EVAGRIUS PONTICUS
PRAKTIKOS / ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΟΣ
[or The Monk]
 

  A Carthusian enters the Grand Chartreuse
 The Belles Heures
of John Duke of Berry,1408 fol 97.


Translation by Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.  (translation in public domain)
Greek text based on: Sources Chrétiennes  171;& PG 40.[1]


 

 

 

 

EVAGRIUS the MONK
[Prologue: Letter to Anatolius]

ΕΥΑΓΡΙΟΥ ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ

 

 

 

 

[Prol.1.] SINCE you recently wrote to me in Scetis from the Holy Mountain, dear brother Anatolius, demanding that I explain to you the symbolic habit of the Egyptian monks - for you believe it to be neither accidental nor superfluous that [the habit] is so different from what other people wear - I will therefore tell you what we have learned concerning this from the holy fathers.


cf. allegory of high-priestly garments: KG 4.48, 4.56, 4.66, 4.69, 4.72, 4.75; ]

Ἐπειδή μοι πρώην δεδήλωκας ἀπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου ὄρους ἐν τῇ Σκίτει καθεζομένῳ, ποθεινότατε ἀδελφὲ  Ἀνατόλιε, καὶ τὸ συμβολικὸν σχῆμα τῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ μοναχῶν σαφηνισθῆναί σοι παρεκάλεσας· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ οὐδὲ αρέλκον αὐτὸ νενόμικας [484] τοσαύτην παραλλαγὴν ἔχον παρὰ τὰ λοιπὰ σχήματα τῶν ἀνθρώπων· φέρε, ὅσα παρὰ τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων περὶ τούτου μεμαθήκαμεν, ἐξαγγείλωμων.

 

 

  [Cassian, Inst. 3]

 

[Prol.2.] THE hood (koukoullion) is a symbol of the grace of our Saviour [and] God: it shelters their mind (hegemonikon) and nurses their childlike [relationship] with Christ in the face of those who are always attempting to beat and wound it. Anyone who bears this  hood on his head is truly chanting the [inner] meaning of the psalm:

Τὸ μὲν κουκούλλιον σύμβολόν ἐστι τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ σκεπαζούσης αὐτῶν τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν καὶ περιπαλπούσης τὴν ἐν Χριστ'͂ νηπιότητα διὰ τοὺς ῥαπίζειν ἀεὶ καὶ τιτρώσκειν ἐπιχειροῦντας.  Ὅσοι τοίνυν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς φέρουσι τοῦτο δυνάμει ψάλλουσι ταῦτα·

Unless the Lord builds the house and guards the city, in vain do the builder and watchman labor (Ps. 126:1).

ἐὰν μὴ [486] Κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ οἶκον καὶ φυλάξῃ πόλιν, εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασεν ὁ οἰκοδομῶν καὶ ὁ φυλάσσειν πειρώμενος. 
Recitations like these produce humility and uproot the primordial vice of pride that cast down to the earth Lucifer, the Dawn-Rising [Star] (Is. 14:12). Αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φωναὶ  ταπεινοφροσύνην μὲν ἐμποιοῦσιν, ἐκριζοῦσι δὲ ὑπερηφανίαν τὸ ἀρχαῖον κακόν, τὸ κατασεῖσαν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὸν  Ἑωσφόρον τὸν πρωῒ ἀνατέλλοντα.

Pride: Prak. 6, 13, 14, 33, 57. Thoughts 1, 14, 18, 21, 23; Antirhet 8; Skemm 40, 41, 44, 49, 57. Eight Thoughts 17; ad Mon. 61, 62Exh. Monks 1.6. Sch. 102 on Prov 8.13; Sch. 23 on Eccl 4.1.
In KG 4.13 notion of "child" refers to human status between angels and demons, and in
KG 4.15 to future "adulthood" resulting from judgment.


Humility: esp. Prayer 96. Cf. Prak. 33, 57, 58; Gnost. 28; Thoughts 23; KG 4.73; Sch.1 on Ps.89.3; Prayer 135.; Prayer 135.

 

 

  [cf. Cassian, Inst. 4]

 

[Prol.3.] THE nakedness of their hands manifests the absence of hypocrisy in their way of life. Vainglory is [terribly] clever at covering and darkening virtues, always hunting for the esteem [glory] that comes from men and chasing faith away.

Τὸ δὲ γεγυμνῶσθαι τὰς χεῖρας τὸ ἀνυπόκριτον τῆς πολιτείας ἐμφαίνει· δεινὴ γὰρ ἡ κενοδοξία συγκαλύψαι καὶ συσκιάσαι τὰς ἀρετάς, ἀεὶ δόξας τὰς παρὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων θηρεύουσα καὶ τὴν πίστιν ἀποδιώκουσα.

For how it is possible for you to believe, it says, when you receive glory from one another; and the glory that comes only from God you do not seek? (Jn 5:44).

Πῶς γὰρ δύνασθε͵ φησί͵ πιστεῦσαι͵ δόξαν παρὰ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες͵ καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ μόνου Θεοῦ οὐ ζητοῦντες;

For the good ought to be chosen for no other [reason]  than itself. Apart from this, anything that moves us to do good will appear far more precious than the good itself: and nothing could be more absurd than to consider and assert that something is better than God!


Vainglory: Prak 6, 13, 30. 31. 32, 57. 58;  KG 5.86; Thoughts 14, 15, 17, 21, 28, 29, 30; Ant 7.3, 7.8, 7.26. On thoughts of priesthood as source of vainglory: Prak 13, Thoughts 21, 28; Ant 7.3, 7.8, 7.26. 7.36, 7.40.

Δεῖ γὰρ τὸ ἀγαθὸν μὴ δι΄ ἕτερον ἀλλὰ δι΄ αὐτὸ μᾶλλον εἶναι αἱρετόν· εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοῦτο δοθείη͵ φανήσεται τὸ κινοῦν ἡμᾶς πρὸς τὴν ἐργασίαν τοῦ καλοῦ πολλῷ τιμιώτερον ὑπάρχον τοῦ γινο μένου͵ ὅπερ τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων ἂν εἴη Θεοῦ τι κρεῖττον ἐννοεῖν τε καὶ λέγειν

 

 

[Cassian, Inst. 5]

 

[Prol.4.] AND again, the scapular that wraps around the shoulders in the form of a cross is a symbol of the faith in Christ that supports the gentle (Ps.146:6 cf. Mt 5.5) and always, despite obstacles, permits them to work unimpeded.


On meek/gentle (πραΰς): KG 4.31; Ad.Mon. 12, 34, 53, 85, 99, 11, 112, 133; (with psalms, quells anger); Sch.1 on Ps 131.1

̔ Ο δὲ ἀνάλαβος πάλιν ὁ σταυροειδῶς τοῖς ὤμοις αὐτῶν περιπλεκόμενος σύμβολον τῆς εἰς Χριστόν ἐστι πίστεως ἀναλαμβανούσης τοὺς πραεῖς καὶ περιστελλούσης ἀεὶ τὰ κωλύοντα καὶ τὴν ἐργασίαν ἀνεμπόδιστον αὐτοῖς παρεχούσης.

 

 

 [Cassian, Inst. 1.1 Inst. 1.11]

 

[Prol.5.] THE belt tied around their loins repels all impurity and declares, It is good for a man not to touch a woman (I Cor.7:1). [cf. KG 4.79Sch.1 on Ps.25.2]

̔  Η δὲ ζώνη περισφίγγουσα τοὺς νεφροὺς αὐτῶν ἀπωθεῖται πᾶσαν ἀκαθαρσίαν καὶ τοῦτο παραγγέλλει· καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι.

 

 

 [Cassian, Inst. 1.7]

 

[Prl.6.] THEY wear the sheepskin - those always carrying around in their bodies the death of Jesus: (2 Cor.4:10) and muzzling all the body's irrational passions, cutting back the wickedness of the soul by their communion in the good;

37 Τὴν δὲ μηλωτὴν ἔχουσιν οἱ πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες καὶ φιμοῦντες μὲν πάντα τὰ τοῦ σώματος ἄλογα πάθη͵ τὰς δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς κακίας μετουσίᾳ τοῦ καλοῦ περικόπτοντες·

and loving poverty but fleeing from avarice as the mother of idolatry (Col. 3:5)


Sch.4 on Ps.150.4Sch.1 on Ps.80.3; KG 4.72, 6.38, 6 40, 6.42; Antir. 3.13, ]

καὶ πενίαν μὲν ἀγαπῶντες͵ πλεονεξίαν δὲ φεύγοντες ὡς εἰδωλολατρίας μητέρα.

 

 

 [Cassian, Inst. 1.8]

 

[Prol.7.] THE staff is a tree of life to all who hold it, reliable for those who lean on it just as [they lean] on the Lord (Prov. 3:18; cf.Gen.3.22; Rev.22.2 ff.).


KG 3.56, 5.67, 5.69; Letter 54.2, Schol 32 On Prov.3,18; Maxims 3.17,

 Ἡ δὲ ῥάβδος ξύλον ζωῆς ἐστι πᾶσι τοῖς ἀντεχομένοις αὐτῆς͵ καὶ τοῖς ἐπερειδομένοις ἐπ΄ αὐτὴν ὡς ἐπὶ Κύριον ἀσφαλής.

 

 

[Prol.8] THE habit, then, is like a symbol that summarizes [these] things.  And these are the words the fathers always say to them:

45 Καὶ τούτων μὲν σύμβολον ὡς ἐν ἐπιτομῇ τῶν πραγμάτων τὸ σχῆμα· τὰ δὲ ῥήματα ταῦτά ἐστιν ἃ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἀεὶ λέγουσιν οἱ Πατέρες·

Faith, o [my] child is steadied by the fear of God

And [this fear] in turn [is strengthened] by continence.

This latter [virtue] is made unshakable by patient endurance and hope:

τὴν πίστιν͵ ὦ τέκνα͵ βεβαιοῖ ὁ φόβος ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ͵

καὶ τοῦτον πάλιν ἐγκράτεια͵

 ταύτην δὲ ἀκλινῆ ποιοῦσιν ὑπομονὴ καὶ ἐλπίς͵

from these is born apatheia [dispassion], which brings into being love.

Love is the door to knowledge of nature

which leads to theology and the supreme blessedness.”


KG 3.351.71, 1.86, 1.88; Ad Mon, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, Prak.81, 89.

ἀφ΄ ὧν τίκτεται ἀπάθεια͵

 ἧς ἔγγονον ἡ ἀγάπη͵

 ἀγάπη δὲ θύρα γνώσεως φυσικῆς

ἣν διαδέχεται θεολογία καὶ ἡ ἐσχάτη μακαριότης.

 

 

[Prol.9.] And so, concerning the holy habit and the teaching of the elders, these things we have said should suffice for now.

Καὶ περὶ μὲν τοῦ σχήματος τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ τῆς διδασκαλίας τῶν γερόντων τοσαῦτα ἡμῖν ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος εἰρήσθω.

BUT concerning the life of the ascetic and the knower I now propose to describe in detail not [only] what we have seen or heard, but also what I have been taught by [the elders] to say to others. I have compactly divided ascetical matters into a hundred chapters, and matters of knowledge into fifty, plus six hundred.

Περὶ δὲ τοῦ βίου τοῦ τε πρακτικοῦ καὶ τοῦ γνωστικοῦ νυνὶ διηγούμεθα͵ οὐχ ὅσα ἑωράκαμεν ἢ ἠκούσαμεν͵ ἀλλ΄ ὅσα τοῦ καὶ ἄλλοις εἰπεῖν παρ΄ αὐτῶν μεμαθήκαμεν͵ ἑκατὸν μὲν κεφαλαίοις τὰ πρακτικά͵ πεντήκοντα δὲ πρὸς τοῖς ἑξακοσίοις τὰ γνωστικὰ συντετμημένως διελόντες·

And some things I have concealed and shadowed over, so that we do not throw holy things to the dogs nor cast pearls before swine (Mat. 7:6). But this will be clear to those who have embarked on the same quest [ichnos =searching for traces].


Eulogius 18; Gnost. 44.11; Ad Mon.132, (?)126.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπικρύψαντες͵ τὰ δὲ συσκιάσαντες͵ ἵνα μὴ δῶμεν τὰ ἅγια τοῖς κυσὶ μηδὲ βάλωμεν τοὺς μαργαρίτας ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων. ῎εσται δὲ ταῦτα ἐμφανῆ τοῖς εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ ἴχνος αὐτοῖς

Introd- 1.

 

 

 

by the same [Evagrius]
TREATISE on the P
RAKTIKÉ:
100 CHAPTERS

ΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ
ΛΟΓΟΣ ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΟΣ
 
ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ Ρ

 

 

§_01

 

1. CHRISTIANITY is the teaching of our Savior Christ consisting of [:]

ascetical practice,

the [contemplation of] nature,

and theology.


Letter on Faith 4, 15, Ad Mon. 118, 119, 120; KG 1.10; Sch.247 on Prov.22.20Sch. 2 on Ps 126.1

α´. Χριστιανισμός ἐστι δόγμα τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χριστοῦ ἐκ

πρακτικῆς

και φυσικῆς

καὶ θεολογικῆς συνεστός.

02

 

2. THE Kingdom of Heaven is apatheia (dispassion) of the soul together with true knowledge of beings


Knowledge of true beings: Sch. 2 on Ps 1.1 ; Sch.11 on Ps 36.11; Sch.10 on Ps 38.14;  KG 5.30; Sch.6b on Ps 134.12; 20 on Ps 9.37. Cf. KG 1.73. Kingdom of Heaven: KG 1.444.30, 4.40; 6.22; Letter on Faith 24, 27, 37. Apatheia: Prak. 8, 33, 53, 56, 58, 59, 60, 64, 67, 81, 83, 91; Gnost.37; KG 1.37

β´.  Βασιλεια ουρανων εστιν απαθεια ψυχης μετα γνωσεως των οντνων αληθους

03

 

3.THE Kingdom of God is knowledge of the Holy Trinity, coextensive with the capacity [structure] of the nous (mind/intellect) but surpassing it in incorruptibility.


The Kingdom of God: KG 4.23; 5.30 (≈ Sch. 6b on Ps 134.12); ad Virg.55. Knowledge of Trinity: KG 1.52, 1.70; 2.16; 3.6, 3.33, 3.41; 4.49, 6.29. (of Unity) KG 1.77  Coextensive with capacity/structure: KG 1.54; 4.35, 4.49; Sch.123 on Prov.10.30

γ´.  Βασιλεια Θεου εστι γνωσις της αγιας Τριαδος συμπαρεκτεινομενη τη συστασει του νοος, και υπερβαλλουσα την αφθαρσιαν αυτου.

04

 

4. WHATEVER a person ardently loves (eros) he will want completely. And what he wants he will struggle to acquire. Now every pleasure  is preceded by desire (epithumia) and desire is born of sensation: thus that which is not subject to sensation is also free from passion. [Prayer 42; KG 1.34]

δ´.  Ουτινος τις ερα τουτου και εφιεται παντως, Και ου εφιεται, τουτου και τυχειν αγωνιζεται· και πασης μεν ηδονης επιθυμια καταρχει, επιθυμιαν δε τικτει αισθησις το γαρ αισθησεως αμοιρον και παθους ελευθερον.

