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Section2
A highly respected elder of our own days was visited by a young man tempted with lustful
[Link],the
elderaskedhimifhewaswillingtoobeywithoutquestiontheadvicehewasabouttobeoffered.
"Iwilldowhateveryousay,"themananswered.
Theelderthenadvisedhimtotakeacertainbustoitslaststop,getoffthebus,andremoveall
[Link],butneverthelessacting
outofsincereobedience,theyoungmanwenttowaitforthebusthathewasinstructedtotake.
Inthemeantime,thewiseeldersentabrothertofetchthewaitingman,explainingtohimthat
[Link]
againapproachedtheelder,theelderaskedhim:"Doyoustillhaveyourlustfulthoughts?"
Theformerlytemptedmananswered,"No,Father,theyhaveleftme."
***
Once I saw the devil lying in wait outside the cell of my disciple," said a sagacious elder. "So I
[Link]
him and was plunged deep in study. As soon as he closed the book and ended his reading, the
devilrushedintotempthim.
***
"The sacred writers of the Old and New Testaments, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
authoredbooks,"saidacertainelder."TheFatherstookcaretoapplythewritingsintheirlives.
[Link]
themawayinlibraries."
"Come,mychild,andtasteoftheblessedlifeofobedience,"AbbaMosestoldayoungmanwho
wasreadytofollowthemonasticlife."Inthislife,youwillfindhumility,strength,joy,patience,
and forbearance. Within it, contrition is born and love blossoms. It aids the good monastic
discipletokeepallofthedivinecommandmentsthroughouthislife."
***
Likewise,AbbaIperechioscallsobediencetheinvaluabletreasureofthemonk:"Lethimwhohas
attaineditbeassuredthathisprayerwillalwaysbeheardandwillbepresentedwithboldnessat
thealtarofHimWhowasobedientevenuntodeath."
***
Again, Abba Rouphos says that greater glory awaits the monk who is obedient to an elder than
thehermitwholivesbyhisownwillinthesolitudeofthedesert.
***
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"There are three things especially pleasing to God," said Abba Joseph the Thebite. "Illnesses
sufferedwithpatience,worksdonewithoutostentationandforHisloveonly,andsubmissiontoa
[Link]."
***
Once some elders went to visit Abba Antonios. Along with them was Abba Joseph. The Great
Father,totestthem,choseacertainwrittenmaximandaskedeachofthem,onebyone,totell
[Link]
"Youdidnotfinditsmeaning,"heansweredeachofthem.
ThencameAbbaJoseph'sturn.
"Whatdoyouhavetosayaboutthis,Joseph?"AntoniostheGreataskedhim.
"Idonotknowofsuchthings,"hereplied.
"Abba Joseph gave the correct answer," the holy one then said, marveling at Abba Joseph's
humility.
***
The Fathers of the skete once gathered to speak among themselves about spiritual things, and
[Link]
agreement in their opinions. Then they remembered Abba Kopris and sent summons to him so
that they could get his opinion. When he heard of the cause of their disagreement and the
subjectaboutwhichtheyhadidledawaysomanyhoursarguing,hestruckhimselfthreetimeson
themouthandsaid:"Woetoyou,[Link]
youhavesoughttofindthosethingswhichHewillneveraskofyou."
Hearinghiswisewords,theotherelderslefttheirgatheringandreturnedtotheircells,pensive.
***
"Whosoever enters a perfume shop," a certain elder related, "even if he does not purchase any
perfume, leaves filled with fragrance. The same thing happens to one who associates with holy
[Link]."
***
"Ifapersondesires,hemayattainholinessasmuchatthesettingofthesunasatitsdawning,"
AntoniostheGreatsaid,teachinghisdisciplestherebythepowerofrepentance.
***
ThreeelderscustomarilywentthreetimesayeartothemountainofAbbaAntoniostobetaught
by the Great Saint. Two of them would ask various questions concerning spiritual and bodily
[Link]
flowing within him. The third elder always listened silently, without asking anything. Once the
Saint asked him: "So many years you have visited me, brother, without making the slightest
[Link]?"
"It is enough for me to see you, Abba. Indeed, this has taught me much," the elder answered
reverently.
***
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"Forsomeonetoteachanother,hemustbehealthyinhissoulandfreeofpassions,"saysAbba
Poimen."Thereisnouseinbuildingthehouseofanother,yourownbeingdestroyed."
"He who teaches others, without putting to practice any of that which he teaches," the same
Fatherfurthersays,"islikeaspringwhichirrigatesandflowsoverallthatisaroundit,whileitis
filledwitheverysortofdirt."
