FOR AVVA MACARIE THE EGYPTIAN
1. Avva Macarie told about himself, saying: when I was younger and I was sitting at the cell in Egypt, they tool me and they made me a cleric in the village. And, as I did not want to accept, I ran to another place. And a pious layman came to me, and he was taking the work of my hands, and he was serving me. Then it happened, out of the devilish temptation, that a girl fell into sin, and as he took into her womb, she was asked who is the one who did this. And she was saying: the recluse! And they came out, caught me in the village and hanged onto my neck smoked pots and vase handles and showed me off on the stret in the village, beating me and saying: this monk has corrupted our girl, take him, take him! And they beat me almost to death. And one of the old men came and said: how much longer are beating this foreign monk. And the one who was serving me, following after me and being ashamed, for he was insulted a lot and was told: here is the recluse who you were testifying for, what he has done! And her parents said: we do not release him until he will give guarantee that he will feed her. And I said to my servand, and he took me into guarantee. And going to my cell, I gave to him as many baskets I had, saying to him: sell them and give it to my woman to eat! And I was saying in my though: Macarie, there, you found yourself woman. You have to work a little bit more to feed her. And I was working day and night, and I was sending to her. And when the time came for the wretch to give birth, she spent many days agonizing, and she would not give birth. And they said to her: what is this? And she said: I know that I have scourged that recluse, and by lying I have accused him. He is not guilty, but so-and-so young man. And as the one who was serving me came to me happily, he was saying that that girl was not able to give birth until she confessed, saying that the recluse has no fault, but that she lied over him. And there, the whole village was going to come here, with praise, to repent in front of you. And as I heard these, so that the people do not upset me, I got up and I came here at the Skete. This is the beginning of the reason why I came here.
2. Macarie the Egyptian came once from the Skete to the Nitria mountain, at the remembering of avva Pamvo. And the elders said to him: father, tell some word to the brothers. And he said to them: I have not yet made a monk of myself, but I have seen monks. For as I was once sitting in the cell at the Skete, the thoughts were upsetting me, and were telling me: go into the wilderness, and see what you will find out over there! So, I stayed fighting with the thought for five years, saying: is this maybe from the devil? And if the thought rested, I went into the wilderness, and I found a pond of water, and an island in the middle of it, the beasts of the wilderness came too drink water from it. And in the middle of them I saw two naked men, and my body got frightened, for I thought them to be spirits, and as they saw me they got frightened, and they said towards me: do not be afraid, for we are also humans. And I said to them: where are you from, and how did you come into this wilderness? And they answered: we are from the monastery, and we made an understanding among us, and we came out here. And there, we have forty years, and one of us is Egyptian, and the other is Libyan. And they also asked me saying: how is the world, is the water coming at its time, and if the world has its fill, and I said to them: it has. And I have asked them how can I make a monk of myself, and they answered: unless someone renounces all that are of the world, one cannot be a monk. And I said to them: I am weak, and I cannot as you. And they said to me: if you cannot as us, sit in your cell, and cry your sins. And I asked them: when the winter comes, are you not getting cold? And when the heat comes, are your bodies not burning? And they said to me: God has made this plan for us, so that neither do we get cold in the winter, nor does the heat harm us in the summer. That is why I have said to them that I have not made a monk of myself, but I have seen monks. Forgive me, brothers!
3. Avva Macarie once lived in the great desert and he was living only by himself, and lower there was another desert in which lived more brothers. And the old man was paying attention to the way, and he saw the satan, coming in human shape, to go through there. And he was showing himself that he was wearing a flax coat, with many wholes, and at each of the whole there was hanging a small skull. And the great old man said to him: where are you going? And it answered: I am going to remind the brothers. (+) And the old man said to him: and what do you need these small skulls. And it said: I bring food to the brothers. And the old man said: but all of these? And it answered: yes, because if one is not liked, I bring him another one, and if neither this one, I give him another, and surely out of these at least one he will like. And as he said these, he went. And the old man remained, watching the ways, until that one returned again. And as the old man saw him, he said to him: save yourself! And he answered: how can it be that I save myself? And the old man said to him: for what? And he said: because all of them have become wild to me, and nobody respects me. The old man said to him: but you do not have even a friend over there anymore? And he answered to him: oh, I have there only one friend monk, and only he respects me, and when he sees me he turns around like a whirl. The old man said to him: and what is the name of that brother? And he said: Teopempt. And as he said these, he went. And getting up, avva Macarie went to the lower desert. And as the brothers heard, taking palm tree offshoots, they came out to welcome him. And each of them was preparing himself, thinking that the old man will stay at them. And he asked who is the one who is named Teopempt in the mountain, and finding him, he came into his cell. And Teopempt welcomed him with happiness. After he started being alone with him, the old man said to him: how are you, brother? And he said: with your prayers, I am well. The old man said to him: is it, maybe, that the thoughts are battling you? He answered: now I am well: for he was shay to tell him. The old man said to him: there, for how many years I am an ascetic, and I am honoured by all, and me, the old man, I am upset by the spirit of fornication. Teopempt answered also saying: believe me, avvo, that me, too. And the old man was causing that also other thoughts are battling a war with him, until he was making him confess. And then he said to him: how are you fasting? Until the night hour. The old man said to him: fast until the evening, and self-discipline yourself, and read by heart from the Gospel, and from the other scriptures. And if a thought ever comes to you, you should never pay attention down, but always up. And immediately the Lord will help you. And as the old man prepared the brother, he again went out to his desert. And paying attention, he again saw that devil, and said to him: where are you going again? And he answered: to remind the brothers, and he went. And when again he returned, the saint said to him: how are the brothers? And he said: bad. And the old man said again: what for? And he said: they are all wild, and the worst evilness is that even that one whom I had as a friend, and was listening to me, he also rebelled, I do not know from where, and not even nhim is not bowing to me anymore, but he has become even more wild than all of them. And I swered not to step there again, but only after a while will pass. And as he said so, he went, leaving the old man. And the saint entered into his cell.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) Meaning, to provoke them.
4. The great Avva Macarie went to avva Antonie in the mountain, and knocking in his door, he came out to him and said to him: who are you? And he said: I am Macarie. And locking the door, he came in, and he left him. And seeing his patience, he opened to him, and guessing to him was saying: for a long time I wished to see you, having heard the ones about you. And hosting him, he rested him, for he was tired of much tiredness. And after evening came, avva Antonie soaked palm tree offshoots for himself. And avva Macarie said to him: order that I also soak for myself. And he said: soak for yourself. And making a big bunch, he soaked it. And sitting from the evening, talking about the salvation of the souls, he was weaving, and the rope was coming down through the window into the cave. And as the blessed Antonie entered in the morning, he saw the plenty of avva Macarie’s weaving, and was saying: much strength comes out of these hands.
