸ κοινόβιον ἔχειν τρεῖς πράξεις͵ μίαν ταπεινὴν͵ καὶ μίαν εἰς ὑπακοὴν͵ καὶ μίαν κεκινημένην καὶ ἔχουσαν τὸ κέν τρον͵ διὰ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ κοινοβίου

104. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘In the time of my affliction I looked for something from one of the old men which would be useful to me and he gave it me as a free gift. Now if God comes to my aid, ought I in my turn to give it to others as a free gift, or rather give it back to him who gave it to me?’ The old man said to him, ‘What is right in the sight of God, is for you to give it back to him, for it is his.’ The brother said, ‘If I return it to him and he does not want it, but says to me, “Go, give it away however you like as a free gift,” what shall I do?’ The old man said to him, ‘This thing belongs to him, but if it is offered to you spontaneously without your asking for it, it belongs to you. Whether he is a monk or a secular person, if he no longer wants what you ask for and gives it you, then it is right for you, with his knowledge, to give it away in his name as a free gift.’

ρδ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεώς μου ἐζήτησα παρὰ τινὸς τῶν ἁγίων πρᾶγμα ἐν χρήσει· καὶ ἔδωκέ μοι αὐτὸ ἀγά πην. Ἐὰν οὖν ὁ Θεὸς κἀμὲ οἰκονομήσῃ͵ δώσω αὐτὸ κἀγὼ ἀγάπην ἄλλοις͵ ἢ μᾶλλον τῷ δεδωκότι μοι αὐτό; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὃ τὸ δίκαιον παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ἐστιν͵ ἵνα αὐτῷ δοθῇ· αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐστι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἐὰν ἀπενέγκω οὖν͵ καὶ μὴ θελήσῃ λαβεῖν͵ ἀλλ΄ εἴπῃ μοι͵ Ὕπαγε͵ ὡς Θέλεις δὸς αὐτὸ ἀγάπην͵ τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τέως αὐ τοῦ ἐστι τὸ πρᾶγμα. Ἐὰν δέ τις σοι παράσχῃ ἀφ΄ ἑαυτοῦ͵ σοῦ μὴ αἰτήσαντος αὐτὸν͵ τοῦτο σόν ἐστιν. Ἐὰν δὲ σὺ αἰτήσῃς ἢ παρὰ μοναχοῦ ἢ παρὰ κοσμι κοῦ͵ καὶ μὴ θελήσῃ δέξασθαι αὐτὸ͵ τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ σύγκριμα͵ ἵνα εἰδότος αὐτοῦ παράσχῃς αὐτὸ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπην

105. It was said of Abba Poemen that he never wished to speak after another old man, but that he preferred to praise him in everything he had said.

ρε. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἤθελε δοῦναι τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐπάνω ἄλλου γέρον τος· ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον κατὰ πάντα ἐπῄνει αὐτόν

106. Abba Poemen said, ‘Many of our Fathers have become very courageous in asceticism, but in fineness of perception there are very few.’

ρ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Πολλοὶ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν ἐγένοντο ἀνδρεῖοι εἰς τὴν ἄσκησιν· εἰς δὲ τὴν λεπτότητα͵ εἷς͵ εἷς

107. One day Abba Isaac was sitting beside Abba Poemen when they heard a cock crow. Abba Isaac said to him, ‘Is it possible to hear that here, abba?’ He replied, ‘Isaac, why do you make me talk? You and those like you hear those noises, but the vigilant man does not trouble about them.’

ρζ. Καθημένου ποτὲ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἰσαὰκ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ ἠκούσθη φωνὴ ἀλέκτορος. Καὶ λέ γει αὐτῷ· Ἔνι ταῦτα ὧδε͵ ἀββᾶ; Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἰσαὰκ͵ τί ἀναγκάζεις με λαλῆσαι; σὺ καὶ οἱ ὅμοιοί σου ἀκούετε τούτων· τῷ δὲ νήφοντι οὐ μέλει περὶ τούτων

108. It was said that if one of the brethren came to see Abba Poemen the latter used to send him first to Abba Anoub, because he was older than he. But Abba Anoub would say to them, ‘Go to my brother Poemen because it is he who has the gift of speaking.’ Whenever Abba Anoub came to sit beside Abba Poemen the latter refused to speak in his presence.

ρη. Ἔλεγον͵ ὅτι εἰ ἤρχοντό τινες πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ ἀπέστελλεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀνοὺβ πρῶτον͵ ὅτι αὐτὸς μείζων τοῖς ἔτεσιν. Ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφόν μου Ποι μένα ὑπάγετε͵ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἔχει τοῦ λόγου τὸ χάρισμα. Εἰ δὲ ἐκάθητο ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνοὺβ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ οὐκ ἐλάλει ὅλως ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν παρόντος αὐτοῦ

109. A secular man of devout life came to see Abba Poemen. Now it happened that there were other brethren with the old man, asking to hear a word from him. The old man said to the faithful secular, ‘Say a word to the brothers.’ When he insisted, the secular said, ‘Please excuse me, abba; I myself have come to learn.’ But he was urged on by the old man and so he said, ‘I am a secular, I sell vegetables and do business; I take bundles to pieces, and make smaller ones; I buy cheap and sell dear. What is more I do not know how to speak of the Scriptures; so I will tell you a parable. A man Poemen (called the Shepherd) said to his friends, “I want to go to see the emperor; come with me.” One friend said to him, “I will go with you half the way.” Then he said to another friend, “Come and go with me to the emperor,” and he said to him, “I will take you as far as the emperor’s palace.” He said to a third friend, “Come with me to the emperor.” He said, “I will come and take you to the palace and I will stay and speak and help you to have access to the emperor.” ‘ They asked what was the point of the parable. He answered them, ‘The first friend is asceticism, which leads the way; the second is chastity which takes us to heaven; and the third is almsgiving which with confidence presents us to God our King.’ The brethren withdrew edified.

ρθ. ῏Ην τις κοσμικὸς εὐλαβὴς πάνυ ἐν τῷ βίῳ ³⁴⁹ αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· εὐκαίρησαν δὲ πρὸς τὸν γέροντα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀδελφοὶ͵ αἰτοῦντες αὐτὸν ἀκοῦσαι ῥῆμα. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων τῷ πιστῷ κοσμικῷ· Λάλησον τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς λόγον. Ὁ δὲ παρ εκάλει͵ λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι͵ ἀββᾶ· ἐγὼ μαθεῖν ἦλθον. Καὶ βιασθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ γέροντος͵ εἶπεν· Ἐγὼ κοσμικός εἰμι λάχανα πωλῶν καὶ πραγματευόμενος͵ λύω τὰ δεμάτια͵ καὶ ποιῶ μικρὰ͵ ἀγοράζω ὀλίγου καὶ πωλῶ πολλοῦ. Πλὴν οὐκ οἶδα ἀπὸ Γραφῆς εἰπεῖν· πα ραβολὴν δὲ λέγω. Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶπε τῷ φίλῳ αὐτοῦ· Ἐπειδὴ ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχω ἰδεῖν τὸν βασιλέα͵ δεῦρο μετ΄ ἐμοῦ. Λέγει δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ φίλος· Ἔρχομαι μετὰ σοῦ μέχρι μέσου τῆς ὁδοῦ. Καὶ λέγει ἄλλῳ φίλῳ αὐτοῦ· Δεῦρο σὺ ἆρόν με πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Αἴρω σε ἕως τοῦ παλατίου τοῦ βασιλέως. Λέγει δὲ καὶ τῷ τρίτῳ· Δεῦρο μετ΄ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἐγὼ ἔρχομαι͵ καὶ ἀπάγω εἰς τὸ παλάτιον͵ καὶ στήκω καὶ λαλῶ καὶ εἰσάγω σε πρὸς τὸν βασι λέα. Ἠρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν͵ τίς ἡ δύναμις τῆς παραβο λῆς. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ὁ πρῶτος φίλος ἐστὶν ἡ ἄσκησις͵ ἡ ὁδηγοῦσα ἕως τῆς ὁδοῦ· ὁ δεύτερός ἐστιν ἡ ἁγνεία͵ ἡ φθάνουσα ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· ὁ δὲ τρίτος ἐστὶν ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη͵ ἡ εἰσάγουσα ἕως τοῦ βα σιλέως Θεοῦ μετὰ παῤῥησίας. Καὶ οἰκοδομηθέντες ἀνεχώρησαν οἱ ἀδελφοί

110. A brother settled outside his village and did not return there for many years. He said to the brethren, ‘See how many years it is since I went back to the village, while you often go up there.’ This was told to Abba Poemen and the old man said, ‘I used to go back up there at night and walk all round my village, so that the thought of not having gone up there would not cause me vain-glory.’

ρι. Ἀδελφὸς ἐκάθητο ἔξω τῆς κώμης ἑαυτοῦ͵ καὶ ἐπὶ πολλὰ ἔτη οὐκ ἀνέβη εἰς τὴν κώμην͵ καὶ ἔλεγε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· Ἰδοὺ πόσα ἔτη ἔχω͵ καὶ οὐκ ἀνέβην εἰς τὴν κώμην· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθάπαξ ἀναβαίνετε. Εἶπον δὲ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι περὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Ἐγὼ ἤμην ἀναβαίνων τὴν νύκτα καὶ κυκλῶν τὴν κώμην͵ ἵνα μὴ καυχᾶται ὁ λογισμός μου ὡς μὴ ἀνα βαίνοντός μου.

111. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘Give me a word,’ and he said to him, As long as the pot is on the fire, no fly nor any other animal can get near it, but as soon as it is cold, these creatures get inside. So it is for the monk; as long as he lives in spiritual activities, the enemy cannot find a means of overthrowing him.’

ρια. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὅτε καίεται ὑποκάτω ὁ λέβης͵ οὐ δύναται μυῖα ἅψασθαι αὐτοῦ͵ ἤ τι τῶν ἄλλων ἑρπετῶν· ὅταν δὲ ψυχρὸς ᾖ͵ τότε ἐπι κάθηνται αὐτῷ. Οὕτω καὶ ὁ μοναχός· ὅσον ἐπιμένει ταῖς πνευματικαῖς πράξεσιν͵ οὐχ εὑρίσκει ὁ ἐχθρὸς κατενεγκεῖν αὐτόν.

112. Abba Joseph said of Abba Poemen that he said, ‘This saying which is written in the Gospel: “Let him who has no sword, sell his mantle and buy one,” (Luke 22.36) means this: let him who is at ease give it up and take the narrow way.’

ριβ. Ἔλεγε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποι μένος͵ ὅτι εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ λόγος ὁ γεγραμ μένος ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ͵ ὅτι Ὀ ἔχων ἱμάτιον πωλη³⁵² σάτω αὐτὸ͵ καὶ ἀγορασὰτω μάχαιραν· τουτέστιν ὁ ἔχων ἀνάπαυσιν ἀφήσει αὐτὴν͵ καὶ κρατήσει τὴν στε σάτω αὐτὸ͵ καὶ ἀγορασὰτω μάχαιραν· τουτέστιν ὁ ἔχων ἀνάπαυσιν ἀφήσει αὐτὴν͵ καὶ κρατήσει τὴν στε νὴν ὁδόν.

113. Some Fathers questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘If we see a brother in the act of committing a sin, do you think that we ought to reprove him?’ The old man said to them, ‘For my part, if I have to go out and I see someone committing a sin, I pass on my way without reproving him.’

ριγ. Ἠρώτησάν τινες τῶν Πατέρων τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγοντες· Ἐὰν ἴδωμέν τινα ἁμαρτάνοντα ἀδελφὸν͵ θέλεις ἐλέγξωμεν αὐτόν; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέ ρων· Ἐγὼ τέως ἐὰν ἔχω χρείαν παρελθεῖν διὰ τῶν ἐκεῖ͵ καὶ ἴδω αὐτὸν ἁμαρτάνοντα. ὑπερβαίνω αὐτὸν͵ καὶ οὐκ ἐλέγχω αὐτόν.

114. Abba Poemen said, ‘It is written: “Give witness of that which your eyes have seen” (cf. Proverbs 25.8); but I say to you even if you have touched with your hands, do not give witness. In truth, a brother was deceived in this respect; he thought he saw his brother in the act of sinning with a woman; greatly incensed, he 1 drew near and kicked them (for he thought it was they), saying, “Now stop; how much longer will you go on?” Now it turned out that it was some sheaves of corn. That is the reason why I said to you: even if you touch with your hands, do not reprove.’

ριδ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Γέγραπται͵ ὅτι Ὃ εἶ δον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου͵ ταῦτα διαμαρτύρου· ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν καὶ ψηλαφήσητε ταῖς χερσὶν ὑμῶν͵ μὴ μαρτυρήσητε. Ἀδελφὸς γάρ τις ἐχλευάσθη ἔν τινι τοιούτῳ͵ καὶ εἶδεν ὡς τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ με τὰ γυναικὸς ἁμαρτάνοντα͵ καὶ πολλὰ πολεμηθεὶς͵ ἀπελθὼν ἔνυξεν αὐτοὺς͵ ὡς νομίζων αὐτοὺς εἶναι͵ τῷ ποδὶ αὐτοῦ͵ λέγων· Παύσασθε λοιπὸν͵ ἕως πότε; Καὶ ἰδοὺ εὑρέθησαν θαλλοὶ σίτου. Διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον ὑμῖν͵ ὅτι Καὶ ἐὰν ψηλαφήσητε ταῖς χερσὶν ὑμῶν͵ μὴ ἐλέγχετε.

115. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What shall I do, for fornication and anger war against me?’ The old man said, ‘In this connection David said: “I will pierce the lion and I will slay the bear” (cf 1 Sam. 1735); that is to say: I will cut off anger and I will crush fornication with hard labour.’

ριε. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω͵ ὅτι πολεμοῦμαι εἰς τὴν πορνείαν καὶ εἰς τὸν θυμόν; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Διὰ τοῦτο ὁ Δαβὶδ ἔλεγεν͵ ὅτι Τὸν μὲν λέοντα ἐπάτασσον͵ τὴν δὲ ἄρκτον ἀπέπνιγον· τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν͵ ὅτι τὸν μὲν θυμὸν ἀπέκο πτον͵ τὴν δὲ πορνείαν ἐν πόνοις ἔθλιβον

116. He also said, ‘ “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15.13) In truth if someone hears an evil saying, that is, one which harms him, and in his turn, he wants to repeat it, he must fight in order not to say it. Or if someone is taken advantage of and he bears it, without retaliating at all, then he is giving his life for his neighbour.’

ρι. Εἶπε πάλιν· Μείζονα ταύτης τῆς ἀγάπης οὐκ ἔστιν εὑρεῖν τινα͵ τοῦ θεῖναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ. Εἰ γάρ τις ἀκούσει λόγον πονηρὸν͵ τουτέστι λυπηρὸν͵ δυνάμενος καὶ αὐτὸς τὸν ὅμοιον εἰπεῖν͵ καὶ ἀγωνήσηται μὴ εἰπεῖν· ἢ ἐὰν πλεονεκτηθῇ͵ καὶ βαστάζῃ͵ καὶ μὴ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτῷ· ὁ τοιοῦτος τίθησι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ τοῦ πλησίον.

117. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What is a hypocrite?’ The old man said to him, A hypocrite is he who teaches his neighbour something he makes no effort to do himself. It is written, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye, etc.’“ (Matt. 7.3-4)

ριζ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ἐστιν ὑποκριτής; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὑποκρι τής ἐστιν ὁ διδάσκων τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ πρᾶγμα͵ εἰς ὃ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἔφθασε. Γέγραπται γάρ· Τί βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου͵ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σου; καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.

118. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘What does it mean to be angry with your brother without a cause?’ He said, If your brother hurts you by his arrogance and you are angry with him because of it, that is getting angry without cause. If he plucks out your right eye and cuts off your right hand, and you get angry with him, you are angry without cause. But if he separates you from God, then be angry with him.’

ριη. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Τί ἐστι τὸ ὀργισθῆναι εἰκῆ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ; Καὶ εἶπε· Πᾶσαν πλεονεξίαν ἢν πλεονεκτήσει σε ὁ ἀδελφός σου͵ καὶ ὀργισθῇς αὐτῷ͵ εἰκῆ ὀργίζῃ. Κἂν ἐξορύξῃ τὸν δεξιὸν ὀφθαλμόν σου͵ καὶ ἐκκόψῃ τὴν ³⁵³ δεξιάν σου χεῖρα͵ καὶ ὀργισθῇς αὐτῷ͵ εἰκῆ ὀρ γίζῃ· ἐὰν δὲ χωρίζῃ σε ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ τότε ὀργί σθητι.

119. A brother asked Abba Poemen what he should do about his sins. The old man said to him, ‘He who wishes to purify his faults purifies them with tears and he who wishes to acquire virtues, acquires them with tears; for weeping is the way the Scriptures and our Fathers give us, when they say “Weep!” Truly, there is no other way than this.’