***
"Trulywise,"saidAbbaIperechios,"ishewhoteaches,notwithwords,butwithdeeds."
AnotherwiseFathercomparesonewhoteachesonlywithwords,withoutdoingworks,withtrees
whichhaveleaves,butbearnofruit.
One of the great Fathers of the desert told a certain elder, his neighbor, who always accepted
visitorsandtaughtthem:"Becareful,brother,forwhiletheoillampindeedgiveslighttomany,
itswickholderisusuallyburned."
***
"Hewhoknowshimselfisaman,"saidAbbaPoimen.
***
A desert elder set off for the nearest village to sell his baskets. On the road that he was going
down,thedevilfoundhimand,outoftheintensemalicehehadtowardtheelder,snatchedthe
[Link],withoutbeingatallupset,raisedhiseyesto
heavenandsaid,"Ithankyou,myGod,thatyouhaverelievedmeofmyburdenandthetrouble
ofgoingdowntothevillage."Thenthedevil,notsufferingthecalmnessofthehermit,threwthe
basketsinhisface,shouting:"Takethemback,oldman."
Themonkgatheredthemupagainandcontinuedonhiswaytothevillage.
***
"I once saw all of the snares of the devil spread out across the earth," said the Great Antonios,
"andIbecameterrified."
"Isitpossiblethatanyonecanescapethem?"hesaid,sighing.
Hethenheardamysteriousvoiceansweringhim:"Hewhoishumbleofmind."
***
Whilestillayoungmonk,AbbaPoimenaskedtolearnfromAntoniostheGreatwhatheshoulddo
tofindhissalvation.
"Acknowledge your faults with a broken heart," this Father of Fathers answered, "and humble
[Link],endurepatientlythetemptationswhichoccurtoyouandbesurethat
youwillbesaved."
***
The fathers relate to us that, besides other divine gifts, there was also bestowed by God upon
Saint Euthymios the following: to perceive, from the external appearance, the internal activities
of the souls of people, as though seeing them in mirror images and to know in detail the
thoughts with which each one battled, and, indeed, which among these thoughts he was
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defeatingandbywhich,throughtheoperationofthedevil,hewasbeingdefeated.
Itisfurthersaidofhimthatsometimesheconfidedtocertainbrothers,whowenttovisithimon
their own, that many times he would see angels plainly in front of him, liturgizing and drawing
near the Holy Gifts. At the time of the communion of the Master's Body, he saw some of the
communicantsasthoughtheywereshining,whileothersdarkenedinappearancenamelythose
whowerenotworthyofthatlightandofthebrightnessofHolyCommunion.
Thus taking the occasion of these supernatural visions, he warned the brothers against
participation in the communion of the Divine Gifts without proper preparation, and counseled
themexcellently,relyingontheApostle,sayingthateveryChristianshouldtakecaretoexamine
himselfwithexactnesstoseeifheisworthy,thereby,ofcommunicatingtheHolyBreadandthe
HolyChalicewithshudderingfear.
The communicant Euthymios the Great continually taught must know well that whoever
approachesunworthilytocommunicate"eatsanddrinks"censureandcondemnationuntohimself.
So if anyone has been overcome by rancor or hate or envy, by pride, abusiveness, obscenity in
expression,orindecentdesires,orisinanywaytakenbyanyotherpassionwhatsoever,lethim
notparticipateinDivineCommunion,iffirsthehasnotcleansedhissoulfromallofthesenoxious
things through repentance. Because, as the spirit of God says through the Liturgist, the Holy
Thingsarenotfittingtothosewhoareprofane,butonlytotheholy.
To the extent, then, that you have a clean conscience and it inspires in you the boldness to
approachtheLord,"drawneartoHimandbeenlightenedbyHim,beingalsocertainthatyouwill
notbechastened."
***
ThefollowingissaidoftheholyArchbishopJohnofSanFrancisco,agreatluminaryofourtimes:
"Sovirtuouswashislifeonearth,thatevenafterdeathhesufferedthecalumnyofothers."
***
Acontemporarymonkadvisedhisbrothersthus:"Ifyoudonotlivebyprinciples,donotpretend
toadheretothem."
And again: "Today, when there is so little external monasticism, most monks must live within
themselves. This means that there is no brother to admonish you or to be your example. You
[Link],alloftherewards,and
all of the standards have become internal. And while this may seem tragic, it is probably
merciful."