05

 

5. AGAINST the hermits the demons engage in naked combat. Against those laboring at virtue in [cenobitic] monasteries or communities they arm the more careless of the brethren.

ε´.  Τοῖς μὲν ἀναχωρηταῖς ὁι δαίμονες γυμνοὶ προσπαλαίουσι, 2 τοῖς δὲ ἐν κοινοβίοις ἢ συνοδίαις κατεργαζομένοις τὴν 3 ἀρετὴν τοὺς ἀμελεστέρους τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐφοπλίζουσι·

    For the second battle is much lighter than the first, since there cannot be found on earth men more bitter than the demons, or [able] to undertake all their evil doings at once.

πολλῶ 4 δὲ κουφότερος ὁ δεύτερος πόλεμος τοῦ πρώτου διότι οὐκ 5 ἔστιν εὑρεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀνθρώπους πικροτέρους δαιμόνων 6 ἢ πᾶσαν ἀθρόως αὐτῶν ὑποδεχομένους τὴν κακουργίαν.

Composition: KG 1.68; 4.37, 6.25, 6.26; Antirr. 4.22. Actions: KG 5.18, 3.78. Perception: KG 5.78, 6.2, 6.69. Bitterness: Antirr. prl.4; Eulogius 22. Interactions with human beings: KG 1.22, 1.57, 1.68; 2.14; 3.4, 3.50, 3.76, 3.78; 4.13; 5.11; 6.69, Permissible Insult (hatred) of: KG 5.47; Thoughts 19. Battles with (tactics): Prak. 21, 34, 48, 54, 58, 63, 73, 83; Gnost.25, 44; KG 3.41; cf. Prak. 24, 76; Antirr.4.22.


On Merciless “subterranean demons: KG 4.33. Sch 1 On Ps 55.2Sch 5 On Ps 62.10-11Sch 10 On Ps 68.15Sch 8 On Ps 70.20Sch 13 On Ps 76.13(2)Sch 8 On Ps 103.9Sch 5 On Ps 118.7; See esp. Sch 2 On Ps 134.6;  Cf. Prayer 104.

 

 

§ 6. NATURE of the LOGISMOI

 

[CONCERNING THE EIGHT [TEMPTING-] THOUGHTS] Περὶ τῶν ὀκτὼ λογισμῶν

 

 

6. THERE are eight principal kinds of [tempting-] thoughts (logismoi), that contain within themselves every [tempting-] thought:

ςʹ. (6)  Ὀκτώ εἰσι πάντες οἱ γενικώτατοι λογισμοὶ ἐν οἷς περιέχεται πᾶς λογισμός.

first, that of gluttony;

and with it, that of sexual immorality;

third, that of love of money;

πρῶτος ὁ τῆς γαστριμαργίας,

καὶ μετ' αὐτὸν ὁ τῆς πορνείας·

τρίτος ὁ τῆς φιλαργυρίας·

fourth, that of sadness;

fifth, that of anger;

sixth that of acedia;

τέταρτος ὁ τῆς λύπης·

πέμπτος ὁ τῆς ὀργῆς·

ἕκτος ὁ τῆς ἀκηδίας·

seventh, that of vainglory;

eighth, that of pride.

ἕβδομος ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας·

ὄγδοος ὁ τῆς ὑπερηφανίς.

We cannot [control] whether these [tempting-thoughts] can agitate the soul or not; but whether they remain [in us] or not, and whether they move the passions or not – that we can [control]. [Sequence/Movements: Prak. 12, 37, 38, 43, 51, 71, 89; Letter 39.3.]

Τούτους πάντας παρενοχλεῖν μὲν τῇ ψυχῇ ἢ μὴ παρενοχλεῖν͵ τῶν οὐκ ἐφ΄ ἡμῖν ἐστι· τὸ δὲ χρονίζειν αὐτοὺς ἢ μὴ χρονίζειν͵ ἢ πάθη κινεῖν ἢ μὴ κινεῖν͵ τῶν ἐφ΄ ἡμῖν.

07

 

7. THE [tempting]-thought of gluttony suggests to the monk the sudden rejection of his asceticism.  The stomach, liver, spleen, and [resultant] congestive heart failure are depicted, along with long sickness, lack of necessities, and unavailability of physicians.  It often leads him to recall those of the brethren who have suffered these things. Sometimes it even deceives those who have suffered from this kind of thing to go and visit [others] who are practicing self-control, to tell them all about their misfortunes and how this resulted from their asceticism. [Gnost. 31; Antirr. 1; Eight Thoughts 1-3; Prayer 134.]

   ζʹ.  (7) Ὁ μὲν τῆς γαστριμαργίας λογισμὸς ἔκπτωσιν ταχεῖαν τῷ μοναχῷ τῆς ἀσκήσεως ὑποβάλλει· στόμαχον καὶ ἧπαρ καὶ σπλῆνα καὶ ὕδρωπα διαγράφων͵ καὶ νόσον μακράν͵ καὶ σπάνιν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων͵ καὶ ἰατρῶν ἀπορίαν. Φέρει δὲ αὐτὸν πολλάκις καὶ εἰς μνήμην ἀδελφῶν τινων τούτοις περιπεσόντων τοῖς πάθεσιν. Ἔστι δὲ ὅτε καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐκείνους τοὺς πεπονθό τας παραβάλλειν ἀναπείθει τοῖς ἐγκρατευομένοις͵ καὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἐκδιηγεῖσθαι συμφοράς͵ καὶ ὡς ἐκ τῆς ἀσκήσεως τοιοῦτοι γεγόνασιν.

08

 

8. THE demon of sexual immorality (porneia) compels desiring for different bodies. Especially violently does it attack those who practice self-control, so that they will cease, as if achieving nothing.     η´. (8) Ὁ τῆς πορνείας δαίμων σωμάτων καταναγκάζει διαφόρων ἐπιθυμεῖν· καὶ σφοδρότερος τοῖς ἐγκρατευομένοις ἐφίσταται͵ ἵν΄ ὡς μηδὲν ἀνύοντες παύσωνται·

Contaminating the soul, it bends it down towards these sorts of deeds: it makes it speak certain words and then hear them, as if the thing were actually there to be seen. [Prak 46; KG 1.66, 84; Antirr. 2; Eight Thoughts 4-6. Antirr. 2.21; Eulogius 19.]

καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν μιαίνων περὶ ἐκείνας κατακάμπτει τὰς ἐργασίας· λέγειν τε αὐτήν τινα ῥήματα καὶ πάλιν ἀκούειν ποιεῖ͵ ὡς ὁρωμένου δῆθεν καὶ παρόντος τοῦ πράγματος.

09

 

9. LOVE of money (avarice) suggests: a long old age; hands powerless to work; hunger and disease yet to come; the bitterness of poverty; and the disgrace of receiving the necessities [of life] from others. [Antirr. 3; Eight Thoughts 7-8; Letter 16.4; 25.4; 39.3; 52.3, 6; Cf. Foundations 4. Antirr. 3.2]

θ´.  (9) Ἡ φιλαργυρία γῆρας μακρὸν ὑποβάλλει καὶ πρὸς ἐργασίαν ἀδυναμίαν χειρῶν͵ λιμούς τε ἐσομένους καὶ νόσους συμβησο μένας͵ καὶ τὰ τῆς πενίας πικρά͵ καὶ ὡς ἐπονείδιστον τὸ παρ΄ ἑτέρων λαμβάνειν τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν.

10

 

10. GLOOMINESS sometimes arises from frustrated desires; but sometimes it is the result of anger. When desires are frustrated it arises thus: certain [tempting-]thoughts first seize the soul and remind it of home and parents and its former course of life.

ι´. (10) Ἡ λύπη ποτὲ μὲν ἐπισυμβαίνει κατὰ στέρησιν τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν͵ ποτὲ δὲ καὶ παρέπεται τῇ ὀργῇ. Κατὰ στέρησιν δὲ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν οὕτως ἐπισυμβαίνει· λογισμοί τινες προλαβόντες εἰς μνήμην ἄγουσι τὴν ψυχὴν οἴκου τε καὶ γονέων καὶ τῆς προτέρας διαγωγῆς.

When they see the soul following them without resistance,  and dissipating itself in mental pleasures, they take and dunk [lit baptize] it in gloom, since it is the case that these earlier things are gone and cannot be recovered due to the [monk's] present way of life Then the miserable soul, having been dissipated by the first [tempting-]thought, is humiliated all the more by the second.

Prak.13, 14, 19, 22, 25; Gn. 10, 28; Antirr. 4; Eight Thoughts 11-12; Eulogius 7; KG 3.79

Καὶ ὅταν αὐτὴν μὴ ἀνθισταμένην ἀλλ΄ ἐπακολουθοῦσαν θεάσωνται καὶ διαχεο μένην ἐν ταῖς κατὰ διάνοιαν ἡδοναῖς͵ τότε λαμβάνοντες αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ λύπῃ βαπτίζουσιν ὡς οὐχ ὑπαρχόντων τῶν προ τέρων πραγμάτων οὐδὲ δυναμένων λοιπὸν διὰ τὸν παρόντα βίον ὑπάρξαι· καὶ ἡ ταλαίπωρος ψυχή͵ ὅσον διεχύθη ἐπὶ τοῖς προτέροις λογισμοῖς͵ τοσοῦτον ἐπὶ τοῖς δευτέροις συνεστάλη ταπεινωθεῖσα.

11

 

11. ANGER (orgē) is the sharpest passion. It is said to be a boiling and movement of indignation (thumos) against a wrongdoer or a presumed wrongdoer: ια'. Ἡ ὀργὴ πάθος ἐστὶν ὀξύτατον· θυμοῦ γὰρ λέγεται ζέσις καὶ κίνησις κατὰ του ἠδικηκότος ἢ δοκοῦντος ἠδικηκέναι·

it causes the soul to be savage all day long, but especially in prayers it seizes the nous, reflecting back the face of the distressing person.

ἥτις πανημέριον μὲν ἐξαγριοῖ τὴν ψυχὴν͵ μάλιστα δὲ ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς συναρπάζει τὸν νοῦν͵ τὸ τοῦ λελυπηκότος πρόσωπον ἐσοπτρίζουσα.

Then sometimes it is lingering and is changed into rancor (mēnis). and [thus] it causes disturbances at night: bodily weakness and pallor; and attacks from poisonous beasts. These four things associated with rancor may be found to have been summoned up by many other [tempting-] thoughts.

Ἐστι δὲ ὅτε χρονίζουσα καὶ μεταβαλλομένη εἰς μῆνιν, ταραχὰς νύκτωρ παρέχει͵ τῆξίν τε τοῦ σώματος καὶ ὠχρότητα͵ καὶ θηρίων ἰοβόλων ἐπιδρομάς. Ταῦτα δὲ τὰ τέσσαρα μετὰ τὴν μῆνιν συμβαίνοντα͵ εὕροι ἄν τις παρακολουθοῦντα πλείοσι λογισμοῖς.


Anger /thumos: Prak. 11, 15, 20, 22, 23, 24, 38, 62, 63, 73. Gnost. 4, 5;  10, 45. Thoughts 2, 9, 10, 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 32, 34, 42.  Prayer 64. Skemmata 9, 23; 24; 43. ad.Mon.109ad Virg 8.  KG 1.68, 3.34 4.38; 4.47; 5.11, 5.27, 6.63Eulogius 5; 6, 79,  17; 18.  Letter 27, 56,   Antirr. 5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.12, 5.32.


Sch.60 on Prov.5.9;  Scholia: 4 on Ps 6.8(1);  25 on Ps 17.49;  7 on Ps 30.10;  9 on Ps.73.19; 1 on. Ps 131.1.  Eight Thoughts 9, 10

12

 

12. THE demon of acedia, which is also called the noonday demon (Ps 90.6), is the most burdensome of all the demons. It besets the monk at about the fourth hour (10 am) of the morning, encircling his soul until about the eighth hour (2 pm).

   ιβʹ (12) Ὁ τῆς ἀκηδίας δαίμων͵ ὃς καὶ μεσημβρινὸς καλεῖται͵ πάντων τῶν δαιμόνων ἐστὶ βαρύτατος· καὶ ἐφίσταται μὲν τῷ μοναχῷ περὶ ὥραν τετάρτην͵ κυκλοῖ δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ μέχρις ὥρας ὀγδόης.

 [1] First it makes the sun appear to slow down or stop , so the day seems to be fifty hours long.

Καὶ πρῶτον μὲν τὸν ἥλιον καθορᾶσθαι ποιεῖ δυσκίνητον ἢ ἀκίνητον͵ πεντηκοντάωρον τὴν ἡμέραν δεικνύς.

 [2] Then it forces the monk to keep looking out the window and rush from his cell to observe the sun in order to see how much longer it is to  the ninth [hour, i.e. 3 pm], and to look about in every directions in case any of the brothers are there.  

 Ἔπειτα δὲ συνεχῶς ἀφορᾶν πρὸς τὰς θυρίδας καὶ τῆς κέλλης ἐκπηδᾶν ἐκβιάζεται͵ τῷ τε ἡλίῳ ἐνατενίζειν πόσον τῆς ἐνάτης ἀφέστηκε͵ καὶ περιβλέπεσθαι τῇδε κἀκεῖσε μή τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν.

 [3] Then it assails him with hatred of his place, his way of life and the work of his hands; that love has departed from the brethren and there is no one to console him (cf. Lam 1.17, 21).

  Ἔτι δὲ μῖσος πρὸς τὸν τόπον ἐμβάλλει καὶ πρὸς τὸν βίον αὐτόν͵ καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἔργον τὸ τῶν χειρῶν· καὶ ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπε παρὰ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡ ἀγάπη καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ παρακαλῶν·

 [4] If anyone has recently caused the monk grief the demon adds this as well to amplify his hatred [of these things]

εἰ δὲ καί τις κατ΄ ἐκείνας τὰς ἡμέρας εἴη λυπήσας τὸν μοναχόν͵ καὶ τοῦτο εἰς αὔξησιν τοῦ μίσους ὁ δαίμων προστίθησιν.

 [5] It makes him desire other places where he can easily find all that he needs and practice an easier, more convenient craft  After all, pleasing the Lord is not dependent on geography, the demon adds; God is to be worshipped everywhere. 

Ἄγει δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν τόπων ἑτέρων ἐν οἷς ῥᾳδίως τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν ἔστιν εὑρεῖν καὶ τέχνην μετελθεῖν εὐκοπωτέραν μᾶλλον καὶ προχωροῦσαν· καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τόπῳ τὸ εὐαρεστεῖν τῷ Κυρίῳ προστίθησιν· πανταχοῦ γάρ͵ φησί͵ τὸ θεῖον προσκυνητόν.

 [6] It combines this with remembrance of his relatives and his former way of life, and depicts to him a long life, placing before his eyes a vision of the burdens of the ascetic life. 

Συνάπτει δὲ τούτοις καὶ μνήμην τῶν οἰκείων καὶ τῆς προτέρας διαγωγῆς· καὶ χρόνον τῆς ζωῆς ὑπογράφει μακρόν͵ τοὺς τῆς ἀσκήσεως πόνους φέρων πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν·

So, it employs, as they say, every [possible] means to move the monk to leave his cell and flee the racecourse. 

καὶ πᾶσαν τὸ δὴ λεγόμενον κινεῖ μηχανὴν ἵνα καταλελοιπὼς ὁ μοναχὸς τὴν κέλλαν φύγῃ τὸ στάδιον.