5. Avva Macarie was saying towards the brothers about the deserting of the Skete: when you will see that a cell is built close to the meadow, do know that its deserting is close; when you will see the trees, do know that it is next to the doors; when you will see children, take your waistcoats and run!
6. He was saying again, willing to comfort the brothers: a demonized child came here, with his mother, and he was saying to his mother: get up, old one, for us to go from here. And she said: I cannot walk. And the child said to her: I will carry you. And I was astounded of the devil’s cunning, how it wanted to send them away from there.
7. Avva Sisoe was saying: when I was in the Skete with Macarie, we went up to reap, together with him seven people. And there, a widow was gathering behind us ears, and was not ceasing crying. So, the old man called the owner of the land, and said to him: what is with this old woman, for she always cries? He said to him: her husband had a guarantee of someone, and he died unexpectedly, and he did not tell her where he put it, and the owner of the guarantee wants to take her and her sons as slaves. The old man said to him: tell her to come to us, where we are resting from the heat. And as the woman came, the old man said to her: how come you cry like this always? And she said: my man died taking someone’s guarantee, and he did not say when he died where he put it. And the old man said to her: come, show me where you buried him! And taking the brothers with him, he came out together with her. And arriving at that place, the old man said to her: go to your house! And as they prayed, the old man called the dead one, saying: so-and-so, where did you put the foreign guarantee? And he, answering, said: in my house it is hidden, under the legs of the bed. And the old man said to him: sleep again till the day of the resurrection. And as the brothers saw, they fell to his feet because of fear. And the old man said to them: it is not for me that this was done, for I am nothing, but for the widow and for the poor kids did God do this thing. But this is the great thing, for God wants the soul without sin, and whatever it will ask, it will take. And coming, he let the widow know where the guarantee is put. And she, taking it, gave it to its owner, and released her sons, and all who saw have praised God.
8. Avva Petru was saying about Saint Macarie, that as he went once to a hermit, and he found him suffering, he asked him what does he desire to eat, because there was nothing in his cell, and as that one said: a little bit of fresh bread, the brave one did not waver to go to Alexandria and to give to the one who was suffering. And it is a wonder that to no one was made shown.
9. He said again that, as avva Macarie was behaving with lack of evilness with all lthe brothers, some said to him: why do you make yourself like this? And he said: twelve years have I served my Lord to give me this gift, and you all advice me to give it up?
10. It was said about avva Macarie that when it happened to be with the brothers, he was setting himself a limit, that should there be wine for the brothers, to drink, but for one glass of wine, for a day not to drink water. So the brothers, for rest, were giving to him. And the old man was taking with happiness, so that he would make himself suffer. And his apprentice, knowing the thing, was saying to the brothers: for the Lord, do not give him, for he wants make himself suffer in the cell! And as they were made aware, the brothers were not giving him wine anymore.
11. As he was once passing from the meadow to his cell, avva Macarie was carrying palm tree offshoots, and there, the devil met him on the way with the sickle, and wanting to hit him, was not able to. And he said to him: I have a lot of loathing for you, Macarie, for I cannot against you. There, everything that you do, I also do. You fast, but I do not eat anyway. You vigil, but I do not sleep anyway. There is only one that you overcome me with. Avva Macarie said to him: which is it? And he said: your humbleness, and because of that I cannot over you.
12. Some of the parents asked avva Macarie the Egyptian, saying: how come when you eat and when you fast, your body is dry? And the old man said to them: the wood (+) which turns the dry parts which burn, is parched all over by the fire. And so, if the man will clear his mind with the fear of God, this fear of God will eat his body.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) Meaning, the wooden tool used to turn food in an oven. (Translator’s note.)
13. Some were saying about avva Macarie the Egyptian that going up from the Skete and carrying some baskets, getting tired, he sat down and prayed, saying: God, You know I cannot more! And immediately he found himself next to the river.
14. There was someone in Egypt who had a weakling son, and he brought him to avva Macarie’s cell, and leaving him at the door, crying, went away. So, as the old man came up, he saw the child crying and said to him: who brought you here? And the child answered: my father left me here, and went. The old man said to him: getting up, go so that you reach him! And immediately getting healthy, he got up and reached his dad, and this is how they went to their home.
15. Avva Macarie the great was saying the brothers in the Skete, after they were exiting the church: run, brothers! And someone from the elders told him: where can we run more than in this desert? And he put his fingers on the mouth, saying: run from this one. And he entered his cell, and he was closing the door, and he was sitting.
16. This avva Macarie said: if, rebuking someone, you will start towards anger, you are fulfilling your addiction; for in no way should you save others and destroy yourself.
17. This same one avva Macarie being in Egypt, found a man haing an animal and steling what he had for his need. And he, like a stranger standing next to the one who was stealing, was loading the animal and with a lot o peace was seeing him off saying: nothing did we bring into the world, it is shown that we also cannot take anything out of the world (+1). The Lord has given as Himself wanted to, so it was also done. Blessed is the Lord for everything (+2).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+1) Tim. VI, 7.
(+2) Job. 1, 2.
18. Some asked avva Macarie, saying: how are due to pray? The old man said to them: there is no need to talk a lot, but to often stretch the hand and to say: Lord, as you want and as you know, have mercy! And if war will stay over, say: Lord, help me! And He knows what is needed and he does mercy with us.
19. Avva Macarie said: if, into yourself, slender was made as praise, and poverty as richness, and the lacking as the filling, you will not die. For it is not possible for the one who believes rightly and works with blessing to fall into the uncleanness of passions and into the deceit of the devils.
20. It was said that two brothers from the Skete mistook, and avva Macarie the Alexandrin (+1) separated them. And some came and told avva Macarie the great, the Egyptian. And he said: it is not the brothers who are separated them, but Macarie is the one who is separated. For he was loving them. Avva Macarie heard that he was made separted by the old man, and he ran in the meadow. So, avva Macarie the great came out, and found him harmed by the mosquitoes, and said to him: you have separated the brothers, and there, they were about to go into the village. And I have separated you, and you, as a beautiful virgin maid, have run here, into the innermost room. And me, calling the brothers, I have found from them, and they have told me, that none of those have been done. See, then, you too brother, is it not that the devils have mocked you, for you have seen nothing? But, do prostration (+2) for your mistake. And he said: if you want, order me to do prostration! (+3) And as the old man saw his humbleness, he said to him: go and fast for three weeks, eating once in a week. For this was always his thing, to fast in all weeks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+1) This is avva Macarie the Alexandian, for which it is written in the Lavsaicon, among other also this, that once grapes were brought to avva Macarie and he desired to eat them. But, showing his restraint, he sent them to another sick brother, who desired grapes. And as the brother received them, he was very happy, and as also did not want to fulfil his desire, he sent them to another brother, showing that he has no apetite. And this one said, hiding the work of his restraint. And that one receiving them, he did the same, and because he desired them, he did not partake, but sent them to another brother. And this one, likewise, to another. And so, to many brothers the grapes came, and none being eaten, in the end they arrived again at avva Macarie, as the brother who received them after all did not know that they were first sent by him, and because of that, he brought them to him like a great gift. And the old man, knowing them, and researching and finding out, was in wonder, and he thanked God for this sort of restraint of the brothers.