ριθ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις μου; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Ὁ θέλων λυτρώσασθαι ἁμαρτίας͵ κλαυθμῷ λυ τροῦται αὐτάς· καὶ ὁ θέλων κτήσασθαι ἀρετὰς͵ κλαυ θμῷ κτᾶται αὐτάς. Τὸ γὰρ κλαίειν ἐστὶν ἢ ὁδὸς ἣν παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν ἡ Γραφὴ͵ καὶ οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν͵ λέ γοντες· Κλαύσατε. Ἄλλη γὰρ ὁδὸς οὐκ ἔστιν͵ εἰ μὴ αὕτη

120. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘What does it mean to repent of a fault?’ The old man said, ‘Not to commit it again in future. This is the reason the righteous were called blameless, for they gave up their faults and became righteous.’

ρκ. Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα· Τί ἐστι μετάνοια τῆς ἁμαρτίας; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Τὸ μὴ τοῦ λοιποῦ ποιεῖν αὐτήν. Διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκλήθη σαν ἄμωμοι οἱ δίκαιοι͵ ὅτι κατέλιπον τὰς ἁμαρτίας͵ καὶ δίκαιοι ἐγένοντο.

121. He also said, ‘The wickedness of men is hidden behind their backs.’

ρκα. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ἡ πονηρία τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅπισθέν ἐστιν αὐτῶν κεκρυμμένη.

122. A brother questioned Abba Poemen, ‘What ought I to do about all the turmoils that trouble me?’ The old man said to him, ‘In all our afflictions let us weep in the presence of the goodness of God, until he shows mercy on us.’

ρκβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα· Τί ποιήσω ταῖς ταραχαῖς ταύταις ταῖς ταραττούσαις με; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Κλαύσωμεν ἐνώπιον τῆς ἀγαθό τητος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν παντὶ κόπῳ ἡμῶν͵ ἕως ποιήσει μεθ΄ ἡμῶν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.

123. The brother asked him, ‘What ought I to do about the sterile affections that I have?’ He said to him, ‘There are men who tire themselves to death involving themselves in the friendships of this world. But keep yourself away from all that and do not get involved in such relationships and they will be transformed of their own accord.’

ρκγ. Πάλιν ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἀδελφός· Τί ποιήσω ταῖς ἀκερδέσι μου φιλίαις ἃς ἔχω; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ῥέγχων εἰς τὸ ἀποθανεῖν͵ καὶ προσ έχων φιλίαις τοῦ κόσμου τούτου. Μὴ ἐγγίσῃς͵ μηδὲ ἅψῃ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀφ΄ ἑαυτῶν ἀλλοτριοῦνται.

124. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Can a man be dead?’ He replied, ‘He who is inclined to sin starts to die, but he who applies himself to good will live and will put it into practice.’

ρκδ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Δύναται ἄνθρωπος εἶναι νεκρός; Λέγει αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν φθάσῃ εἰς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν͵ γίνεται ἀποθανών· ἐὰν δὲ φθάσῃ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν͵ ζήσεται καὶ ποιήσει αὐτό.

125. Abba Poemen said that blessed Abba Anthony used to say, ‘The greatest thing a man can do is to throw his faults before the Lord and to expect temptation to his last breath.’

ρκε. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ μακάριος ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος͵ ὅτι Ἡ μεγάλη δυναστεία τοῦ ἀνθρώ που ἐστὶν͵ ἵνα ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ βάλῃ τὸ ἴδιον σφάλμα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου͵ καὶ προσδοκήσῃ πειρασμὸν ἕως ἐσχάτης ἀναπνοῆς

126. Abba Poemen was asked for whom this saying is suitable, ‘Do not be anxious about tomorrow.’ (Matt. 6.34) The old man said, ‘It is said for the man who is tempted and has not much strength, so that he should not be worried, saying to himself, “How long must I suffer this temptation?” He should rather say every day to himself, “Today.”‘

ρκ. Ἠρωτήθη ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι εἰς τίνα ἔρ χεται ὁ λόγος ὁ γεγραμμένος͵ ὅτι Μὴ φροντίσητε περὶ τῆς αὔριον. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Πρὸς ἄνθρω πον ὄντα ἐν πειρασμῷ καὶ ὀλιγωροῦντα ἐῤῥήθη͵ ἵνα μὴ φροντίσῃ͵ λέγων͵ Πόσον χρόνον ἔχω ἐν τῷ πειρα σμῷ τούτῳ; ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον λογίσηται͵ λέγων καθ΄ ἑκά στην͵ τὸ σήμερον.

127. He also said, ‘Instructing one’s neighbour is for the man who is whole and without passions; for what is the use of building the house of another, while destroying one’s own?’

ρκζ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Τὸ διδάξαι τὸν πλησίον ὑγιαίνοντός ἐστι καὶ ἀπαθοῦς· ἐπεὶ τίς χρεία οἰκοδο μῆσαί τινα ἄλλου οἰκίαν͵ καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν καταστρέ ψαι;

128. He also said, ‘What is the good of giving oneself to a trade without seeking to learn it?’

ρκη. Πάλιν εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Τίς χρεία ἀπελθεῖν τινα εἰς τέχνην͵ καὶ μὴ μαθεῖν αὐτήν;

129. He also said, ‘Everything that goes to excess comes from the demons.’

ρκθ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Τὰ ὑπέρμετρα πάντα τῶν δαιμόνων εἰσίν

130. He also said, ‘When a man prepares to build a house, he gathers together all he needs to be able to construct it, and he collects different sorts of materials. So it is with us; let us acquire a little of the virtues.’

ρλ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ Ὅτι ὅταν μέλλῃ ἄνθρωπος οἰκοδο ³⁵⁶ μῆσαι οἶκον͵ πολλὰς χρείας συνάγει͵ ὅπως δυνηθῇ στῆσαι τὸν οἶκον͵ καὶ διάφορα δὲ εἴδη συνάγει. Οὕ τως καὶ ἡμεῖς͵ λάβωμεν πρὸς μικρὸν ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀρετῶν.

131. Some Fathers asked Abba Poemen, ‘How could Abba Nisterus bear so well with his discipline?’ Abba Poemen said to them, If I had been in his place, I would even have put a pillow under his head.’ Abba Anoub said, And what would you have said to God?’ Abba Poemen said, ‘I would have said to him: “You have said, ‘First take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers’ eye.” ‘ (Matt. 7.5)

ρλα. Ἠρώτησάν τινες τῶν Πατέρων τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγοντες· Πῶς οὕτως ἠνέσχετο ὁ ἀββᾶς Νισθερῶος τοῦ μαθητοῦ αὐτοῦ; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Εἰ ἐγὼ ἤμην͵ καὶ τὸ κερβικάριον ἐτίθουν πρὸς κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνούβ· Καὶ τί ἔλεγες τῷ Θεῷ; Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐρῶ οὖν͵ ὅτι Σὺ εἶπας· Ἔκβαλε πρῶτον τὴν δοκὸν ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου͵ καὶ τότε διαβλέψεις ἐκβαλεῖν τὸ κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου.

132. Abba Poemen said, ‘Because of our need to eat and to sleep, we do not see the simple things.’

ρλβ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἡ πεῖνα καὶ ὁ νυσταγμὸς οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ἡμᾶς ἰδεῖν ταῦτα τὰ εὐ τελῆ.

133. He also said, ‘Many become powerful, but few eminent.’

ρλγ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Πολλοὶ ἐγένοντο δυνατοὶ͵ ὀλίγοι δὲ παροξύναντες.

134. He also said, groaning, All the virtues come to this house except one and without that virtue it is hard for a man to stand.’ Then they asked him what virtue was, and he said, ‘For a man to blame himself

ρλδ. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ μετὰ στεναγμῶν· Πᾶσαι αἰ ἀρεταὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον εἰσῆλθον͵ παρὰ μίαν ἀρε τήν· καὶ ἐκτὸς αὐτῆς κόπῳ ἵσταται ἄνθρωπος. Ἠρώ τησαν οὖν αὐτὸν τίς ἐστι. Καὶ εἶπεν· Ἵνα ὁ ἄνθρωπος μέμψηται ἑαυτόν.

135. Abba Poemen often said, ‘We do not need anything except a vigilant spirit.’

ρλε. Ἔλεγε πολλάκις ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Οὐ δεό μεθά τινος͵ εἰ μὴ νηφούσης διανοίας

136. One of the Fathers asked Abba Poemen, ‘Who is he who says, “I am a companion of all who fear Thee,” ‘ (Ps. 119.63) and the old man said, ‘It is the Holy Spirit who says that.’

ρλ. Ἠρώτησέ τις τῶν Πατέρων τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα͵ λέγων· Τίς ἐστιν ὁ λέγων͵ Μέτοχος ἐγώ εἰμι πάντων τῶν φοβουμένων σε; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιόν ἐστιν ὁ λέγων.

137. Abba Poemen said that a brother asked Abba Simon, ‘If I come out of my cell and find my brother amusing himself, I amuse myself with him and if I find him in the act of laughing, I laugh with him. Then when I return to my cell, I am no longer at peace.’ The old man said to him, ‘So, when you come out of your cell and find people laughing or talking you want to laugh and talk with them, and when you return to your cell, you expect to find yourself as you were before?’ The brother said, ‘What should I do?’ The old man replied, ‘Be watchful inwardly; be watchful outwardly.’

ρλζ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σίμωνα͵ λέγων͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν ἐξέλθω ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου μου͵ καὶ εὕρω τὸν ἀδελφόν μου περισπώμε νον͵ κἀγὼ περισπῶμαι μετ΄ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐὰν εὕρω αὐτὸν γελῶντα͵ κἀγὼ γελῶ μετ΄ αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν οὖν εἰσέλθω εἰς τὸ κελλίον μου͵ οὐκ ἀφίεμαι ἀνάπαυσιν ἔχειν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Θέλεις͵ ἐὰν ἐξέλθῃς ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου σου͵ καὶ εὕρῃς τοὺς γελῶντας͵ καὶ σὺ γελά σαι· καὶ τοὺς λαλοῦντας͵ καὶ σὺ λαλῆσαι· καὶ εἰσέλ θῃς εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου͵ καὶ εὕρῃς ἑαυτὸν ὡς ἦς; Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἀλλὰ τί; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ γέ ρων εἶπεν· Ἔσω τήρει φυλακὴν͵ ἔξω τήρει φυλα κήν.

138. Abba Daniel said, ‘We went one day to Abba Poemen and ate together. After we had eaten he said to us, “Go, rest a little, brothers.” The brothers went to take a little rest but I wanted to speak to him privately to I went to his cell. When he saw me coming he settled himself as though he were asleep. For that was always the old man’s way, to do everything in secret so that no one noticed it.

ρλη. Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Δανιὴλ͵ ὅτι Παρεβάλομέν ποτε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ καὶ ἐγευσάμεθα ὁμοῦ. Καὶ μετὰ τὸ γεύσασθαι ὁμοῦ͵ λέγει ἡμῖν· Ὑπάγετε͵ ἀνα παύεσθε μικρὸν͵ ἀδελφοί. Ἀπῆλθον οὖν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ μικρὸν ἀναπαῆναι͵ κἀγὼ παρέμεινα λαλῆσαι αὐτῷ κατὰ μόνας͵ καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθον εἰς τὴν κέλλαν αὐτοῦ. Ὡς οὖν εἶδέ με ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν͵ ἔθηκεν ἑαυτὸν ὡς κοιμώμενον. Αὐτὴ γὰρ ἦν ἡ ἐργασία τοῦ γέρον τος͵ πάντα ἐν κρυπτῷ ποιεῖν.

139. Abba Poemen said, ‘If you have visions or hear voices do not tell your neighbour about it, for it is a delusion in the battle.’

ρλθ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐὰν ἴδῃς θεάματα͵ ³⁵⁷ καὶ ἀκοὰς ἀκούσῃς͵ μὴ διηγοῦ αὐτὰ τῷ πλησίον σου· ἀνατροπὴ γάρ ἐστι πολέμου

140. He also said, ‘The first time flee; the second time, flee; and the third, become like a sword.’

ρμ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Τὸ πρῶτον φύγε ἅπαξ͵ τὸ δεύτε ρον φύγε͵ τὸ τρίτον͵ γενοῦ ῥομφαῖα

141. Abba Poemen said to Abba Isaac, ‘Let go of a small part of your righteousness and in a few days you will be at peace.’

ρμα. Εἶπε πάλιν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἰσαάκ· Κούφισον μέρος τῆς δικαιοσύνης σου͵ καὶ ἕξεις ἀνά παυσιν τὰς ὀλίγας ἡμέρας σου.

142. A brother came to see Abba Poemen and while several of them were sitting round, he praised a brother for hating evil. Abba Poemen said to the one who had spoken, ‘What does it mean to hate evil?’ The brother was surprised and found nothing to say in reply. Getting up, he made a prostration before the old man, and said, ‘Tell me what hatred of evil is?’ The old man said to him, ‘Hatred of evil is to hate one’s thoughts and to praise one’s neighbour.’

ρμβ. Ἀδελφὸς παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· καὶ συγκαθεζομένων τινῶν͵ ἐπῄνεσέ τινα ἀδελφὸν͵ ὡς ὅτι μισοπόνηρός ἐστι. Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τῷ λαλή σαντι· Καὶ τί ἐστι μισοπονηρία; Ἐξέστη δὲ ὁ ἀδελ φὸς͵ καὶ οὐχ εὗρεν ἀποκριθῆναι· ἀναστὰς δὲ μετενόη σε τῷ γέροντι͵ λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι τί ἐστι μισοπονηρία; Ἔφη ὁ γέρων· Μισοπονηρία αὕτη ἐστὶν͵ εί τις τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ ἐμίσησε͵ καὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐδι καίωσεν.

143. A brother went to see Abba Poemen and said to him, ‘What ought I to do?’ The old man said to him, ‘Go and join one who says “What do I want?” and you will have peace.’

ρμγ. Ἀδελφὸς παραβαλὼν τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ λέ γει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὕπαγε͵ πλησίασον μετὰ τοῦ λέγοντος͵ Τί θέλω ἐγώ; καὶ ἕξεις ἀνάπαυσιν.

144. Abba Joseph related that Abba Isaac said, ‘I was sitting with Abba Poemen one day and I saw him in ecstasy and I was on terms of great freedom of speech with him, I prostrated myself before him and begged him, saying, “Tell me where you were.” He was forced to answer and he said, “My thought was with Saint Mary, the Mother of God, as she wept by the cross of the Saviour. I wish I could always weep like that.” ‘

ρμδ. Διηγήσατο ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ͵ ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ͵ ὅτι Ἐκαθήμην ποτὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα· καὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν ἐν ἐκστάσει γενόμενον· καὶ ἐπειδὴ εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν πολλὴν παῤῥησίαν͵ ἔβαλον αὐτῷ μετάνοιαν͵ καὶ παρεκάλεσα αὐτὸν͵ λέγων· Εἰπέ μοι͵ ποῦ ἦς; Ὁ δὲ ἀναγκασθεὶς εἶπεν· Ὁ ἐμὸς λο γισμὸς͵ ὅπου ἡ ἁγία Μαρία ἡ Θεοτόκος ἕστηκε͵ καὶ ἔκλαιεν ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Σωτῆρος· καὶ ἐγὼ ἤθε λον πάντοτε οὕτως κλαίειν.

145. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What can I do about this weight which is crushing me?’ The old man said to him, ‘In ships, small or large, there are tow-ropes which are lashed round the centre when the wind is unfavourable, to draw the small craft slowly along until God sends the wind. When the sailors notice that darkness is falling, then they throw out anchors so that the vessels may not drift away.’

. ρμε. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω τῷ βάρει τούτῳ τῷ συνέχοντί με; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Τὰ μικρὰ πλοῖα καὶ τὰ μεγάλα ἔχουσι ζώνας͵ ἵνα ἂν μὴ ᾖ εὔφορος ἄνεμος͵ βάλωσι τὸ παρόλκιον καὶ τὰς ζώνας εἰς τὰ στήθη αὐτῶν͵ καὶ κατ΄ ὀλίγον ἕλκωσι τὸ πλοῖον ἕως οὗ ὁ Θεὸς πέμψῃ τὸν ἄνεμον· ἐὰν δὲ μάθωσιν ὅτι ἀνέστη γνόφος͵ τότε δὴ ὁρμῶσι καὶ βάλλουσι πάσσαλον͵ ἵνα μὴ ῥέμβη ται

146. A brother asked Abba Poeman about the harm which he was suffering through his thoughts. The old man said to him, ‘In this matter it is like a man who has fire on his left and a cup of water on his right. If the fire kindles, he must take water from the cup and extinguish it. The fire is the enemy’s seed, and the water is the act of throwing oneself before God.’ 1

ρμϛ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα διὰ τὰς τῶν λογισμῶν ἐπηρείας. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Τοῦτο τὸ πρᾶγμα ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ ἔχοντι πῦρ ἐξ εὐω νύμων͵ καὶ κρατῆρα ὕδατος ἐκ δεξιῶν. Ἐὰν οὖν ἁφθῇ τὸ πῦρ͵ λάβῃ ἐκ τοῦ κρατῆρος τὸ ὕδωρ͵ καὶ σβέσῃ αὐτό. Τὸ πῦρ ἐστιν ὁ σπόρος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ͵ τὸ ῥίψαι ἑαυτὸν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ.

147. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Is it better to speak or to be silent?’ The old man said to him, ‘The man who speaks for God’s sake does well; but he who is silent for God’s sake also does well.’

ρμζ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Βέλτιόν ἐστι τὸ λαλῆσαι ἢ σιωπῆσαι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Ὁ λαλῶν διὰ τὸν Θεὸν καλῶς ποιεῖ͵ καὶ ὁ σιωπῶν διὰ τὸν Θεὸν͵ ὁμοίως.

148. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘How can a man avoid speaking ill of his neighbour?’ The old man said to him, ‘We and our brothers are two images; when a man is watchful about himself, and has to reproach himself, in his heart he thinks his brother better than he; but when he appears to himself to be good, then he thinks his brother evil compared to himself

ρμη. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἐκφυγεῖν τῷ κακῶς εἰπεῖν τῷ πλησίον; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν͵ δύο εἰκόνες ἐσμέν· ἣν δ΄ ἂν ὥραν ὁ ³⁶⁰ ἄνθρωπος ἑαυτῷ προσέχῃ καὶ μέμψηται͵ εὑρίσκεται ἔντιμος παρ΄ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ· ὅτε δὲ ἑαυτῷ φαίνεται καλὸς͵ εὑρίσκει τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ κακὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.

149. A brother asked Abba Poemen about accidie. The old man said to him, ‘Accidie is there every time one begins something, and there is no worse passion, but if a man recognizes it for what it is, he will gain peace.’

ρμθ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα διὰ τὴν ἀκηδίαν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι Ἡ ἀκηδία στήκει ἐπὶ πάσῃ ἀρχῇ͵ καὶ οὐκ ἔστι χεῖρον αὐτῆς πάθος· ἀλλ΄ ἐὰν γνωρίσῃ αὐτὴν ὁ ἄνθρωπος͵ ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν͵ ἀναπαύεται

150. Abba Poemen said, ‘In Abba Pambo we see three bodily activities; abstinence from food until the evening every day, silence, and much manual work.’

ρν. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Τρεῖς σωματικὰς πράξεις ἴδομεν τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβώ· ἀσιτίαν ἕως ὀψὲ καθ΄ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν͵ καὶ σιωπὴν͵ καὶ μέγα ἐργό χειρον.

151. He said that Abba Theonas said, ‘Even if a man acquires a virtue, God does not grant him grace for himself alone.’ He knew that he was not faithful in his own labour, but that if he went to his companion, God would be with him.

ρνα. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεωνᾶς͵ ὅτι Κἂν κερδήσῃ τις ἀρετὴν͵ ὁ Θεὸς οὐ παρέχει μόνῳ αὐτῷ τὴν χάριν· οἶδε γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ ἦν πιστὸς τοῦ ἰδίου καμάτου· ἀλλ΄ ἐὰν ἀπέλθῃ πρὸς τὸν ἑταῖρον αὐτοῦ͵ τότε παραμένει αὐτῷ.

152. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘I want to go to the monastery, and dwell there.’ The old man said to him, If you want to go the the monastery, you must be careful about every encounter and everything you do, or you will not be able to do the work of the monastery; for you will not have the right even to drink a single cup there.’

ρνβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Θέλω εἰς κοινόβιον εἰσελθεῖν͵ καὶ οἰκῆσαι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ θέλεις εἰς κοινόβιον εἰσελθεῖν͵ εἰ μὴ ἀμεριμνήσῃς ἀπὸ πάσης συντυχίας καὶ παντὸς πράγματος͵ οὐ δύνασαι κοινόβιον ἐργάσασθαι· τοῦ γὰρ βαυκαλίου μόνου μόνον οὐκ ἔχεις ἐξουσίαν.

153. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘What ought I to do?’ He said, ‘It is written, “I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.”‘(Ps. 38.18)

ρνγ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω; Καὶ εἶπεν· Γέγραπται͵ ὅτι Τὴν ἀνο μίαν μου ἐγὼ ἀναγγελῶ͵ καὶ μεριμνήσω ὑπὲρ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου.

154. Abba Poemen said, ‘Fornication and slander, are two thoughts that should never be talked about or pondered in the heart; for if you want to understand them in the heart, it does no good: but if you fight shy of them, you will obtain peace.’

ρνδ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Τῆς πορνείας καὶ τῆς καταλαλιᾶς οὐ δέον ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπον τὸ σύνολον οὐδὲ λαλῆσαι τοὺς δύο λογισμοὺς τούτους͵ οὐδὲ ὅλως ἐν νοῆσαι τῇ καρδίᾳ. Ἐάν τε γὰρ θέλῃ ὅλως διακρῖναι αὐτὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ͵ οὐκ ὠφελεῖται· ἀλλ΄ ἀγριανθεὶς ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν ἕξει ἀνάπαυσιν.

155. Abba Poemen’s brethren said to him, ‘Let us leave this place, for the monasteries here worry us and we are losing our souls; even Poemen (called the Shepherd) [189 the little children who cry do not let us have interior peace.’ Abba Poemen said to them, ‘Is it because of voices of angels that you wish to go away from here?’

ρνε. Ἔλεγον οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος αὐτῷ· Ἀπέλθωμεν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου τούτου· ὀχλοῦσι γὰρ τὰ μοναστήρια τοῦ τόπου τούτου ἡμῖν͵ καὶ ἀπόλλυμεν τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν· ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ παιδία κλαίοντα οὐκ ἀφίουσιν ἡμᾶς ἡσυχάσαι. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποι μήν· Διὰ τὰς φωνὰς τῶν ἀγγέλων θέλετε ἀναχωρῆ σαι ἔνθεν

156. Abba Bitimius asked Abba Poemen, ‘If someone has a grievance against me, and I ask his pardon but cannot convince him, what is to be done?’ The old man said to him, ‘Take two other brothers with you and ask his pardon. If he is not satisfied, take five others. If he is still not satisfied by them, take a priest. If even so he is not satisfied, then pray to God without anxiety, that he may himself satisfy him and do not worry about it.’

ρν. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Βιτίμιος τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποι μένα͵ λέγων· Ἐάν τις ἔχῃ πρὸς ἐμὲ λύπην͵ καὶ με τανοήσω αὐτῷ͵ καὶ μὴ πεισθῇ͵ τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Λάβε μετὰ σοῦ ἄλλους δύο ἀδελφοὺς͵ καὶ μετανόησον αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πεισθῇ͵ λάβε ἄλ λους πέντε. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τούτοις μὴ πεισθῇ͵ λάβε πρεσβύτερον. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ οὕτως μὴ πεισθῇ͵ ἀταρά χως λοιπὸν εὖξαι τῷ Θεῷ͵ ἵνα αὐτὸς πληροφορήσῃ αὐτὸν͵ καὶ ἀμεριμνήσῃς.

157. Abba Poemen said, ‘To instruct your neighbour is the same thing as reproving him.’

ρνζ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι Τὸ διδάξαι τὸν πλη σίον͵ ὅμοιόν ἐστι τοῦ ἐλέγξαι.

158. He also said, ‘Do not do your own will; you need rather to humble yourself before your brother.’

ρνη. Εἶπε πάλιν· Μὴ πληρώσῃς τὸ θέλημά σου. ³⁶¹ Ἀναγκαῖον δέ ἐστι μᾶλλον ταπεινῶσαι ἑαυτὸν τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου.

159. A brother questioned Abba Poemen saying, ‘I have found a place where peace is not disturbed by the brethren; do you advise me to live there?’ The old man said to him, ‘The place for you is where you will not harm your brother.’

ρνθ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Εὗρον τόπον ἔχοντα πᾶσαν ἀνάπαυσιν τῶν ἀδελφῶν· Θέλεις οἰκήσω ἐκεῖ; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ὅπου οὐ βλάπτεις τὸν ἀδελφόν σου͵ ἐκεῖ μεῖνον

160. Abba Poemen said, ‘These three things are the most helpful of all: fear of the Lord; prayer; and doing good to one’s neighbour.’

ρξ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Τὰ τρία ταῦτα κεφά λαιά ἐστι χρήσιμα· τὸ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Κύριον͵ καὶ τὸ εὔξασθαι͵ καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι ἀγαθὸν τῷ πλησίον.

161. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘My body is getting sick, and yet my passions are not getting weaker.’ The old man said to him, ‘The passions are like thorns.’

ρξα. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· Τὸ σῶμά μου ἐξησθένησε͵ καὶ τὰ πάθη μου οὐκ ἐξασθενοῦσι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἀκανθώδεις ῥουσίδες εἰσὶ τὰ πάθη.

162. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What ought I to do?’ The old man said to him, ‘When God is watching over us, what have we got to worry about?’ The brother said to him, ‘Our sins.’ Then the old man said, ‘Let us enter into our cell, and sitting there, remember our sins, and the Lord will come and help us in everything.’

ρξβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Τί ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὅταν ὁ Θεὸς ἐπισκέπτηται ἡμᾶς͵ τίνος ἔχομεν φροντίσαι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν. Λέγει οὖν ὁ γέρων· Εἰσέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ κελλίον ἡμῶν͵ καὶ καθ ίσαντες μνημονεύσωμεν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν͵ καὶ ὁ Κύριος συνέρχεται ἡμῖν ἐν πᾶσι.

163. A brother going to market asked Abba Poemen, ‘How do you advise me to behave?’ The old man said to him, ‘Make friends with anyone who tries to bully you and sell your produce in peace.’

ρξγ. Ἀδελφὸς ὑπάγων εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα· Τί θέλεις ποιήσω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Γενοῦ φίλος τοῦ ἑαυτὸν βιαζομένου͵ καὶ μετὰ ἀναπαύσεως πωλεῖς τὰ σκεύη σου.

164. Abba Poemen said, ‘Teach your mouth to say what is in your heart.’ 1

ρξδ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Δίδαξον τὸ στόμα σου λαλεῖν ἃ ἔχει ἡ καρδία σου.

165. Abba Poemen was asked about impurities and he replied, ‘If we are active and very watchful, we shall not find impurities in ourselves.’

ρξε. Ἠρωτήθη ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν περὶ μολυσμῶν· καὶ ἀπεκρίθη͵ ὅτι Ἐὰν στήσωμεν τὸ πρακτικὸν͵ καὶ νήψωμεν ἐπιμελῶς͵ οὐχ εὑρήσομεν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς μολυσμόν

166. Abba Poemen said, ‘Since Abba Moses and the third generation in Scetis, the brothers do not make progress any more.’

ρξ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι ἀπὸ τρίτης γενεᾶς τῆς Σκήτεως͵ καὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Μωϋσέως͵ οὐκ ἦλθον ἔτι οἱ ἀδελφοὶ εἰς προκοπήν.

167. He also said, A man who stays in his place in life will not be troubled.’

ρξζ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὴν τάξιν αὐτοῦ φυλάττῃ͵ οὐ ταράσσεται.

168. A brother asked Abba Poemen, “How should I live in the cell?’ He said to him, ‘Living in your cell clearly means manual work, eating only once a day, silence, meditation; but really making progress in the cell, means to experience contempt for yourself wherever you go, not to neglect the hours of prayer and to pray secretly. If you happen to have time without manual work, take up prayer and do it without disquiet. The perfection of these things is to live in good company and be free from bad.’

ρξη. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων· Πῶς δεῖ με καθίσαι ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ; Λέγει αὐτῷ· Τὸ ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ καθίσαι͵ τὸ φανερὸν͵ τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ ἐργόχειρον͵ καὶ τὸ μονοσιτίσαι͵ καὶ τὸ σιωπᾷν͵ καὶ ἡ μελέτη· τὸ δὲ ἐν κρυπτῷ προκόπτειν εἰς τὸ κελλίον ἐστὶ͵ τὸ βασανίζειν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ μέμψιν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ͵ καὶ τῶν συνάξεων τὰς ὥρας καὶ τῶν κρυπτῶν μὴ ἀμελεῖν. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ συμβῇ καιρὸν ἀργῆσαι τοῦ ἐργοχείρου σου͵ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν σύναξιν ἀταράχως ἐπιτέλεσον. Τὸ δὲ τέλος τού των͵ συνοδίαν καλὴν κτῆσαι͵ ἀπόσχου δὲ ἀπὸ κακῆς συνοδίας. ³⁶⁴

169. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘If a brother has a little money which belongs to me, do you advise me to ask him for it?’ The old man said to him, Ask him for it once.’ The brother said to him, And then what should I do? For I cannot control my thoughts.’ The old man said to him, ‘Be quiet and do not think about it. But do not distress your brother.’

ρξθ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα· Ἐὰν ἀδελφὸς ἔχῃ μου μικρὰ νουμία͵ θέλεις αὐτὸν ἐρωτή σω; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἐρώτησον αὐτὸν ἅπαξ. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Τί οὖν ποιήσω; οὐ γὰρ περι γίνομαι τοῦ λογισμοῦ μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ἄφες τὸν λογισμόν σου λακκᾷν͵ μόνον τὸν ἀδελ φόν σου μὴ θλίψῃς

170. It happened that several Fathers went to the home of a friend of Christ; among them was Abba Poemen. During the meal, meat was served and everyone ate some except Abba Poemen. The old men knew his discretion and they were surprised that he did not eat it. When they got up, they said to him, ‘You are Poemen, and yet you behaved like this?’ The old man answered, ‘Forgive me, my Fathers; you have eaten and no-one is shocked; but if I had eaten, since many brothers come to me, they would have suffered harm, for they would have said Poemen has eaten meat; why should not we eat it ourselves?’ So they admired his discernment.

ρο. Συνέβη τινὰς τῶν Πατέρων παραβαλεῖν εἰς οἰκίαν φιλοχρίστου τινὸς͵ ἐν οἷς ἦν καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποι μήν· καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐσθίειν αὐτοὺς͵ παρετέθη κρέα· ἔφαγον δὲ πάντες χωρὶς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος· καὶ ἐθαύ μαζον οἱ γέροντες ὅτι οὐκ ἤσθιεν͵ εἰδότες τὴν διά κρισιν αὐτοῦ. Ὡς δὲ ἀνέστησαν͵ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Σὺ εἶ Ποιμὴν͵ καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησας; Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς γέρων· Συγχωρήσατέ μοι͵ Πατέρες· ὑμεῖς ἐφάγετε͵ καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐσκανδαλίσθη· ἐγὼ δὲ εἰ ἔφαγον͵ ἐπειδὴ πολλοὶ ἀδελφοὶ ἔρχονται ἔγγιστά μου͵ εἶχον βλαβῆ ναι͵ λέγοντες· Ποιμὴν ἔφαγε κρέα͵ καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐσθίομεν; Καὶ ἐθαύμασαν τὴν διάκρισιν αὐτοῦ. ροα. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐγὼ λέγω͵ ὅτι εἰς τὸν τόπον ὅπου βάλλεται ὁ Σατανᾶς͵ ἐκεῖ βάλλομαι.

171. Abba Poemen said, ‘I say this about myself: I am thrown into the place where Satan is thrown.’

ροβ. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἀνούβ· Ἀπόστρεψον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν ματαιότητα· ἡ γὰρ ἐλευθερία ψυχὰς ἀναιρεῖ.

172. He also said to Abba Anoub, ‘Turn away your eyes lest they behold vanity; (cf. Ps. 11937) for licence causes souls to perish.’ Poemen (called the Shepherd) [191 173. One day when Abba Poemen was sitting down, Paesius fought with his brother till the blood ran from their heads. The old man said absolutely nothing to them. Then Abba Anoub came in and saw them, he said to Abba Poemen, ‘Why have you let the brothers fight without saying anything to them?’ Abba Poemen replied, They are brothers, and they will make it up again.’ Abba Anoub said, ‘What do you mean? You saw them behaving like this, and all you say is they will make it up again?’ Abba Poemen said to him, Try and think that inwardly I was not here to see it.’

ρογ. Ἐμαχήσατό ποτε Παΐζιος μετὰ ἀδελφοῦ αὐ τοῦ͵ καθεζομένου τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ μέχρις αἷμα ἐκ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτῶν καταῤῥυῆναι· καὶ οὐδὲν τὸ σύν ολον ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων. Εἰσῆλθεν οὖν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνούβ· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτοὺς͵ λέγει τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· Διατί ἀφῆκας τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς μαχομένους͵ μηδὲν λα λήσας αὐτοῖς; Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἀδελφοί εἰσι͵ πάλιν εἰρηνεύουσι. Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀνούβ· Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; εἶδες ὅτι οὕτως ἐποίησαν͵ καὶ λέγεις· Πάλιν εἰρηνεύουσι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Θὲς εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου͵ ὅτι οὐκ ἤμην ὧδε ἕσω.

174. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Some brothers live with me; do you want me to be in charge of them?’ The old man said to him, ‘No, just work first and foremost, and if they want to live like you, they will see to it themselves.’ The brother said to him, ‘But it is they themselves, Father who want me to be in charge of them.’ The old man said to him, ‘No, be their example, not their legislator.’

ροδ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἀδελφοὶ οἰκοῦσι μετ΄ ἐμοῦ· θέλεις κελεύσω αὐτοῖς; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Οὐχί· ἀλλὰ ποίησον πρῶτον τὸ ἔργον͵ καὶ ἐὰν θέλωσι ζῇν͵ ἑαυτοῖς βλέπουσι. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Θέλουσι καὶ αὐτοὶ͵ Πάτερ͵ ἵνα κε λεύσω αὐτοῖς. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Μή· ἀλλὰ γενοῦ αὐτοῖς τύπος͵ καὶ μὴ νομοθέτης.

175. Abba Poemen said ‘If a brother comes to visit you and you realise that you have not profited by his visit, search your heart, and discover what you were thinking about before he came, and then you will understand why his visit was useless. If you do this with humility and care, you will be blameless with regard to your neighbour, bearing your own weaknesses. If a man settles somewhere with care, he does not sin for he is in the presence of God. I see that this is how a man acquires the fear of God.’

ροε. Εἶπε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἐὰν παραβάλῃ σοι ἀδελφὸς͵ καὶ ἴδῃς ἑαυτὸν μὴ ὠφελούμενον ἐν τῇ εἰσόδῳ αὐτοῦ͵ ζήτησον ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ σου͵ καὶ μάθε ποῖος ἦν ὁ λογισμὸς ὃν εἶχες πρὸ τῆς εἰσόδου αὐτοῦ· καὶ τότε γνώσῃ τίς ἡ αἰτία τῆς ἀνωφελείας. Ἐὰν δὲ τοῦτο ποιήσῃς μετὰ ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ ἐννοίας͵ ἔσῃ ἄμεμπτος μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου͵ βαστάζων τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ἐλαττώματα. Ἐὰν γὰρ μετὰ εὐλαβείας ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος τὸ κάθισμα αὐτοῦ͵ οὐ μὴ πταίσῃ· ὁ γὰρ Θεὸς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐστιν. Ὡς δὲ ἐγὼ ὁρῶ͵ ἐκ ταύ της τῆς καθέδρας κτᾶται ἄνθρωπος τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ. ³⁶⁵

176. He also said, A man who lives with a boy, and is incited by him to no matter what passions of the old man, and yet keeps him with him, that man is like someone who has a field which is eaten up with maggots.’

ρο. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἄνθρωπος ἔχων παιδίον συνοι κοῦν͵ καὶ ἐνεργούμενος εἰς αὐτὸ εἰς οἷον δ΄ ἂν πάθος τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου͵ καὶ πάλιν κατέχει αὐτὸ μεθ΄ ἑαυτοῦ͵ ὅμοιός ἐστιν ὁ τοιοῦτος ἀνθρώπῳ ἔχοντι ἀγρὸν ὑπὸ σκωλήκων βιβρωσκόμενον.

177. He also said, ‘Wickedness does not do away with wickedness; but if someone does you wrong, do good to him, so that by your action you destroy his wickedness.’

ροζ. Εἶπε πάλιν· Ἡ πονηρία τὴν πονηρίαν οὐδα μῶς ἀναιρεῖ· ἀλλ΄ ἐάν τίς σε κακοποιήσῃ͵ εὐποίησον αὐτῷ͵ ἵνα διὰ τῆς ἀγαθοποιίας ἀνέλῃς τὴν πονηρίαν.

178. He also said, ‘David, when he was fighting with the lion, seized it by the throat and killed it immediately. If we take ourselves by the throat and by the belly, with the help of God, we shall overcome the invisible lion.’

ροη. Εἶπε πάλιν͵ ὅτι Δαβὶδ ὅτε μετὰ τοῦ λέοντος συνέβαλε͵ τοῦ λαρυγγίου αὐτοῦ κατέσχεν αὐτὸν͵ καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτόν. Ἐὰν οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς κατά σχωμεν τοῦ λαρυγγίου καὶ τῆς κοιλίας ἑαυτῶν͵ νι κῶμεν διὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν ἀόρατον λέοντα.

179. A brother asked Abba Poemen this question, ‘What shall I do, because trouble comes to me and I am overwhelmed by it?’ The 1 old man said, ‘Violence makes both small and great to be overthrown.’

ροθ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Τί ποιήσω͵ ὅτι ἔρχεταί μοι θλῖψις͵ καὶ κινοῦμαι; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων͵ ὅτι ἡ βία ποιεῖ καὶ τοὺς μικροὺς καὶ τοὺς μεγάλους κινηθῆναι

180. It was said of Abba Poemen that he dwelt at Scetis with his two brothers, and the younger one was a nuisance to them. So he said to the other brother, ‘This lad is making us powerless, let us get up and go away from here.’ So they went away and left him. When he saw that they did not come back for a long time, the young brother realized that they were going far away and he began to run after them, crying out. Abba Poemen said, ‘Let us wait for our brother, for he is worn out.’ When he reached them he bowed to them and said, ‘Where are you going? Are you leaving me on my own?’ The old man said to him, ‘It is because you are a worry to us that we are going away.’ He said to them, ‘Yes, yes, let us go together wherever you wish.’ The old man, seeing his lack of malice, said to his brother, ‘Brother, let us go back, for he is not doing this on purpose but it is the devil who is doing it.’ So they turned back and went home again.

ρπ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὅτι ἐκάθητο εἰς Σκῆτιν μετὰ δύο ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὁ μικρότερος ἔθλιβεν αὐτούς. Καὶ λέγει τῷ ἄλλῳ ἀδελφῷ· Παρα λύει ἡμᾶς ὁ μικρότερος οὗτος· ἐγείρου͵ ἄγωμεν ἔν θεν. Καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἀφῆκαν αὐτόν. Ὡς οὖν εἶδεν ὅτι ἐχρόνισαν͵ εἶδεν αὐτοὺς μακρὰν ἀπέχοντας͵ καὶ ἤρ ξατο τρέχειν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν͵ κράζων. Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Μείνωμεν τὸν ἀδελφὸν͵ ὅτι κοπιᾷ. Ὡς οὖν ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτοὺς͵ ἔβαλε μετάνοιαν͵ λέγων· Ποῦ ὑπάγετε͵ καὶ ἀφίετέ με μόνον; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὅτι θλί βεις ἡμᾶς͵ διὰ τοῦτο ἡμεῖς ἀναχωροῦμεν. Λέγει αὐ τοῖς· Ναὶ͵ ναὶ͵ ὅπου θέλετε͵ ἄγωμεν ὁμοῦ. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ γέρων τὴν ἀκακίαν αὐτοῦ͵ λέγει τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ· Ἀναστρέψωμεν͵ ἀδελφέ· οὐ γὰρ θέλων ταῦτα ποιεῖ͵ ἀλλ΄ ὁ διάβολός ἐστιν ὁ ταῦτα ποιῶν αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἀναστρέψαντες ἦλθον εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν.

181. The begumen of a monastery asked Abba Poemen, ‘How can I acquire the fear of God?’ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘How can we acquire the fear of God when our belly is full of cheese and preserved foods?’

ρπα. Ἠρώτησεν ἡγούμενος κοινοβίου τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Πῶς δύναμαι κτήσασθαι τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Πῶς δυνάμεθα κτήσασθαι φόβον Θεοῦ͵ ἕσωθεν ἔχοντες γα στρία τυρίων͵ καὶ κεράμια ταρίχων;

182. A brother asked Abba Poemen, Abba, there were two men, one a monk and the other a secular. One evening the monk decided to put off the habit the next morning and the secular decided to become a monk. Now both of them died in the night. How will they be judged?’ The old man said to him, ‘The monk died a monk, the secular died a secular; in fact they died in the state in which they found themselves.’

ρπβ. Ἀδελφὸς ἠρώτησε τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέγων· Ἀββᾶ͵ δύο ἄνθρωποι ἦσαν͵ εἷς μοναχὸς καὶ εἷς κο σμικός. Ὁ μοναχὸς ἐλογίσατο ὀψὲ ἵνα τὸ πρωῒ ῥίψῃ τὸ σχῆμα͵ καὶ ὁ κοσμικὸς ἐλογίσατο ἵνα γένηται μοναχός· ἀμφότεροι δὲ ἀπέθανον τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ· τί ἄρα λογίζεται αὐτοῖς; Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ γέρων· Ὁ μοναχὸς ἀπέθανε μοναχὸς͵ καὶ ὁ κοσμικὸς ἀπέθανε κοσμικός· ἐν ᾧ γὰρ εὑρέθησαν͵ ἀπῆλθον.

183. Abba John, who had been exiled by the Emperor Marcian, said, ‘We went to Syria one day to see Abba Poemen and we wanted to ask him about purity of heart. But the old man did not know Greek and no interpreter could be found. So, seeing our embarrassment, the old man began to speak Greek, saying, ‘The nature of water is soft, that of stone is hard; but if a bottle is hung above the stone, allowing the water to fall drop by drop, it wears away the stone. So it is with the word of God; it is soft and our heart is hard, but the man who hears the word of God often, opens his heart to the fear of God.’

ρπγ. Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης͵ ὅτι Παρεβάλο μέν ποτε ἀπὸ Συρίας τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι͵ καὶ ἠθέλομεν αὐτὸν ἐρωτῆσαι περὶ τῆς σκληρότητος τῆς καρδίας· ὁ δὲ γέρων οὐκ ᾔδει Ἑλληνιστὶ͵ οὐδὲ ὁ ἑρμηνεὺς εὐ καίρησεν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ἡμᾶς θλιβομένους ὁ γέρων͵ ³⁶⁸ ἤρξατο λαλεῖν τῇ Ἑλληνίδι φωνῇ͵ λέγων· Ἡ φύσις τοῦ ὕδατος ἁπαλή ἐστιν͵ ἡ δὲ τοῦ λίθου σκληρά· τὸ δὲ βαυκάλιον ἐπάνω κρεμάμενον τοῦ λίθου͵ στάζον στάζον τιτρᾷ τὸν λίθον. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἁπαλός ἐστιν͵ ἡ δὲ καρδία ἡμῶν σκληρά· ἀκούων δὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος πολλάκις τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ ἀνοίγεται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ τοῦ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεόν.

184. Abba Isaac came to see Abba Poemen and found him washing his feet. As he enjoyed freedom of speech with him he said, ‘How is it that others practice austerity and treat their bodies hardly?’ Abba Poemen said to him, ‘We have not been taught to kill our bodies, but to kill our passions.’

ρπδ. Παρέβαλεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰσαὰκ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμένι· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν βάλλοντα μικρὸν ὕδωρ εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς ἔχων πρὸς αὐτὸν παῤῥησίαν͵ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Πῶς τινες ἐχρήσαντο τῇ ἀποτομίᾳ͵ σκληραγωγή σαντες τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν· Ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐδιδάχθημεν σωματοκτόνοι͵ ἀλλὰ παθοκτόνοι.

185. He also said, ‘There are three things which I am not able to do without: food, clothing and sleep; but I can restrict them to some extent.’

ρπε. Εἶπεν πάλιν· Τὰ τραύματα οὐ δύναμαι κό ψαι͵ τὴν βρῶσιν͵ τὸ ἔνδυμα͵ καὶ τὸν ὕπνον· ἀλλ΄ ἐκ μέρους δυνάμεθα κόψαι

186. A brother said to Abba Poemen, ‘I eat a lot of vegetables.’ The old man said, ‘That does not help you; rather eat bread and a few vegetables, and do not go back to your relations for what you need.’

ρπ. Ἠρώτησεν ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ποιμένα͵ λέ γων͵ ὅτι Πολλὰ λάχανα ἐσθίω. Ἔφη ὁ γέρων· Οὐ συμ φέρει σοι· ἀλλὰ φάγε τὸν ἄρτον σου͵ καὶ μικρὰ λά χανα͵ καὶ μὴ ἀπέλθῃς εἰς τὰ πατρικά σου ἕνεκεν χρειῶν.

187. It was said of Abba Poemen that if some old men were sitting with him, speaking of the ancients, and Abba Sisoes was mentioned, he would say, ‘Keep silence about Abba Sisoes, for that which concerns him goes beyond what can be said.’

ρπζ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ποιμένος͵ ὅτι εἰ ἐκάθ ηντό τινες γέροντες ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ἐλάλουν περὶ γερόντων͵ καὶ εἰ ὠνόμαζον τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην͵ ἔλεγεν· Ἄφετε τὰ περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Σισόη· οὐ γὰρ ἔρ χεται εἰς μέτρον διηγήματος τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ.

188. He also said, ‘Teach your heart to guard that which your tongue teaches.’

189. A brother questioned Abba Poemen, saying, ‘I am losing my soul through living near my abba; should I go on living with him?’ The old man knew that he was finding this harmful and he was surprised that he even asked if he should stay there. So he said to him, ‘Stay if you want to.’ The brother left him and stayed on there. He came back again and said, ‘I am losing my soul.’ But the old man did not tell him to leave. He came a third time and said, ‘I really cannot stay there any longer.’ Then Abba Poemen said, ‘Now you are saving yourself; go away and do not stay with him any longer,’ and he added, ‘When someone sees that he is in danger of losing his soul, he does not need to ask advice. It is right to ask about secret thoughts and then it is up to the old man to test them; but with visible faults, do not ask; cut them off at once.’

190. Abba Poemen said that Abba Paphnutius was great and he had recourse to short prayers. 1 191. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘How should I behave in the place where I live?’ The old man said, ‘Have the mentality of an exile in the place where you live, do not desire to be listened to and you will have peace.’

192. He also said, ‘This voice cries out to a man to his last breath, “Be converted today.’“

193. He also said, ‘David wrote to Joab, “Continue the battle and you will take the city and sack it.” Now the city is the enemy.’

194. He also said, ‘Joab said to the people, “Be courageous and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God.” (I Chron. 1913) Now we ourselves are these men.’

195. He also said, If Moses had not led his sheep to Midian he would not have seem him who was in the bush.’ (cf. Exodus 3. 2-7)

196. A brother came to Abba Poemen and asked, ‘How did you come here?’ and he told him, If I were to die in Scetis with my brothers, I would be willing, and here we are.’

197. He also said, If a man understands something and does not practise it, how can he teach it to his neighbour?’

198. He also said, A man who lives with a companion ought to be like a stone pillar; hurt him, and he does not get angry, praise him, and he is not puffed up.’

199. He also said, A man knows nothing about the powers that are outside him; but if they enter into him, he must fight them and drive them out.’

200. He also said, ‘Not understanding what has happened prevents us from going on to something better.’

201. He also said, ‘Do not lay open your conscience to anyone whom you do not trust in your heart.’

202. Abba Poemen said, If I am in a place where there are enemies, I become a soldier.’

203. Abba Poemen heard of someone who had gone all week without eating and then had lost his temper. The old man said, ‘He could do without food for six days, but he could not cast out anger.’

Abba Poemen said, ‘I will tell you why we have so much difficulty; it is because we do not care about our brother whom Scripture tells us to receive. Moreover we do not remember the woman of Canaan (cf. Matt. 15.22) who followed the Lord crying and begging for her daughter to be cured, and the Lord heard her and gave her peace.’

205. Abba Poemen said, ‘If the soul keeps far away from all discourse in words, from all disorder and human disturbance, the Spirit of God will come in to her and she who was barren will be fruitful.’

206. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘How should those who are in the monastery behave?’ The old man said to him, ‘Whoever fives in the monastery should see all the brethren as one; he should guard his eyes and his lips; and then he will be at peace without anxiety.’

207. Abba Poemen said this about the son of Shemai, ‘His mistake was to justify Wmself; whoever does that destroys himself.’

208. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘What can I do about my sins?’ and the old man said to him, ‘Weep interiorly, for both deliverance from faults and the acquisition of virtues are gained through compunction.’

209. He also said,’ Weeping is the way that Scripture and our Fathers have handed on to us.’*

PAMBO 16_02

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβώ

Pambo, born about A. D. 303, was one of the first to join Amoun in Nitria. He was an Egyptian and illiterate, until taught the Scriptures as a monk and ordained priest, in 340. He was invited by Bishop Athanasius to go to Alexandria. With Macarius and Isidore he was counted by Jerome as one of the masters of the desert. Melania met him when she visited Egypt. He died about A.D. 373.