No other demon comes immediately after this one; rather, after the struggle the soul receives in turn a peaceful state and unspeakable joy


Prak. 7, 10, 34, 36, 71, 97; Gnost. 14.  KG 4.73; 5.61. Sch. 1 on Ps 139.3. Antirr. 6.1, 6.7, 6.25, 6.26, 6.30, 6.33, 6.52. Eight Thoughts 6.14.

 Τούτῳ τῷ δαίμονι ἄλλος μὲν εὐθὺς δαίμων οὐχ ἕπεται· εἰρηνικὴ δέ τις κατάστασις καὶ χαρὰ ἀνεκλάλητος μετὰ τὸν ἀγῶνα τὴν ψυχὴν διαδέχεται.

13

 

13. THE [tempting-]thought of vainglory is especially subtle and easily sneaks into those whose lives are going well,

   ιγ'  (13) Ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμὸς λεπτότατός τίς ἐστι καὶ παρυφίσταται τοῖς κατορθοῦσι ῥᾳδίως

[A] wanting to publish their efforts

[B] and go hunting for glory among men;

δημοσιεύειν αὐτῶν τοὺς ἀγῶνας βουλόμενος

 καὶ τὰς παρὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων δόξας θηρώμενος͵

[1] it imagines demons shouting,

[2] and women being healed,

[3] and a crowd wanting to touch his clothes.

[4] It prophesies his [ordination to the] priesthood, with people seeking him at his door; and even if resists being carried off [to be ordained] by force. (Thoughts 21, 28; Ant 7.3, 7.8, 7.26)

δαίμονάς τε κράζοντας ἀναπλάττων

καὶ θεραπευόμενα γύναια

καὶ ὄχλον τινὰ τῶν ἱματίων ἐφαπτόμενον·

μαντεύεται δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἱερωσύνην λοιπὸν καὶ τοὺς ζητοῦντας αὐτὸν ταῖς θύραις ἐφίστησι· καὶ ὡς εἰ μὴ βούλοιτο δέσμιος ἀπαχθήσεται.

And having raised him up with these empty hopes, it suddenly leaps off, leaving and abandoning him to be tempted by the demon of pride or the demon of gloominess, bringing on [tempting-]thoughts the opposite of his earlier hopes

Καὶ οὕτως αὐτὸν μετέωρον ταῖς κεναῖς ἐλπίσι ποιήσας ἀφίπταται καταλιπὼν ἢ τῷ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας δαίμονι πειράζειν αὐτὸν ἢ τῷ τῆς λύπης͵ ὅστις ἐπάγει καὶ λογισμοὺς αὐτῷ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν ἐναντιουμένους·

Sometimes it also hands him over to the demon of sexual immorality - the man who, shortly before, was being carried off to be made a holy priest by force .

Vainglory: Prak 6, 13, 30. 31. 32, 57. 58;  KG 5.86; Thoughts 14, 15, 17, 21, 28, 29, 30; Ant 7.3, 7.8, 7.26. On thoughts of priesthood as source of vainglory: Thoughts 21, 28; Ant 7.3, 7.8, 7.26. 7.36, 7.40.

ἔστι δὲ ὅτε καὶ τῷ τῆς πορνείας δαίμονι παραδίδωσι τὸν πρὸ ὀλίγου δέσμιον καὶ ἅγιον ἱερέα.

14

 

14. THE demon of pride conducts the soul to the very worst fall. It urges it:   ιδ' (14) Ὁ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας δαίμων χαλεπωτάτης πτώσεως τῇ ψυχῇ πρόξενος γίνεται· ἀναπείθει γὰρ αὐτὴν

[1] not to acknowledge God’s help;

[2] to think it is responsible for its own success;

[3] and to be arrogant towards the brethren as unintelligent because they do not all share the same opinion concerning this.

 Θεὸν μὲν μὴ ὁμολογεῖν βοηθόν͵

ἑαυτὴν δὲ τῶν κατορθουμένων αἰτίαν εἶναι νομίζειν

καὶ φυσιοῦσθαι κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὡς ἀνοήτων͵ διότι μὴ τοῦτο περὶ αὐτῆς πάντες ἐπίστανται.

This demon is followed by: Παρακολουθεῖ δὲ ταύτῃ

[1] anger and

[2] gloominess and the ultimate evil,

[3] complete insanity and madness, and visions of throngs of demons in the air.


Pride: Prak. 6, 13, 14, 33, 57. Thoughts 1, 14, 18, 21, 23; Antirhet 8; Skemm 40, 41, 44, 49, 57. Eight Thoughts 17; ad Mon. 61, 62Exh. Monks 1.6. Sch. 102 on Prov 8.13; Sch. 23 on Eccl 4.1;  Extasis: 33 Chapters 9

ὀργὴ καὶ

λύπη͵ καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον κακόν͵

ἔκστασις φρενῶν καὶ μανία καὶ δαιμόνων ἐν τῷ ἀέρι πλῆθος ὁρώμενον.

§ 15. Resisting Logismoi

 

[TACTICS] for the EIGHT [TEMPTING-] THOUGHTS] Πρὸς τοὺς ὀκτὼ λογισμούς

 

 

15. THE wandering nous is made stable by
[1] reading,
[2] vigils and
[3] prayer.

  ιε´.  Νοῦν μεν πλανώμενον ἵστησιν
  
ἀναγνωσις καὶ
  
ἀγρυπνία  και
  
προσευχή·

  Burning epithumia (desire) is quenched by
[1] hunger,
[2] toil, and
[
3]
solitude. 

 ἐπιθυμίαν δὲ ἐκφλογουμένην μαραίνει
  
πεῖνα  καὶ
  
κόπος καὶ
  
ἀναχώρησις·

  Churning thumos (indignation) is calmed by
[1] the singing of Psalms, by
[
2]
patient endurance and
[3] mercy. 

θυμὸν δὲ καταπαύει κυκώμενον
   
ψαλμῳδία καὶ
  
μακροθυμία καὶ
  
ἔλεος·

 But all these practices are to be engaged in at proper times and in proper measure.  What is done untimely or without measure is temporary.  And what is temporary is more harmful and not beneficial.

καὶ ταῦτα τοῖς  προσήκουσι χρόνοις τε καὶ μέτροις γινόμενα· τὰ γὰρ ἄμετρα καὶ  ἄκαιρα ὀλιγοχρόνια· τὰ δὲ ὀλιγοχρόνια βλαπερὰ μᾶλλον καὶ  οὐκ ὠφέλιμα.


Ad Mon. 1.3; Eulogius 19. Wandering: KG 1.85; Thoughts 9 , 26; Letter 43; Burning: Prak.22, 23; Eulogius 32; (soul): Prak. 39. Psalmody: Prak 71, Monks 98; Prayer 86; Sch. 8 on Psalm 44.10; Sch. 1 on Psalm 122.1,  Sch. 4. on Ps 39.4.


due measure: Letter on Faith 40. Gn. 47  Virgin 40-41; Thoughts 27; Prayer 83. Mercy: KG 1.40; KG 1.73.

 

 

16. WHEN our soul longs for a variety of different foods, then its portion should be reduced to bread and water to make it thankful for a little morsel. It is satiety that desires variety in food; hunger considers it blessedness just to have satiety of bread.


Antirrhetikos 1; Thoughts 25; Monks 11; Thoughts 1, 3, 6, 13, 21 Maxims 1 18. Surfeit, Eulogius 18.26; Eight Thoughts 1.17, 33; 2.4, 11-12; Thoughts 35, 43

  ις'  Ὁπηνίκα διαφόρων βρωμάτων ἐφίεται ἡμῶν ἡ ψυχή, τὸ τηνικαῦτα ἐν ἄρτῳ στενούσθω καὶ ὕδατι ἵν' εὐχάριστος γένηται καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ ψιλῷ τῷ ψωμῷ· κόρος γὰρ ποικίλων ἐδεσμάτων ἐπιθυμεῖ, λιμὸς δὲ τὸν κόρον τοῦ ἄρτου μακαριότητα εἶναι νοίζει.

 

 

17.A GREAT aid to chastity is deprivation of water: be persuaded by three hundred Israelites who defeated Midian in company with Gideon (Judges 7:5-7). [Sch. 1 on Ps 45.2; Monks 102]

  ιζ'  Πάνυ πρὸς σωφροσύνην συμβάλλεται ἡ τοῦ ὕδατος ἔνδεια· καὶ πειθέτωσάν σε τῶν  Ἰσραηλιτῶν οἱ μετὰ Γεδεὼν τριακόσιοι τὴν Μαδιὰμ χειρωσάμενοι.

18

 

18. JUST as life and death cannot coexist in the same subject at the same time; so also it is impossible for love (agape) to coexist with wealth. Love destroys not only wealth, but also this, our temporal life.

Prak. 99, Thoughts 18, KG 4.62. Sch. 28 on Eccl 4.8, KG 1.40.

ιη´ (18)  Ὡς ζωὴν καὶ θάνατον ἅμα συμβῆναι τῷ αὐτῷ τῶν οὐκ ἐνδεχομένν ἐστιν, οὕτως ἀγάπην χρήμασι συνυπάρξαι τινὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐστιν· ἀναιρετικὴ γὰρ οὐ μόνον χρημάτων ἡ ἀγάπη, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτῆς ἡμῶν τῆς προσκαίρου ζωῆς.

19

 

19. THE one who flees all worldly pleasures is a tower inaccessible to the demon of gloominess. For gloominess is the deprivation of pleasure that is either present or anticipated . ιθ'  Ὁ φεύγων πάσας τὰς κοσμικὰς ἡδονὰς πύργος ἐστὶ τῷ τῆς λύπης ἀπόσιτος δαίμονι· λύπη γάρ ἐστὶ στέρησις ἡδονῆς  ἢ παρούσης ἢ προσδοκωμένης·
So it is impossible for us to drive away this enemy as long as we have any earthly attachment. He sets his trap and produces gloominess just where he sees our inclinations lead us. [cf. Prak.10 (sadness/lupe) ; Eight Thoughts 11, 12] ἀδύνατον δὲ τὸν ἐχθρὸν τοῦτον ἀπώσασθαι πρός τι τῶν ἐπιγείων ἔχοντας ἡμᾶς προσπάθειαν· ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἵστησι τὴν παγίδα καὶ τὴν λύπην ἐργάζεται ὅπου βλέπει μάλιστα νενευκότας ἡμᾶς.

20

 

20.  ANGER and hatred amplify indignation: merciful compassion and gentleness decrease it even when present.

  κʹ  Ὀργὴ μὲν καὶ μῖσος αὔξει θυμόν· ἐλεημοσύνη δὲ καὶ πραΰτης καὶ τὸν ὄντα μειοῖ.


Anger /thumos: Prak. 11, 15, 22, 23, 24, 38, 62, 63, 73. Gnost. 4, 5;  10, 45. Thoughts 2, 9, 10, 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 32, 34, 42.  Prayer 64. Skemmata 9, 23; 24; 43. ad.Mon.109ad Virg 8.  KG 1.68, 3.34 4.38; 4.47; 5.11, 5.27, 6.63Eulogius 5; 6, 79,  17; 18.  Letter 27, 56,   Antirr. 5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.12, 5.32.


Sch.60 on Prov.5.9;  Scholia: 4 on Ps 6.8(1);  25 on Ps 17.49;  7 on Ps 30.10;  9 on Ps.73.19; 1 on. Ps 131.1.  Eight Thoughts 9, 10

21

 

21.  THE sun should not set on our anger (Eph. 4:26): so that the demons do not, rising up by night, terrify the soul and make the nous  more cowardly the day after for the fight. For terrifying phantasms are produced by the disturbance of indignation.  And nothing makes a deserter out of the nous as much as disturbed indignation.


Prak. 11, 20, cf. also  15, 22, 23, 24, 62, 73;

  καʹ  Ὁ  ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπἰ τῷ παροργισμῷ ἡμῶν, ἵνα  μὴ νύκτωρ ἐπιστάντες οἱ δαίμονες ἐκδειματώσωσι τὴν ψυχὴν  καὶ δειλότερον ποιήσωσι τῇ ἐπιούσῃ τὸν νοῦν πρὸς τὸν  πόλεμον· τὰ γὰρ φοβερὰ φάσματα ἐκ τῆς ταραχῆς τοῦ θυμου  πέφυκε γίνεσθαι· οὐδὲν δὲ λειποτάκτην οὕτως ἄλλο τὸν νοῦν  ἀπεργάζεται ὡς θυμὸς ταρασσόμενος.

22

 

22. WHEN the irascible part of our soul (thumikon) seizes some excuse and is troubled, then the demons suggest to us how good it is to withdraw [into solitude] thus keeping us from resolving the cause of the gloominess and freeing ourselves from the disturbance.

  κβʹ  Ὁπηνίκα προφάσεως ἐφαψάμενον τὸ θυμικὸν ἡμῶν μέρος  τῆς ψυχῆς ἐκταράσσεται, τὸ τηνικαῦτα καὶ οἱ δαίμονες τὴν  ἀναχώρησιν ἡμῖν ὡς καλὴν ὑποβάλλουσιν, ἵνα μὴ τὰς αἰτίας  τῆς λυπης λύσαντες ταραχ͂ς ἑαυτοὺς ἀπαλλάξωμεν. 

But when our desiring part (eipithumetikon) is enkindled, then they make us sociable and call us hardened and uncivil, so that by desiring bodies we [then] come into contact with bodies. We should not obey them, but instead do the opposite.

 ταν  δὲ τὸ ἐπιθυμητικὸν ἐκθερμαίνηται, τότε πάλιν φιλανθρώπυος  ἡμᾶς ἀπεργάζονται σκληροὺς καὶ ἀγρίους ἀποκαλοῦντες, ἵνα 7 σωμάτων ἐπιθυμοῦντες σώμασιν ἐντυγχάνωμεν. Οἷς οὐ 8 πείθεσθαι δεῖ· μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ ἐναντίον ποιεῖν.

23

 

23. DO not give yourself to the [tempting-] thought of anger by fighting mentally the distressing person; nor to that of fornication by spending most of the time in fantasies of pleasures. For the one darkens the soul, the other summons it to burn with passion.  Both of these pollute your nous .

  κγʹ  Μή δῷς σεαυτὸν τῷ τῆς ὀγῆς λογισμῷ κατὰ διάνοιαν  τῷ λελυπηκότι μαχόμενος· μηδ' αὐ πάλιν τῷ τῆς πορνείας  ἐπἰ πλεῖστον τἠν ἡδονὴν φανταζόμενος· τὸ μἐν γὰρ ἐπισκοτεῖ  τῇ ψυχῇ, τὸ δὲ πρὸς τὴν πύρωσιν τοῦ πάθους αὐτὴν προσκαλεῖται·  ἑκάτερα δὲ τὸν νοῦν σου ῥυπῶντα ποιεῖ·

And [thus] at the time of prayer [you will] fantasize images: and not [being able] to offer pure prayer to God, you will immediately fall victim to the demon of acedia. This demon readily leaps upon such states and, like a dog with a young deer, tears the soul to pieces .

