FOR SAINT EPIFANIE THE BISHOP OF CYPRUS
1. Saint Epifanie, the bishop of Cyprus told that in the time of the blessed Atanasie the Great, some birds were flying around Serapid’s temple, and they were shouting ceasesly: Cras! Cras! And the greeks came to the blessed Atanasie, and they shouted: you mean old man, tell us, what are the birds shouting? And he answered saying: the birds are shouting: cras, cras! And this word: cras, cras, in the language of the avsons means tomorrow. And he added that tomorrow they will see the glory of God. And afterwards it was announced the death of emperor Julian. And having that happened, they have gathered and they were shouting towards Serapid saying: if you did not want him, why were you taking his gifts?
2. This he told, that in the city of Alexandria there was a coachman who was the son of a mother whose name was Maria. This one, at the horse race that was done, fell, and then getting up, he surpassed the one who underminded him, and he overcame. And the people shouted: the son of Mary fell and got up and overcame. While this was still shouted, the news came among the people about the temple of Serapid, for the great Teofil, getting up, he crumbled Serapid’s idol and he subdued the temple.
3. It was made known to the blessed Epifanie, the bishop of Cyprus from the avva of the monastery, which he had in Palestine, this way: with the help of your prayers, we were not lazy in our canon, but with zeal we read the first hour, and the third and the sixth and the ninth and the vespers. And he, finding them at fault, showed them saying: you show that you are lazy in the other hours of the day, praying with emptiness. For the true nun must ceaselessly have the prayer and the reading of the psalms in its heart.
4. Saint Epifanie once sent towards avva Ilarion, praying him and saying: come so that we see each other before we go away from the body. And as he went, they were happy one with the other. But as they were eating, a bird was brought. And as the bishop took, he gave to avva Ilarion and the old man said: forgive me, for since I took the habit, I did not eat anything that was stabbed. And the bishop said to him: and since I took the habit, I did not let anyone go to sleep having something against me, nor did I go to sleep having something against someone. And the old man said: forgive me, for your way is greater than mine.
5. This same one was saying: if Melchisedec, the image of Christ, has blessed Avraam, the root of the Jews, even more so, Christ the truth itself blesses and sanctifies all who believe in Him.
6. This same one was saying: the Canaan woman is shouting and was listen to. The woman who had blood flowing is silent and was blessed, and the the pharisee is shouting and was condemned; the tax collector does not even open his mouth and is listened to.
7. This same one was saying: David the prophet was praying into having no time: in the middle of the night he was waing up, before the daybreak he was revering, in the daybreak he was sanding, in the morning he was praying, in the evening and at noon. And for this he was saying: seven times a day I have praised You!
8. He also said: it is necessary to gain Christian books for the ones who can earn them. For even the seeing of the books itself makes us more careful towards sin, and it urges us to raise towards righteousness.
9. He said again: a great strengthening towards not sinning is the reading the Scriptures.
10. He said again: a great abyss and a deep hollow is not knowing the Scriptures.
11. He said again: a great treachery of the salvation is not knowing any of the godly laws.
12. This same one was saying: the mistakes of the righteous ones are around their lips, and those of the sinners spring from all the body. This is why David was singing: Lord, put a guard to my mouth and restraining door around my lips, and: I said, I will defend Your ways, so that I do not mistake with my tongue!
13. This same one was asked: why are the law’s commandments ten, and the blessings nine? And he said: the ten commandments are the same in number with the wounds of the Egyptians, while the number of the blessings is image of the Holy Trinity.
14. This same one was asked: whether it is enough for one righteous man to pacify God. And he said to him: it is so. For He said: find one to do judgement and righteousness, and merciful will I be towards the people!
15. This same one said: God, towards the sinners, if they will repent, forgives even the ends, as to the the sinful woman and to the thief and to the tax collector, while from the righteous ones he asks with interest. And this is what he was saying to the apostoles: for if your righteousness will not be more than that of the scholars and of the pharisees, you will not enter into the Kindom of heaven.
16. He was also saying this: God sells the righteous deeds with very little price, to the ones who strive to buy them: for a small piece of bread, for a broken coat, for a glass with cold water, for a little coin.
17. He added also this one: the man borrowing from man for poverty, or for need to multiply, and giving back, thanks truly, but returns in secret, because he is ashamed. And the Lord God, on the contrary, by borrowing in secret, rewards in front of the angels and of the archangels and of the righteous ones!