1. There was a monk named Pambo and they said of him that he spent three years saying to God, ‘Do not glorify me on earth.’ But God glorified him so that one could not gaze steadfastly at him because of the glory of his countenance.

α. ῏Ην τις λεγόμενος ἀββᾶς Παμβὼ͵ καὶ περὶ τού τοῦ λέγεται͵ ὅτι τρία ἔτη ἔμεινεν αἰτούμενος τὸν Θεὸν͵ καὶ λέγων· Μὴ δοξάσῃς με ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὕτως ἐδόξασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Θεὸς͵ ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαί τινα ἀτενίσαι εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ͵ ἐκ τῆς δόξης ἧς εἶ χεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ

2. Two brethren came to see Abba Pambo one day and the first asked him, ‘Abba, I fast for two days, then I eat two loaves; am I saving my soul, or am I going the wrong way?’ The second said, Abba, every day I get two pence from my manual work, and I keep a little for my food and give the rest in alms; shall I be saved or shall I be lost?’ They remained a long time questioning him and still the old man gave them no reply. After four days they had to leave and the priests comforted them saying, ‘Do not be troubled, brothers. God gives the reward. It is the old man’s custom not to speak readily till God inspires him.’ So they went to see the old man and said to him, Abba, pray for us.’ He said to them, ‘Do you want to go away?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ Then, giving his mind to their works and writing on the ground he said, ‘If Pambo fasted for two days together and ate two loaves, would he become a monk that way? No. And if Pambo works to get two pence and gives them in alms, would he become a monk that way? No, not that way either.’ He said to them, ‘The works are good, but if you guard your conscience towards your neighbour, then you will be saved.’ They were satisfied and went away joyfully.

β. ῏Ηλθόν ποτε ἀδελφοὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμ βὼ͵ καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ εἷς͵ λέγων· Ἀββᾶ͵ ἐγὼ δύο δύο νηστεύω͵ καὶ ζεῦγος ψωμίων ἐσθίω· ἆρα σώζω τὴν ψυχήν μου͵ ἢ πλανῶμαι; Εἶπεν δὲ καὶ ἄλ λος· Ἀββᾶ͵ ἐγὼ καταλύω ἐκ τοῦ ἐργοχείρου μου δύο κεράτια καθ΄ ἡμέραν͵ καὶ κρατῶ μικρὰ διὰ τὴν τρο φὴν͵ τὰ δὲ ἄλλα εἰς ἀγάπην δίδωμι· ἆρα σώζομαι ἢ ἀπόλωμαι; Πολλὰ δὲ παρακαλούντων αὐτῶν͵ οὐκ ἔδω κεν ἀπόκρισιν. Μετὰ δὲ τέσσαρας ἡμέρας ἔχουσιν ἀναχωρῆσαι͵ καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτοὺς οἱ κληρικοὶ͵ λέ γοντες· Μὴ θλίβητε͵ ἀδελφοί· ὁ Θεὸς παρέχει ὑμῖν τὸν μισθόν· οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ συνήθεια τοῦ γέροντος· οὐ ταχέως λαλεῖ͵ ἐὰν μὴ πληροφορήσῃ αὐτὸν ὁ Θεός. Εἰσῆλθον οὖν πρὸς τὸν γέροντα͵ καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· Ἀββᾶ͵ εὖξαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν. Λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἀπελθεῖν θέλετε; Λέγουσι· Ναί. Καὶ ἀναλαβὼν τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν ἐν ἑαυτῷ͵ γράφων ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν͵ ἕλεγεν· Παμ βὼ δύο δύο νηστεύων͵ καὶ ζεῦγος ἐσθίων ψωμίων· ³⁶⁹ ἆρα ἐν τούτῳ γίνεται μοναχός; Οὐχί. Καὶ Παμβὼ ἐργάζεται δύο κερατίων͵ καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτὰ ἀγάπην· ἆρα ἐν τούτῳ γίνεται μοναχός; οὔπω. Εἶπεν δὲ καὶ αὐτοῖς· Καλαὶ μὲν αἱ πράξεις· ἐὰν δὲ φυλάξῃς τὴν συνείδησιν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλησίον σου͵ οὕτως σώζῃ. Καὶ πληροφορηθέντες ἀπῆλθον μετὰ χαρᾶς

3. Four monks of Scetis, clothed in skins, came one day to see the great Pambo. Each one revealed the virtue of his neighbour. The first fasted a great deal; the second was poor; the third had acquired great charity; and they said of the fourth that he had lived for twenty-two years in obedience to an old man. Abba Pambo said to them, ‘I tell you, the virtue of this last one is the greatest. Each of the others has obtained the virtue he wished to acquire; but the last one, restraining his own will, does the will of another. Now it is of such men that the martyrs are made, if they persevere to the end.’

γ. Παρέβαλόν ποτε τέσσαρες Σκητιῶται τῷ μεγά λῳ Παμβὼ͵ φοροῦντες δέρματα͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν ἕκα στος τὴν ἀρετὴν τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ. Ὁ μὲν εἷς ἐνή στευεν πολλά· ὁ δεύτερος ἀκτήμων ἦν· καὶ ὁ τρίτος ἐκτήσατο πολλὴν ἀγάπην· λέγουσι καὶ περὶ τοῦ τετάρτου͵ ὅτι εἴκοσι δύο ἔτη ἔχει ἐν ὑπακοῇ γέροντος. Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβώ· Λέγω ὑμῖν͵ ἡ ἀρετὴ τούτου μείζων ἐστίν. Ἕκαστος γὰρ ὑμῶν ἣν ἀρετὴν ἐκτήσατο͵ θελήματι αὐτοῦ ἐκράτησεν· οὗτος δὲ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ κόψας͵ ἄλλου ποιεῖ θέλημα. Τοι οῦτοι γὰρ ἄνδρες͵ ὁμολογηταί εἰσιν͵ ἐὰν εἰς τὸ τέλος φυλάξωσιν

4. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, of holy memory, begged Abba Pambo to come down from the desert to Alexandria. He went down, and seeing an actress he began to weep. Those who were present asked him the reason for his tears, and he said, ‘Two things make me weep: one, the loss of this woman; and the other, that I am not so concerned to please God as she is to please wicked men.’

δ. Ὁσίας μνήμης Ἀθανάσιος ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀλεξανδρείας παρεκάλεσεν τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ κατελθεῖν ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν. Κατελθὼν δὲ͵ καὶ ἰδὼν ἐκεῖ γυναῖκα θεατρικὴν͵ σύν δακρυς ἐγένετο. Τῶν δὲ συνόντων πυθομένων͵ διατί ἐδάκρυσεν· Δύο με͵ ἔφη͵ κεκίνηκεν· ἓν μὲν͵ ἡ ἐκείνης ἀπώλεια· ἕτερον δὲ͵ ὅτι οὐ τοιαύτην σπουδὴν ἔχω πρὸς τὸ ἀρέσαι τῷ Θεῷ͵ ὅσον αὕτη ἵνα ἀρέσῃ ἀνθρώ ποις αἰσχροῖς

5. Abba Pambo said, ‘By the grace of God, since I left the world, I have not said one word of which I repented afterwards.’

ε. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβὼ͵ ὅτι Διὰ τὸν Θεὸν͵ ἀφ΄ οὗ ἀπεταξάμην͵ οὐ μετεμελήθην ἐπὶ λόγῳ ᾧ ἐλάλησα. .

6. He also said, ‘The monk should wear a garment of such a kind that he could throw it out of his cell and no-one would steal it from him for three days.’

ϛ. Εἶπεν πάλιν͵ ὅτι τοιοῦτον ὁ μοναχὸς ὀφείλει φορεῖν ἱμάτιον͵ ὥστε βάλλειν αὐτὸ ἔξω τοῦ κελλίου αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας͵ καὶ μηδεὶς λάβῃ αὐτό

7. Once it happened that Abba Pambo made the journey to Egypt with some brothers. Meeting some lay people who were sitting down, he said to them, ‘Stand up, greet the monks, so that you may be blessed, for they speak with God without interruption and their lips are holy.’

ζ. Ἐγένετό ποτε τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβὼ ὁδεύειν μετὰ ἀδελφῶν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Αἰγύπτου· καὶ ἰδὼν κοσμι κοὺς καθημένους͵ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἀναστάντες ἀσπά σασθε τοὺς μοναχοὺς ἵνα εὐλογηθῆτε· συνεχῶς γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ λαλοῦσι͵ καὶ τὰ στόματα αὐτῶν ἅγιά ἐστιν

8. They said of Abba Pambo that as he was dying, at the very hour of his death, he said to the holy men who were standing near him, ‘Since I came to this place of the desert and built my cell and dwelt here, I do not remember having eaten bread which was not the fruit of my hands and I have not repented of a word I have said up to the present time; and yet I am going to God as one who has not yet begun to serve him.’

η. Διηγήσαντο περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβὼ͵ ὅτι τελευ τῶν͵ κατ΄ αὐτὴν τὴν ὥραν τοῦ θανάτου͵ εἶπεν τοῖς παρεστῶσιν αὐτῷ ἁγίοις ἀνδράσιν͵ ὅτι Ἀφ΄ οὗ ἦλθον εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον τῆς ἐρήμου͵ καὶ ᾠκοδόμησά μου τὴν κέλλαν͵ καὶ οἴκησα ἐν αὐτῇ͵ ἐκτὸς τῶν χειρῶν μου οὐ μέμνημαι ἄρτον φαγὼν͵ οὐδὲ· μεταμεμέλη μαι ἐπὶ λόγῳ ᾧ ἐλάλησα͵ ἕως τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας. Καὶ οὕτως ἀπέρχομαι πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν͵ ὡς μηδὲ ἀρξάμενος Θεῷ δουλεύειν

9. He was greater than many others in that if he was asked to interpret part of the Scriptures or a spiritual saying, he would not reply immediately, but he would say he did not know that saying. If he was asked again, he would say no more.

θ. Τοῦτο δὲ εἶχεν ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς͵ ὅτι εἰ ἠρωτήθη λόγον γραφικὸν ἢ πνευματικὸν͵ οὐκ ἀπεκρίνατο εὐθὺς͵ ³⁷² ἀλλ΄ ἔλεγεν μὴ εἰδέναι τὸν λόγον· καὶ ἐπ[ερωτηθεὶς] πλεῖον͵ οὐκ ἐδίδου ἀπόκρισιν

10. Abba Pambo said, ‘If you have a heart, you can be saved.’

ι. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβώ· Εἰ ἔχεις καρδίαν δύ νασαι σωθῆναι

11. The priest of Nitria asked him how the brethren ought to live. He replied, ‘With much labour, guarding their consciences towards their neighbour.’

ια. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ πρεσβύτερος τῆς Νιτρείας͵ ὅπως ὀφείλουσιν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ διάγειν. Οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Ἐν με γάλῃ ἀσκήσει͵ καὶ τηροῦντες τὴν συνείδησιν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλησίον

12. They said of Abba Pambo that he was like Moses, who received the image of the glory of Adam when his face shone. His face shone like lightening and he was like a king sitting on his throne. It was the same with Abba Silvanus and Abba Sisoes.

ιβ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβὼ͵ ὅτι ὡς ἔλαβε Μωϋσῆς τὴν εἰκόνα τῆς δόξης Ἀδὰμ͵ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ· οὕτως καὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβὼ ὡς ἀστραπὴ ἔλαμπε τὸ πρόσωπον͵ καὶ ἦν ὡς βασιλεὺς καθήμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ. Τῆς αὐτῆς ἐργασίας ἦν καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Σιλουανὸς͵ καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης

13. They said of Abba Pambo that his face never smiled. So one day, wishing to make him laugh, the demons stuck wing feathers on to a lump of wood and brought it in making an uproar and saying, ‘Go, go.’ When he saw them Abba Pambo began to laugh and the demons started to say in chorus, ‘Ha! ha! Pambo has laughed!’ But in reply he said to them, ‘I have not laughed, but I 1 made fun of your powerlessness, because it takes so many of you to carry a wing.’

ιγ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παμβὼ͵ ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐμειδία τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ. Μιᾶς οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν θέλοντες οἱ δαίμονες ποιῆσαι αὐτὸν γελάσαι͵ ἔδησαν εἰς ξύλον πτερὸν͵ καὶ ἐβάσταζον͵ θόρυβον ποιοῦντες͵ καὶ λέγοντες· Ἀλλὴ͵ ἀλλή. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτοὺς ὁ ἀββᾶς Παμβὼ ἐγέλασεν. Οἱ δὲ δαίμονες ἤρξαντο χορεύειν͵ λέγοντες· Οὐὰ͵ οὐὰ͵ Παμβὼ γεγέλακεν· ὁ δέ ἀποκρι θεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Οὐκ ἐγέλασα͵ ἀλλὰ κατεγέλασα τὴν ἀδυναμίαν ὑμῶν͵ ὅτι τοσοῦτοι τὸ πτερὸν βαστάζετε

14. Abba Theodore of Pherme asked Abba Pambo, ‘Give me a word.’ With much difficulty he said to him, ‘Theodore, go and have pity on all, for through pity, one finds freedom of speech before God.’

ιδ. Ἠρώτησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τῆς Φέρ μης τὸν ἀββᾶν Παμβώ· Εἰπέ μοι ῥῆμα. Καὶ μετὰ πολλοῦ κόπου εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Θεόδωρε͵ ὕπαγε͵ τὸ ἔλεός σου ἔχε ἐπὶ πάντας· τὸ γὰρ ἔλεος εὗρεν παῤῥησίαν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ.

PISTUS 16_03

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πιστοῦ.

1. Abba Pistus related that which follows: ‘We were seven anchorities who went to see Abba Sisoes who lived at Clysma, begging him to give us word. He said to us, “Forgive me, for I am a very simple man. But I have been to Abba Or and to Abba Athre. Abba Or was ill for eighteen years. I made a prostration before him and asked him to give me a word. Abba Or said to me, ‘What shall I say to you? Go, and do what you see is right; God comes to him who reproaches himself and does violence to himself in everything.’ Abba Or and Abba Athre did not come from the same part of the country, yet until they left their bodies, there was great peace between them. Abba Athre’s obedience was great, and great was Abba Or’s humility. I spent several days with them, without leaving them for a moment, and I saw a great wonder that Abba Athre did. Someone brought them a little fish and Abba Athre wanted to cook it for the old man. He was holding the knife in the act of cutting up the fish and Abba Or called him. He left the knife in the middle of the fish and did not cut up the rest of it. I admired his great obedience, for he did not say, ‘Wait till I have cut up the fish.’ I said to Abba Athre, ‘Where did you find such obedience?’ He said to me, ‘It is not mine, but the old man’s.’ He took me with him, saying, ‘Come and see his obedience.’ He took the fish, intentionally cooked some of it badly, and offered it to the old man who ate it without saying anything. Then he said to him, ‘Is it good, old man?’ He replied, ‘It is very good.’ Afterwards he brought him a little that was well cooked and said, ‘Old man, I have spoiled it,’ and he replied, ‘Yes, you have spoiled it a little.’ Then Abba Athre said to me, ‘Do you see how obedience is intrinsic to the old man?’ I came away from there and what I have told you, I have tried to practise as far as I could.’

