Paphnutius Histories Monks of Egypt

And the diakonia, I have been appointed to it. O blessed are we! Our land is worthy of your holy footsteps. Well did the Psalmist David say, "Beloved are your dwelling places." And again, "Beloved are they because of their fathers." The Lord said, "It came to pass with great joy and gladness within us." I remembered the word that the Lord spoke in the Gospel: "The house into which you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If the children of peace are there, let your peace rest upon it. If not, let your peace turn upon you." When I saw that they were children of peace, I placed my peace upon them, according to the word of the teacher of us all, Christ our Lord. When the time came, we performed the synaxis. They set before us the table. We prayed. We ate... [one or two lines wanting] ...ate with these holy ones of God, like the servant of Abraham, who... within with joy, and they fulfilled their entire will. I, for my part, glorified God that He did not turn away the face of the one who sought Him, according to what is written: "The good desire of man is fulfilled by worshipping God." After we had finished the lucernarium, we completed their entire... praying.

The word of God and his holy teachings. I said to the holy old man, Apa Seleusios, about a good brother, the one who dwells with him, who is Apa Zavoulon. And I rejoiced greatly that I had rejoiced at his door. He said to me, "I also rejoiced in this way. I received ... outside, from his hand, through humility and silence, not wishing to hear his word, whether in anything, even a little. The one who speaks with him, even if he is great, says, 'I do not know.'" I said to him, "How, in this ... practice of this kind?" The old man said to me, "Listen, I will tell you. He took a wife in his youth, and he progresses in every work. He was a virgin from his childhood, and he fled from every craft of women, fearing because of the word that is written: 'He who looks at a woman and desires her, he has already committed sin in his heart, and the desire, if it continues, gives birth to sin. Sin, when it is completed, gives birth to death.' And he walks in every humility. In this way, he saw a vision, as if he saw a glorious man before him, saying, 'No one can serve two masters, or love one and hate the other. This is your way, my brother.'

Seleusios said, "You have hastened to a good work, according to what is written in the apostle: 'Let no one who is a soldier be bound...' [one line wanting] ...what he has done. A soldier, if moreover someone becomes a recruit, let him not receive a crown unless he fights well. You will strengthen on the right and on the left." And immediately the one who was speaking with him became invisible. He ceased to see his face at dawn.

...but if it happens that there is a man, an old man dwelling near him, who has knowledge of the scriptures, he would go to him many times and inquire about the reading, about the lessons that are read in the church. He was a lover of the poor. Now then, he would also often speak to himself, turning over his thoughts, and he would set his heart on the holy scriptures. When he went to him, he would speak to him about the vision he had seen, for it was counseling him. He said to him, "Renounce everything that you have. Take up your cross, follow your Lord, and put the dead to rest in the truth, not their corpses that are empty. Have you not heard the Lord crying out in the Gospels, 'Let no one lay a hand on a garment and turn it back to front, and straighten it inward, toward the kingdom of heaven'? This saying, 'look to the back,' signifies the cares of the empty world and its material things, by not knowing them. Now then, my beloved brother, I do not wish for you to go and leave me because of your knowledge and your coming to me, which is full of profit, but I also wish for you to walk in the calling to which you have been called. Arise and go to the brothers, and they will give you the habit of the monastic life, and they will teach you what is fitting for you to do." And in this manner he went, according to what the old man had said. He went to them.

...the brothers, in the place that is called... his face alone, together with his entire body, for the most part, in the ascetic practices, according to what is written: "Twenty years he spent as a child, and the circuit of his years in the very gold of the fruit," he said this concerning the raising of the hands of the old man.

...the pattern of the spirit according to the Scriptures. And the silver coin that resembles it is placed upon the prayers that are pure, and the gold coin upon the ascetic practices, according to what is written: "Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they shall see God." Toil is a gift, and he often keeps vigil many times, and he also eats many times in the refectories, like John the Baptist, whose manner of life was such that his food was wild plants and male herbs... concerning the purity of his heart and the purity of his body, the holy father Apa Seleucius said: "He often sees many revelations, and whatever he says comes to pass. He sees in his visions like Daniel, who sees into the future." Apa Seleucius also said: "When I came to his door—that is, the one I first spoke of, John—concerning whom I said all these things, he received me with great hospitality, and I found nothing lacking in his place, except that there were only three loaves of bread there, for the strangers who would pass by, lest they say, 'The old man does not eat bread.' When I stayed with him, I entreated him.