(+2) Meaning, repent.
(+3) Meaning, canon.
21. Avva Moise said towards avva Macarie from the Skete: I want to quiet myself and brothers do not let me. And avva Macarie said to him: I see that your nature is weak and you cannot turn any brother. If you want to quiet yourself, go in the desert, inside in the rock (+) and there you will quiet yourself! And doing this, he found rest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) This rock is a place.
22. A brother went to avva Macarie the Egyptian, and said to him: avvo, tell me a word, so that I save myself! And the old man said too him: go to the grave and shame the dead! So, going, the brother shamed and threw rocks, and coming, he told the old man. And the old man said to him: did they said nothing to you? And he said: no. The old man said to him: go tomorrow also, and praise them! So, going, the brother praised them saying: you apostoles, saints and righteous ones! And he came to the old man and said to him: I praised them. And the old man said: did they answer nohing? The brother said: no. The old mand said to him: do you know with how many you shamed them, and they did not answer anything, and with how many you praised them, and they did not say anything to you? In the same way you, if you want to save yourself, make yourself dead; do not consider neither the people’s unjustness, nor their praise, be like the dead ones, and you can save yourself.
23. As avva Macarie was once passing throught Egypt with the brothers, he heard a child saying to his mother: mother, a rich man loves me and I have him, and a poor man hates me and I love him, and as he heard, avva Macarie was surprised. And the brothers told him: what is this word, father, that you were surprised? And the old man said to them: truly, our Lord is rich and He loves us, and we do not want to listen to Him. And our enemy, the devil, is poor and he hates us, and we love his uncleanliness.
24. Avva Pimen prayed him, with many tears, saying: tell me a word: how will I save myself? And answering, the old man said to him: the thing that you are asking is now gone from the monks.
25. Avva Macarie once went to avva Antonie, and after he spoke to him, he returned to the Skete. And the fathers came to welcome him. And as they were speaking, the old mand said to them: I told avva Antonie that in our place we do not have gifts to offer. And the parents started talking about other things, and they did not ask anymore to find out the answer from the old man, nor did the old man told them. So, this is what one of the fathers was saying, that when the parents see that the brothers do not know to ask about any useful thing, they strive themselves to say the beginning of the word (+). Then, if the brothers will not force them, they do not talk about that word, so that it is not found out that they talk without being asked, and that it would be seen as a wasted word.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) Meaning, they give reason to.
26. Avva Isaia asked avva Macarie saying: tell me a word. And the old man said to him: run away from people! Avva Isaia said to him: what is to run away from people? And the old man said to him: to sit in your cell and to cry your sins.
27. Avva Pafnutie, the apprentice of avva Macarie was saying: I prayed to my father saying, tell me a word. And he said: do not do evil to anyone, nor condemn anyone. Guard these, and you will save your self.
28. Avva Macarie said: do not sleep in the cell of the brother who has a bad name.
29. Once some brothers from the Skete went to avva Macarie, and they did not find in his cell anything, except stale water. And they said to him: avvo, come up to the village, and we will rest you. The old man said to them: brothers, do you know the bakery of so-and-so, from the village? And they answered to him: yes, we know it. The old man said to them: I also know it. Do you also know that place of so-and-so, where the river strikes? They answered to him: yes, we know it. The old man said to them: I also know it. So, when I want to, I do not need you, but I will go up by myself.
30. It is said about avva Macarie that, if a brother would come to him as if to a holy old man, and with great fear, he would not talk to him anything. But if any of the brothers would talk to him, slendering him: avvo, when you were a camel guardian, and you were stealing soap, and you were selling it, were the guardians beating you? If anyone was saying these to him, he was happily talking to him, whatever he would ask him.
31. The fathers were saying about avva Macarie the great, that he made himself, as it is written, earthly god. Because as God is covering the world, so has avva Macarie made himself covering the mistakes that he was seeing, as if he would not have seen them, and the ones that was hearing, as if he would not have heard them.
32. Avva Bitinie was telling that avva Macarie was saying: as I was once sitting in the Skete, two foreign young men came down there. One was having a beard, and the other was starting to have one then. And he came to me saying: where is the avva Macarie’s cell? And I said to them: what do you want from him? And they said: as we heard the ones about him and about the Skete, we came to see him. The old man said to them: I am! And they did prostrate saying: we want to stay here. And me, as I saw them tender, and as of from rich parents, I told them: you cannot stay here. And the bigger one said: if we cannot stay here, we will go some other place. So, I said in my mind: why do I send them away, to delude themselves. The weariness will make them to run themselves. And I said to them: come and make yourselves cells, if you want! The young men told him: show us a place, and we will make. And the old man gave them the axe, and a bag full of bread and salt, and he showed them a place and a mighty rock, saying: dig into this rock, and bring yourselves wood from the riverside, and covering it, sit! For I reckoned, he says, that they will leave because of the weariness. And they asked me: what is the work done here? And I said to them: weaving baskets. And I took palm tree offshoots from the riverside, and I showed them the beginning of the weaving, and how they have to sew them, and I said to them: make baskets and give them to the guardians, and they will bring you bread loafs. Then I went away, and they did all with patience, as many as I told them. And they did not come to me for three years. And I remained fighting with the thought, saying: what is their work, for they have not come to ask me of any thought? The ones from far away come to me and these ones, for close by, they did not come, nor did they go to others, but in the church keeping quitet, to take the Holly Communion. And I prayed to God, fasting for one week, to show me their work. Then, getting up after a week, I went to them, to see how they are staying. And, knocking at the door, it was opened to me, and they bowed to me silently. And as I prayed, we sat down. The older one made a sign to the smaller one to go out, and he sat to weave the basket weave, without saying anything. And in the ninth hour, he knocked as a sign, and the younger one came, and making a little bit of a broth, he put it on the table, making a sign to the older one. And he put on the table three biscuits, and they sat silently. And I said: get up to eat! And getting up, we ate. And they brought me the water bowl, and I drank, and as evening fell, they said to me: are you going? And I said: no, but here I will sleep. And a mat was set for me on one side, and they in a corner, in another side. And they lifted the belts and the analavros, and they slept together on a mat in front of me. And as they went to sleep, I prayed to God to reveal to me their work. Then the cover the cell opened up and it was bright as day. And they were not seeing the light. And when they thought I was sleeping, the older one nudged the smaller one in the rig, and they both got up, and they fastened, and they stretched their hands to the sky, and I was seeing them, but they were not seeing me. And I saw the devils that they were coming like some flys towards the smaller one. Some were coming to sit on his mouth, and others on his eyes. And I saw the angel of the Lord that it was holding a sword of fire, and it was defending him, and it was sending away the devils from him. And they could not get close to the older one. And, towards the morning, they went too sleep. Then, I pretended that I woke up, and they did the same. And the older one said only this word: do you want us to read the twelve psalms? And I answered to him: yes, let us read psalms, each six verses and an Haleluja. And at each verse a flame of fire was coming out of his mouth, which was reaching the sky. The same way, also the older one, when he was opening the mouth and was singining, like a rope of fire was coming and was reaching the sky. And I said some by heart. And coming out, I said to them: pray for me! And they bowed to me quietly. So, I knew that the older one is accomplished, and they smaller one was still fighting with enemy. After a few days, the older brother fell asleep, and the smaller one, three days later. And when some of the parents were going to oavva Macarie, he was taking them and bringing them to their cell, saying to them: come see the martyrdom of the small foreigners!