καὶ παρὰ  τὸν καιρὸν τῆς προσευχῆς τὰ εἴδωλα φανταζόμενος καὶ  καθαρὰν τῷ Θεῷ τὴν εὐχὴν μὴ προσφέρων εὐθὺς τῷ τῆς  ἀκηδίας δαίμονι περιπίπτεις· ὅστις μάλιστα ταῖς τοιαύταὶς  ἐφάλλεται καταστάσεσι καὶ δίκην κυνὸς καθάπερ νεβρὸν  τὴν ψυχὴν διαπάζει.

24

 

24. THE nature of indignation is to fight the demons and to struggle over any kind of pleasure. For this reason the angels suggest to us spiritual pleasures and the blessedness [coming] from them; they encourage us to direct our indignation towards the demons.  The latter, however, draging us towards worldly desires, violently force our indignation against nature to fight human beings, so as to darken the nous , separating it from Knowledge, and [thus] making it a traitor to the virtues. (cf Gnost 24)

  κδʹ Φύσις θυμοῦ τὸ τοῖς δαίμουσι μάχεσθαι καί ὑπὲρ ἡστινοσοῦν  ἡδονῆς ἀγονίζεσθαι.  Διόπερ ὁι μὲν ἄγγελοι τὴν πνευματικὴν  ἡμῖν ἡδονὴν ὑποβάλλοντες καὶ τὴν ἐκ ταύτης μακαριότητα,  πρὸς τοὺς δαίμονας τὸν θυμὸν τρέψαι παρακαλοῦσιν· ἐκεῖνοι  δ' ἆυ πάλιν πρὸς τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας ἕλκοντες ἡμᾶς τὸν  θυμὸν παρὰ φύσιν μάχεσθαι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις βιάζονται, ἵνα  σκοτισθεὶς ὁ νοῦς καὶ τῆς γνώσεως ἐκπεσὼν προδότης γένηται  τῶν ἀρετῶν.

25 prosexhe seauto never cause brother to flee

 

25.  TAKE heed to yourself, that you never so provoke any of the brethren that he runs away, or you will never escape during your lifetime from the demon of despondency, which will always become an obstacle for you at the time of prayer

  κεʹ Πρόσεχε σεαυττῷ μήποτε φυγαδεύσῃς τινὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν  παροργίσας, καὶ οὐκ ἐκφεύξῃ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου τὸν τῆς λύπης  δαίμονα παρὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς προσευχῆς ἀεί σοι σκῶλον  γινόμενον.

 

 

26. GIFTS quench memory of injury (mnēsikakia). Let Jacob convince you of this. He insinuated himself into Esau's graces with gifts, when he came against him with four hundred men (Gen. 32).  But as we are poor, we should make up for our lack by hospitality at table. κς´   (26)  Μνησικακίν σβέννυσι δῶρ· καὶ πειθέτω σε Ἰακὼβ τὸν   Ἐσαῦ δόμασιν ὑπελθὼν μετὰ τετρακοσίων εἰς ὑπάντησιν 3 ἐξελθόντα.  Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς πένητες ὄντες τραπέζῃ τὴν χρείαν 4 πληρώσωμεν

 

 

27.  WHEN we are oppressed by the demon of listlessness, then with tears let us divide our soul in two, ||||  one part encouraging the other, sowing good hopes within us, soothing with David’s chant, ‘Why are you downcast, my soul, why do you trouble me? Hope in God, for I will confess him, the Savior of my countenance and my God’ (Ps. 41:6).

  κζ'  Ὅταν τῷ τῆς ἀκηδίας περιπέσωμεν δαίμονι, τὸ τηνικαῦτα τὴν ψυχὴν μετὰ δακρύων μερίσαντες τὴν μὲν παρακαλοῦσαν τὴν δὲ παρακαλουμένην ποιήσωμεν, ἐλπίδας ἀγαθὰς ἑαυτοῖς ὑποσπείροντες καὶ τὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Δαυΐδ κατεπᾴδοντες· ἵνα τί περίλυπος εἶ, ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ ἵνα τί συντααράσσεις με; ἔλπισον ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, ὅτι ἐξοολογήσομαι αὐτῷ· σωτήριον τοῦ προσώπου μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου.

 

 

28.  WE must not abandon our cell in time of temptation, making eloquent excuses: we should stay seated within and persevere and bravely receive all comers, especially the demon of acedia, the most oppressive of all, and thereby most highly proving the soul['s quality]. Fleeing from such conflicts and trying to shun this teaches the nous to be incompetent, fearful and fugitive.

  κη Οὐ δεῖ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῶν πειρασμῶν καταλιμπάνειν τὴν κέλλαν προφάσεις εὐλόγους δῆθεν πλαττόμενον , ἀλλ' ἔνδον καθῆσθαι καὶ ὑπομένειν καὶ δέχεσθαι γενναίως τοὺς ἐπερχομένους ἅπαντας μέν, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ τὸν τῆς ἀκηδίας δαίμονα, ὅστις ὑπὲρ πάντας βαρύτατος ὢν δοκιμωτάτην μάλιστα τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπεργάζεται.  Τὸ γὰρ φεύγειν τοὺς τοιούτους ἀγῶνας καὶ περιίστασθαι ἄτεχνον τὸν νοῦν καὶ δειλὸν καὶ δραπέτην διδάσκει.

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29.  OUR holy teacher, who was greatly experienced in asceticism (praktikotatos) said, ‘The monk must always be ready as though he were to die tomorrow, but he must as well treat his body as if he were going to live with it for many years. The first [approach] cuts off the thoughts of acedia and makes the monk more zealous, while the second maintains the body and keeps its self-control in balance.’

  κθ'  Ἔλεγε δὲ ὁ ἅγιος καὶ πρακτικώτατος ἡμῶν διδάσκαλος· οὕτω δεῖ ἀεὶ παρσκευάζεσθαι τὸν μονοχὸν ὡς αὔριν τεθνηξόμενον, καὶ οὕτω πάλιν τῷ σώματι κεχρῆσθαι ὡς ἐν πολλοῖς ἔτεσι συζησόμενον.  Τὸ μὲν γάρ, φησί, τοὺς τῆς ἀκηδίας  λογισμοὺς περικόπτει καὶ σπουδαιότερον παρασκευάζει τὸν μοναχόν· τὸ δὲ σῶον διαφυλάττει τὸ σῶμα καὶ ἴσην αὐτοῦ ἀεὶ συντηρεῖ τὴν ἐγκράτειαν.

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30. IT is difficult to escape the [tempting-]thought [logismos] of vainglory, since whatever you do to subjugate it becomes the occasion for renewed vainglory. Our proper thoughts (logismoi) are not all opposed by the demons; some of them are opposed by our own individual vices.

  λ'  Χαλεπὸν διαυγεῖν τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμόν· ὃ γὰρ ποιεῖς εἰς καθαίρεσιν αὐτοῦ τοῦτο ἀρχή σοι κενοδοξίας ἑτέρας καθίσταται.  Οὐ παντὶ δὲ λογισμῷ ἡμῶν ὀρθῷ ἐναντιοῦνται οἱ δαίμονες ἀλλά τισι καὶ αἱ κακίαι αὗται καθ' ἃς πεποιώμεθα.

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31. I HAVE observed the demon of vainglory chased away by almost all the other demons; but then when its pursuers failed, it shamelessly came forward, proclaiming to the monk how great [the monk’s] virtues are.

  λα'  Ἔγνων τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας δαίμονα σχεδὸν ὑπὸ πάντων διωκόμενον τῶν δαιμόνων καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς τῶν διωκόντων πτώμασιν ἀναιδῶς παριστάενον καὶ τῷ μοναχῷ μέγεθος ἀρετῶν ἐμφανίζοντα.

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32. ONE who has reached knowledge and harvested the pleasure it brings will no longer be persuaded by the demon of vainglory setting before him all the pleasures of the world. For what could it hold out to him better than spiritual contemplation? But to the extent that we have not tasted the savor of knowledge, we should eagerly engage in asceticism [praktikē], demonstrating to God our goal: namely, that we do everything for the sake of knowledge of Him.

  λβ'  Ὁ γνώσεως ἐφαψάμενος και τὴν ἀπ' αὐτης καρπούμενος ἡδονὴν οὐκέτι τῷ τῆς κενοδοξίας πεισθήσεται δαίμονι,  πάσας αὐτῷ τὰς ἡδονὰς τοῦ κόσμου προσάγοντι· τί γὰρ ἂν καὶ ὑπόσχοιτο μεῖζον πνευματικῆς θεωρίας;  Ἐν ὅσῳ δέ ἐσμεν γνώσεως ἄγευστοι, τὴν πρακτικὴν προθύμως κατεργαζώμεθα, τὸν σκοπὸν ἡμῶν δεικνύντες Θεῷ ὅτι πάντα πράττομεν τῆς αὐτοῦ γνώσεως ἕνεκεν.

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33.  REMEMBER your former life and your old trespasses, and how while subject to passions you transitioned to apatheia by the mercy of Christ, and how you then left the world that had so frequently and in so many ways humiliated you.

    And reflect on this for me: who kept guard over you in the desert and drove away the demons who gnashed their teeth against you?  Thoughts [logismoi] of this sort will instill humility and deny entry the demon of pride.

  λγ'  Μέμνησο τοῦ προτέρου σου βίου καὶ ἀρχαίων παραπτωμάτων, καὶ πῶς ἐμπαθὴς ὢν ἐλέει Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὴν ἀπάθειαν μεταβέβηκας, καὶ πῶς πάλιν ἐξῆλθες τοῦ κόσμου τοῦ πολλὰ καὶ πολλάκις σε ταπεινώσαντος. 

   Λόγισαι δέ μοι καὶ τοῦτο· τίς ὁ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ φυλάσσων σε͵ καὶ τίς ὁ ἀπελαύ νων τοὺς δαίμονας βρύχοντας κατὰ σοῦ τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτῶν. Οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι λογισμοὶ ταπεινοφροσύνην μὲν ἐμποιοῦσιν͵ τὸν δὲ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας οὐκ εἰσδέχονται δαίμονα.

§ 34. PASSIONS

 

ON PASSIONS 34-39 Περὶ παθῶν

 

 

34. IF we have memories full of  passion of certain things, it is because we once welcomed these very things with passion. Whatever things we welcome with passion, these things we will later remember with passion. So anyone who has defeated the demons which activate such things makes light of the things they activate The immaterial battle is harder than the material battle.

λδ' Ὧν τὰς μνήμας ἔχομεν ἐμπαθεῖς͵ τούτων καὶ τὰ πράγματα πρότερον μετὰ πάθους ὑπεδεξάμεθα· καὶ ὅσα τῶν πραγμάτων πάλιν μετὰ πάθους ὑποδεχόμεθα͵ τούτων καὶ τὰς μνήμας ἕξομεν ἐμπαθεῖς. Ὅθεν ὁ νικήσας τοὺς ἐνεργοῦντας δαίμονας τῶν ὑπ΄ αὐτῶν ἐνεργουμένων καταφρονεῖ· τοῦ γὰρ ἐνύλου πολέμου ὁ ἄϋλος χαλεπώτερος.

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35. THE The passions of the soul originate from human beings; those of the body [originate] from the body. And while the passions of the body are cut away by self-control, those of the soul [are cut back] by spiritual love.

λεʹ Τὰ μὲν τῆς ψυχῆς πάθη ἐκ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἔχει τὰς ἀφορμάς· τὰ δὲ τοῦ σώματος ἐκ τοῦ σώματος· καὶ τὰ μὲν τοῦ σώματος πάθη περικόπτει ἐγκράτεια͵ τὰ δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀγάπη πνευματική.

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36. THE demons that preside over the passions of the soul [i.e. anger] persist obstinately until death; (Letter 25.3) those that preside over the passions of the body withdraw more quickly. And other demons are like the sun that rises and sets, affecting only one part of the soul; but the noonday [demon] (i.e. acedia) generally envelops the whole soul and suffocates the nous.  λς' Οἱ μὲν τῶν ψυχικῶν προεστῶτες παθῶν ἄχρι θανάτου προσκαρτεροῦσιν· οἱ δὲ τῶν σωματικῶν θᾶττον ὑποχωροῦσιν· καὶ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι δαίμονες ἀνατέλλοντι ἢ δύνοντι τῷ ἡλίῳ ἐοίκασιν͵ ἑνός τινος μέρους τῆς ψυχῆς ἐφαπτόμενοι· ὁ δὲ μεσημβρινὸς ὅλην περιλαμβάνειν εἴωθε τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ ἐναποπνίγειν τὸν νοῦν.
For this reason the solitary life is sweet after we have emptied out the passions; then our memories are simple Διὸ γλυκεῖα ἡ ἀναχώρησις μετὰ τὴν τῶν παθῶν κένωσιν· τότε γὰρ αἱ μνῆμαι μόνον εἰσὶ ψιλαί·

and the monk’s struggle is thus not to prepare him to fight, , but rather to contemplate [the struggle] itself.

καὶ ἡ πάλη οὐ πρὸς ἀγῶνα λοιπόν͵ ἀλλὰ πρὸς θεωρίαν αὐτῆς παρασκευάζει τὸν μοναχόν.

 

 

37. WE must consider whether it is concepts (ennoia) that move passions or passions [that] move concepts. Some [people] have held the first opinion, others the second.

λζʹ Πότερον ἡ ἔννοια τὰ πάθη κινεῖ͵ ἢ τὰ πάθη τὴν ἔννοιαν προσεκτέον· τισὶ μὲν γὰρ ἔδοξε τὸ πρότερον͵ τισὶ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον.

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38. BY means of sensations passions are naturally aroused: if both charity and self-control are present they will not be aroused; [but] if absent, they will be aroused. Indignation requires more remedies than desire, and because of this charity is called “great” (1 Cor. 13:13), because it bridles indignation; and therefore Holy Moses in his natural science symbolically names it “snake-fighter” (Lev. 11:22).

ληʹ Ὑπὸ τῶν αἰσθήσεων πέφυκε κινεῖσθαι τὰ πάθη· καὶ παρούσης μὲν ἀγάπης καὶ ἐγκρατείας οὐ κινηθήσεται͵ ἀπούσης δὲ κινηθήσεται· πλειόνων δὲ παρὰ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ὁ θυμὸς δεῖται φαρμάκων͵ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μεγάλη λέγεται ἡ ἀγάπη ὅτι χαλινός ἐστι τοῦ θυμοῦ· ταύτην καὶ Μωσῆς ἐκεῖνος ὁ ἅγιος ἐν τοῖς φυσικοῖς συμβολικῶς ὀφιομάχην ὠνόμασεν.

 

 

39. ON account of the strong stench in demons the soul is usually enflamed against [tempting-]thoughts [logismoi] when it perceives them approaching, being affected by the passion associated with the demon that is annoying it.

λθ' Πρὸς τὴν ἐπικρατοῦσαν δυσωδίαν ἐν τοῖς δαίμοσιν εἴωθεν ἀνάπτεσθαι πρὸς λογισμοὺς ἡ ψυχή͵ ὅταν αὐτῶν ἐγγιζόντων ἀντιλαμβάνηται͵ τῷ τοῦ παρενοχλοῦντος πάθει πεποιωμένη.