...to take upon oneself the monastic habit. ...of the monastic life. And he said to me, "My brother, the decree is written: 'Your words have become sweet in my mouth.' The Lord, more than honey, is in my mouth, since you have asked me, my son, about the teaching: 'Be humble before the outsiders, and be salted with the salt, as the Lord said in the Gospel to his apostles: "You are the salt of the earth."'

...joyful and merciful, according to the way our Lord said, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves." Become wise like these serpents and these crocodiles, like these years. He sent them forth as sheep, but he did not neglect the care of the sheep to walk within it, nor did they set their heart outward because of the thoughts of the demons... in a loosening outward, nor letting the heart outward in eating and drinking and pleasure, for our adversary the devil walks prowling against man, like these lions seeking to devour our souls. For some days near him, he spoke these words to me and to those who were with me. I entreated him to take me to a solitary place. In this way he brought me to this place. He remained near me for some days until he taught me the solitary dwelling in the desert, and he gave me commandments and the raising up of thoughts against demons and the severe struggle. He left me alone until my brother Zaboulon came to me. Then he said to me, "I entreat you, my father Seleusios, since there is..." [three lines wanting] The old man answered, saying to me, "Since you have asked, I will tell you, and nothing is hidden from you. The hidden things are also revealed to you.

...near men. The Holy Spirit revealed them to you openly. I said to him, "Do me the kindness, my father, do not hide your servant." He answered, saying to me, "Since you have asked, I will tell you." He said, "I once went into the inner desert, for two days' journey. I found some small palm trees, with a spring of water and some dates around them. I sat upon...

...the spring to rest myself a little, being in the hardship of the roads, saying to myself, "Is there a brother in this place?" But as I was thinking in this way, I looked and saw men... God... [one line missing] ...some dates, and they brought a little water for me to drink. But I wished to stay with them in that place. However, I thought of my brother Zaboulon, that he could not stay outside, according to what the apostle says: "When a great door is open to me..." ...I did not rest in my spirit, I said, "My brother." And also, "I have planted, Apollon is the one who planted, God is the one who made it grow." I said to them, "How did you come to this place, and what do you eat, and what are your names, and from what city are you, and how do you gather in this place?" Then he said, "We are city-dwellers from Syene. We have lived with one heart since we were in the world, being friends with each other. We used to go to church together, always, evening and morning, listening to the holy scriptures, which they read, and the readings from the gospel. For the one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and the one who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

And we, when we heard these words, living ones coming forth from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, the Lover of men, and those who stand up to him, which are these: "He who loves his soul will save it, and he who saves his soul for himself will find it." And again: "If a man gives away the whole world but does not labor for his soul, what is it that a man will give?

the salvation of his soul. And we, when we heard these words, we became of one heart with one another. The word of God increased in us more than the bread and the salt. We made an agreement with one another on a certain day to go out from the city. We remained for some days saying to one another, "Perhaps it is demons that are testing us." But when we perceived the good thought that was urging us not to let go of our hands, we hastened to do more than was in our power. We took a little bread and went out from the city. We boarded a small boat and came to the mountain, to the place called the Peak. We dwelt with some holy brothers who were in that place, because there is a great abundance of virtues there according to God. We met a holy old man whose name was Zachaios, who had grown old in the anchoritic life, an ascetic indeed. There were also two other brothers dwelling with him, his disciples. The name of one of them was Sarapamon, and the name of the other was Matthaios. They had come into a great struggle and had received grace, listening to the old man Apa Zachaios in whatever things he would say to them. Sarapamon, however, prepared for him a love-feast, which is this: when a man comes seeking the work of the hand, to make it for him.