33. Another time, again a devil overrun onto avva Macarie with a knife, wanting to cut his leg. And as he was not able to, because of his humble thinking, he said to him: as many as you have, we also have, only with the humble thinking you are different from us, and you overcome.
34. Avva Macarie said: if we will remember the evil that humans do us, we raise the strength of God’s rememberance. And if we will remember the evil of the devils, we will be unhurt.
35. Avva Pafnutie, the apprentice of avva Macarie was telling that the old man was saying: when I was a child, I was pasturing the oxen with the other children. And I went to steal figs, and as they were running, one fell from them, and as I took it, I ate it. When I remember it, I sit crying.
36. Avva Macarie was telling: as I was wondering once through the desert I found a dead man’s head thrown on the ground. And, moving it with the palm tree rod, the head spoke to me. And I said to it: who are you? And the head answered to me: I was a servant of the idols and of the Helenics that dwelled on this place, and you are Macarie, the bearer of spirit, and in any hour you will have mercy towards the one that are in torments, and you will pray for them, they will be conforted a little bit. The old man said to it: which is the confort, and which is the torment? It answered to him: as far is the sky from the earth, that much is the fire under us, because from the feet to the head we sit in the middle of the file, and it is not possible that someone sees face to face, because the face of each one is into the back of the other one. So, when you pray for us, someone sees the face of the other one. This is the confort. And, crying, the old man said to it: woe to that day in which the man was born, if this is the torment’s confort! The old man said to it: is there a harder torment? The head answered to him: us, as the ones who did not know God, we are at least a little bit mercied upon, but the ones who knew god and have renounced him, and did not do His will, are underneath us. And as the old man took the head, he buried it.
37. Some were saying about avva Macarie the Egyptian that he was once going up from the Skete to the mountain of Nitria. And as he got close to that place, he said to his apprentice: go forward a little bit! And as he went forward, he met a sevant of the Helenics. And the brother shouted to him, calling him: you demon! you demon! Where are you running? And as that one turned, he gave him beatings, and he left him almost dead. And taking the wood, he was running. And going a little bit forward, he was welcomed by avva Macarie, running, and he told him: save yourself, save yourself, you hard working one! And wondering, he came to him, and he said to him: what goodness did you see in me, to salute me in this way? The old man said to him: I saw you wearing yourself, and you do not know that you weary yourself in vain. He said to him: and me, because of your salute, I humbled myself, and I knew that you are from God’s part. But another monk has met me, and has shamed me, and I gave him a deadly beating. And the old man recknoned that it is his apprentice. And as the sevant was holding to his feet, he was saying: I will not let you go unless you will make me a monk! Then he came above, where the monk was, and they kept him, and they brought him to the mountain’s church. And seeing the servant with him, they were amazed. And they made him a monk, and many of the Helenians made themselves Christians, for him. So, avva Macarie was saying: with a bad word you make bad even the good ones, and with a good word you make good even the bad ones.
38. It was said about avva Macarie that, as he was missing, a thief entered his cell, and as he returned to the cell, he found the thief loading onto his camel all his vases. And he, entering into the cell, was taking vases and was loading together with that one, onto the camel. So, as they loaded it, the thief started to beat the camel, to get up, but she was not getting up. And seeing that she does not get up, avva Macarie entered into the cell, and found a little chisel. And taking it out, he put it on the camel, saying: brother, this is what the camel is looking for. And kicking her with the food, the old man said to her: get up! And immediately she got up, and when a little bit, for his word, and again it sat down, and she did not get up until he unloaded all his vases, and so he went.
39. Avva Aio asked avva Macarie, saying: tell me a word! Avva Macarie told him: run from the people, stay in your cell, and cry your sins do not love people’s word, and so you will save yourself!
40. Once, the elders of the mountain sent to avva Macarie in the Skete, praying him and saying towards him: so that the whole community will not be upset on me, we praise you to come to us, to see you before you go towards the Lord. So, as he came in the mountain, all the community gathered to him. And the elders were praying him to say some word to the brothers. And upon hearing, he said: let us cry, brothers, and may tears spring from our eyes, before going to where our tears will burn our bodies. And they all cried, and they fell with their faces to the ground, and they said: father, pray for us!
FOR AVVA MOISE
1. Once avva Moise was very much battled towards fornication. And being unable to stay I the cell, he went and told avva Isidor. And the old man prayed him to return to his cell, but he did not accept, saying: avvo, I cannot. And taking him with himself, he climbed him on the house, and said to him: look towards the west. And paying attention, he saw a countless gathering of devils, stirring and quarreling, to fight war. Avva Isidor said again to him: also, search towards the east, and pay attention. And he searched, and he saw a countless gathering of saints, holy angels. And avva Isidor said: there, these are are the ones sent to the saints from the Lord for help, and the ones from the west, are the ones that fight war with us. So, the ones with us are more. And thus, thanking God, avva Moise took daring, and returned to his cell.
2. Once a brother trespassed in the Skete, and as a gathering was made, it was sent for avva Moise, but he did not want to come. So the priest sent for him, saying: come for the crowd is waiting for you! Then, he got up, he came, and taking a broken basket, and filling it with sand, he was carrying it. And they, coming out to receive him, said to him: what is this, father? The old man said to them: my sins are behind me, flowing down, and I do not see them, but I came today to judge others’ sins. And they, hearing, did not say anything to the brother, but forgave him.