Διηγήσατο ὁ ἀββᾶς Πιστὸς͵ λέγων͵ ὅτι Ἀπήλθο μεν ἑπτὰ ἀναχωρηταὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Σισόην οἰκοῦν τα ἐν τῷ Κλύσματι͵ παρακαλοῦντες αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν ἡμῖν λόγον. Καὶ εἶπε· Συγχωρήσατέ μοι͵ ἰδιώτης ἄν θρωπός εἰμι· ἀλλὰ παρέβαλον πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶς Ὢρ͵ καὶ τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀθρέ· ἦν δὲ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὢρ͵ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη· καὶ ἔβαλον αὐτοῖς μετάνοιαν͵ εἰ πεῖν μοι λόγον. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὤρ· Τί ἔχω εἰπεῖν σοι; ἄπελθε͵ καὶ ὃ βλέπεις ποίησον. Ὁ Θεὸς ἐκεί νου ἐστὶ͵ τοῦ πλεονεκτοῦντος͵ ἤτοι βιαζομένου ἑαυ τὸν εἰς πάντα. Οὐκ ἦσαν δὲ ἀπὸ μιᾶς ἐνορίας ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὢρ͵ καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀθρέ· ἐγένετο δὲ μεγάλη εἰρήνη μεταξὺ αὐτῶν͵ ἕως ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος. ῏Ην γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ὑπακοὴ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀθρὲ͵ καὶ πολλὴ ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ὤρ. Ἐποίησα δὲ μικρὰς ἡμέρας πρὸς αὐτοὺς͵ ἀνιχνεύων αὐτούς· καὶ εἶδον μέγα θαῦμα ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀθρέ. ῎Ηνεγκεν αὐτοῖς τις μικρὸν ὀψάριον͵ καὶ ἠβουλήθη αὐτὸ ποιῆ σαι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀθρὲ τῷ γέροντι· εἶχε δὲ τὴν μάχαιραν κόπτων τὸ ὀψάριον· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ὤρ· καὶ ἀφῆκε τὴν μάχαιραν μέσον τοῦ ὀψαρίου͵ καὶ οὐκ ἔκοψε τὸ ἐπίλοιπον. Καὶ ἐθαύμασα τὴν μεγάλην ὑπ ακοὴν αὐτοῦ͵ διότι οὐκ εἶπε· Μακροθύμησον ἕως κόψω ³⁷³ τὸ ὀψάριον. Εἶπον δὲ τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἀθρέ· Ποῦ εὗρες τὴν ὑπακοὴν ταύτην; Καὶ εἶπέ μοι· Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὴ͵ ἀλλὰ τοῦ γέροντός ἐστι. Καὶ ἔλαβέ με λέγων· Δεῦρο͵ βλέπε τὴν ὑπακοὴν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἥψησε τὸ ὀψάριον͵ καὶ ἠφά νισεν αὐτὸ θέλων͵ καὶ παρέθηκε τῷ γέροντι. Καὶ ἔφαγε μηδὲν λαλήσας. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Καλόν ἐστι͵ γέρον; Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη· Καλόν ἐστι πάνυ. Μετὰ ταῦτα ἤνεγκεν αὐτῷ μικρὸν καλὸν σφόδρα͵ καὶ εἶπεν· Ἠφά νισα αὐτὸ͵ γέρον. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη͵ λέγων· Ναὶ͵ ἠφάνι σας αὐτὸ μικρόν. Καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀθρέ· Εἶδες ὅτι ἡ ὑπακοὴ τοῦ γέροντός ἐστι; Καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἀπ΄ αὐ τῶν͵ καὶ εἴ τι εἶδον͵ ἐποίησα τὴν δύναμίν μου φυλά ξαι. Ταῦτα εἶπε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης. Εἷς δὲ ἐξ ἡμῶν παρεκάλεσεν αὐτὸν͵ λέγων· Ποίησον ἀγάπην͵ εἰπὲ ἡμῖν καὶ αὐτὸς ἕνα λόγον. Καὶ εἶπεν· Ὁ κατ έχων τὸ ἀψήφιστον ἐν γνώσει͵ ἐπιτελεῖ πᾶσαν τὴν Γραφήν. Πάλιν ἕτερος ἐξ ἡμῶν εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Τί ἐστι ξενιτεία͵ Πάτερ; Καὶ εἶπε· Σιώπα͵ καὶ εἰπέ· Οὐκ ἔχω πρᾶγμα͵ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ· καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ξενιτεία.

PIOR 16_04

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πίωρ

Pior, an early settler in Nitria, lived at first with Anthony the Great. He was a priest, and became a solitary in Scetis.

1. Blessed Pior worked at harvest-time for someone, and he was told to go and get his wages. But he put it off till later and returned to his hermitage. Next year, when the season required it, he went harvesting, worked strenuously and returned to his hermitage without anyone giving him anything. When the third summer was coming to an end and the old man had completed his usual work, he went away without taking any payment. But the master of the harvest, having put his affairs in order, took the wages and went to the monasteries, in search of the saint. Scarcely had he found him than he threw himself at his feet, giving him his due and saying, ‘The Lord gave it to me.’ But Abba Pior only asked him to take the wages to the church to the priest.

α. Ὁ μακάριος Πίωρ ἐργασάμενος εἰς τὸ θέρος παρά τινι͵ ὑπεμίμνησκε λαβεῖν τὸν μισθόν· τοῦ δὲ ὑπερθεμένου͵ εἰς τὴν μονὴν ἐπανῆλθε. Πάλιν τοῦ και ροῦ καλέσαντος͵ θερίσας παρ΄ αὐτῷ͵ καὶ μετὰ προθυ μίας ἐργασάμενος͵ οὐδὲν ἐκείνου παρασχόντος͵ ἐπ ανῆλθεν εἰς τὴν μονὴν αὐτοῦ. Τοῦ δὲ τρίτου συμ πληρωθέντος ἔτους͵ τὴν συνήθη ἐργασίαν τελέσας ὁ γέρων͵ ἀνεχώρησε μηδὲν εἰληφώς. Καὶ τοῦ Κυρίου ἐτάσαντος τὸν ἐκείνου οἶκον͵ ἐπιφερόμενος τὸν μι σθὸν͵ εἰς τὰ μοναστήρια περιῆγε ζητῶν τὸν ἅγιον. Καὶ μόλις εὑρὼν αὐτὸν͵ προσέπεσε τοῖς ποσὶν αὐ τοῦ· καὶ ἀποδιδοὺς ἔφασκεν͵ ὅτι Ἐμοὶ ὁ Κύριος ἀπ έδωκεν. Ὁ δὲ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτῷ παρασχεῖν αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ

2. Abba Pior used to walk a hundred paces while he was eating. Someone asked him why he ate like that, and he said, ‘I do not want to make eating an occupation, but something accessory.’ To another who also asked him the same question, he replied, ‘It is so that my soul should not feel any bodily pleasure in eating.’

β. Ὁ ἀββᾶς Πίωρ περιπατῶν ἤσθιε. Πυθομένου δέ τινος͵ Διατί οὕτως ἐσθίεις; Οὐ βούλομαι͵ ἔφη͵ ὡς ἔργῳ τῷ βρώματι χρήσασθαι͵ ἀλλ΄ ὡς παρέργῳ. Πρὸς ἕτερον δὲ περὶ τούτου ἐρωτήσαντα ἀπεκρίνατο· Ἵνα μηδὲ ἐν τῷ ἐσθίειν͵ φησὶν͵ ἡδονῆς σωματικῆς αἰσθά νηται ἡ ψυχή μου

3. There was at that time a meeting at Scetis about a brother who had sinned. The Fathers spoke, but Abba Pior kept silence. Later, he got up and went out; he took a sack, filled it with sand and carried it on his shoulder. He put a little sand also into a small bag which he carried in front of him. When the Fathers asked him what this meant he said, ‘In this sack which contains much sand, are my sins which are many; I have put them behind me so as not to be troubled about them and so as not to weep; and see here are the little sins of my brother which are in front of me and I spend my time judging them. This is not right, I ought rather to carry my sins in front of me and concern myself with them, begging God to forgive me for them.’ The Fathers stood up and said, ‘Truly, this is the way of salvation.’

γ. Ἐγένετό ποτε συνέδριον ἐν Σκήτει περὶ σφα λέντος ἀδελφοῦ· καὶ ἐλάλουν οἱ Πατέρες· ὁ δὲ ἀββᾶς Πίωρ ἐσιώπα· ὕστερον δὲ ἀναστὰς ἐξῆλθε͵ καὶ λα βὼν σάκκον͵ ἐπλήρωσε ψάμμου͵ καὶ ἐβάστασεν εἰς τὸν ὦμον αὐτοῦ· καὶ λαβὼν εἰς μαλάκιν μικρὸν τῆς ψάμμου͵ ἐβάστασεν ἔμπροσθεν. Ἐπερωτηθεὶς δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν Πατέρων͵ τί ἄν εἴη τοῦτο͵ λέγει· Οὗτος ὁ σάκκος ὁ ἔχων τὴν πολλὴν ψάμμον τὰ ἐμά ἐστι πλημμε λήματα͵ ὅτι πολλά ἐστι· καὶ ἀφῆκα αὐτὰ ὀπίσω μου͵ τοῦ μὴ πονῆσαι περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ κλαῦσαι· καὶ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα τὰ μικρὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου ἔμπροσθέν μού εἰ σι͵ καὶ εἰς αὐτὰ ἀδολεσχῶ κρίνων αὐτόν. Οὐ χρὴ δὲ ³⁷⁶ οὕτως ποιεῖν͵ ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὰ ἐμὰ ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐνεγκεῖν͵ καὶ αὐτῶν φροντίσαι͵ καὶ παρακαλεῖν τὸν Θεὸν συγχωρῆσαί μοι. Καὶ ἀναστάντες οἱ Πατέρες εἶπον· Ὄντως αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς σωτηρίας.

 Aesop 527. JUPITER AND THE TWO SACKS Perry 266 (Phaedrus 4.10)
Jupiter has given us two sacks to carry. One sack, which is filled with our own faults, is slung across our back, while the other sack, heavy with the faults of others, is tied around our necks. This is the reason why we are blind to our own bad habits but still quick to criticize others for their mistakes.
Note: There is a similar saying in Seneca, On Anger 2.28: 'other people's faults are directly in front of our eyes, while our own faults are behind our backs.' In the Greek versions of this fable (e.g., Chambry 303), it is Prometheus, not Zeus, who fashions the sacks.

PITYRION 16_05

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πιτυρίωνος.

1. Abba Pityrion, the disciple of Abba Anthony said, ‘If anyone wants to drive out the demons, he must first subdue the passions; for he will banish the demon of the passion which he has mastered. For example, the devil accompanies anger; so if you control your anger, the devil of anger will be banished. And so it is with each of the passions.’

Ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Πιτυρίων ὁ μαθητὴς τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου͵ ὅτι ὁ βουλόμενος ἀπελαύνει δαίμονας πρότερον τὰ πάθη δουλώσεται· οἵου γὰρ ἂν πάθους περιγένηταί τις͵ τούτου καὶ τὸν δαίμονα ἀπελαύνει. Ἕπεται͵ φησὶ͵ δαίμων τῇ ὀργῇ· ἐὰν τῆς ὀργῆς κρα τήσῃς͵ ἀπελήλαται ταύτης ὁ δαίμων. Ὁμοίως καὶ περὶ ἑκάστου πάθους.

PISTAMON 16_06

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πιστάμωνος.

1. A brother asked Abba Pistamon, ‘What should I do? I get worried when I sell my manual work.’ The old man replied, Abba Sisoes and all the others used to sell their manual work; that is not dangerous in itself. But when you sell it, say the price of each thing just once, then, if you want to lower the price a little, you can do so. In this way you will be at peace.’ The brother then said, ‘If I can get what I need by one means or another, do you still advise me to take the trouble to do manual work?’ The old man replied, ‘Even if you do have what you need by other means, do not give up your manual work. Work as much as you can, only do it without getting worried about it.’

Ἠρώτησέ τις ἀδελφὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Πιστάμωνα͵ λέ γων· Τί ποιήσω͵ ὅτι θλίβομαι εἰς τὸ πωλῆσαι τὸ ἐρ γόχειρόν μου; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ γέρων͵ εἶπεν͵ ὅτι Καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Σισόης καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἐπώλουν τὸ ἐργό χειρον αὐτῶν· τοῦτο οὐκ ἔστι βλάβος· ἀλλ΄ ὅταν πω λῇς͵ εἰπὲ ἅπαξ τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ σκεύους· λοιπὸν ἐὰν θέλῃς μικρὸν ἀφῆσαι τῆς τιμῆς͵ ἐν σοί ἐστιν. Οὕτω ἂν εὑρήσεις ἀνάπαυσιν. Πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀδελφός· Ἐὰν ἔχω τὴν χρείαν μου ὅθεν δήποτε͵ θέλεις ἵνα φροντίσω ἐργόχειρον; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ γέρων εἶπεν· Ἐὰν ἔχῃς ὅσον δήποτε͵ μὴ καταλείψῃς τὸ ἐργόχει ρόν σου· ὅσον δύνασαι ποίησον͵ μόνον μὴ μετὰ ταρα χῆς.

PETER THE PIONITE 16_07

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πέτρου τοῦ Πιονίτου

1. In the Cells they said of Abba Peter the Pionite that he did not drink wine. When he grew old, the brothers prepared a little wine diluted with water for him, and asked him to accept it. But he said, ‘To me that is just as bad as spiced wine.’ He was passing judgement on himself in his comment about this liquid.

α. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πέτρου τοῦ Πιονίτου εἰς τὰ Κελλία͵ ὅτι οἶνον οὐκ ἔπινεν. Ὅτε οὖν ἐγήρα σεν͵ ἐποίουν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ μικρὸν συγκεραστὸν͵ καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ δέξασθαι. Καὶ ἔλεγε· Θαρσεῖτέ μοι͵ ὅτι ὡς κονδίτον αὐτὸ ἔχω. Καὶ ἔκρινεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸ συγκεραστόν

2. A brother said to Abba Peter, the disciple of Abba Lot, ‘When I am in my cell, my soul is at peace, but if a brother comes to see Peter the Pionite me and speaks to me of external things, my soul is disturbed.’ Abba Peter told him that Abba Lot used to say, ‘Your key opens my door.’ The brother said to him, ‘What does that mean?’ The old man said, ‘When someone comes to see you, you say to him, “How are you? Where have you come from? How are the brethren? Did they welcome you or not?” Then you have opened the brother’s door and you will hear a great deal that you would rather not have heard.’ The brother said to him, ‘That is so. What should a man do, then, when a brother comes to see him?’ The old man said, ‘Compunction is absolute master. One cannot protect oneself where there is no compunction.’ The brother said, ‘When I am in my cell, compunction is with me, but if someone comes to see me or I go out of my cell, I do not have it any more.’ The old man said, ‘That means that you do not really have compunction at all yet. It is merely that you practise it sometimes. It is written in the Law: “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go free, for nothing. If you give him a wife and she brings forth sons in your house and he does not wish to go because of his wife and children, you shall lead him to the door of the house and you shall pierce his ear with an awl and he shall become your slave for ever.” ‘ (cf. Ex. 21.2-6) The brother said, ‘What does that mean?’ The old man said, ‘If a man works as hard as he can at anything, at the moment when he seeks what he needs, he will find it.’ The brother said, ‘Please explain this to me.’ The old man said, ‘The bastard will not remain in anyone’s service; it is the legitimate son who will not leave his father.’

β. Ἀδελφὸς εἶπε τῷ ἀββᾷ Πέτρῳ τῷ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Λὼτ͵ ὅτι Ὅταν εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ μου͵ ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐστὶν ἡ ψυχή μου· ἐὰν δὲ ἀδελφὸς παραβάλῃ μοι͵ καὶ τοὺς λόγους τῶν ἔξω εἴπῃ μοι͵ ταράσσεται ἡ ψυχή μου. Λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Πέτρος͵ ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Λώτ· Τὸ κλειδίον σου ἀνοίγει τὴν θύραν μου. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελ φὸς τῷ γέροντι· Τί ἐστι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο; Λέγει ὁ γέ ρων· Ἐάν τίς σοι παραβάλῃ͵ λέγεις αὐτῷ· Πῶς ἔχεις; Πόθεν ἦλθες; Πῶς ἔχουσιν οἱ ἀδελφοί; Προσ ελάβοντό σε͵ ἢ οὔ; Καὶ τότε ἀνοίγεις τὴν θύραν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ͵ καὶ ἀκούεις ἃ οὐ θέλεις. Λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὕ τως ἔχει. Τί οὖν ποιήσει ἄνθρωπος͵ ἐὰν ἔλθῃ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀδελφός; Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Τὸ πένθος ὅλον δι δαχή ἐστιν· ὅπου δὲ οὐκ ἔστι πένθος͵ οὐ δυνατὸν φυλάξασθαι. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Ὅταν ἐν τῷ κελλίῳ ὦ͵ μετ΄ ἐμοῦ ἐστι τὸ πένθος· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ τις πρὸς μὲ͵ ἢ ἐξέλθω ἐκ τοῦ κελλίου͵ οὐχ εὑρίσκω αὐτό. Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Οὐδέπω σοι ὑπετάγη͵ ἀλλ΄ ὡς ἐν χρήσει ἐστί. Γέγραπται γὰρ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ͵ ὅτι Ὅταν κτήσῃ παῖ ³⁷⁷ δα Ἑβραῖον͵ ἓξ ἔτη δουλεύσει σοι· τῷ δὲ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει ἐξαποστελεῖς αὐτὸν ἐλεύθερον. Ἐὰν δὲ δῷς αὐτῷ γυναῖκα͵ καὶ γεννήσῃ παιδία ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ σου͵ καὶ μὴ θελήσῃ ἀποδιδράσκειν διὰ τὴν γυ ναῖκα καὶ τὰ παιδία͵ προσάξεις αὐτὸν πρὸς τὴν θύραν τοῦ οἴκου͵ καὶ τρυπήσεις αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον τῷ ὀπητίῳ͵ καὶ ἔσται σοι δοῦλος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Λέγει ὁ ἀδελφός· Τί ἐστι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο; Λέγει ὁ γέ ρων· Ἐὰν κάμῃ ἄνθρωπος εἰς πρᾶγμα κατὰ δύναμιν͵ οἵαν ὥραν ζητήσει αὐτὸ εἰς χρείαν͵ εὑρήσει αὐτό. Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ποίησον ἀγάπην· εἰπέ μοι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦ το. Λέγει ὁ γέρων· Οὐδὲ νόθος υἱὸς παραμένει τινὶ δουλεύων͵ ἀλλ΄ ὁ γεννώμενος υἱὸς οὐκ ἐᾷ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ

3. Abba Peter and Abba Epimachus were said to have been companions at Rhaithou. While they were eating with the community, they were asked to go to the table of the senior brethren. Only Abba Peter would go and that not without difficulty. When they left, Abba Epimachus said to him, ‘How did you dare to go to the table of the seniors?’ He replied, If I had been sitting with you, the brothers would have asked me, as the senior brother, to give the blessing first and as I am older than you, I shall have had to do it. But with the Fathers, I was the youngest of all and the most humble in thought.’