...from his hand. He would go around to the brothers of the first [group]. He said to them, "He who has a handiwork there, let him bring it to me. I gave him his price." And he would [work] handiwork, diligently... handiwork... He would come to his door knowing that he would take it by force, he would give his own to him. But he loved the multitude more than the empty, and the abundance more than the honor. He remained in the agape until the day of his completion, to the end. Matthew also, he begot this polity. For he would not persuade ever, by his word, in any word. And if someone asked him about a reading in the Scriptures, he would answer him in this way: "I will leave it to the end, in the manner of the mind." For he is not a great scribe who was educated in the writings of the holy Scriptures. And in this way he rested for sixty days of the month Paone. The old man also, of whom we first spoke, that is Apa Zachaios, it is he who taught us to dwell in the desert, and it is he who gave us the schema of the monastic life. And the old man, when he spoke with us about the virtues of the holy ones who are in the desert, those who are diligent not to see men, he gave... an asceticism that is harsh... and his hands to us... our souls... He came down into the polity of... harsh... and also...

...he was in this old age. He was a virgin from his birth, fleeing from every craft of women and every pleasure, weeping more than laughing. He did not cease from weeping day and night. We said to him one day, “My father, why do you weep in this manner?” He said, “It is fitting for every renunciant not to cease day and night, weeping over his sins, as it is written: ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ When this saying reaches you, you will find rest from your labors. For it is fitting for every man to set before himself these three things: the departure from the body, the remembrance of the sentence that will bring us to the day of the great and fearful judgment. For we also hear concerning the great Moses that when he lifted up his two hands, he prevailed over Amalek. And again, that...

...he was in this old age. He was a virgin from his birth, fleeing from every craft of women and every pleasure, weeping more than laughing. He did not cease from weeping day and night. We said to him one day, “My father When he went down, he would stretch out his hands. He could not prevail, namely Amalek. For the holy Scripture says, “Aaron would raise his hands, on the right hand of Moses, and he himself, on his left.” And in this way, when they rose up together, in one accord, under his hands, Amalek would stretch out. The holy writer also said, “And Aaron would raise his hands until the evening,” which is the entire day of the man. This is the manner of these men: he will raise his hands, in the type of the cross of Christ, and he will stretch out all his enemies, in the manner of Moses, who stretched out Amalek by the raising of his hands. Aaron, on the one hand, the Scripture brings him concerning places of rest which are in the heavens and the joy which is in Jerusalem of heaven and the throne and the vestments which will be given to the saints, according to what is written: “You have prepared my bed, you have bound me with joy.” And also, he will be worthy of the communion with the firstborn, which is written in the heavens and in Paradise, which is in places until the eye can see them, the ear hear them, not ascending upon the heart of men. These God prepared for those who love him. But he himself, the Scripture brings him concerning judgments and the judgment of those who do not sleep.

...he was in this old age. He was a virgin from his birth, fleeing from every craft of women and every pleasure, weeping more than laughing. He did not cease from weeping day and night. We said to him one day, “My father ...with weeping, with the dust of ashes, with the darkness outside, with the abyss of the deep, and the river of fire, which draws and gives great fear. For if anyone removes the thought of these from his heart at the time when he is about to pray, his supplication reaches the throne of God. And whatever things he asks of God, they will be for him according to what is written: “The supplication of the righteous has great power, and it is effective, and it pierces...

...the angel who is hidden, and his energies, and the two things, his prayer concerning them, the joy and the weeping. The joy, indeed, concerning the weeping and the remembrance of the rest that is in the heavens. The weeping, however, itself concerning the remembrance of the punishments that are in hell. O my brothers, my children, it is fitting for every man to set before themselves the remembrance of these two things: the rest and the labors. For the labors have a small portion of rest, but these, when we heard them from the mouth of the holy old man, Apa Zachaios, we were filled with joy and we said to him, “Have mercy on us, take us to a place of dwelling that you know, where we will be saved.” And in this way he gave us two loaves of bread and two books, and he walked with us until he brought us into this place. He stayed with us for a few days until we learned the manner of dwelling in the desert, when he gave us commandments that have power, and some rules of vigils, and a manner of eating and a manner of drinking in moderation, and he taught us how the demons tempt men in many ways, according to the way that is written in the Apostle: “Our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual powers of evil.