3. Another time, as a gathering was made in the Skete, as the parents wanted to scold him, they slendered him, saying: why is this Ethiopian coming into our midst? And upon hearing, he rested quiet. And after the release of the gathering, he said to him: avvo, were you not troubled? He said to them: it troubled me, but I did not speak.
4. The parents were saying about avva Moise, that he was made a cleric, and he was put the epitrachelion. And the the archbishop said to him: there, you have made yourself all white, avvo Moise! The old man said to him: is it at the ones on the outside, most holy one, or also at the ones on the inside? And as the archbishop wanted to try him, he said to his clerics: when avva Moise will enter the altar, send him away, and follow after him, so that you hear what he says. So the old man entered, and they rebuked him, and they sent him away saying to him: go out, you Ethiopian! (+) And he, exiting, was saying to himself: they did good to you, you darkened skin, and black one! You, not being a human, why do you come with the humans?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) Meaning, Arabian
5. A commandment was once given in the Skete: fast this week! And in that time some brothers from Egypt came to avva Moise, and he made them a little bit of broth. And as the neighbours saw the smoke, they said to the clerics: there, Moise has trespassed the commandment, and he made broth for them. And they said: when he will come, we will talk to him. And after Saturday came, the clerics, seeing Moise’s great way of living, were saying in front of the crowd: o, avvo Moise, you have trespassed the commandment of the humans, and you have guarded the one of God.
6. A brother came to the Skete to avva Moise, asking a word from him. And the old man said to him: go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you all.
7. Avva Moise said: the man who runs is like the ripe grape, and the one who dwels among people is like the sour grape.
8. Once, the lord of the place heard about avva Moise, and went to the Skete to see him. And some told the old man about this. Then, he got up, to run in the meadow, and he met them, saying: do tell, old man, where is the cell of avva Moise? He said to him: what do you want from him? For he is crazy. And as the lord of the place came to the church, he said to the clerics: me, hearing those said about avva Moise, came down to see him. And there, we met an old man who was going to Egypt, and we said to him: where is avva Moise’s cell? And he said to us: what do you want from him? Crazy he is. So, upon hearing, the clerics got sad, saying: who then is the old man who said these about the saint? And they said: and old man, wearing old clothes, tall and dark. Then they said: he is avva Moise. And in order not to meet you, he said these to you. And having much benefited, the lord went away.
9. Avva Moise was saying in the Skete: if we will guard our fathers’ commands, I put myself guarantor for you towards God, that the barbarians will not come here, and if we will not guard them, this place will get deserted.
10. As the brothers were once sitting next to him, he was saying to them: there, the barbarians come today to the Skete. Get up and run! But, don’t you run, avvo? And he said to them: I am waiting for so many years this day, that the word of the Lord Christ be fulfilled, which says: all that will draw the sword, will die from the sword (+). They said to him: we are not running either, but will die with you. The he said to them: I do no have any guilt. Each should see how he stays. And there were seven brothers, to who he said: there, the barbarians are getting close to the door. And as they entered, they killed them. And one of them, being afraid, hid himself after the baskets weaving, and he saw seven garlands coming down and crowning them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) Mat. 26 52
11. Avva Pimen said that a brother asked avva Moise in what way does the man kill himself over the neighbour. And the old man said to him: unless the man puts into his heart that he is in the tomb for three days, he will not reach this word.
12. Some were saying about avva Moise from the Skete, that as he wanted to come to the Stone, he became tired as he walked. And he was saying onto himself: how can I bring water for myself here? And a voice came to him saying: come in, and do not worry about anything! So he came in, and some of the fathers came to him, and they only had a small jar of water. And as he boiled a little bit of lentil, he got used. And the old man was saddened. So, coming and exiting, he was praying to God, and there, a cloud of rain came above the Stone, and filled all his jars. And they said afterwards to the old man: tell us, why were you exiting and entering? And the old man said to them: I was making judgement with God that He brought me here, and there, I do not have water for His servants to drink, this is why I was entering and exiting, praying to God, until He sent us rain.
13. Avva Moise said that the man has to die towards his friend, so not to judge him in anything.
14. He also said that the man is indebted to kill himself of all evil things, before it comes out of the body, so that it may not harm any man.
15. He also said: if the man will not have in his heart that he is sinner, God will not listen to him. And the brother said: what is this, to have in the heart that he is sinner. And the old man said to him: the one who carries his sins does not see the ones of his neighbour.
16. He also said: if the deed will not be united with the prayer, the man is wearing himself for nothing. And the brother said: what is the union of the deed with the prayer? And the old man said: those ones for which we pray not to do them again, for when man will renounce his wills, then God is getting at peace with him, and receives his prayer.
17. A brother asked: in all the man’s weariness, what is that which helps him? And the old man said: God is our escape and strength, help in the troubles that have reached us much (+1). And the brother said: the fastings and the wakings that the man does, what do they do? The old man said to him: this make the soul to humble itself, for it is written: see my humbleness and my weariness, and leave all my sins (+2). If the sould will bear these fruits, God will be merciful towards it, through them. The brother said to the old man: what will the man do at all the temptation that comes over him, or at all the thoughts of the enemy? The old man said to him: he is indebted to cry in front of God’s goodness, to help him, and he will quickly rest, if he will pray with knowledge. For it is written: the Lord is my help and I wll not be afraid of what will do to me (+3). The brother asked: there, the man beats his sevant for a mistake that he made. What will the salve say? The old man said: if the slave is good, he will say: have mercy on me, I have mistaken! The brother said to him: nothing else will he say? The old man said: no, for if he will put the blame onto himself and he will say I have mistaken, immediately his Lord will be merciful towards him, and the end of all these is to not judge the neighbour; for when the hand of the Lord was killing all the first born in the land of Egypt, there was not home in which not to be a dead one. The brother said to him: what is this word? The old man answered to him: if we will pay attention to our sins, we will not see the ones of our neighbour, for it is a crazy thing for the man who has he his dead one, to leave that one and to go and cry the one of the neighbour. And to die as for your neighbour, is this: to carry your sins and not to pay attention of all men, whether this is good or this is bad. Do not do bad to any man, nor think bad in your heart over someone, nor defame someone when they do bad, nor to bow yourself towards the one who does bad to your neighbour, and do not gossip about someone but say: God knows each. Do not relent with the one who speaks evil, nor be happy of his slander, nor hate the one who slanders his neighbour. And this mean: do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not have dissension with any man, and do not keep dissension in your heart. Do not hate the one that does enmity to his neighbour. And this is the peace, soothe yourself with these. The hardship is for a short time, and the rest is for ever, with the gift of God, the Word, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+1) Ps. 45, 1.