 

 

40_Instructions

 

INSTRUCTIONS ποθῆκαι

 

 

 

 

40. IT is not possible at all times to carry out the customary rule, but it is necessary to be watchful of the opportune time [occasion] and [thus] to perform whatever commandments we can, as best we are able. μ´. Οὐκ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ δυνατὸν ἐκτελεῖν τὸν συνήθη κανόνα͵ προσέχειν δὲ δεῖ τῷ καιρῷ καὶ τὰς ἐνδεχομένας ἐντολὰς ὡς ἕνι μάλιστα πειρᾶσθαι ποιεῖν·
Regarding these opportune times  and what concerns them the demons themselves are not ignorant. Thus in their movements against us they prevent our accomplishing what is possible and force us to undertake what is not possible: τοὺς γὰρ καιροὺς καὶ αὐτοὶ τοὺς τοιούτους οὐκ ἀγνοοῦσιν οἱ δαίμονες. Ὅθεν κινούμενοι καθ΄ ἡμῶν͵ τὰ μὲν δυνατὰ γενέσθαι κωλύουσι͵ τὰ δὲ μὴ δυνατὰ γενέσθαι πράττειν ἡμᾶς καταναγκάζουσι·

they prevent the sick from giving thanks in their pain and from being patient in receiving their ministrations;

again they exhort the weak to fast

and those who are weighed down to sing psalms while standing.

καὶ γὰρ τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας εὐχαριστεῖν μὲν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀλγηδόσι καὶ μακροθυμεῖν ἐπὶ τοῖς ὑπηρετοῦσιν ἀποκωλύουσιν·

 ἀτονοῦντας δὲ πάλιν ἐγκρατεύεσθαι

καὶ βεβαρημένους ἑστῶτας ψάλλειν προτρέπονται.

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41. WHEN we are compelled to spend time in cities or towns, we should especially maintain our self-control on occasions when we interact with secular persons, lest our our mind (nous) become coarse and be robbed of its accustomed diligence because of the present time [occasion] and so become a fugitive, thrown about by the demons.

μα' Ὅταν ἐν πόλεσιν ἢ ἐν κώμαις ἐπ΄ ὀλίγον ἀναγκαζώμεθα διατρίβειν͵ τότε μάλιστα σφοδρότερον τῆς ἐγκρατείας ἐχόμε νοι τοῖς κοσμικοῖς συνεσόμεθα͵ μήποτε παχυνθεὶς ἡμῶν ὁ νοῦς καὶ τῆς συνήθους ἐπιμελείας διὰ τὸν παρόντα καιρὸν στερηθεὶς πράξῃ τι τῶν ἀβουλήτων καὶ γένηται φυγάς͵ ὑπὸ τῶν δαιμόνων βαλλόμενος.

 

 

42. DO not immediately pray when you are tempted; first speak some words with anger to the one pressuring you: for when your soul is acted upon by tempting-thoughts prayer cannot be pure. But if you speak to them with anger you will confuse and utterly destroy the ideas (noemata) that come from your enemies. This is also the natural result of anger in the case of good ideas.

μβʹ Οὐ πρότερον προσεύξῃ πειραζόμενος͵ πρὶν εἰπεῖν τινα ῥήματα μετ΄ ὀργῆς πρὸς τὸν θλίβοντα· τῆς γὰρ ψυχῆς σου πεποιωμένης τοῖς λογισμοῖς͵ συμβαίνει μηδὲ καθαρὰν γενέσθαι τὴν προσευχήν· ἐὰν δὲ μετ΄ ὀργῆς εἴπῃς τι πρὸς αὐτούς͵ συγχεῖς τε καὶ ἐξαφανίζεις τῶν ἀντικειμένων τὰ νοήματα. Τοῦτο γὰρ ἡ ὀργὴ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρειττόνων νοημάτων ἐργάζεσθαι πέφυκεν.

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43. IT is necessary to be aware of the differences between demons and to interpret their different occasions [opportunties]:

μγʹ Δεῖ δὲ καὶ τὰς διαφορὰς τῶν δαιμόνων ἐπιγινώσκειν͵ καὶ τοὺς καιροὺς αὐτῶν σημειοῦσθαι·

this we shall know from the [tempting-] thoughts,

εἰσόμεθα δὲ ἐκ τῶν λογισμῶν͵

and the [tempting-] thoughts from the objects [they depict;

τοὺς δὲ λογισμοὺς ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων͵

thus knowing] which demons are less frequent and heavier,

which are more frequent and lighter,

and which leap suddenly and snatch the nous off to blasphemy.

τίνες τῶν δαιμόνων σπάνιοι καὶ βαρύτεροι͵ καὶ ποῖοι συνεχεῖς καὶ κουφότεροι͵ καὶ τίνες οἱ ἀθρόως εἰσπηδῶντες καὶ πρὸς βλασφημίαν τὸν νοῦν ἁρπάζοντες.

These things it is necessary to know, so that when [tempting-] thoughts begin to move their own particular matter, and before we are driven too far from our proper state, we may speak out to them and indicate which one is present. For thus we shall with God’s help readily make progress, amazing them and forcing them to flee from us.

Ταῦτα δὲ ἀναγκαῖον εἰδέναι͵ ἵν΄ ὅταν ἄρξωνται οἱ λογισμοὶ τὰς ἰδίας ὕλας κινεῖν͵ πρὶν ἢ πολὺ τῆς οἰκείας ἐκβαλώμεθα καταστάσεως͵ φθεγγώμεθά τι πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸν παρόντα σημαίνωμεν· οὕτω γὰρ ἂν αὐτοί τε ῥᾳδίως σὺν Θεῷ προκόπτωμεν͵ κἀκείνους θαυ μάζοντας ἡμᾶς καὶ ὀδυνωμένους ἀποπτῆναι ποιήσωμεν.

 

 

44. WHEN the demons are powerless in their struggle with the monks, they withdraw for a little and carefully note which of the virtues the [monks] are meanwhile neglecting; and then they  suddenly rush in and tear the wretched soul to pieces.

μδ' Ὅταν ἀγωνιζόμενοι πρὸς τοὺς μοναχοὺς ἀδυνατῶσιν οἱ δαίμονες͵ τότε μικρὸν ὑποχωρήσαντες ἐπιτηροῦσι ποία τῶν ἀρετῶν ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ παρημέληται͵ κἀκείνῃ αἰφνιδίως ἐπεισ ελθόντες͵ τὴν ἀθλίαν ψυχὴν διαρπάζουσιν.

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45. THE evil demons bring along even more evil demons to assist them. Temperamentally they are opposed to each another, but they all agree in seeking solely the destruction of the soul.

με' Οἱ πονηροὶ δαίμονες τοὺς πονηροτέρους αὐτῶν δαίμονας εἰς βοήθειαν ἐπισπῶνται· καὶ κατὰ τὰς διαθέσεις ἀλλήλοις ἐναντιούμενοι͵ συμφωνοῦσιν ἐπ΄ ἀπωλείᾳ μόνον ψυχῆς.

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46. WE should not be disturbed by the demon that seizes and carries off the nous towards blasphemy against God and towards unspeakable fantasies that I have not even attempted to record in writing; nor should such things hinder our eagerness. The Lord is knower of the heart and he knows that even when we were in the world we were not guilty of such insanity. The goal of this demon is to hinder our prayer prayer, so that we do not stand before the Lord our God or dare to raise our hands, on account of having these kinds of ideas. μζ' Μὴ ταραττέτω δὲ ἡμᾶς ὁ δαίμων ὁ συναρπάζων τὸν νοῦν πρὸς βλασφημίαν Θεοῦ καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἀπειρημένας φαντασίας ἐκείνας ἃς ἔγωγε οὐδὲ γραφῇ παραδοῦναι τετόλμηκα͵ μηδὲ τὴν προθυμίαν ἡμῶν ἐκκοπτέτω· καρδιογνώστης γάρ ἐστιν ὁ Κύριος καὶ οἶδεν ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ὄντες ποτὲ τοιαύτην μανίαν ἐμάνημεν. Σκοπὸς δὲ τούτῳ τῷ δαίμονι παῦσαι ἡμᾶς τῆς προσευχῆς͵ ἵνα μὴ στῶμεν ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν͵ μηδὲ τὰς χεῖρας ἐκτεῖναι τολμήσωμεν καθ΄ οὗ τοιαῦτα διενοήθημεν.

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47. THE sign of the passions within the soul is some word which we utter or some movement of the body; through these the enemies perceive whether we have their [tempting-]thoughts (logismoi) within us and are in labor [of childbirth] with them, or whether we have cast them away and are concerned with our salvation. For It is only the God who made us who knows our nous and does not require signs to know what is hidden within our heart. μη' Τῶν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ παθημάτων σύμβολον γίνεται ἢ λόγος τις προενεχθείς͵ ἢ κίνησις τοῦ σώματος γενομένη͵ δι΄ οὗ ἐπαισθάνονται οἱ ἐχθροὶ πότερον ἔνδον ἔχομεν τοὺς λογισμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ὠδίνομεν͵ ἢ ἀπορρίψαντες αὐτοὺς μεριμνῶμεν περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν. Τὸν γὰρ νοῦν μόνος ἐπίσταται ὁ ποιήσας ἡμᾶς Θεός͵ καὶ οὐ δεῖται συμβόλων αὐτὸς πρὸς τὸ γινώσκειν τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ κρυπτόμενα.

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48. WHILE the demons prefer to fight persons [who live] in the world by means of [external] matters, they attack monks primarily through [tempting-]thoughts (logismoi), for they are separated [from things] because of the desert. And since it is easier to sin mentally than by action, the mental war is more difficult than that which arises because of [external] matters. The nous is something that is easily moved and hard to restrain when confronted with lawless fantasies.

μη' Τοῖς μὲν κοσμικοῖς οἱ δαίμονες διὰ τῶν πραγμάτων μᾶλλον παλαίουσι͵ τοῖς δὲ μοναχοῖς ὡς ἐπὶ πλεῖστον διὰ τῶν λογισμῶν· πραγμάτων γὰρ διὰ τὴν ἐρημίαν ἐστέρηνται· καὶ ὅσον εὐκολώτερον τὸ κατὰ διάνοιαν ἁμαρτάνειν τοῦ κατ΄ ἐνέργειαν͵ τοσοῦτον χαλεπώτερος καὶ ὁ κατὰ διάνοιαν πόλεμος τοῦ διὰ τῶν πραγμάτων συνισταμένου· εὐκίνητον γάρ τι πρᾶγμα ὁ νοῦς καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἀνόμους φαντασίας δυσκάθεκτον.

49

 

49. WE are not commanded to work the whole time or to keep vigil the whole time or to fast the whole time, but there is a law that we should pray ceaselessly (1 Thes. 5:17). The first three, which heal the part of the soul in which the passions are, need the body for their practice, and it is congenitally too weak for such labours; but prayer makes the mind strong and pure for the struggle, since the mind is naturally made for prayer and it is natural to it to fight demons even without the body, on behalf of all the powers of the soul. Cf. KG 2.9.

μθ' Ἐργάζεσθαι μὲν διὰ παντὸς καὶ ἀγρυπνεῖν καὶ νηστεύειν οὐ προστετάγμεθα͵ προσεύχεσθαι δὲ ἡμῖν ἀδιαλείπτως νενομοθέτηται· διότι ἐκεῖνα μὲν τὸ παθητικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς θεραπεύοντα καὶ τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν ἐργασίαν προσδεῖται͵ ὅπερ δι΄ οἰκείαν ἀσθένειαν πρὸς τοὺς πόνους οὐκ ἐπαρκεῖ· ἡ δὲ προσευχὴ τὸν νοῦν ἐρρωμένον καὶ καθαρὸν πρὸς τὴν πάλην παρασκευάζει͵ πεφυκότα προσεύχεσθαι καὶ δίχα τούτου τοῦ σώματος καὶ ὑπὲρ πασῶν τῶν τῆς ψυχῆς δυνάμεων τοῖς δαίμοσι μάχεσθαι.

50

 

50. IF any monk wishes to experience of the savage demons and to become acquainted with their art, he should observe his [tempting-]thoughts and note [down]

νʹ Εἴ τις βούλοιτο τῶν μοναχῶν ἀγρίων πειραθῆναι δαιμόνων καὶ τῆς αὐτῶν τέχνης ἔξιν λαβεῖν͵ τηρείτω τοὺς λογισμούς͵

their intensification

and diminution,

and their interconnectedness,

and their timing,

and which demons produce what,

and which demon comes after another,

and which does not follow after which;

καὶ τὰς ἐπιτάσεις σημειούσθω τούτων͵

καὶ τὰς ἀνέσεις͵

καὶ τὰς μετεμπλοκάς͵

 καὶ τοὺς χρόνους͵

 καὶ τίνες τῶν δαιμόνων οἱ τοῦτο ποιοῦντες͵

καὶ ποῖος ποίῳ δαίμονι ἀκολουθεῖ͵

καὶ τίς τίνι οὐχ ἕπεται·

and he should seek from Christ the inner meanings [logoi] of these things. καὶ ζητείτω παρὰ Χριστοῦ τούτων τοὺς λόγους.
They dislike those who approach the ascetic life with greater knowledge, for they wish to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart (Ps 10:2). Πάνυ γὰρ χαλεπαίνουσιν ἐπὶ τοῖς γνωστικώτερον τὴν πρακτικὴν μετιοῦσι͵ βουλόμενοι κατατοξεύειν ἐν σκοτο μήνῃ τοὺς εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ.

[on γνωστικώτερον cf Eulog 26]

 

51

 

51. THROUGH observation you will discover that two of the demons are the sharpest, so quick that they almost overtake the movement of your mind the demon of fornication and the one which drags us off to blaspheme God But the second does not last for long, while the first, provided it does not stir our thoughts (logismoi) with passion, will not impede our knowledge of God

ναʹ Δύο τῶν δαιμόνων ὀξυτάτους παρατηρήσας εὑρήσεις͵ καὶ σχεδὸν τὴν κίνησιν τοῦ νοὸς ἡμῶν παρατρέχοντας· τὸν δαί μονα τῆς πορνείας καὶ τὸν συναρπάζοντα ἡμᾶς πρὸς βλασφη μίαν Θεοῦ· ἀλλ΄ ὁ μὲν δεύτερός ἐστιν ὀλιγοχρόνιος͵ ὁ δὲ πρότερος͵ εἰ μὴ μετὰ πάθους κινοίη τοὺς λογισμούς͵ οὐκ ἐμποδίσει ἡμῖν πρὸς τὴν γνῶσιν τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ.

52

 

52. TO separate body from soul belongs solely to the One who united them; but to separate soul from body belongs also to one who longs for virtue. Withdrawal [into solitude] has been called by our fathers meditation on death and flight from the body.

νβʹ Σῶμα μὲν χωρίσαι ψυχῆς͵ μόνου ἐστὶ τοῦ συνδήσαντος· ψυχὴν δὲ ἀπὸ σώματος͵ καὶ τοῦ ἐφιεμένου τῆς ἀρετῆς. Τὴν γὰρ ἀναχώρησιν μελέτην θανάτου καὶ φυγὴν τοῦ σώματος οἱ Πατέρες ἡμῶν ὀνομάζουσιν.

53

 

53. THOSE who wickedly cherish the flesh and take thought for it to satisfy desires (Rom 13 14) should blame themselves, not [the flesh]. For they know the grace of the creator - those who have attained apatheia of the soul by means of the body, and to some extent zealously strive for the contemplation of beings.