...which is under the heavens, the demons indeed fight with each other, they lie prostrate at night. And he informed me about some cells, so that if some brothers come to my door, I should not receive them there. And this is the manner in which he went out from us: he rested on the fifth of the month of Thoth. We, however, remained in this place until today, O our holy father, while the nourishment is provided for us from these dates. And if we go out to the mountain that is outside, we gather with the brothers in the...

The Sabbath and the Lord's Day. Behold, I have informed you about the renunciation for yourself as well. Do me the kindness of praying for us, O our holy father. As for me, I came out from them and settled in my dwelling place. The name of one of them was Anianos, and the name of the other was Paulos. After a few days we heard from a brother who used to go to them many times, seeking his inquiry, that they had given rest to their companion. Anianos on the seventh day, and Paulos on the third of the month. When our brother Banouphiel heard, he went and brought their bodies and buried them near him. Behold, these then I have sent to you, my brother, my spiritual father, concerning those who dwell in the desert, concerning those whom I saw and those of whom I heard, and the remembrance of the fathers who came down through them and their completion. There is one who will speak concerning the holy elder Apa Isaac, my father of good memory, who began the beginning of his life under the elder who was not yet a monk in this place, who dwells in the island which is in the middle of the cataract of the south. There is not four million to him, for he himself was a disciple under the feet of the holy elder Apa Haron, and he gave water into his hands like the great Elisha at the hand of the prophet Elijah.

A true man, perfect in many virtues, they were mocking one another. When I heard, there is blessedness in this man of this kind. I entreated my father Seleucius, saying to him... until his mouth, that I might be worthy of his blessing. This is the way we prayed in his dwelling place. We came out, we embarked in a small boat, we sailed south to go to the holy elder, Apa Isaac. There were great stones, however, thrown in the water.

In the middle of the river, the water there was flowing out, being fearful. When we came to the south, we entered into the place of the old man’s dwelling. After a little, he was taught outside by the Spirit. He came out, he stood on the bank of the river. The man said, “He is a man of grace, for he rejoiced in his days.” When we were on the bank, he first called my name, saying, “Well have you come to us, my brother, my spiritual father. This one who is worthy to greet the holy ones.” And when he greeted us, he took us into his dwelling place with joy, and he said to us, “Do the agape, pray, for you are holy men, because you have come to me today.” And when we prayed, we sat down. He brought a basin of water, and washed our feet. He said, “I am not worthy of a great grace, that you have come to me today, O holy brothers.” Afterwards, he set before us a table. We ate, and we gave thanks. We sat down. And I spoke with him concerning his manner of life, and I said to him, “My father, you have done this now in the material world.” The holy old man answered, he said to me with a voice full of joy, “Leave me, my father, my brother, my spiritual father. I am a man of the least, a sinner.

Therefore, since you have asked me about my work, I will tell you the things that I saw and the things that I heard from my holy father Apa Hārōn. For I also was a disciple at his feet, and I followed him so that he might tell me the things that he saw and the things that happened before him. For my holy father Apa Hārōn said to me, "I will tell you, my son, the things that I saw and the things that I heard from the blessed Apa Markedonios the bishop.

For he said, “...the archon, when I began the ... I came to the south, to the pagarchy, over these cities. I went into the prison, and the Sabbath came. I sought a place, that I might gather, for I am an orthodox, because they worship idols in that place, and also the persecution of the orthodox among them. They had no freedom there because of the multitude of idol worshippers. I sought, then, from a Christian man, concerning the manner of gathering. He, however, said to me, ‘Truly, lord archon, the cities are full of violence from the idol worshippers. For even when clerics of the city of Souan come down, they do not gather us on the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day.’ I, a Macedonian, kept these words in my heart. And when I went to the city of Rakote to prostrate before the *stratēlatēs*, I sought Apa Athanasius, the archbishop of Rakote. I told him the whole manner of what I had seen. The holy and true patriarch said to me, ‘How many idol worshippers of God are in that place?’ I said to him, ‘My father, even a Christian man told me that the clerics of the city of Souan come down and do not gather us.’