(+2) Ps. 24, 19.
(+3) Ps. 117, 6.
FOR AVVA MATOI
1. Avva Matoi was saying: I want easy and constant work, instead of the one which is tiresome from the beginning, and quickly it crumbles.
2. He was also saying: as much as man is getting close to God, that much he sees himself a sinner, for the prophet Isaia seeing God, he was calling himself villain and unclean.
3. He was also saying: when I was younger, I was saying to myself that maybe I am doing something good, and now, as I have grown old, I see that I do not have anything good in myself.
4. He also said: satan does not know what passions overcome the soul. He sows truth, but does not know if he will reap some thoughts, meaning for fornication, yet others for slander, and likewise the other passions. And whatever passion he sees that the soul is bowing to, that is the one that he will give to it.
5. A brother came to avva Matoi and he said to him: how were the ones from the Skete doing more than the Scripture, loving their enemies more than themselves? Avva Matoi said to him: me, not even the one who loves me, I do not love him like myself.
6. A brother asked avva Matoi: what will I do if a brother will come to me, and it is fasting time, or in the morning, to upset myself? And the old man said to him: if you do not upset yourself, and you eat with the brother, you are doing right, yet if you do not wait for anyone and you eat, that is because you do your will.
7. Avva Iacob said: I went to avva Matoi and, as I was returning, I told him that I want to go to the cells. And he said to me: book on my behalf to avva Ioan. And as I came to avva Ioan, I told him that avva Matoi is bowing to him. And the old man said to me: there, avva Alatai truly is an Israelite in which there is no guile (+). And as a year passed, I went again to avva Matoi, and I brought him the bow from avva Ioan. And the old man said: I am not worthy of the old man’s word. But know this, that when you will hear an elder praising his neighbour more than himself, he has reached great measures. For this is the perfection, to praise the neighbour more than oneself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(+) John 1 47.
8. Avva Matoi was saying: a brother came to me and told me that slander is heavier than fornication. And I said that the word is harsh. So, he said to me: and how do you want this thing to be? And I said to him: truly, slander is evil, but it has quick healing. For the one who slendered is repenting many times, saying: I have spoken evil. Yet fornication naturally is death.
9. Once avva Matoi from Rait whent to the areas of the Magdolis. And the brother was with him, and the bishop got the old man and made him priest. As they were together (+), the bishop was saying: forgive me, avvo! I know that you did not want this thing, but in order to be blessed by yourself, I dared to do this. And the old man said to him with humbleness: my thought also wanted it a little bit. But I am saddened, for I will have to split with my brother, for I cannot do all the prayers by myself. And the bishop said to him: if you know that he is worthy, I will ordain him. Avva Matoi answered to him: I do not know, I know one, that he is better than me. And he ordained him, too. And both passed away without getting close to the altar, to do the Holy Liturgy. And the old man was saying: I believe in God, that maybe I will not have a more condemnation for the ordination as I do not do Liturgy, for the ordination is of the ones without blame.
________________________________________
(+) In others, as they were eating.
10. Avva Matoi said that three elders went to avva Pafnutie, the one who was called Chefala, to ask him a word. And the old man said to them: what do you want me to tell you, a spiritual or a bodily word? They answered to him: spiritual. The old man said to othem: go, love grief more than rest, and dishonor more than praise, and to give stronger than to get.
11. A brother asked avva Matoi, saying: tell me a word. And he said to him: go, pray to God to give you crying in your heart, and humbleness and always pay attention to your sins, and do not judge others, but make yourself under everyone! Do not befriend child, nor know woman, nor befriend a heretic, and cut away boldness from yourself, and slow down your tongue and stomach, and taste little wine! And if anyone will say anything, do not quarrel with him, but if it will say well, say: it is truly so, and if it will say bad, say: you know how you speak. And do not persecute with him for what he has said. And this is the humbleness.
12. A brother asked avva Matoi: tell me some word! And he said to him: remove from yourself all the pursuit about all things, and cry and wail, for the time is near.
13. A brother asked ava Matoi, saying: what will I do, for my tongue upsets me, and when I arrive in front of the people I cannot restrain it, but I condemn them in all the good things, and I rebuke them. So, what will I do? And answering, the old man said: if you cannot master yourself, run away, for it is weakness. And the one who sits with the brothers should not be with four corners, but round, so that it rolls towards all. And the old man said: do not sit aside for the good deed, but for weakness. For able are the ones who come in the mist of the people.
FOR AVVA MARCU, THE APPRENTICE OF AVVA SILUAN
1. It was said about avva Siluan that he had an apprentice in the Skete, named Marcu, and this one had great obedience and was a good writer; and the old man loved him for his obedience and had yet another eleven apprentices, who were upset for he loved that one more than them. And upon hearing, the old man got saddened. The old men came one day, and they were yearning over him. And he, taking them, came out and knocked at each cell, and he was saying: brother so-and-so, come, for I need you! And none of them came immediately. But coming to March’s cell, he knocked in his door, saying: Marcu! And he, upon hearing the voice of the old man, immediately jumped outside. And he sent him to a task, and he said to the old men: where are the other brothers, fathers? And entering into his cell, he touched his tetradia (notebook) and he found that he had started his hand to do the letter O (+) and hearing the old man, he did not turn the pen to complete it. So the old men said: truly, the one you love, avvo, we also love because God also loves this one.
________________________________________
(+) In others: and he started to make a capital O.
2. Some were saying for avva Siluan that once, as he was wondering in the Skete with the old men, and wanting to show them the obedience of his apprentice Marcu, and why he loves him, seeing a little pig, he said to him: do you see that little ox, son? And he answered to him: yes, I see it, avvo! And how gentle are his horns! And he said: so it is, avvo! And the old men marvelled of the answer - and they benefited from his obedience.
3. Avva Marcu’s mother once came down to see him, having a lot of pump. The old man came out to her, and she said to him: avvo, tell my son to come out, so I can see him! And as he entered, the old man said to him: come out, so that your mother sees you! And he was dressed with chentonarion (+) and dirty from the kitchen. Coming out, because of obedience, the eyes were closed, and said to them: be saved, be saved, be saved! But he did not see them, nor did his mother recognized him. So, the woman again sent for the old man, saying to him: avvo, send me my son, so that I can see him! And he said to Marcu: did I not tell you, get out so that your mother sees you! Marcu said to him: I went out according to your word, avvo, but please, do not tell me again to come out, so that I do not make myself disobedient. And coming, the old man said to the woman: it is the one who welcomed you and said save yourselves. And comforting her, he released her.
________________________________________
(+) A type of coat.