νγ' Οἱ τὴν σάρκα κακῶς διατρέφοντες καὶ πρόνοιαν αὐτῆς εἰς ἐπιθυμίας ποιούμενοι͵ ἑαυτοὺς μὴ ταύτην καταμεμφέσθω σαν· ἴσασι γὰρ τὴν χάριν τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ οἱ τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπάθειαν διὰ τοῦ σώματος τούτου κτησάμενοι καὶ τῇ τῶν ὄντων θεωρίᾳ ποσῶς ἐπιβάλλοντες.

 

 

§ 54 DURING SLEEP

 

CONCERNING THINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING SLEEP

54-56 Περὶ τῶν ἐν τοῖς ὕπνοις συμβαινόντων

 

 

 

 

54. WHEN in the fantasies that arise during sleep the demons, attack the desiring part of the soul and show us such things as gatherings with friends, family banquets, dancing women and other similar pleasures, and we eagerly receive them, then we become sick in the [desiring] part [of our soul] and passion dominates.

νδ' Ὅταν ἐν ταῖς καθ΄ ὕπνον φαντασίαις τῷ ἐπιθυμητικῷ μέρει πολεμοῦντες οἱ δαίμονες αὐτοὶ μὲν δεικνύωσιν͵ ἡμεῖς δὲ προστρέχωμεν͵ συντυχίας γνωρίμων καὶ συμπόσια συγγενῶν καὶ χοροὺς γυναικῶν καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα τοιαῦτα ἡδονῶν ἀποτελεστικά͵ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει νοσοῦμεν καὶ τὸ πάθος ἰσχύει.

And when they trouble our irascible part, forcing us on dangerously high paths and bringing forth armed men and poisonous or flesh-eating beasts, and we are terrified by these paths and we flee, pursued by the beasts and the men, then we must take [particular] care of our irascible part and call upon Christ in vigils and make use of the remedies already described. Ὅταν δὲ πάλιν τὸ θυμικὸν ἐκταράσσωσιν͵ ὁδοὺς κρημνώδεις ὁδεύειν καταναγκάζοντες͵ καὶ ἐνόπλους ἄνδρας ἐπάγοντες καὶ ἰοβόλα καὶ σαρκοβόρα θηρία͵ ἡμεῖς δὲ πρὸς μὲν τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐκδειματούμεθα͵ ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν θηρίων καὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν διωκόμενοι φεύγωμεν͵ τοῦ θυμικοῦ μέρους ποιησώμεθα πρόνοιαν͵ καὶ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις ἐπικαλούμενοι͵ τοῖς προειρημένοις φαρμάκοις χρησώμεθα.

 

 

55.  IF during sleep there are no [mental] images [accompanying] the natural movements of the body, then this shows that the soul is to some extent healthy: [since] the formation of images is a sign of sickness.  Consider on the one hand undefined images to be [the sign of] an old passion, while defined images are the sign of a fresh wound.

  νε' (55) Αἱ ἀνείδωλοι ἐν τοῖς ὕπνοις τοῦ σώματος φυσικαὶ κινήσεις ὑγιαίνειν ποσῶς μηνύουσι τὴν ψυχήν· πῆξις δὲ εἰδώλων ἀρρωστίας γνώρισμα· καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀόριστα πρόσωπα τοῦ παλαιοῦ πάθους͵ τὰ δὲ ὡρισμένα τῆς παραυτίκα πληγῆς σύμβολον νόμιζε.

56

 

56. WE shall recognize the proofs of apatheia (dispassion): νς' (56) Τὰ τῆς ἀπαθείας τεκμήρια͵

[1] during the daytime by our [tempting-] thoughts; and

   μεθ΄ ἡμέραν μὲν διὰ τῶν λογισμῶν͵

[2] at night by our dreams.

   νύκτωρ δὲ διὰ τῶν ἐνυπνίων
And apatheia is what we shall call the health of the soul, while its food is knowledge;  ἐπιγνωσόμεθα· καὶ τὴν μὲν ἀπάθειαν ὑγείαν ἐροῦμεν εἶναι ψυχῆς͵ τροφὴν δὲ τὴν γνῶσιν͵

which is the only means by which we can normally be united with the holy powers, since our union with incorporeal [beings] naturally occurs because of the similarity of our disposition with theirs.

 ἥτις μόνη συνάπτειν ἡμᾶς ταῖς ἁγίαις δυνάμεσιν εἴωθεν· εἴπερ ἡ τῶν ἀσωμάτων συνάφεια ἐκ τῆς ὁμοίας διαθέσεως γίνεσθαι πέφυκεν.

 

 

§ 57. NEAR APATHEIA

 

THE STATE APPROACHING APATHEIA

Περὶ  καταστάσεως
ἐγγιζούσης τῇ ἀπαθείᾳ

 

 

 

 

57.  TWO in number are the souls peaceful states: νζʹ   Δύο τῆς ψυχῆς εἰρηνικαὶ καταστάσεις εἰσί͵

[A] the first arises from natural seeds;

[B] while the other is engendered by the withdrawal of the demons

μία μὲν ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν φυσικῶν σπερμάτων ἀναδιδομένη͵ ἑτέρα δὲ ἡ ἐξ ὑποχωρήσεως τῶν δαιμόνων ἐπιγινομένη·
 [A] From the first there follow: καὶ τῇ μὲν προτέρᾳ ἀκολουθεῖ

[1] humility, with

[2] compunction, and

[3] tears, and

[4] limitless longing (pothos) for God, and

[5] immeasurable eagerness for [our assigned] task.

 ταπεινοφροσύνη μετὰ

 κατανύξεως͵ καὶ

δάκρυον καὶ

πόθος πρὸς τὸ θεῖον ἄπειρος͵

καὶ σπουδὴ περὶ τὸ ἔργον ἀμέτρητος·

 [B] From the second [arise] τῇ δὲ δευτέρᾳ

[1] vainglory with

[2] pride,

κενοδοξία μετὰ

ὑπερηφανίας

which capture the monk when the other demons go away.

ἐν ἀναιρέσει τῶν λοιπῶν δαιμόνων τὸν μοναχὸν ὑποσύρουσα.

One who perceives the beginnings of the first [peaceful] state will be even more sharply aware of the attacks of the demons.

Ὁ τοίνυν τηρῶν τὰ ὅρια τῆς προτέρας καταστάσεως͵ τὰς ἐπιδρομὰς τῶν δαιμόνων ὀξύτερον ἐπιγνώσεται.

§58_Use_Vainglory_to_drive_out_nail_with_nail

 

58 THE demon of vainglory opposes the demon of sexual impurity; and it is impossible for them both to attack the soul at the same time; for the former promises honor while the latter produces disgrace So [1] whichever of them comes and oppresses you, form within yourself the [tempting-]thoughts of the opposing demon. If you are able, as they say, to use a nail to drive out a nail, you can know that you are near to the borders of apatheia, because your nous is strong enough to employ human thoughts to obliterate demonic thoughts.

νη Ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας δαίμων ἀντίκειται τῷ δαίμονι τῆς πορνείας͵ καὶ τούτους ἅμα προσβαλεῖν ψυχῇ τῶν οὐκ ἐνδεχομένων ἐστίν· εἴπερ ὁ μὲν τιμὰς ἐπαγγέλλεται͵ ὁ δὲ ἀτιμίας πρόξενος γίνεται· ὁπότερος τοίνυν τούτων ἐὰν προσεγγίσας πιέζῃ σε͵ τοὺς τοῦ ἀντικειμένου δαίμονος πλάττε δῆθεν ἐν σεαυτῷ λογισμούς· κἂν δυνηθῇς τὸ δὴ λεγόμενον ἥλῳ τὸν ἧλον ἐκκρούειν͵ γίνωσκε σεαυτὸν πλησίον ὄντα τῶν ὅρων τῆς ἀπαθείας· ἴσχυσε γάρ σου ὁ νοῦς λογισμοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις λογισμοὺς ἀφανίσαι δαιμόνων.

But [2] to employ humility to drive away the [tempting-]thought of vainglory, or chastity [to drive away] the [tempting-]thought of sexual immorality with would be a sign of the most profound apatheia. Τὸ δὲ διὰ ταπεινοφροσύνης ἀπώσασθαι τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμόν͵ ἢ διὰ σωφροσύνης τὸν τῆς πορνείας͵ βαθυτάτης ἂν εἴη τεκμήριον ἀπαθείας.
Attempt to practice this with all the demons that are opposed to each other, and you will, at the same time, come to know which passion affects you the most. Καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν ἀντικειμένων ἀλλήλοις δαιμόνων πράττειν πειράθητι· ἅμα γὰρ καὶ γνώσῃ ποίῳ πάθει μᾶλλον πεποίωσαι.
But with all your power beseech God for the ability to fight off your enemies in this second way. Πλὴν ὅση δύναμις αἴτει παρὰ Θεοῦ τῷ δευτέρῳ τρόπῳ τοὺς πολεμίους ἀμύνασθαι.

59

 

59. THE more progress the soul makes, the more [powerful] the antagonists who take their [predecessors'] place. I am not convinced it is always the same demons against whom we remain steadfast. This is best known by those who pay the most careful attention to temptations and who see the apatheia they have achieved being chipped away by successive demons.

νθ'  Ὅσῳ προκόπτει ψυχή͵ τοσούτῳ μείζονες αὐτὴν ἀνταγωνισταὶ διαδέχονται· τοὺς γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἀεὶ δαίμονας αὐτῇ παραμένειν οὐ πείθομαι· καὶ τοῦτο ἴσασι μάλιστα οἱ ὀξύτερον τοῖς πειρασμοῖς ἐπιβάλλοντες͵ καὶ τὴν προσοῦσαν αὐτοῖς ἀπάθειαν ἐκμοχλευομένην ὑπὸ τῶν διαδεξαμένων ὁρῶντες.

60

 

60. THE perfection of apatheia arises in the soul after the defeat of all the demons opposing the praktikē. Imperfect apatheia corresponds to the power of the particular demon that is still attacking us.

 ξ'   Ἡ μὲν τελεία τῇ ψυχῇ ἀπάθεια μετὰ τὴν νίκην τὴν κατὰ πάντων τῶν ἀντικειμένων τῇ πρακτικῇ δαιμόνων ἐγγίνεται· ἡ δὲ ἀτελὴς ἀπάθεια ὡς πρὸς τὴν δύναμιν τέως τοῦ παλαίοντος αὐτῇ λέγεται δαίμονος.

61

 

61. THE nous cannot make progress or depart on the grand journey, entering the place of the incorporeals until it rightly orders its inner [life].  For  Its own domestic troubles routinely forceit back to the place from which it had set out.

ξα'  Οὐκ ἂν προέλθοι ὁ νοῦς͵ οὐδὲ ἀποδημήσει τὴν καλὴν ἐκείνην ἀποδημίαν͵ καὶ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ γένοιτο τῶν ἀσωμάτων͵ μὴ τὰ ἔνδον διορθωσάμενος· ἡ γὰρ ταραχὴ τῶν οἰκείων ἐπιστρέφειν αὐτὸν εἴωθε πρὸς τὰ ἀφ΄ ὧν ἐξελήλυθεν.

62

 

62. THE nous is blinded by both virtues and vices: the former keep it from seeing the vices; the latter keep it from glimpsing the virtues.

ξβ'  Τὸν νοῦν καὶ αἱ ἀρεταὶ καὶ αἱ κακίαι τυφλὸν ἀπεργάζονται· αἱ μέν͵ ἵνα μὴ βλέπῃ τὰς κακίας· αἱ δέ͵ ἵνα μὴ πάλιν ἴδῃ τὰς ἀρετάς.

 

 

§ 63 SIGNS of APATHEIA

 

CONCERNING THE SIGNS of APATHEIA

Περὶ τῶν τῆς ἀπαθείας συμβόλων

 

 

 

 

63. WHEN the nous begins perform its prayers without distractions, then there commences an all-out battle day and night against the irascible part.

 ξγ´. Ὅταν ὁ νοῦς ἀπερισπάστως ἄρξηται ποιεῖσθαι τὰς προσευχάς, τότε περὶ τὸ θυμικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς νύκτωρ καὶ μεθ' ἡμέραν ὁ πᾶς συνίσταται πόλεμος.

64_nous_radiant

 

64. THE proof of apatheia is that the nous

begins to behold its [own] proper gentle radiance;

that it remains tranquil in the presence of visions during sleep;

and that it looks at matters calmly.


On the light of the nous and its possible origins: cf. KG 1.35, 1.74; 1.81, 2.29; 3.44, 3.52, 5.15; Sch.258 on Prov. 23.22 ; Gnost. 45Prayer 75; Thoughts/Peri.Log. 17, 39, 40, 42; Skem. 2, 42325, 27; Letter 39.5; Antiret. 6.16.

ξδ´. 'Απαθείας τεκμήριον, νοῦς

ἀρξάμενος τὸ οἰκεῖον φέγγος ὁρᾶν,

και πρὸς τὰ καθ' ὕπνον φάσματα διαμένων ἥσυχος,

καὶ λεῖος βλέπων τὰ πράγματα.

65

 

65. THE nous is healthy [and vigorous] when it does not imagine anything of this world at the time of prayer.

 ξε' Ἔρρωται νοῦς μηδὲν τῶν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου παρὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς προσευχῆς φανταζόμενος.

66

 

66. THE nous that with God’s assistance has successfully completed [the work of] asceticism and drawn close to knowledge is hardly aware at all of the irrational part of the soul, because knowledge has snatched it up on high and separated it from perceptible things.

 ξς' Νοῦς σὺν Θεῷ πρακτικὴν κατορθώσας καὶ προσπελάσας τῇ γνώσει ὀλίγον η]̀ οὐδ' ὅλως τοῦ ἀλόγου μέρους τῆς ψυχῆς ἐπαισθάνεται, τῆς γνώσεως αὐτὸν ἁρπαζούσης μετάρσιον καὶ χωριζούσης τῶν αἰσθητῶν.

67

 

67. THE soul possesses apatheia not when it is unmoved by matters, but when it abides undisturbed even by the memory of them.

 ξζ´. Ἀπάθειαν ἔχει ψυχή, οὐχ ἡ μὴ πάσχουσα πρὸς τὰ πράγματα, ἀλλ' ἡ καὶ πρὸς τὰς μνήμας αὐτῶν ἀτάραχος διαμένουσα.

68

 

68. ONE who is perfect does not practice self-control, and one who has attained apatheia does not practice patient endurance, since patient endurance pertains to one who suffers, and self-control to one who is disturbed.

 ξη' Ὁ τέλειος οὐκ ἐγκρατεύεται, καὶ ὁ ἀπαθὴς οὐχ ὑπομένει, ἔπερ τοῦ πάσχοντος ἡ ὑπομονή, καὶ τοῦ ὀχλουμένου ἡ ἐγκράτεια.

69

 

69. A GREAT thing - to pray without distraction; a greater thing still - to sing psalms without distraction.

 ζθ´. Μέγα μὲν τὸ ἀπερισπάστως προσεύχεσθαι, μεῖζον δὲ τὸ καὶ ψάλλειν ἀπερισπάστως.

 

 

70. A MAN who has established the virtues in himself and is entirely permeated with them no longer remembers the law or the commandments or punishment. Rather, he says and does what [this] excellent condition suggests.