FOR SAINT EFREM
1. Avva Efrem was a child and he saw in a dream, meaning a vision, that the vineyard springed on his tongue and it grew and it filled all the side under the sky, being very fruitful. And all the birds of the sky were coming, and they were eating from the fruit of the vineyard. And as much they were eating, the fruit was multiplying.
2. Another time, again one of the saints saw, in a vision, a host of angels coming down from heaven with God’s commandment, having in their hands a book, meaning a volume, written inside and outside, and they were saying to each other: to whom is it right for this to be given? And some were saying: to this one, and others: to another. But they answered and they said: they truly are saints and righteous. But to no one can this be given, except only to Efren. And the old man saw that they gave the book to Efrem. And waking up in the morning, they heard Efrem, that just like a spring it was springing from his mouth, and he was composing. And thek knew that from the Holly Spirit are those that were coming out through Efrem’s lips.
3. Again, another time, while Efrem was passing by, through some craft a sinner woman came, with flattery to pull him into ugly togetherness, and if not, at least to start him up to anger, for no one had ever seen him angry. And he said to her: come after me! And getting close to a a place where there was a lot people, he said to her: in this place, come as you wanted. And that one, seeing the people, said to him: how can we do this, with so many people around and not be ashamed? And he said to her: if we are ashamed of people, how much more do we have to be ashamed of God, who reveals the things hidden of the dark. And as she felt ashamed, she went away without fulfilment.
FOR A LAYMAN NAMELY EVHARIST
1. Two of the elders prayed to God, to give them confidence, to what measure did they reach. And utterance came to them saying: in that village of Egypt there is a layman namely Evharist and his wife is named Maria. You have not yet reached to their measures. And getting up, the two two elders went to that village and asking, they found his cell and his wife, and said to her: where is your man? And she said: he is a shepherd and he shepherds the sheep. And she brought them in the cell. And after evening fell, Evharist came with the sheep and seeing the elders, prepared the table for them, and brought water to wash their feet. And the eldenrs said to him: we will not eat anything, unless if you will reveal to us your work. And Evharist said humbly: I am a shepherd, and this is my wife. And the elders satyed, praying him and he did not want to tell them. And the elders said to him: God has sent us to you. And as soon as he heard this word, he got afraid and said to them: here, these sheep we have from our parents and any addition will God give for us to get from them, we make it into three parts: one part for the poor, and a part for the love and welcoming of foreigners and a third part for our need. And since I have taken my woman, I did not soil myself, neither did she, for she is a virgin and each of us sleeps separately, and in the night we wear sacks and in the day our clothes. Until now no human knew these. And upon hearing, they wondered and they went away, praising God.
FOR EVLOGHIE THE PRIEST
1. Evloghie someone, being an apprentice of the blessed Ioan the archbishop, great priest and recluse, fasting every second day, and many times even the whole week eating only bread and salt, was praised among the people. This one went to avva Iosif at Panefo, hoping to see some more hardship of life at him. And the old man received him with happiness, and he put forward whatever he had in order to comfort, and the apprentices of Evloghie told him: the priest does not eat aside from bread and salt; and avva Iosif was eating quietly. And spending three days, they did not hear them singing or praying, for their work was hidden. And they went back, Evloghie and his apprentice, without benefit. And according to God’s economy, the weather got dark and they lost their track, and they returned to the old man. And before knocking at the door, they heard them singing, and waiting for a long time, they then knocked at the door. And those ones, becoming quiet from their singinig of psalms, welcomed them with happiness. And because of the heat, Evloghie’s apprentices poured water in a vase, and gave it to him. And the water was sea water mixed with river water, and he could not drink it. And coming to himself, he fell in front of the old man, wanting to know what their work, saying: avva, what is this, that first you do not sing, but you do now, after we left. And the vase of water, taking it now, I found it with salt water. The old man said: the brother is crazy, and being deceived he mixed it with sea water. And Evloghie was praying the old man, wanting to know the truth. And the old man said to him: that small glass of wine, was of the love, and this is the water that the brothers always dring. And he taught him the difference of the judgements, and he cut from him all the human ones. And he became a good judge of things and befalling. And after that he was eating all that was put in front of him. And he also learnt to work in hiding. And he said to the old man: without doubt, in truth is your work.