4. Another time it mappened for him to come out of the Skete, and to go to Mount Sinai, to stay there. And Marcu’s mother sent, swearing him with tears, for her son to come out to see him. And the old man released him. When he was preparing his sheepskin to come out, and he was coming to take blessing from the old man, immediately he started crying, and he did not come out.
5. Some were saying about avva Siluan, that when he wanted to come out of Syria, his apprentice Marcu said to him: Father, I do not want to come out of here, but I will also not let you come out, but remain here three days! And on the third day he passed away in peace.
FOR AVVA MILISIE
1. As avva Milisie was going through a place, he saw a monk holding someone, as if he would have done killing. And as the old man got close, he asked the brother. And finding out that he is acussed, he said to the ones who were holding him: where is the one who was killed? And he was shown, and getting close to the one killed, he said to all to pray. And he, stretching his arms towards God, he raised the dead. And he said to him in front of everyone: tell us, who is the one who killed you? And he said: as I entered the church, I gave money to the priest and he, getting up, stabbed me, and taking me, he threw me into the avva’s monastery. I pray you, for the money to be taken, and given to my children. Then the old man said to him: go, and sleep until the Lord will come and will raise you!
2. Another time, as he was living with two apprentices within Persia’s borders, two sons of the emperor went out, bodily brothers, to hunt, as usually. And they set nets in a distant place, about forty miles, so that whatever it will be in the nets, to hunt and to kill with the spear. So, the old man with his two apprentices happened, and seeing him hairy and as a wild one, they got scared, and they said to him: are you a human, or a spirit? Tell us! And he said to them: I am a sinful human, and I came out to cry my sins, and to bow to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. And they said: there is no other God aside from the sun, the fire and the water – the ones to whom they were bowing; so get close and sacrifice to them! And he said: these are creations and you are decived. But I pray you to return and to know the true God, Who built all these. And they said: do you say that it is the true God the One who was sentenced and crucified? And the old man said: the One Who crucified sin and killed death, that is the One that I believe true God. And they, tormenting him together with the brothers, were forcing him to sacrifice. And tormenting them much, they chopped off the heads of the two brothers, and the old man, torturing him for many days, then, according to their craft, put him in the middle, and threw arrows one from the front and one from this back. But he said to them: because you united together, and spilled guiltless blood, in an instant tomorrow, at this hour, your mother will remain without you, her sons, and will lose your love, and with your arrows you will spill one another’s blood. And them, not taking into account his word, came the next day to hund, and a doe jumped between them. And as they were sitting on their horses, running to get her, throwing arrows over her, they pierced each other their hearts, according to the old man’s word, as he had told them when he cursed them. And so they died.
FOR AVVA MOTIE
1. A brother asked avva Motie, saying: if I will go to stay in some place, how do you want me to live there? And the old man said to him: if you will live in some place, do not want too make yourself a name in something, for example he does not come out at the teaching, or I do not eat at the charity. For these make desert a name, and then you find grief, because people, wherever they find these, that is where they run to. The brother said to him: but what will I do? The old man said to him: wherever you will live, follow exactly as all the others. And whatever you see that the pious ones do, to which you have a annunciation, you also do, and find rest. This is humbleness, to be the same as them. And the people, seeing that you do not come out of the ordinance, will have you being the same with all, and nobody will bother you.
2. It has been told about Avva Motie by his apprentice avva Isac, which both became bishops. First, the old man built a monastery at Iracla, and after he went from there, he went to another place, and he built there again. Out of the devil’s work, there was a brother who hated and upset him. And going up, the old man went to his village, where he made himself a monastery, and he locked himself into it. After some time, the elders of the place from where he left came, and taking also the brother towards whom he had sadness, went to pray him, to bring him to his monastery. And when they got close where avva Sori was, they left their sheepskins next to him, and the brother towards whom he had sadness. When they knocked at the door, the old man put a little ladder, and raising up recognized them, and told them: where are your sheepskins? And they answered: there, they are here, with this brother. And if the old man heard the name of the brother who saddened him, he gladly took the axe, broke the door, and came out running to where the brother was. And making a prostration first, and kissing him, he brought him in his cell, and for three days he rejoiced together with them, a thing that he was not in the custom of doing. And getting up, he went with them. After this, he became a bishop, for he was a wonder doer.
His apprentice, meaning avva Isac, was made a bishop by the blessed Chiril.
FOR AVVA MEGHETIE
1. It was said about avva Meghetie ca he was coming out of the cell and, if a thought was coming to him that he should go to that place, he was not returning to his cell, for he did not have anything of the things of this age, aside from a needle with which he was splitting the palm tree offshoots, for he was woring in each of the days three baskets for his food.
2. It was said about the second avva Meghetie, that he was very humble, for he had been an apprentice at the Egyptian fathers, and had met many elders, with avva Sisoe, with avva Pimen. He also spent time next to the river, in Sina, and it happened that one of the saints went to him, as he told, and said to him: how do you live, brother, in this desert? And he said: I fast for two days, and I eat a bread. And he said to me: if you want to listen to me, eat every day half a bread. And as he did that, he found rest.
3. Some of the parents asked avva Meghetie, saying: if there will be a surplus of broth over to the second day, do you want the brothers to eat it? The old man said to them: if it got rotten, it is not good that the brothers be obliged to eat it, and to fall sick, but to throw it away. Yet, if it is good, and it will be thrown away because of fornication, and another one will be boiled, that is bad.
4. He said again: at the beginning, when we were gathering together, and were speaking for benefiting, making each other stronger, we were making ourselves into cohorts, and we were raising to the skies. Yet now, we gather, and one with another, reaching slander, we descend downwards.
FOR AVVA MIOS
1. Avva Mios, the one of Veleu, said: obedience is place of obedience, and anyone who is listens to God, God is also listening to him.
2. He said again about some old man that he was in the Skete, but was from the slaves, and he had aquired very great right reckoning, who came in every year to Alexandri, bringing the payment of the tribute to his owners. And the old man put water in basin, and brought it to clean the feet of the owners. And he was saying towards him: no, father, do not burden us. He answered to them: I confess that I am your slave, and I thank kyou that you released me, to serve God. But I wash you, and receive this payment of my tribute. And they were opposing, not receiving. So he said to them: if you do not want to receive, I sit here, being a slave to you. And they, fearing this, were allowing him to do what he wanted, and were sending him off with may of the needed things, and with great praise, so that mercy it will be done for them. For this, he became known and loved in the Skete.
3. Avva Mios was asked by a military man if God accepts repentance. And he, after he advised him with many words, said towards him: tell me, my beloved, if your coat will be thorn, will you throw it away? He said: no, rather I sew it and I wear it. The old man said towards him: so then, if you have mercy towards the coat, will not God have mercy towards His creation?
