Desert Wisdom 
Collection of the Wisdom of the Desert Fathers. St.Benedict pointed to the the writings of the early Desert Fathers, specifically mentioning the St. Basil and John Cassian (RB 73:5) as sources for “further perfection.”
Serve Christ the Lord
The senior holy fathers told how a certain monk in the desert, who was also a senior, was actually a slave, and every year he would leave the desert and go down to Alexandria where his masters lived, in order to give them that due proportion of what he had earned which slaves usually give… Read More ›
The Lord Is Watching Over Your Struggle
There was another brother fiercely attacked by a spirit of fornication who got up in the middle of the night in order to go and confess his temptations to a certain holy old man who had a reputation of great wisdom. When the old man had heard him he gave him some spiritual advice on… Read More ›
Try and Make Peace
There were two brothers who lived the monastic life together, and the evil devil was doing his best to sow discord between them. One day the younger brother went as usual to light the lamp at vespers, and by the machinations of a demon he knocked the candlestick over and the light was extinguished. The… Read More ›
Humility and Obedience
The holy fathers used to say of John, the disciple of Abba Paul, that he possessed the virtues of great humility and obedience to such extent that he would make no objection whatsoever no matter how difficult the tasks the abba set him, nor did he ever grumble. When a certain tool was needed for… Read More ›
Seven Instructions of Abba Moses
Seven instructions which Abba Moses sent to Abba Poeman. He who puts them into practice will escape all punishment and will live in peace, whether he dwells in the desert or in the midst of the brethren. 1. The monk must die to his neighour and never judge him at all, in any way whatever…. Read More ›
Transfiguration
In the end we are dealing with a phenomenon that transformed the world. When Christ was transfigured on Mount Tabor, he bestowed on history what we now understand to be an uncreated and natural grace. It has affected the way we view the world ever since. Anthony and his fellow anchorites were not just uneducated… Read More ›
The Love of Poverty
The following article was published by Christianity Today, May 2008. The last few decades, more and more evangelicals have been mining the treasures of Eastern Orthodoxy. One reason for their openness is the work of people like Bradley Nassif, professor of biblical and theological studies at North Park University in Chicago. For years he has… Read More ›
Three Biscuits, Six Biscuits
There was an old man and each day he would eat three biscuits. A brother came to visit the old man and when they had sat down to eat, he set three biscuits before the brother.When the old man saw that the brother was still hungry, he brought him three more. When they had their… Read More ›
Working a Field filled with Thorn-apples and Thistles
A brother succumbed to temptation and on account of what was afflicting him quit keeping the monastic rule; wanting to start all over again, he was thwarted by his affliction and said to himself, `When will I find myself like I once was?’ Despondent, he was unable to begin his monastic work so he went… Read More ›
Because of his Obedience
It was said of Abba Silvanus that at Scetis he had a disciple called Mark whose obedience was great. He was a scribe. The old man loved him because of his obedience. He had eleven other disciples who were hurt because he loved him more than them. When they knew this, the elders were sorry… Read More ›