***
The blessed Synkletike related to the Sisters that, "those who begin the life in God encounter
muchtoilandstrugglesinthebeginning,afterwards,however,findingindescribablejoy.
"For,"shesaid,"justasthosewhowishtolightafireareatfirstchokedbysmokeandtheireyes
water from the fumes, yet later succeed at their task, so we who wish to light the divine fire
within us must know that we will succeed at this only by many struggles and toil for the Lord
alsosays,'Icametocastfireupontheearth,andwhatelsedoIwishifthefirebemoregreatly
kindled?'
"Indeed some," the blessed one continues, "while tolerating the bother and hindrance of the
smoke in order to do a little work at the beginning, nonetheless, out of laziness, did not light a
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firefortheywentawayquicklyanddidnothavetheforbearancetopersisttotheend."
***
The same Amma said: "Many live in the wilderness and behave as though they were in a town.
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masseslikewise,itispossibletobeahermitandliveinthecrowdofone'sownthoughts."
***
Theholywomanfurthersaid:"Whileapersonisinamonastery,obedienceispreferredtoascetic
[Link],thelatterteachespride."
***
ThedaughterofacertainrichmaninAlexandriawassuddenlyseizedbyawickedspiritandwas
[Link]
[Link],
who lived alone up on a mountain, had the gift from God to cast out demons. He was told,
however, that the hermit was so humble that he would never agree to perform such a cure. So
thenoblemanhadtofindsomeotherpretextbywhichtogethimtohishome.
[Link]
[Link]
foot in the door, the demonized girl, who was hidden behind the door, rushed at him and gave
[Link],withoutlosinghiscalm,turnedhisothercheek,
thuscarryingoutthecommandmentoftheLord.
Then this surprising incident took place: the demonized girl began to quiver wildly and to utter
despairingcries:"O,hurry![Link]
iscastingmeout."
With those words, the tormented creature was set free. The whole family, along with the
daughter, who had regained her rational powers, glorified God for the great miracle which they
[Link],however,
fleeingfromallhumanpraise,hadtotallydisappeared.
When the Fathers in the desert were informed of these facts, they said among themselves that
nothing so puts down the pride of the devil as humility and obedience to the divine
commandments.
***
"He who has his mind under control when he prays, and is careful in what he says, keeps away
thedemons,"saysSaintEphraimtheSyrian."He,however,whoelevateshimselfisduped."
***
Godrequiresthesethreethings,whichwerebestowedinHolyBaptism,fromeveryman:correct
beliefinhissoul,truthonhistongue,andmoderationinhisbody.
***
A certain industrious monk, who struggled for virtue with all of his powers, once weakened and
[Link],hequicklyrecoveredandsaidtohimself:"[Link]
do you scorn your salvation? Do you not fear death and judgment?" With such thoughts, he
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becamemoreeagerinGod'swork.
Oneday,whilehewaspraying,wickedspiritsgatheredaroundhimandtriedhardtodistracthim
fromhisprayer.
"Whyareyoutormentingme?"thebrothersaidwithexasperation."Wasitnotenoughthatyou
pulledmedownintoslothsomanytimes?"
Whenyouwerelazy,youdidnotgiveustheslightesttrouble,"thedemonsansweredwithmalice,
"[Link],webattleyou."
When the brother heard these things, he pushed himself all the more in spiritual struggle and,
withthegraceofGod,progressedinvirtue.
***
Abrother,whopointlesslypassedhistimeneglectinghissalvation,oncewentdowntothecityto
[Link],however,andsoasnottobeindangerin
thedarknight,[Link],outof
sleepiness,hewasfinallyclosinghiseyes,hesawoppositehimtwodemonsscrutinizinghim.
"Fancythat!Looktherethatmonkhadthenervetoliedownonagrave,"oneofthemsaid."Let
usvexhimsothathehastoleaveourhabitation."
"Letusnotwasteouttimewithhim,"theotherdemonansweredcontemptuously."Hebelongsto
[Link],drinks,gossips,neglectshisduties,[Link]
thosewhobattleusdayandnightwiththeirprayerandasceticism."
The brother, seeing that even the demons disregarded him, took control and became a good
monk.
***
Saint Athanasios, when he found himself on the patriarchal throne of Alexandria, called Abba
Pambo to go to the city on an ecclesiastical matter. The first person that the holy man met, on
passingthroughthewallsofthelargecity,wasawomandressedupsoastoensnarehervictims.
Seeingher,theelderbecametearful.