FOR AVVA MARCU THE EGYPTIAN
1. It is said about avva March the Egyptian that he spent thirty years, not coming out of his cell. And the priest had the custom to come and do the Holy Liturgy. And the devil, seeing the improved patience of the old man, crafted to tempt him with the condemnation. So, he made someone who was demonized, to go to the old man for blessing, and the demonized one, before any word, shouted towards the old man: your priest has smell of sin, do not let him anymore to come to you. And the God insipired old man, said to them: son, all leave the un-cleaniness outside, yet you brought it to me. But it is written: do not judge, so that you will not be judged (+1). Yet, although he is sinful, God will have mercy on him, for it is written: and pray for each other, so that you get healed (+2). And according to this word, praying, he sent the demon away from the man, and released him healthy. And after the priest came according to habit, the old man received him with happiness. The good God, seing the old man’s lack of evilness, showed him a sign, for when the priest wanted to stay in front of the Holy Table, as the old man told us, he saw the angel of God coming down from heaven and putting his hand on the priest’s head, and the priest became like a pillar of fire. And he, being amazed for the vision, heard a voice coming towards him: man, why did you wonder for this thing? For if the earthly emperor will not let his servants to stay unclean in front of him, so only with lots of glory, so much more the Godly power will not clean the servants of the Holy Misteries, when they stay in front of the heavely glory? And the brave and the ascetic of Christ, Marc the Egyiptian, becoming great, was found worthy of this gift, for he did not condemn the cleric.
________________________________________
(+1) Mat. VII, 1. 2
(+2) Iacob. V. 16.
FOR AVVA MACARIE THE CITIZEN
1. Once avva Macarie the Citizen went to cut palm tree offshoots, and the brothers together with him. And they said to him in the first day: come, eat with us, father! And he went, and ate. And again in the other day they told him to eat, yet he did not want, but told them: you need to eat, fons, for you are still in the body, but me now I do not want to oeat anymore.
2. Avva Macarie went to avva Pahomie of the Tavensiot’s, and Pahomie asked him, saying: when the brothers are without order, is it good that I punish them? Avva Macarie said to him: punish and judge rightly the ones under yourself, and outside do not judge anyone for it is written: is it not that the ones inside you are judging? And the ones outside, God will judge (+).
________________________________________
(+) I Cor. 1, 12 - 13.
3. Avva Macarie once did four months, going to a brother in all days, and not finding him idling from prayer, not even once, and marveling he was saying: there, an earthly angel!
FOR AVVA MARCEL
1. Avva Theona has told us about avva Marcel, that this abbot Marcel was in the areas of Lybia and was living at the food of a mountain, next to a large city, in some cave. And this father was very gentle, merciful and pious, honest and wise. And those people, they all had great faith and love towards him, and they all listened, and they were receiving his teachings. This is how he lived in that cave sixty years, and he has endured many disgusts and griefs from the devils, as itself told him, with all many types of crafts and terrible ways rushing over him, wanting to send him away from that place, from that cave, and to delude him from quietness and his ordinance with good peace. But he, too easily was suffering and was bearing those griefs and disgusts. Yet, afterwards, as the enemy devil was seeing that he did not have anything more to odo to him, in order to send him away from that place (for it could not suffer him anymore), it did this: he changed into the image of the aboot, and started to welcome the women and the girsl of those people in the evening and morning, and was talking to them indecent words, and was urgint them to fornicate with him, assuring them that there is no sin in this thing, the hidden fornication. The devil was doing this not once or twice, but many times. Wherever he was seeing a lonely woman, immediately he was changing into the image of the abbot, and going to her, was speaking indecent words, and the women were saying to their men. And this thing was heard, and it was made known to all the people. Then, all of them gathered in the curch and they called all the women whom he had talked those indecent words. And they asked them to say truly, if it is truly about that abbot, or if they scourge him. And them, being more than twenty, they all were confessing, saying: no only once, but more times, wherever he was catching one of us, he forces us towards sinning with him, and he pulls us without shame, saying that there is no sin in the hidden fornication. As the church assembly heard these, and not realizing that it is the craft of the devil, they sent to him some tyran and merciless young men, commanding them to pull him out from the cave, and with beatings and shame to send him away from there. As these merciless youth ran, and with great anger entered suddently to him into the cave, immediately some grabbed him by the beard, others from the hair locks of his head, other beating him with sticks on the back, like an animal, took him out from the cave. And thus they pulled him, trundling him to the ground and kept beating him without mercy, until they pulled him onto a road, and so they left him in the middle of the road, like a dead man, and they went away. And as some passengers went by that road, they found him in the middle of the road, hurt over all his body, laying in a pool of blood, barely alive. And as they were staying, and wondering, they started to ask him, to tell them what had happened. And he, barely managing to talk, asked them to get him up, and to take him to his cave; and getting him up, they took him in the cave. Thus leaving him, they went on their way. And the people from the city, understanding that he again has returned to the cave, many of them went to him, and they were upsetting him and shaming him. Yet him, bearing their everything, was thanking God. And he kept living there, in that cave, eighteen months, being upset by everyone, always shamed, and taunted. He was bearing all with happiness, and was praying to God for them, so that this sin will be forgiven to them, for they do not know what they are doing, and for their souls to be saved. And the Lord God did not let until the end this devilish taunting, and shame over his sin, but revealed this to one of the most honest people, that it was the craft and the illusion of the devil agaist the abbot, and that the devil itself has shown itself in the image of the aboot, and he was showing itself, and was talking with the women its words. And the abbot did not know any of this. But, sitting in his cave, was praying to God according to his habit, for this city, and for the whole world. And those young men, who had tormented the abbot, started to be terribly possessed, foaming at the mouth, and yelling, testifiying the abbot’s guiltless. In the same way, those women to whom the devil in the image of the abbot had taled, they all got possessed. And all the people got very scared, and they all knew that the abbot was not guilty, but the devil itself had worked that evil against the abbot. And they all repented, because they believed the illusions of the devil, and punishing and slandering the abbot, had sinned to God. And so, all getting up together with their women and their children, they came out of the city, and went to the abbot’s cave, to all ask forgiveness for the mistake they have mistaken to him, without being guilty. Yet him, seeing them from afar, a big host coming, he knew who they are and come to him, for he knew that they were made aware of his guiltless, and he knew also why they all come to him. And coming out of his cave, he ran to the mountain, and passed to the mountain of Nitria, and finding a cave there, he liked it much, and he settled in it. And he was telling me, says avva Teona: when someone will want to distinguish himself with their life from the quarrels of the world, let him go and settle in a peaceful place, without quarrel, and with silence. One of these, if he wants for the devil to not find presumptions like this over me, it is right that he does not settle in a place close to city or villages, but to be far from the lay men’s homes, and so he will be rested.