γ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πέτρου καὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἐπιμάχου͵ ὅτι συμφωνηταὶ ἦσαν εἰς Ραϊθοῦ. Ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ͵ ἐβιάσαντο αὐ τοὺς ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὴν τράπεζαν τῶν γερόντων. Καὶ με τὰ πολλοῦ κόπου ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Πέτρος μόνος. Καὶ ὡς ἀνέστησαν͵ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἐπίμαχος· Πῶς ἐτόλμησας ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν τράπεζαν τῶν γερόντων; Ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίθη· Εἰ ἐκάθισα μεθ΄ ὑμῶν͵ ὡς γέροντα οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἤμελλον προτρέπεσθαί με εὐλογεῖν πρῶ τον͵ καὶ ὡς μείζων ὑμῶν εἶχον εἶναι· νῦν οὖν ἀπελ θὼν ἐγγὺς τῶν Πατέρων͵ μικρότερος πάντων ἤμην͵ καὶ ταπεινότερος τῷ λογισμῷ

4. Abba Peter said, ‘We must not be puffed up when the Lord does something through our mediation, but we must rather thank 2 him for having made us worthy to be called by him.’ He used to say it is good to think about each virtue in this way.

δ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Πέτρος͵ ὅτι Οὐ δεῖ ἐπαίρεσθαι ὅταν ὁ Κύριος ποιήσῃ τι δι΄ ἡμῶν͵ ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐ χαριστεῖν ὅτι κατηξιώθημεν προσκληθῆναι ὑπ΄ αὐ τοῦ. Τοῦτο δ΄ ἐπὶ πάσης ἀρετῆς ἔλεγε συμφέρειν λο γίζεσθαι.

PAPHNUTIUS 16_08

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παφνουτίου

Paphnutius, born early in the fourth century was influenced by Anthony the Great and became a disciple of Isidore and ofMacarius. He was trained first in a cenobitic monastery, then became a solitary. He was called ‘the Buffalo for his love of solitude. When Cassian visited Egypt, he was head of the four monasteries of the desert.

1. Abba Paphnutius said, ‘When I was walking along the road, I happened to lose my way and found myself near a village and I saw some people who were talking about evil things. So I stood still, praying for my sins. Then behold an angel came, holding a sword and he said to me, “Paphnutius, all those who judge their brothers perish by his sword, but because you have not judged, but have humbled yourself before God, saying that you have sinned, your name is written in the book of the living!’“

α. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παφνούτιος͵ ὅτι Διοδεύων ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ͵ γέγονέ με ἀποπλανηθῆναι ἀπὸ δρόσου͵ καὶ εὑ ρεθῆναι πλησίον κώμης. Καὶ εἶδόν τινας ὁμιλοῦν τας ἀλλήλοις· καὶ ἐστάθην δεόμενος περὶ τῶν ἁμαρ τιῶν μου. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν ἔχων ῥομφαίαν͵ καὶ λέγει μοι· Παφνούτιε͵ πάντες οἱ κρίνοντες τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν͵ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ ἀπολοῦνται· σὺ δὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἔκρινας͵ ἀλλ΄ ἐταπείνωσας ἑαυτὸν ἐν ώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ ὡς σὺ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ποιήσας͵ διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐγγέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ ζώντων

2. It was said of Abba Paphnutius that he did not readily drink wine. One day he found himself on the road facing a band of robbers who were drinking wine. The captain of the band was acquainted with him and knew that he did not drink wine. Seeing how weary he was, he filled him a cup of wine and holding his sword in his hand he said to him, If you do not drink this, I will kill you.’ So the old man, knowing that he was fulfilling the commandment of God and in order to win the confidence of the robber, took the cup and drank it. Then the captain asked his forgiveness, saying, ‘Forgive me, abba, for I have made you unhappy.’ But the old man said, ‘I believe that, thanks to this cup, God will have mercy on you now and in the age to come.’ Then the robber captain said, ‘Have confidence in God that from now on I shall not harm anyone.’ So the old man converted the whole band by giving up his own will for the Lord’s sake.

β. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παφνουτίου͵ ὅτι οὐ τα χέως ἔπινεν οἶνον. Ὁδεύων δέ ποτε εὑρέθη ἐπάνω κο ληγίου λῃστῶν͵ καὶ εὗρεν αὐτοὺς πίνοντας οἶνον. Ἐγνώριζε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀρχιλῃστὴς͵ καὶ ᾔδει ὅτι οὐ πίνει οἶνον. Καὶ θεωρῶν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ μεγάλου κόπου͵ ἐγέμισε ποτήριον οἴνου͵ καὶ τὸ ξίφος ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ λέγει τῷ γέροντι· Ἐὰν μὴ πίῃς͵ φονεύω σε. Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ γέρων ὅτι ἐντολὴν Θεοῦ θέλει ποιῆσαι͵ βουλόμενος αὐτὸν κερδῆσαι͵ ἔλαβε καὶ ἔπιεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀρχιλῃστὴς μετενόησεν αὐτῷ͵ λέγων· Συγχώρησόν μοι͵ ἀββᾶ͵ ὅτι ἔθλιψά σε. Καὶ λέγει ὁ γέρων· Πι στεύω τῷ Θεῷ͵ ὅτι διὰ τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτο ποιεῖ μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος καὶ ἐν τῷ νῦν καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι. ³⁸⁰ Λέγει ὁ ἀρχιλῃστής· Πιστεύω τῷ Θεῷ͵ ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν οὐ μὴ κακοποιήσω τινά. Καὶ ἐκέρδησεν ὁ γέρων ὅλον τὸν κολήγιον͵ ἀφεὶς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ δια τὸν Κύριον

3. Abba Poemen said that Abba Paphnutius used to say, ‘During the whole lifetime of the old men, I used to go to see them twice Paphnutius [203 a month, although it was a distance of twelve miles. I told them each of my thoughts and they never answered me anything but this, “Wherever you go, do not judge yourself and you will be at peace.’“

γ. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν͵ ὅτι ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Πα φνούτιος· Εἰς πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς τῶν γε ρόντων͵ δὶς τὸν μῆνα παρέβαλον αὐτοῖς͵ ἔχων ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν τὸ διάστημα μίλια δώδεκα͵ καὶ πάντα λογισμὸν ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς͵ καὶ οὐδέν μοι ἕτερον ἔλεγον͵ ἢ τοῦτο͵ ὅτι Εἰς ὃν ἂν τόπον ἀπέλθῃς͵ μὴ μετρεῖς ἑαυτὸν͵ καὶ ἔσῃ ἀναπαυόμενος

4. There was at Scetis with Paphnutius a brother who had to fight against fornication and he said, ‘Even if I take ten wives, I shall not satisfy my desire.’ The old man encouraged him, saying, ‘No, my child, this warfare comes from the demons.’ But he did not let himself be persuaded and he left for Egypt to take a wife. After a time it happened that the old man went up to Egypt and met him carrying baskets of shell-fish. He did not recognize him at all, but the other said to him, ‘I am so and so, your disciple.’ And the old man, seeing him in such disgrace, wept and said, ‘How have you lost your dignity and come to such humiliation? No doubt you have taken ten wives?’ And groaning, he said, ‘Truly I have only taken one, and I have a great deal of trouble satisfying her with food.’ The old man said, ‘Come back with us.’ He said, ‘Is it possible to repent, abba?’ He said that it was. And leaving everything, the brother followed him and returned to Scetis, and thanks to this experience he became a proved monk.

δ. ῏Ην τις ἀδελφὸς εἰς Σκῆτιν μετὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πα φνουτίου͵ καὶ ἐπολεμεῖτο εἰς πορνείαν͵ καὶ ἔλεγεν· Ἐὰν λάβω δέκα γυναῖκας͵ οὐ πληρῶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν μου. Ὁ δὲ γέρων παρεκάλει λέγων· Μὴ͵ τέκνον· πό λεμός ἐστι τῶν δαιμόνων. Καὶ οὐκ ἐπείσθη· ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον͵ καὶ ἔλαβε γυναῖκα. Μετὰ δὲ χρόνον ἐγένετο ἀναβῆναι τὸν γέροντα εἰς Αἴγυπτον͵ καὶ ἀπαντῆσαι αὐτὸν βαστάζοντα σπυρίδια ὀστρά κων· ὁ δὲ γέρων οὐκ ἐγνώρισεν αὐτόν· ἀλλ΄ αὐτὸς λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ δεῖνα ὁ μαθητής σου. Καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὁ γέρων ἐν τῇ ἀτιμίᾳ ἐκείνῃ͵ ἔκλαυσε͵ καὶ εἶπε· Πῶς ἀφῆκας τὴν τιμὴν ἐκείνην͵ καὶ ἦλθες εἰς τὴν ἀτιμίαν ταύτην; πλὴν ἔλαβες τὰς δέκα γυναι κας; Καὶ στενάξας εἶπε· Φύσει μίαν ἔλαβον͵ καὶ τα λαιπωρῶ πῶς αὐτὴν χορτάσω ἄρτον. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Δεῦρο πάλιν μεθ΄ ἡμῶν. Καὶ εἶπεν· Ἔνι μετάνοια͵ ἀββᾶ; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Ἔνι. Καὶ καταλείψας πάντα͵ ἠκολούθησεν αὐτόν· καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς Σκῆτιν͵ ἀπὸ τῆς πείρας γέγονε δόκιμος μοναχός

5. There was a brother who lived in the desert of the Thebaid and the thought crossed his mind, ‘Why do you live here in this useless way? Get up and go to the monastery and there you will make progress.’ So he went and found Abba Paphnutius and told him about this thought. The old man said to him, ‘Go and stay in your cell; make only one prayer in the morning and one in the evening and one at night. When you are hungry, eat, when you are thirsty, drink; when you are tired, sleep. But stay in the cell and take no notice of this thought.’ The brother went and found Abba John and told him what Abba Paphnutius had said and Abba John said, ‘Don’t pray at all, just stay in the cell.’ So the brother went and found Abba Arsenius and told him all about it and the old man said to him, ‘Do as the others have told you. I have nothing to say but that,’ and he went away satisfied.

ε. Ἀδελφῷ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθημένῳ τῆς Θηβαΐδος͵ ἦλθεν αὐτῷ λογισμὸς͵ λέγων· Τί κάθῃ ἄκαρπος; ἀνάστα͵ ὕπαγε εἰς κοινόβιον͵ καὶ ἐκεῖ ποιεῖς καρ πόν. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Παφνούτιον͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτῷ τὸν λογισμόν. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Ὕπαγε͵ κάθου εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου· καὶ ποίει μίαν εὐχὴν πρωῒ͵ καὶ μίαν ἑσπέρας͵ καὶ μίαν τὴν νύκτα· καὶ ὅταν πεινᾷς͵ φάγε͵ καὶ ὅταν διψᾷς͵ πίε͵ καὶ ὅταν νυστάζῃς͵ κοιμῶ· καὶ μένε εἰς γῆν ἔρημον· καὶ μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτῷ. ῏Ηλθε δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἰωάννην͵ καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παφνουτίου. Καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης· Μὴ ποιή σῃς ὅλως εὐχὴν͵ μόνον κάθου εἰς τὸ κελλίον σου. Καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἀρσένιον͵ καὶ ἀνήγ γειλεν αὐτῷ πάντα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Κρά τει ὡς οἱ Πατέρες σοι εἶπαν· πλεῖον γὰρ τούτων͵ οὐκ ἔχω σοί τι εἰπεῖν. Καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν.

6. Amma Sarah sent someone to say to Abba Paphnutius, ‘Have you really done the work of God by letting your brother be despised?’ and Abba Paphnutius said, ‘Paphnutius is here with the intention of doing the work of God, and he has nothing to do with anyone else.’*

PAUL 16_09

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου

1. One of the Fathers used to tell of a certain Abba Paul, from Lower Egypt, who lived in the Thebaid. He used to take various kinds of snakes in his hands and cut them through the middle. The brethren made prostration before him saying, ‘Tell us what you have done to receive this grace.’ He said, ‘Forgive me, Fathers, but if someone has obtained purity, everything is in submission to him, as it was to Adam, when he was in Paradise before he transgressed the commandment.’

. Διηγήσατό τις τῶν Πατέρων περί τινος ἀββᾶ Παύ λου͵ ὅτι ἦν ἐκ τῶν κάτω μερῶν τῆς Αἰγύπτου͵ οἰκῶν δὲ ἐν Θηβαΐδι· ὅτι οὗτος ἐκράτει ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τοὺς κεράστας καὶ τοὺς ὄφεις͵ καὶ ἔσχιζεν αὐ τοὺς μέσους. Καὶ ἔβαλον αὐτῷ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ μετάνοιαν͵ ³⁸¹ λέγοντες· Εἰπὲ ἡμῖν ποίαν ἐργασίαν ἐποίησας͵ ἵνα λάβῃς τὴν χάριν ταύτην. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Συγχωρήσατέ μοι͵ Πατέρες· ἐάν τις κτήσηται καθαρότητα͵ πάντα ὑποτάσσεται αὐτῷ͵ ὡς τῷ Ἀδὰμ ὅτε ἦν ἐν παραδείσῳ͵ πρὶν ἢ παραβῆναι τὴν ἐντολήν.

PAUL THE BARBER 16_10

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου τοῦ κοσμίτου

1. Abba Paul the Barber and his brother Timothy lived in Scetis. They often used to argue. So Abba Paul said, ‘How long shall we go on like this?’ Abba Timothy said to him, ‘I suggest you take my side of the argument and in my turn I will take your side when you oppose me.’ They spent the rest of their days in this practice.

α. Ὁ ἀββᾶς Παῦλος ὁ κοσμίτης καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ἐκαθέζοντο ἐν τῇ Σκήτει· καὶ πολλα χῶς ἐγίνετο μεταξὺ αὐτῶν ἀντιλογία. Λέγει ὁ ἀβ βᾶς Παῦλος· Ἕως πότε μένομεν οὕτως; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀββᾶς Τιμόθεος· Ποίησον ἀγάπην· ὅταν ἔρχωμαι ἐπάνω σου͵ βάσταξόν με· καὶ ὅταν ἔρχῃ καὶ σὺ ἐπάνω μου͵ βαστάζω σε κἀγώ. Καὶ ποιήσαντες οὕτως ἀνεπάησαν τὰς ἐπιλοίπους αὐτῶν ἡμέρας

2. The same Abbas Paul and Timothy, the Barbers, were troubled by the brethren at Scetis. Timothy said to his brother, ‘Why do we follow this trade? They do not let us live in peace the whole day long.’ But Abba Paul replied, ‘The peace of the night is enough for us if our thoughts are watchful.’

β. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀββᾶς Παῦλος καὶ Τιμόθεος κοσμῖται ἦσαν ἐν τῇ Σκήτει͵ καὶ ὠχλοῦντο ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Τιμόθεος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ· Τί θέλομεν τὴν τέχνην ταύτην; οὐκ ἀφιόμεθα ἡσυχάσαι ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἀββᾶς Παῦλος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἀρκεῖ ἡμῖν ἡ ἡσυχία τῆς νυκτὸς͵ ἐὰν νήφῃ ἡμῶν ἡ διάνοια.

PAUL THE GREAT 16_11

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου τοῦ μεγάλου

1. Abba Paul the Great, the Galatian, said, ‘The monk who possesses in his cell some small things which he needs and who comes out to busy himself with them, is the plaything of the demons. I have experienced this myself.’

α. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παῦλος ὁ μέγας ὁ Γαλάτης͵ ὅτι Μοναχὸς ἔχων μικρὰς χρείας ἐν τῇ κέλλῃ αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ἐξερχόμενος φροντίσαι͵ ἀπὸ δαιμόνων χλευάζεται· καὶ γὰρ κἀγὼ αὐτὸ ἔπαθον

2. Abba Paul said, ‘I am in the slough, sinking in up to my neck and I weep in the presence of God, saying, “Have mercy on me.” ‘

β. Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾶς Παῦλος· Εἰς βόρβορόν εἰμι καταποντιζόμενος ἕως τραχήλου͵ καὶ κλαίω ἔμπρο σθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ λέγων· Ἐλέησόν με

3. It was said of Abba Paul that he spent the whole of Lent eating only one measure of lentils, drinking one small jug of water, and working at one single basket, weaving it and unweaving it, living alone until the feast.