 ο´. Ὁ τὰς ἀρετας ἐν ἑαυτῷ καθιδρύσας, καὶ ταύταις ὅλος ἀνακραθείς, οὐκ ἔτι μέμνηται νόμου ἢ ἐντολῶν ἢ κολάσεως, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λέγει καὶ πράττει ὁπόσα ἡ ἀρίστη ἕχις ὑπαγορεύει.

 

 

A

 

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS

Θεωρήματα πρακτικα

 

 

71

 

71. THE demonic songs move our desire and throw the soul into shameful fantasies. But ‘psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’ (Eph 5:19) summon the intellect to continuous memory of virtue by cooling our boiling indignation (thumos) and by quenching our desires. οα´. Αἱ μὲν δαιμονιώδεις ᾠδαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἡμῶν κινοῦσι, καὶ εἰς αἰσχρὰς τὴν ψυχὴν φαντασίας ἐμβάλλουσιν· οἱ δὲ ψαλμοὶ καὶ ὕμνοι καὶ αἱ πνευματικαὶ ὠδαὶ εἰς μνὴμην ἀεὶ τῆς ἀρετῆς τὸν νοῦν προκαλοῦνται, περιζέοντα τὸν θυμὸν ἡμῶν καταψύχοντες καὶ τὰς ἐπιθυμιας μαραίνοντες.

72

 

72. JUST  as wrestlers are accustomed to afflicting and being afflicted, so the demons wrestle with us and when they afflict us, they are afflicted by us in return. As it is said, ‘I will crush afflict and they will bne unable to rise(Ps 17 39) and ‘My enemies and those who afflicted me were weakened and fell down.’ (Ps 26 2)

 οβ' Εἰ οἱ παλαίοντες ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι καὶ ἀντιθλίβειν εἰσί, παλαίουσι δὲ ἡμῖν οἱ δαίμονες, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἄρα θλίβοντες ἡμᾶς ὑφ̓ ἡμῶν ἀντιθλίβονται. Ἐκθλιψω γὰρ αὐτούς, φησί, καὶ οἱ ἐχθροί μου αὐτοὶ ἠσθένησαν καὶ ἔπεσον.

73

 

73. REST is yoked to wisdom, wearisome labor to prudence.  For just as wisdom cannot be attained without warfare the war cannot be conducted properly without prudence. To it is given [the task of] withstanding the irascibility of the demons, compelling the powers of the soul to function according to nature nature and preparing the way of wisdom.

 ογ' Ἀνάπαυσις μὲν τῇ σοφίᾳ, κόπος δὲ τῂ φρονήσει συνέζευκται· ου]κ ἔστι γὰρ σοφίαν κτήσασθαι ἄνευ πολέμου, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι κατορθῶσαι τὸν πόλεμον χωρὶς φρονήσεως· αὕτη γὰρ ἀνθίστασθαι τῷ θυμῷ τῶν δαιμόνων πεπίστευται, τὰς τῆς ψυχῆς δυνάμεις κατὰ φύσιν ἐνεργεῖν ἀναγκάζουσα, καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς σοφίας προευτρεπίζουσα.

74

 

74. THE temptation of the monk is a [tempting-]thought rising rises up through the passionate part of the soul and darkening the nous.

 οδ' Πειρασός ἐστι μοναχοῦ λογισμὸς διὰ τοῦ παθητικοῦ μέρους τῆς ψυχῆς ἀναβὰς καὶ σκοτίζων τὸν νοῦν.

75

 

75. THE sin of the monk is giving consent to the forbidden pleasure of a [tempting-]thought.

 οεʹ Ἁμαρτία ἐστὶ μοναχοῦ ἡ πρὸς τὴν ἀπηγορευμένην ἡδονὴν τοῦ λογισμοῦ συγκατάθεσις.

76

 

76. THE angels rejoice when vice decreases, while the demons are glad when virtue [decreases].  For the former are servants of mercy and love, while the latter are subjects of anger and hatred. When the former approach they fill us with spiritual contemplation, while the latter cast the soul into shameful fantasies.

 ος' Ἄγγελοι μὲν χαίρουσι μειουμένης κακίας, δαίμονες δὲ τῆς ἀρετῆς· οἱ μὲν γάρ εἰσιν ἐλέους καὶ ἀγάπης θεράποντες, οἱ δὲ ὀργῆς καὶ μίσους ὑπήκοοι· καὶ οἱ μὲν πρότεροι πλησιάζοντες πνευματικῆς θεωρίας ἡμᾶςπληροῦσιν, οἱ δὲ δεύτεροι προσεγγίζοντες εἰς αἰσχρὰς τὴν ψυχὴν φαντασίας ἐμβάλλουσιν.

77

 

77. THE virtues do not cut back the attack of demons, but they preserve us from harm.

 οζ' Αἱ ἀρεταὶ οὐ τὰς τῶν δαιμόνων ὁρμὰς ἀνακόπτουσιν, ἀλλ' ἡμᾶς ἀθῴους διαφυλάττουσιν.

78

 

78. ASCETICAL practice is a spiritual method purifying the passionate part of the soul.

 οηʹ Πρακτική ἐστι μέθοδος πνευματικὴ τὸ παθετικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς ἐκκαθαίρουσα.

79

 

79. THE effects of [keeping] the commandments are not sufficient to perfectly heal the powers of the soul, unless their [corresponding] contemplations succeed one other in the nous. Cf KG 2.92.15

 οθʹ Οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν αἱ ἐνέργειαι τῶν ἐντολῶν πρὸς τὸ τελείως ἰάσασθαι τὰς δυνάμεις τῆς ψυχῆς, ἐὰν μὴ καὶ κατάλληλοι ταύταις διαδέξωνται τὸν νοῦν θεωρίαι.

80

 

80. IT is not possible to withstand all the thoughts (logismoi) suggested to us by the angels, but it is possible to overturn all the thoughts suggested by demons. After the first thoughts follows a state of peace; after the latter, turmoil.

 π' Οὐ πᾶσι μὲν τοῖς ὑπ' ἀγγέλων λογισμοῖς ἡμῖν ἐμβαλλομένοις δυνατὸν ἀντιστῆναι, πάντας δὲ τοὺς ὑπὸ δαιμόνων λογισμοὺς δυνατὸν ἀνατρέψαι· ἕπεται δὲ τοῖς μὲν προτέροις λογισμοῖς εἰρηνικὴ κατάστασις, τοῖς δὲ δευτέροις τεταραγμενη.

81

 

81. LOVE is the offspring of apatheia; apatheia is the flower of the ascetical life (praktike). The ascetical life is brought intobeing by keeping the commandments, and their guard is the fear of God, begotten by right faith. Faith is an inherent good that exists naturally even in those who have not yet believed in God.

 πα' Ἀπαθείας ἔγγονον ἀγάπη· ἀπάθεια δέ ἐστιν ἄνθος τῆ πρακτικῆς· πρακτικὴν δὲ συνίστησιν ἡ τήρησις τῶν ἐντολῶν· τούτων δὲ φύλαξ ὁ φόβος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅστις γέννημα τῆς ὀρθ͂ς ἐστι πίστεως· πίστις δέ ἐστιν ἐνδιάθετον ἀγαθόν, ἥτις ἐνυπάρχειν πέφυκε καὶ τοῖς μηδέπω πεπιστευκόσι Θεῷ.

82

 

82. JUST as the soul senses our sick members as it tries to operate by means of the body; so too the nous,  πβ' Ὥσπερ ἐνεργοῦσα διὰ τοῦ σώματος ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν ἀσθενούντων μελῶν ἐπαισθάνεται· οὕτως ἐνεργῶν καὶ ὁ νοῦς

activating its own [proper] activity [energeia],

τὴν οἰκείαν ἐνέργειαν

recognizes its own powers

τάς τε δυνάμεις ἐπιγινώσκει τὰς ἑαυτοῦ

and through that which interferes with it.

καὶ διὰ τῆς ἐμποδιζούσης αὐτῷ

discovers the commandment that is able to heal it[s own activity]

τὴν θεραπευτικὴν αὐτῆς ἐντολὴν ἐφευρίσκει.

83

 

83. THE impassioned nous waging warfare is unable to contemplate the logoi of the war; it is like someone who fights at night. But when it has acquired apatheia it will easily recognize the stratagems of the enemies.

 πγ' Ὁ νοῦς τὸν ἐμπαθῆ πόλεμον πολεμῶν οὐ θεωρήσει τοὺς λόγους τοῦ πολέμου· τῷ γὰρ ἐν νυκτὶ μαχομένῳ ἔοικεν· ἀπάθειαν δὲ κτησάμενος, ῥᾳδίως ἐπιγνώσεται τὰς μεθοδείας τῶν πολεμίων.

§_84

 

84. THE object of the ascetical life is love; of knowledge - theology. The beginnings of each are [respectively,] faith and natural contemplation. The demons that seize the passionate part of the soul are said to oppose the ascetical life, while those that disturb the reasoning [part] are called enemies of all truth and foes of contemplation.

 πδ' Πέρας μὲν πρακτικῆς ἀγάπη· γνώσεως δὲ θεολογία· ἀρχαὶ δὲ ἑκατέρων πίστις καὶ φυσικὴ θεωρία· καὶ ὅσοι μὲν τῶν δαιμόνων τοῦ παθητικοῦ μέρους ἐφάπτονται τῆς ψυχῆς, οὗτοι λέγονται ἀντικεῖσθαι τῇ πρακτικῇ· ὅσοι δ' αὖ πάλιν τῷ λογιστικῷ διοχλοῦσιν, ἐχθροὶ πάσης Ἀληθείας ὀνομάζονται καὶ ἐναντίοι τῇ θεωρίᾳ.

85

 

85. NONE of the things that purify the bodies remain with them once they are pure; but the virtues both purify the soul and remain with it when it is purified.

 πε' Οὐδὲν τῶν καθαιρότων τὰ σώματα σύνεστι μετὰ τοῦτο τοῖς καθαρθεῖσιν· αἱ δὲ ἀρεταὶ ὁμοῦ τε καθαίρουσι τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ καθαρθείσῃ συμπαραμένουσιν.

86

 

86. THE reasoning soul acts according to nature (kata phusin) when:

 πς' Κατὰ φύσιν ἐνεργεῖ ψυχὴ λογικὴ ὅταν

its desiring part (epithumētikon) longs for virtue, while

τὸ μεν ἐπιθυμητικὸν αὐτῆς μέρος τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐφίεται,

its irascible part (thumikon) fights for virtue, and

τὸ δὲ θυμικὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς ἀγωνίζεται,

its reasoning part (logistikon) applies itself to the contemplation of beings.

τὸ δὲ λογιστικὸν ἐπιβάλλει τῇ θεωρίᾳ τῶν γεγονότων.

87

 

87. A PERSON making progress in [ascetical] practice reduces the passions, while one making progress in contemplation reduces ignorance. And although there will eventually be a complete destruction of the passions, some say that  ignorance [too] will end; while others say it will not. [On  “infinite ignorance Cf. KG 3.88 and note]

 πζ' Ὁ μὲν προκόπτων ἐν πρακτικῇ τὰ πάθη μειοῖ, ὁ δὲ ἐν θεωρίᾳ τὴν ἀγνωσίαν· καὶ τῶν μὲν παθῶν ἔσται τοτὲ καὶ φθορὰ παντελής, τῆς δὲ ἀγνωσίας τῆς μὲν εἶναι πέρας, τῆς δὲ μὴ εἶναί φασι.

88

 

88. THINGS that are good or bad depending on how they are used produce both the virtues and the vices; it pertains to prudence to use them in one way or the other.

 πη' τὰ παρὰ τὴν χρῆσιν ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακὰ τῶν ἀρετῶν καὶ τῶν κακιῶν γίνεται ποιητικά· φρονήσεως δέ ἐστι λοιπὸν τὸ χρήσασθαι τούτοις πρὸς θάτερα.

89

 

89. OF three parts does the rational soul consist, according to our wise teacher: 89 (πθʹ) Τριμεροῦς δὲ τῆς λογιχῆς ψυχῆς ὄυσης, κατὰ τὸν σοφὸν ἡμῶν διδάσκαλον·

[1] When it in the RATIONAL part that virtue comes into being it is called
[
1a] prudence and
[1b] understanding and
[
1c] wisdom;

ὅταν μὲν ἐν τῷ λογιστικῷ μέρει γένηται ἡ ἀρετή, καλεῖται
 
φρόνησις καὶ
σύνεσις καὶ
σοφία.

[2] in the CONCUPISCIBLE part,
[2a] temperance and
[2b] charity and
[
2c] self-control;

ὄταν δὲ ἐν τῷ ἐπιθυμητικῷ,
 
σωφροσύνη καὶ
ἀγάπη καὶ
ἐγκράτεια.

[3] in the IRASCIBLE part,
[
3a] courage and
[
3b] patience.

ὅταν δὲ ἐν τῷ θυμικῷ,
ἀνδρεία καὶ
ὑπομονή·

[4] But in the WHOLE of the SOUL [it] is justice.

ἐν ὅλῇ δὲ τῇ ψυχῇ, δικαιοσύνη

[1A] Now the task of PRUDENCE is

Καὶ φρονήσεως μὲν ἔργον

[1A.1] to plan the attack against the opposing powers and

[1A.2] to defend the virtues,

[1A.3] to stand prepared against the vices,

[1A.4] and to administer neutral matters according to the [requirements of the] times. (Gnost. 12)

τὸ στρατηγεῖν πρὸς τὰς ἀντικειμένας δυνάμεἱς,

καὶ τῶν μὲν ἀρετῶν ὑπερασπίζειν,

 πρὸς δὲ τὰς κακίας παρατάττεσθαι,

τὰ δὲ μέσα πρὸς τοὺς καιροὺς διοικεῖν·

[1B] [The task] of UNDERSTANDING: to direct harmoniously all things which help us toward our goal.

συνέσεως δὲ τὸ πάντα τὰ συντελοῦντα ἡμῖν πρὸς τὸν σκοπὸν ἁρμοδίως οἰκονομεῖν·

[1C] [The task] of WISDOM: contemplation of the logoi of corporeal and incorporeal beings.

σοφίας δὲ τὸ θεωρεῖν λόγους σωμάτων καὶ ἀσωμάτων·

[2A] The work of TEMPERANCE: to look serenely upon those affairs which provoke within us irrational phantasies.

σωφροσύνης δὲ ἔργον τὸ βλέπειν ἀπαθῶς τὰ πράγματα τὰ κινοῦντα ἐν ἡμῖν φαντασίας ἀλόγους·

[2B] of CHARITY: all the images of God, showing one another to be as nearly like the prototype as possible no matter how the demons ply their arts to defile them.

ἀγάπης δὲ τὸ πάσῃ εἰκόνι τοῦ θεοῦ τοιαύτην ἑαυτὴν ἐμπαρέχειν οἵαν καὶ τῷ πρωτοτύπῳ σχεδόν, κἂν μιαίνειν αὐτὰς επιχειρῶσιν οἱ δαίμονες·

[2c] Of CONTINENCE: every pleasure of the palate with joy to decline.

ἐγκρατείας δὲ τὸ πᾶσαν ἡδονὴν τοῦ φάρυγγος μετὰ χαρᾶς ἀποσείσθαι·

[3A] Not to fear the enemies and

μὴ δεδιέναι δὲ τοὺς πολεμίους

[3B] eagerly to endure afflictions belongs to COURAGE and PATIENCE.

