Tag: desert
Charity above all
There came three old men to the abbot Achilles and one of them was ill spoken of by the other two. One of the three said to the abbot, “Father, make me a fishing-net”; but he refused. And the second said, “Make it for us, so that we may have something to remember you by… Read More ›
Temptations can be a blessing
An old man said, “For nine years a brother was tempted in thought to the point of despairing of his salvation, and being scrupulous he condemned himself, saying, ‘I have lost my soul, and since I am lost I shall go back to the world.’ But while he was on the way, a voice came… Read More ›
In time of temptation
Abba Poemon once said: If a temptation comes to you in the place where you live, do not leave the place at the time of temptation, for wherever you go you will find that which you fled from there before you. But stay until the temptation is past, that your departure may not cause offence… Read More ›
Patience and Anger
A certain brother while he was in the community was restless and frequently moved to wrath. And he said within himself, “I shall go and live in some place in solitude: and when I have no one to speak to or to hear, I shall be at peace and this passion of anger will be… Read More ›
They are all going into the Kingdom
There was an old man living in the desert who served God for so many years and he said, “Lord, let me know if I have pleased you.” He saw an angel who said to him, “You have not yet become like the gardener in such and such place.” The old man marveled and said,… Read More ›
God is Life and Light for All
God is the life of all free beings. He is the salvation of all, of believers or unbelievers, of the just or the unjust, of the pious or the impious, of those freed from passions or those caught up in them, of monks or those living in the world, of the educated and the illiterate,… Read More ›
Perfect Charity
Abba Agathon said, “If I could meet a leper, give him my body and take his, I should be very happy.” That is perfect charity. It was also said of him that when he came into the town one day to sell his goods, he met a sick traveller lying in the public place with… Read More ›
I do not know the work of men
There was an anchorite who was gazing with the antelopes and who prayed to God, saying, “Lord, teach me something more.” And a voice came to him, saying, “Go into this monastery and do whatever they tell you.” He went there and remained in the monastery, but he did not know the work of the… Read More ›
Hospitality
Once three brothers came to visit an old man in Scetis and one of them said to him, “Abba, I have committed to memory the Old and New Testaments.” And the old man answered, “You have filled the air with words.” The second one said to him, “I have written out the Old and New… Read More ›
Finding Peace
Abba Joseph asked Abba Nisteros, “What should I do about my tongue, for I cannot control it?” The old man said to him, “When you speak, do you find peace?” He replied, “No.” The old man said to him, “If you do not find peace, why do you speak? Be silent, and when a conversation… Read More ›