FOR AVVA EVPREPIE
1. Avva Evprepie said: having in yourself that God is faithful and strong, believe in Him and you will partake of those which are His. And if you defame, you do not believe. And we all believe that all are possible to Him, but also in your things believe in Him, for He does wonders also into you.
2. This same one, being robbed, was helping the robbers. And after they loaded up the things from inside, they left their staff and as soon as avva Evprepie saw it, he got sad and he was running after them, wanting to give it to them. And those ones, not wanting to get it, but being afraid that something might happen to them, he met other people who were going to the same way, and he asked them to give that staff to them.
3. Avva Evprepie said: the bodily ones are matter. The one who loves the worold, loves deceit and restraints. So, if it will ever happen for something to be lost, we have to accept this with happiness and with testimony, for we have been released from cares.
4. A brother asked avva Evprepie for life. And the old mand said: eat grass, dress with grass, slee on grass (meaning, he was defaming everything), and earn an iron heart.
5. A brother asked this elder, saying: how does the fear of God come into the soul? And the old man said: if man when will come to humbleness and not-gathering and not-condemnation, then the fear of God will come to him.
6. This same one said: may the fear of God always dwell with you, and the humbleness and the lack of food, and the crying.
7. At his beginning, avva Evprepie went to an old man and said to him: avva, tell me a word, to redeem myself! And he said to him: if you want to redeem yourself, when you will go to someone, to not get to talk ahead, until he he will not ask you, and humbling himself for this word, he made prostration, saying: truly, I have read many book and this type of teaching I have not known. And benefiting a lot, he went away.
FOR AVVA ELADIE
1. Some were telling about avva Eladie, that he did twenty years at the cells, and he never raised his eye up to see the roof eaves of the church.
2. It was told about this same avva Eladie that he was eating bread and salt. So, when Easter came, he was saying: the brothers are eating bread and salt, and I have to do some effort for Easter. And as in the other days I am sitting down when eating, now, because it is Easter, I will do some effort and I will eat sanding.
FOR AVVA EVAGRIE
1. Avva Evagrie said: when you are in the cell, gather your tought, remember the day of death, see then the dying of the body, put in mind the need! Take hardship, defame the vanity of the world, so that you can always dwell in the love of quietness, and do no ease! Also remember the setting of the hell right now, think how there are souls in there, in what terrible silence, in what bitter sigh, and how great the fear and the thrill and the wait! The relentess torment is coming, the soul’s tear, and without end! But also in the Day of Raising remember also the state in front of God! Think of the terrifying and terrible judgement! Put in front the ones that are preserved for the sinners, the shame in front of God and of the angels and of the archangels and of all the people, the torments, the never ending fire, the sleepless worm, and the good ones which are preserved for the righteous ones, the dare in front of God the Father and of His Christ, of the angels, and of the archangels and of all the host of saints, the heaven’s kingdom and its gifts, its joy and fulfillment! The remainding of both of these two bring it to yourself! And for the judgement of the sinners shed tears, cry, fearing that you should not also be among these! And for the ones that are preserved for the righteous ones, rejoice and be happy! And strive to earn these ones, and for the other ones to distance yourself! Try to not forget sometimes, even only inside, being in your cell, only outside somewhere, the remembering of these, for at least through this to escape from the dirty and harmful thoughts!
2. He also said: cut away the friendliness of the many, so that your mind will not be spoiled, and will disturb the way of the quietness. (1)
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(1) Number 2 at avva Dula.
3. He also said: it is truly a great thing to pray without dissipation, but it is even greater also to sing without dissipation.
4. He also said: always remember your demise and do not forget the eternal judgement, and there will be no mistake in your soul.
5. He also said: remove the temptations and there is no one who will redeem themselves.
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(1) Number 7 at avva Antonie.
6. He also said: one of the parents was saying that the dry food and also yoked together with love, is quickly bringing the monk in the haven of no addictions.
7. A synot was once gathered for a thing, and avva Evagrie talked. The priest said to him: we know, avva, that if you were in your country, maybe even a bishop you would want to be, and a head for many, and now you are dwelling here, like a foreigner. And he, humbling himself, did not get disturbed, both nodding with the head, said to him: it is true, father! Yet, I talked once, and a second time I will not add to it (1).
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(1) Iov 39.
FOR AVVA EVDEMON
1. Avva Evdemon said for avva Pafnutie, the father of the Skete, that a young man came there, and he did not let him dwell there, saying: during my time I will not allow for the face of a woman to dwell in the Skete, because of the enemy’s war.