καὶ προθύμως ἐγκρατερεῖν τοῖς δεινοῖς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς ἀνδρείας ἐστί·

[4] JUSTICE effects a certain symphony and harmony among the [different] parts of the soul.

δικαιοσύνης δὲ τὸ συμφωνίαν τινὰ καὶ ἁρμονίαν τῶν τῆς ψυχῆς μερῶν κατεργάζεσθαι.

[See also Schol 1 on Ps 30.2, where justice contains the other virtues, and the three chief virtues are [1] temperance [2] courage and [3] charity: i.e of [1] epith., [2] thum, [3] logist.

 

90

 

90. WHILE the fruit of sowing is sheaves, that of virtues is knowledge And just as tears accompany the sowing, so joy accompanies the sheaves (Ps 125:6)

Ϛ´. Καρπὸς μὲν σπερμάτων τὰ δράγματα, ἀρετῶν δὲ ἡ γνῶσις· καὶ ὡς ἕπεται τοῖς σπέρμασι δάκρυα, οὕτω τοῖς δράγμασιν ἡ χαρά.

 

 

§ 91 APOPHTHEGMATA

 

SAYINGS of HOLY MONKS

91-100 ̔Ρήσεις μοναχῶν ἁγιων

 

 

 

 

 91. IT is also necessary to inquire diligently concerning the paths of the monks who have travelled uprightly before us, and correct with reference to them. For there is much for us to discover of what they said and did so well.  For example, one of them said that a somewhat dry and regular diet, joined to love brings a monk more quickly into the haven of apatheia.

Ϛα´. Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς τῶν προοδευσάντων ὀρθῶς διερωτᾶν μοναχῶν καὶ πρὸς αὐτὰς κατορθοῦσθαι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἔστιν εὑρεῖν ὑπ΄ αὐτῶν ῥηθέντα τε καὶ πραχθέντα καλῶς· ἐν οἷς καὶ τοῦτό φησί τις αὐτῶν͵ τὴν ξηροτέραν καὶ μὴ ἀνώ μαλον δίαιταν ἀγάπῃ συζευχθεῖσαν θᾶττον εἰσάγειν τὸν μοναχὸν εἰς τὸν τῆς ἀπαθείας λιμένα.

 The same [monk] delivered one of the brethren who was being troubled by fantasies at night by recommending that he serve the sick while fasting. He said when asked that nothing quenches such passions as well as mercy.

̔ Ὁ δ΄ αὐτὸς ταρασσό μενόν τινα νύκτωρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν φασμάτων ἀπήλλαξεν͵ ἀσθενοῦσι μετὰ νηστείας ὑπηρετῆσαι προστάξας· οὐδενὶ γὰρ οὕτως͵ ἐρωτηθεὶς ἔφη͵ ὡς ἐλέῳ τὰ τοιαῦτα κατασβέννυται πάθη.

92

 

 92. UNTO the just Anthony came one of the wise men of that time, saying, ‘How can you endure, O father, without the comfort of books?’ He replied, ‘My book, philosopher, is the nature of beings, and it is there whenever I wish to read the words (logoi) of God’.

Ϛβ Τῷ δικαίῳ Ἀντωνίῳ προσῆλθέ τις τῶν τότε σοφῶν καὶ πῶς διακαρτερεῖς͵ εἶπεν͵ ὦ πάτερ͵ τῆς ἐκ τῶν βιβλίων παραμυθίας ἐστερημένος; Ὁ δέ φησι· τὸ ἐμὸν βιβλίον͵ φιλό σοφε͵ ἡ φύσις τῶν γεγονότων ἐστί͵ καὶ πάρεστιν ὅτε βούλομαι τοὺς λόγους ἀναγινώσκειν τοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ.

93

 

93. THE vessel of election, Macarius the Egyptian elder, asked me, ‘Why is it that when we remember past injuries from men we destroy the soul’s power of memory, but it remains unharmed by memory of past injuries from demons?’ And when I had no answer and asked him to explain it to me he said, ‘It is because the former is contrary to nature (para phusin), while the second is in accordance with the nature (kata phusin) of the irascible [part] (thumos)’.

Ϛγ´. Ἠρώτησέ με τὸ σκεῦος τῆς ἐκλογῆς ὁ Αἰγύπτιος γέρων Μακάριος· τί δήποτε μνησικακοῦντες μὲν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὴν μνημονευτικὴν δύναμιν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀφανίζομεν͵ δαίμοσι δὲ μνησικακοῦντες ἀβλαβεῖς διαμένομεν; Κἀμοῦ πρὸς τὴν ἀπόκρισιν ἀπορήσαντος καὶ παρακαλοῦντος τὸν λόγον μαθεῖν͵ διότι͵ φησὶν ἐκεῖνος͵ τὸ μὲν πρότερον παρὰ φύσιν͵ τὸ δὲ δεύτερον κατὰ φύσιν ἐστὶ τοῦ θυμοῦ.

 

 

94. ON one occasion I visited the holy father Macarius at the full heat of midday, and I asked for some water to drink as I was burning with thirst, and he said, ‘Let the shade suffice, for there are many people at this very moment traveling or sailing who are deprived even of this. Then, when I repeated to him some sayings concerning self-control, he said, ‘Take courage, o child: for twenty years I have never taken as much as I wanted wanted of bread, water or sleep. I ate my bread by weight, drank water by measure, and snatched a little bit of sleep reclining against a wall’.

Ϛδ´. Παρέβαλον κατ΄ αὐτὴν τὴν σταθερὰν μεσημβρίαν τῷ ἁγίῳ πατρὶ Μακαρίῳ καὶ λίαν ὑπὸ τῆς δίψης φλεγόμενος ᾔτουν ὕδωρ πιεῖν· ὁ δέ φησιν· ἀρκέσθητι τῇ σκιᾷ· πολλοὶ γὰρ νῦν ὁδοιποροῦντες ἢ πλέοντες καὶ ταύτης ἐστέρηνται. Εἶτα λόγους μου πρὸς αὐτὸν περὶ ἐγκρατείας γυμνάζοντος· θάρσει͵ φησίν͵ ὦ τέκνον͵ ἐν ὅλοις ἔτεσιν εἴκοσι οὔτε ἄρτου͵ οὔτε ὕδατος͵ οὔτε ὕπνου κόρον εἴληφα· τὸν μὲν γὰρ ἄρτον μου ἤσθιον σταθμῷ͵ τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ ἔπινον μέτρῳ͵ τοῖς τοίχοις δὲ ἐμαυτὸν παρακλίνων μικρόν τι τοῦ ὕπνου μέρος ἀφήρπαζον.

95

 

95. ONE of the monks was informed of the death of his father, but he said to the one who informed him, ‘Stop blaspheming my father is immortal’.

Ϛε´. Ἐμηνύθη τινὶ τῶν μοναχῶν θάνατος τοῦ πατρός· ὁ δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀπαγγείλαντα͵ παῦσαι͵ φησί͵ βλασφημῶν· ὁ γὰρ ἐμὸς πατὴρ ἀθάνατός ἐστιν.

 

 

96. ONE of the brothers asked one of the elders whether he would have him eat with his mother and his sisters when he went home for a visit: he said, ‘Do not eat with a woman’.

Ϛς´. Ἐπύθετό τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἑνὸς τῶν γερόντων εἰ κελεύοι τῇ μητρὶ καὶ ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς συμφαγεῖν αὐτὸν παραβαλόντα τῷ οἴκῳ· ὁ δέ͵ μετὰ γυναικός͵ εἶπεν͵ οὐ βρώσῃ.

 

 

97. ONE of the brothers possessed solely a book of the gospels, and he sold it to feed the hungry, saying something worthy of memory: ‘I have sold the word that told me, “Sell what you have and give to the poor “(Mt. 19:21)

Ϛζ´. Ἐκέκτητό τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν εὐαγγέλιον μόνον͵ καὶ τοῦτο πωλήσας ἔδωκεν εἰς τροφὴν τοῖς πεινῶσιν͵ ἄξιον μνήμης ἐπιφθεγξάμενος ῥῆμα· αὐτὸν γάρ͵ φησί͵ τὸν λόγον πεπώληκα τὸν λέγοντά μοι· πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς.

 

 

98. NEAR Alexandria there is an island in the northern part of the lake that is called Maria, and a monk who lives there is one of the most excellent of the company of the knowers. He proclaimed that everything done by the monks is done for one of five reasons:

Ϛη´. Ἔστι δέ τις παρὰ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν νῆσος κατ΄ αὐτὸ τὸ βόρειον μέρος τῆς λίμνης κειμένη τῆς καλουμένης Μαρίας͵ προσοικεῖ δὲ αὐτῇ μοναχὸς τῆς παρεμβολῆς τῶν γνωστικῶν ὁ δοκιμώτατος· ὅστις ἀπεφήνατο πάντα τὰ πραττόμενα ὑπὸ τῶν μοναχῶν πράττεσθαι δι΄ αἰτίας πέντε·

God; nature; habit; necessity; or manual work. διὰ Θεόν͵ διὰ φύσιν͵ διὰ ἔθος͵ διὰ ἀνάγκην͵ διὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν.
He said as well that virtue is by nature one, but that it takes various forms in the powers of the soul; Ὁ δ΄ αὐτὸς ἔλεγε πάλιν μίαν μὲν εἶναι τῇ φύσει τὴν ἀρετήν͵ εἰδοποιεῖσθαι δὲ αὐτὴν ἐν ταῖς δυνάμεσι τῆς ψυχῆς·
for it is like the light of the sun that lacks form, but is naturally given form by the windows through which it passes. καὶ γὰρ τὸ φῶς τὸ ἡλιακὸν ἀσχημάτιστον μέν ἐστι͵ φησί͵ ταῖς δὲ δι΄ ὧν εἰσβάλλει θυρίσι συσχηματίζεσθαι πέφυκεν.

 

 

99. YET another monk said, ‘I strip away pleasures in order to eliminate excuses for anger. I know that [anger] always fights for pleasures and disturbs my nous and chases knowledge away.  One of the elders said that love does not know how to store up food or money. And the same [monk] said, ‘I do not know that I have ever been deceived twice by the demons on the same matter.

Ϛθ´. Ἄλλος δὲ πάλιν τῶν μοναχῶν· διὰ τοῦτο περιαιρῶ τὰς ἡδονάς͵ εἶπεν͵ ἵνα τὰς τοῦ θυμοῦ περικόψω προφάσεις· οἶδα γὰρ αὐτὸν ἀεὶ μαχόμενον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἡδονῶν καὶ ἐκταράσσοντά μου τὸν νοῦν καὶ τὴν γνῶσιν ἀποδιώκοντα. Ἔλεγε δέ τις τῶν γερόντων ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη παραθήκας βρωμάτων ἢ χρημάτων τηρεῖν οὐκ ἐπίσταται. Ὁ δ΄ αὐτός· οὐκ οἶδα͵ φησίν͵ εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ δὶς ὑπὸ δαιμόνων ἀπατηθείς.

100

 

100. TO love all the brothers equally is not possible, but it is possible to meet them all with apatheia [by] being free from memory of evil and [from] hatred:

priests are next after the Lord,

because by means of the sacred mysteries they purify and pray for us;

we are to revere the elders as the angels,

for it is they who anoint us for our struggle and heal us when we are bitten by [wild] beasts.

On the mystical significance of priestly ministry and the Eucharist: KG 2.44; Monks 118-120; Letter on Faith 4/[14]; Sch.15 on Ps 67.24

ρ´. Πάντας μὲν ἐπ΄ ἴσης οὐ δυνατὸν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἀγαπᾶν πᾶσι δὲ δυνατὸν ἀπαθῶς συντυγχάνειν μνησικακίας ὄντα καὶ μίσους ἐλεύθερον· τοὺς ἱερεῖς ἀγαπητέον μετὰ τὸν Κύριον τοὺς διὰ τῶν ἁγίων μυστηρίων καθαρίζοντας ἡμᾶς καὶ προσευχομένους ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν· τοὺς δὲ γέροντας ἡμῶν τιμητέον ὡς τοὺς ἀγγέλους· αὐτοὶ γάρ εἰσιν οἱ πρὸς τοὺς ἀγῶνας ἡμᾶς ἀλείφοντες καὶ τὰ τῶν ἀγρίων θηρίων δήγματα θεραπεύοντες.

101_Epilogue

 

 

 

EPILOGUE

 

 

 

 

 

SO now this, my dear Anatolius, is what I have said about ascetical practice, what I have discovered by the grace of the holy Spirit, gleaning from my crop of ripening grapes:  but if the sun of righteousness (Mal 3:20) shines forth upon us in his height, and the grape is fully ripened, then we shall drink his wine, which gladdens the heart of man (Ps 103 13), thanks to the prayers and intercession of the righteous Gregory who planted me, and those of the holy fathers who now water me, and by the power of Christ Jesus our Lord who causes me to grow (cf. 1Cor 3 6-7), to whom be glory and power unto the Ages of Ages, Amen.

Ἀλλὰ νῦν μέν μοι τοσαῦτα λελέχθω πρὸς σὲ περὶ πρακτικῆς͵ ποθεινότατε ἀδελφὲ Ἀνατόλιε͵ ὅσα χάριτι τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἐν τῷ σπόρῳ περκαζούσης ἡμῶν τῆς σταφυλῆς ἐπιρωγολογούμενοι εὑρήκαμεν· εἰ δὲ σταθερὸς ἡμῖν ἐπιλάμψει τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὁ ἥλιος καὶ ὁ βότρυς πέπειρος γένηται͵ τότε καὶ τὸν οἶνον πιόμεθα αὐτοῦ τὸν εὐφραίνοντα καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου͵ εὐχαῖς καὶ πρεσβείαις τοῦ δικαίου Γρηγορίου τοῦ φυτεύσαντός με καὶ τῶν νῦν ὁσίων Πατέρων τῶν ποτιζόν των με͵ καὶ δυνάμει τῇ τοῦ αὐξάνοντός με Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν͵ ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

[1] ENGLISH TEXT: This translation owes much to the literal and melifluous version by Simon Tugwell, O.P., Evagrius Ponticus, Praktikos & On Prayer  (Oxford:Faculty of Theology, 1987).  Serious students of Evagrius are urged to obtain the excellent translation of Robert E. Sinkewicz, Evagrius Ponticus, The Greek Ascetic Corpus (Oxford U.P., 2003). Less literal English translations of Evagrius Praktikos may be found in: Early Fathers from the Philokalia (Faber) The Philocalia, vol. 1 (Faber); and J. E. Bamberger's  Evagrius Ponticus, Praktikos and Chapters on Prayer (Cistercian).


GREEK TEXT: The Greek version given above is based on both Migne (PG 40, 1220-1236, 1244-1252, 1272-1276.) and the critical edition of A & C. Guillaumont, ser. Sources Chrétiennes  171, (Paris, Cerf, 1971), pp. 482-715.


Undertake Praktike more contemplatively: 50, 79, 83

Anger endures until death 36

Contemplate the battlefield - 36

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As possible example of over literalness (perhaps excessive?) "Lucifer, the Dawn-Rising [Star]" in Prol 3, rather than "Lucifer the Day-Star" amd Prol 6: too literal use of participles without clear verb in second phrase

 


This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 1990....x....  .