"Whyareyoucrying,Father?"thebrotherwhowasaccompanyinghimasked.
"For two reasons," the elder answered, sighing. "First of all, for the loss of her soul, and then
becauseIdonottakeasmuchcaretopleasemyLordasshedoestopleaselicentiousmen."
***
AndsomethingsimilarhappenedtoBishopNonosandSaintPelagia,asherbiographerrelatesto
us.
OncethePatriarchofAntiochwassittingwithhisbishopsinthecourtyardofthechurchofSaint
[Link],[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
air was filled with the scent of her expensive perfumes. The crowd of people cheered her as
thoughtheywereoutoftheirminds.
Thebishopsturnedtheirheadsasideindisgust,toavoidfacingthesatanicwoman,whohadled
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[Link],BishopNonos,
followedherpersistentlywithhisgaze,[Link]
turnedtotheotherbishopsandsaidtothemwithasorrowfulvoice:
"Woetous,[Link]
shetakesindressingherbodyinordertolureherlovers?Whilewelazypeoplewhatdowedoto
adornoursoulstoattracttheloveofourheavenlyBridegroom?"
Sayingthesethings,[Link]
GracerestoredherandPelagiacametobelieveinChrist,repentedhersinfullife,wasbaptizedby
theholyNonos,andcametoaholyend.
***
A monk under obedience to a certain great elder also suffered from carnal desire and struggled
[Link],hiselderfeltsorryforhim.
"DoyouwantmetoaskGodtodeliveryoufromthistorment,mychild?"heaskedhimoneday
whenhewasespeciallysorrowful.
"No,Father,"saidthebravestruggler."For,thoughIamlaboringseverely,Iseegreatbenefitin
[Link]."
"Indeed,youaredoingwell,mychild,"theelderthentoldhimwithadmiration,"andyousurpass
me."
***
"Myuncleanthoughtsareabouttokillme,"abrotherconfessedtoacertainelder.
"Doyouknowwhatmothersdowhentheywanttoweantheirbabies?Theyputabittersubstance
on their breast. Likewise, put in your mind, instead of some bitter substance, the memory of
death and eternal damnation and immediately you will cut off any unclean thought," the wise
elderadvisedhim.
***
Acertainyoungmonk,whostruggledarduouslytopreservethepurityofhisbodyandhissoul,
whenhehappenedtobebotheredbycarnaldesire,wouldsaytotheevilspiritwithrage:"Goto
the outer darkness. Can it be that you do not know that, even though I am unworthy, I bear
partsofChristwithinme?"
Withthesewordshewouldcastouttemptation,inthesamewaythatoneblowsonalightedoil
lampandimmediatelyitgoesout.
***
An elder gave this advice to a certain young man who asked him to tell him how to be saved:
"Force yourself, my child, to do whatever the condemned do in prison. Hear them asking
continually, with agony written on their faces: 'Where is the Governor? When is he coming?
Maybehehasgrantedapardon.'Theytrembleandcry,waitingforthemomentwhentheywillbe
led to the place of execution. Say in your mind, too: 'My sins have condemned me. How shall I
facetherighteousJudge?HowwillIdefendmyself?'Grieveandweepoveryoursins,soastobe
saved."
***
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packedhisclothesandsaidtohimself:"Iwillleavetomorrowwithoutdelay."
Whendaywouldbreak,hewouldreflect:"FortheloveofChrist,Iwillbepatienttodayandleave
tomorrow."
Since he struggled arduously for eight whole years and was not overcome by his thoughts, the
Lordtookthetemptationfromhim.
***
[Link]
lost his patience and decided to go far away to find his peace. Just as he stooped to tie his
sandals,hesawsomeoneinfrontofhimtyinghissandals,too.
"Whoareyou?"heaskedhim.
"The one who is pushing you out of here. And I am making ready to precede you to where you
plantotakerefuge."
Itwasthedevilwhohadtriedtopushhimoutbuthedidnotsucceedatit,becausethebrother
stayedinhiscellafterthatandstruggledwithpatience,untilheconqueredhistemptations.
***
"Whenwickedthoughtswarwithme,"AbbaJohntheShortsaid,"Idowhatawayfarerwoulddo
ifhewerewalkinginthewildernessandsuddenlysawawildbeastpursuinghim:findatreeand
[Link]
wickedthoughts."
***
Amonkofourdaysaid:"Onecommandmentcouldcuretheillsofthosewhocauseturmoilinthe
Church today: 'judge no one.' This should be the motto of those who hold firm to Orthodox
tradition."
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