...of the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. Now then, my Lord, my father, look at one who is worthy to serve in this necessary work. You shall ordain him as bishop, that I may take him south with me. The holy archbishop answered and said to me, "Except that you have sought after the good work, who is wiser than you? Or who is more compassionate than you? You yourself will be the shepherd over the sheep that are in that place." And I said to him,

...of the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. Now then, my Lord, my father, look at one who is worthy to serve in this necessary work. You shall ordain him as bishop, that I may take him south with me. The holy archbishop answer "Release me, my holy father, for I am not worthy of this kind of work." He, however, persuaded me with his sweet words. He persuaded me. When I came south, I sought out one who was greater than I among those who had come to this place. "O my brother Haron, do not be bold with me as a bishop, but walk as the least among them." I saw them going into the inner cells, rejoicing, and a certain place was called the inner furnace. They were in the cells. It happened, however, after some days, when I was going in, the priest came out of the city and went to give an answer. His two sons, however, were attending to the sacrifice of the idol. I, Makedonios, went to them and spoke with them deceitfully, saying, "I wish to offer a sacrifice today to God." They said to me, "Come, offer it up." When he went in, he gave orders to place wood upon the altar and to kindle the fire under it. The two sons of the priest, however, were attending to the wood until the twenty-second day of the month. Bishop Apa Makedonios gave his attention to the place, that is, the cell within it. He brought out the furnace, he uncovered its head, and he threw it out upon the altar that was burning. He came out.

...of the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. Now then, my Lord, my father, look at one who is worthy to serve in this necessary work. You shall ordain him as bishop, that I may take him south with me. The holy archbishop answer In the temple, he went. The son of the priest, however, when they saw what had happened, they tore their garments. And the great one said to the small one, "What is it that I will do? We are weary. Who is it that, if the people of the city hear, they will stone us, saying that we were negligent until they opened the mouth of their God? Again, if we hide our hands, we will not be able to escape from our father, because he is full of God, the one who is more powerful than us. Now then, my brother, let us arise.

...we fled to a desert place together. We will be saved. And this is how they came out of the city on the second day. No one knew that God was protecting them because they were bound for a good purpose. They took a boat and came to this east. They looked inward at the inner mountain. They said, "It is good for us to die here, and for the wild beasts to eat our flesh rather than to be stoned by the people of the city." But when their father came to go into the temple to worship the idol first, according to his custom, before going to his house, when he went in, he did not find his children. He gave his attention to the inner place, but he did not find them. He also searched in the sanctuary where the altar is, but he did not find them. He came out perplexed, saying, "What has happened? Why did I not find my children? Nor the other god, the altar?" An old woman who lived near the temple heard him. She called to him, saying, "Come to me, O priest, blessed one, and I will tell you what I saw today. For I saw this transgressor of monks, who leads some astray in this city, go in...

...to the temple with his children. It was he who utterly corrupted their heart. They took God [as their guide] and fled. But the priest, when he heard these words from the old woman, went about crying out in the city after his children, saying, "Not only my children will I kill, but also the other monk, if I find him, I will strike him down." A faithful man, when he heard her speaking with the priest, went to the bishop.

...to the temple with his children. It was he who utterly corrupted their heart. They took God [as their guide] and fled. But the priest, when he heard these words from the old woman, went about crying out in the city af ...the holy one. He said to him, "My honored father, do not accept a word from this raging priest of the temple concerning you, for he says, 'If I find him, I will kill him.' Now then, my holy father, arise and go to a place that is prepared for some days until the matter is resolved." The bishop said to the man there, "What, my honored son? I have heard from the blessed mouth of our God, our Savior Jesus Christ, our Lord, saying, 'Do not fear those who will kill your body, for they have no power to kill the soul.'" The man there said to the bishop, and he also said, "If they flee and scatter in the city, flee to another place." The bishop said, "Who told him that I went into the temple?" But he said to him, "I heard that it was an old woman who lives near the temple." The bishop said with a laugh, "Her tongue will become a millstone; it will not cease moving forever until the gift of God is revealed." And it happened according to his word, just as the apostle Peter said to Simon, "You will become blind, and you will not see the sun for a time." When the holy bishop said these things to me, the man withdrew from him.