γ. Ἔλεγον περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου͵ ὅτι ἐποίησε τὴν Τεσσαρακοστὴν εἰς ματὶν φακοῦ καὶ λαγύνιον ὕδατος· καὶ εἰς ἓν μαλάκιον͵ αὐτὸ πλέκων καὶ ἀναλύων͵ ἕως τῆς ἑορτῆς ἐγκεκλεισμένος.

4. Abba Paul said: ‘Keep close to Jesus.’

PAUL THE SIMPLE 16_12

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Παύλου τοῦ ἁπλοῦ.

1. Blessed Abba Paul the Simple, the disciple of Abba Anthony, told the Fathers that which follows: One day he went to a monastery to visit it and to make himself useful to the brethren. After the customary conference, the brothers entered the holy church of God to perform the synaxis there, as usual. Blessed Paul looked carefully at each of those who entered the church observing the spiritual disposition with which they went to the synaxis, for he had received the grace from the Lord of seeing the state of each one’s soul, just as we see their faces. When all had entered with sparkling eyes and shining faces, with each one’s angel rejoicing over him, he said, ‘I see one who is black and his whole body is dark; the demons are standing on each side of him, dominating him, drawing him to them, and leading him by the nose, and his angel, filled with grief, with head bowed, follows him at a distance.’ Then Paul, in tears, beat his breast and sat down in front of the church, weeping bitterly over him whom he had seen. The brethren, seeing this strange behaviour and the abrupt change which had brought him to tears and compunction, asked him persistently to tell them why he was weeping, fearing lest he were doing it as a sign of accusation against all of them. Then they asked him to go to the synaxis with them. But Paul kept apart from them and remained sitting outside, lamenting over him whom he had seen in this state. Shortly after the end of the synaxis, as everyone was coming out, Paul scrutinized each one, wanting to know in what state they were coming away. He saw that man, previously black and gloomy, coming out of the church with a shining face and white body, the demons accompanying him only at a distance, while his holy angel was following close to him, rejoicing greatly over him. Then Paul leaped for joy and began to cry out, blessing God, ‘O the ineffable loving-kindness and goodness of God!’ and he went running up to an elevated place and in a powerful voice he said, ‘Come, see the works of the Lord, how terrible they are and worthy of our wonder! Come and see him who wills that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! Come, let us bow down and throw ourselves at his feet and let us say, “Only You can take sins away!’“ Everyone ran together in haste, wanting to hear what he was saying. When they were all assembled, Paul related what he had seen at the entrance to the church and what had happened afterwards and he asked that man to tell them the reason why God had suddenly bestowed such a change upon him. Then the man whom Paul pointed out told all that had happened to him in front of everyone, saying, ‘I am a sinful man; I have lived in fornication for a long time, right up to the present moment; when I went into the holy church of God, I heard the holy prophet Isaiah being read, or rather, God speaking through him: “Wash you, make you clean, take away the evil from your hearts, learn to do good before mine eyes. Even though your sins are as scarlet I will make them white like snow. And if you will, and if you listen to me, you shall eat the good things of the earth.” (cf. Is. 1.16-19) And I,’ he continued, ‘the fornicator, am filled with compunction in my heart because of this word of the prophet and I groan within myself, saying to God, “God, who came into the world to save sinners, that which You now proclaim by the mouth of Your prophet, fulfil in me who am a sinner and an unworthy man.” From now on, I give my word, I affirm and promise in my heart that I will not sin any more, but I renounce all unrighteousness and I will serve You henceforth with a pure conscience. Today, O Master, from this time forward, receive me, as I repent and throw myself at Your feet, desiring in future to abstain from every fault.’ He continued, ‘With these promises, I came out of the church, sure in my soul that I would no longer commit any evil before God.’ At these words they all with one voice cried out to God, ‘How manifold are thy works, Lord, in wisdom hast thou made them all.’ (Ps. 104.24) So, as Christians, having learnt from the holy Scriptures and Peter ofDios [201 from holy revelations, let us know the great goodness of God for those who sincerely take refuge in him and who correct their past faults, by repentance, and let us not despair of our salvation. In truth, as it was proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah, God washes those who are dirty with sin, whitens them as wool and as snow and bestows the good things of the heavenly Jerusalem on them; just as, in the prophet Ezekiel, God has sworn by an oath, to satisfy us and not to let us be lost. “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone says the Lord God; so turn, and live.” ‘ (Ezek. 18.32)

Ὁ μακάριος ἀββᾶς Παῦλος ὁ ἁπλοῦς ὁ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀντωνίου μαθητὴς͵ διηγήσατο τοῖς Πατράσι πρᾶγμα τοιοῦτον· ὅτι ποτὲ παραγενόμενος ἐν μοναστηρίῳ ἐπισκέψεως ἕνεκεν καὶ ὠφελείας χάριν ἀδελφῶν͵ μετὰ τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους αὐτῶν συνήθη διάλεκτον͵ εἴσεισιν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ τὴν συνήθη σύναξιν ἐπιτελέσαι. Ὁ δὲ μακάριος Παῦλος͵ φησὶ͵ προσέσχεν ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰσιόντων εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν͵ ὁποίᾳ ἄρα ψυχῇ εἰσίασιν εἰς τὴν σύναξιν· εἶχε γὰρ καὶ ταύτην τὴν χάριν παρὰ Κυρίου δοθεῖσαν αὐτῷ͵ ὥστε ὁρᾷν ἕκαστον ὁποῖός ἐστι τῇ ψυχῇ͵ ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς βλέπομεν ἀλλήλων τὰ πρόσωπα. Πάντων δὲ εἰσιόντων λαμπρᾷ τῇ ὄψει καὶ φαιδρῷ τῷ προσώπῳ͵ τόν τε ἑκάστου ἄγγελον χαίροντα ἐπ΄ αὐτῷ· ἕνα͵ φησὶν͵ ὁρᾷ μέλαντα καὶ ζοφώδη ὅλον τὸ σῶμα͵ δαίμονας δὲ παρ΄ ἑκατέρᾳ τοῦτον συνέχοντας καὶ ἕλκοντας αὐτὸν ³⁸⁴ πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς͵ φορβειὰν ἐπὶ τὴν ῥῖνα αὐτοῦ βάλλοντας· τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἀκολου θοῦντα σκυθρωπὸν καὶ κατηφῆ. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος δακρύ σας͵ καὶ τῇ χειρὶ τὸ στῆθος πλήξας͵ ἐκαθέζετο πρὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας͵ ἀποκλαιόμενος σφόδρα τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Οἱ δὲ θεασάμενοι τὸ παράδοξον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς͵ τήν τε ὀξεῖαν αὐτοῦ μεταβολὴν͵ πρὸς δάκρυα καὶ πένθος κινήσαντα͵ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντες τὸ διατί κλαίει εἰπεῖν͵ νομίζοντες μήτι καταγνοὺς ἁπάντων τοῦτο ποιεῖ· παρεκάλουν τε αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν σύναξιν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰσιέναι. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀποσεισάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐκαθέζετο ἔξω͵ ἀποδυ ρόμενος πάνυ τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Μετ΄ οὐ πολὺ δὲ τῆς συνάξεως ἀπολυθείσης͵ καὶ πάντων ἐξιόντων͵ πάλιν κατεμάνθανεν ὁ Παῦλος ἕκαστον͵ βου λόμενος γνῶναι οἷοι ἐξέρχονται· καὶ ὁρᾷ τὸν ἄνδρα ἐκεῖνον͵ τὸν μέλαν καὶ ζοφῶδες ἔχοντα τὸ πρὶν ὅλον τὸ σῶμα͵ ἐξερχόμενον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας λαμπρὸν τῷ προσώπῳ͵ λευκὸν τῷ σώματι͵ καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας μα κράν που ἀκολουθοῦντας͵ τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ παρεπόμενον καὶ χαίροντα ἐπ΄ αὐτῷ σφόδρα. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀναπηδήσας μετὰ χαρᾶς͵ ἐβόα εὐλογῶν τὸν Θεὸν͵ καὶ λέγων· Ὢ τῆς ἀφάτου τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας καὶ ἀγαθότητος Δραμὼν δὲ καὶ ἀναβὰς ἐπὶ βαθμοῦ ὑψηλοῦ͵ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἔλεγε· Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ ὡς φοβερὰ καὶ πάσης ἐκπλήξεως ἄξια. Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὸν θέλοντα πάντας ἀνθρώπους σωθῆναι͵ καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀλη θείας ἐλθεῖν. Δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσω μεν αὐτῷ͵ καὶ εἴπωμεν· Σὺ μόνος δύνασαι ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας. Συνέτρεχον δὲ πάντες μετὰ σπουδῆς͵ τῶν³⁸⁴ πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς͵ φορβειὰν ἐπὶ τὴν ῥῖνα αὐτοῦ βάλλοντας· τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἀκολου θοῦντα σκυθρωπὸν καὶ κατηφῆ. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος δακρύ σας͵ καὶ τῇ χειρὶ τὸ στῆθος πλήξας͵ ἐκαθέζετο πρὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας͵ ἀποκλαιόμενος σφόδρα τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Οἱ δὲ θεασάμενοι τὸ παράδοξον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς͵ τήν τε ὀξεῖαν αὐτοῦ μεταβολὴν͵ πρὸς δάκρυα καὶ πένθος κινήσαντα͵ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντες τὸ διατί κλαίει εἰπεῖν͵ νομίζοντες μήτι καταγνοὺς ἁπάντων τοῦτο ποιεῖ· παρεκάλουν τε αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν σύναξιν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰσιέναι. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀποσεισάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐκαθέζετο ἔξω͵ ἀποδυ ρόμενος πάνυ τὸν οὕτως ὀφθέντα αὐτῷ. Μετ΄ οὐ πολὺ δὲ τῆς συνάξεως ἀπολυθείσης͵ καὶ πάντων ἐξιόντων͵ πάλιν κατεμάνθανεν ὁ Παῦλος ἕκαστον͵ βου λόμενος γνῶναι οἷοι ἐξέρχονται· καὶ ὁρᾷ τὸν ἄνδρα ἐκεῖνον͵ τὸν μέλαν καὶ ζοφῶδες ἔχοντα τὸ πρὶν ὅλον τὸ σῶμα͵ ἐξερχόμενον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας λαμπρὸν τῷ προσώπῳ͵ λευκὸν τῷ σώματι͵ καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας μα κράν που ἀκολουθοῦντας͵ τόν τε ἅγιον ἄγγελον ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ παρεπόμενον καὶ χαίροντα ἐπ΄ αὐτῷ σφόδρα. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀναπηδήσας μετὰ χαρᾶς͵ ἐβόα εὐλογῶν τὸν Θεὸν͵ καὶ λέγων· Ὢ τῆς ἀφάτου τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας καὶ ἀγαθότητος Δραμὼν δὲ καὶ ἀναβὰς ἐπὶ βαθμοῦ ὑψηλοῦ͵ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἔλεγε· Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ͵ ὡς φοβερὰ καὶ πάσης ἐκπλήξεως ἄξια. Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὸν θέλοντα πάντας ἀνθρώπους σωθῆναι͵ καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀλη θείας ἐλθεῖν. Δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσω μεν αὐτῷ͵ καὶ εἴπωμεν· Σὺ μόνος δύνασαι ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας. Συνέτρεχον δὲ πάντες μετὰ σπουδῆς͵ τῶν λεγομένων ἀκοῦσαι βουλόμενοι. Καὶ συνελθόντων πάντων͵ διηγεῖτο ὁ Παῦλος τὰ ὁραθέντα αὐτῷ πρὸ τῆς εἰσόδου τῆς ἐκκλησίας͵ καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πάλιν͵ καὶ ἠξίου τὸν ἄνδρα ἐκεῖνον λέγειν τὴν αἰτίαν͵ δι΄ ἣν αὐτῷ τὴν τοσαύτην μεταβολὴν αἰφνιδίως ὁ Θεὸς ἐχαρίσατο. Ὁ δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἐλεγχθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου͵ ἐνώπιον πάντων ἀνυποστόλως διηγεῖτο τὰ καθ΄ ἑαυ τὸν͵ λέγων· Ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ἁμαρτωλὸς͵ φησὶ͵ καὶ ἐκ πολλοῦ τοῦ χρόνου πορνείαις συνέζων μέχρι τοῦ νῦν· εἰσελθὼν δὲ νῦν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκλη σίᾳ͵ ἤκουσα τοῦ ἁγίου προφήτου Ἡσαΐου ἀναγινω σκομένου͵ μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ λαλοῦντος δι΄ αὐτοῦ· Λούσασθε͵ καθαροὶ γένεσθε͵ ἀφέλετε τὰς πονη ρίας ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν· ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου͵ μάθετε καλὸν ποιεῖν. Καὶ ἐὰν ὦσιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ὑμῶν ὡς φοινικοῦν͵ ὡς χιόνα λευκανῶ. Καὶ ἐὰν θέλητε καὶ εἰσακούσητέ μου͵ τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς φάγεσθε. Ἐγὼ δὲ͵ φησὶν͵ ὁ πόρ νος͵ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ προφήτου κατανυγεὶς τὴν ψυχὴν͵ καὶ στενάξας ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ μου͵ εἶπον πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν͵ ὅτι Σὺ ὁ Θεὸς͵ ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι͵ ἃ νῦν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου σου ἐπηγγείλω͵ ταῦτα καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ πλήρωσον τὸν ³⁸⁵ ἁμαρτωλὸν καὶ ἀνάξιον. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν δί δωμί σοι λόγον͵ συντάσσομαι δὲ͵ καὶ ἐκ καρδίας ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι͵ ὅτι οὐ μὴ πράξω ἔτι τι τῶν κα κῶν· ἀλλὰ ἀποτάσσομαι πᾶσαν παρανομίαν͵ καὶ δουλεύσω σοι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει. Σήμερον͵ ὦ Δέσποτα͵ καὶ ἐκ τῆς ὥρας ταύτης͵ δέξαι με μετανοοῦντα͵ καὶ προσπίπτοντά σοι͵ καὶ ἀπεχό μενον τοῦ λοιποῦ πάσης ἁμαρτίας. Ἐπὶ ταύταις͵ φησὶ͵ ταῖς συνθήκαις ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας͵ κρίνας ἐν τῇ ἐμαυτοῦ ψυχῇ͵ μηκέτι μηδὲν φαῦλον πρᾶξαι ἀπέναντι τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ πάντες ἀνεβόων μιᾷ φωνῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου͵ Κύριε πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας. Γινώσκοντες τοίνυν͵ ὦ Χριστιανοὶ͵ ἐκ τῶν θείων Γραφῶν͵ καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἁγίων ἀποκαλύψεων͵ ὅσην ἔχει ὁ Θεὸς ἀγαθότητα περὶ τοὺς εἰς αὐτὸν γνησίως καταφεύγοντας͵ καὶ διὰ μετανοίας τὰ πρότερον αὐτοῖς ἐπταισμένα διορθουμένους͵ καὶ ὅτι ἀποδίδωσι πάλιν τὰ ἐπηγγελμένα ἀγαθὰ͵ οὐκ εἰσπραττόμενος δίκας ὑπὲρ τῶν προτέρων ἁμαρτιῶν͵ μὴ ἀπελπίσω μεν τῆς ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίας. Ὥσπερ γὰρ διὰ Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου ἐπηγγείλατο͵ τοὺς ἐν ἁμαρτίαις βεβορ βορωμένους πλύνειν͵ καὶ ὡς ἔριον καὶ ὡς χιόνα λευ καίνειν͵ καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν τῆς ἐπουρανίου Ἱερουσα λὴμ ἀξιοῦν· οὕτως αὖθις διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου προφήτου Ἰεζεκιὴλ͵ μεθ΄ ὅρκου ἡμᾶς πληροφορεῖ μὴ ἀπολλύειν· Ζῶ γὰρ͵ φησὶ͵ λέγει Κύριος͵ ὅτι οὐ βούλομαι τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ͵ ὡς τὸ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ ζῇν αὐτόν.

PETER OF DIOS 16_13

Περὶ τοῦ ἀββᾶ Πέτρου τοῦ τῶν Δίου.

1. Peter, priest of Dios, when he prayed with others, ought to have stood in front, because he was a priest but because of his humility he stood behind saying, ‘This is what is written in the life of Saint Anthony.’ He did this without annoying anyone.

Πέτρος ὁ τῶν Δίου πρεσβύτερος͵ εἴποτε ηὔχετο μετά τινων͵ ἐπειδὴ διὰ τὴν ἱερωσύνην ἔμπροσθεν ἴστασθαι ἠναγκάζετο͵ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἑαυτὸν ὀπίσω ἵστα ἐξομολογούμενος· ὡς εἰς τὸν βίον τοῦ ἀββᾶ Ἀντωνίου γέγραπται. Τοῦτο ἐποίει͵ μηδένα λυπῶν.