The holy one arose, he himself, and went down to the place called Pia. He dwelt in that place, beseeching God with fasts and with many nights of vigils, saying, "Lord God, turn the heart of the man to repentance this night." ... He saw a vision: the man stood, with two children beside him, standing; one on his right and one on his left.

While they were sleeping, a man of light came, stood in the air, placed a crown on the head of the one on his right, who is the great one, and another crown on the head of the one on his left, and placed a staff in the hand of the one on his right, with a thong bound to it, and another staff in the hand of the one on his left, with another thong bound to it. He went up into the sky, floating after him. Then the holy bishop Apa Macedonius arose in the morning, saying, "What is this vision that I have seen? Will children be born to me after I have renounced? The matter is difficult. Nevertheless, let your will be done, my Lord Jesus Christ." While the bishop was pondering in this way, a voice came to him, saying, "Go, see your sheep, for which you were appointed. Arise, give your attention to them. You will find some chosen vessels in that place." He arose and went as it was told to him. And when he had gone up into the mountain, three miles, he looked to his right and found two children lying under a palm tree, their tongues hanging out to the point of death from hunger and thirst, because their sheep had not eaten bread nor drunk water. When the bishop saw them,

He remembered the vision that he had seen. And he said, "These are the two sons who were shown to me in the vision. And these also are the ones who told me, 'Go, you will find chosen vessels.' I went in to them." He said, "And when they saw me, they were troubled in heart; they rose and prostrated themselves at my feet, and they gave praise over them. I myself also gave them my hand and raised them up. When I saw them, however, they were troubled.

The hunger and the thirst. I sat down there. But the great one who was there became angry at the small one, saying, "Speak!" The small one also became angry at the great one, saying, "Speak yourself!" The great one answered, "Truly, my father, I acted as if I had eaten. And when I saw you, for from the day we came out of the city, I have not eaten, nor have I drunk, nor have I seen anyone outside. For our food is the light. For it happened that we were in this night that brought us. But I was naked. However, my eyes were open. A man of light came, having a book in his hand, making the sign of the cross, and having very precious garments hung over his shoulder. He stood by me. He moved toward me. When I rose up, he threw a garment over me. He wrapped me in a linen cloth. When I made a response over the garment, he unfolded it and placed it on my small brother. And he wrapped himself also in a linen cloth. When he made a response over himself, he unfolded it and placed it over me again. Then I looked to my right and I saw you, my holy father. The man of light took me in his hands and threw me into a bosom. Afterwards, he took my brother and threw him into a bosom. And immediately—

He opened his mouth to speak. I went to look at his face. Now then, my father, behold, we have become worthy for you to come to us. Here are our souls in your hand, and our body. For indeed, we fled from the city of your opportunity and came to this place. But when the bishop heard these words, he remembered what the apostle said: "The spirits of the prophets come to us." He said to them, "Arise, let us go, my children, for this is the way that God

They arose and came out from the mountain at once. They went into the place where the holy bishop was dwelling, and they dwelt together for three days. The bishop said, "I will not eat with them because they have not received baptism." Then he arose and filled a vessel with water, as was his custom, and prayed over it according to the canons. And he said to them, "What are your names?" The elder said, "Our names are Hose and Nintou, for the names of God are those by which we were called and which we sent to the bishop." But he said, "It shall not be that you are called by these names from now on." And he called the elder and baptized him, and called him Mark. And the second he called Isaiah. After he baptized them, he gathered them together, and afterward he set a table before them for them to eat. It happened, however, after some days, while they were near him, giving their attention to his manner of praying, his manner of sitting, and his demeanor, because they did not know prayers or the Psalter, for they had dwelt with the holy one. Mark said, "My holy father, we wish you to shave our heads so that we may serve at your feet." And he shaved their heads, and they listened to him in every matter. It happened, however, after some days, he remembered.

of the vision. The holy bishop saw them, concerning the two sons, and he said, "Truly, these are the two sons I saw, one on my right and one on my left. He first ordained Mark as presbyter, and his brother Isaiah he made deacon. When the bishop sat in his dwelling place, reading the holy Gospels, Mark also sat near the door. Some camel drivers came, passing by that place with their camels. The stronger among them pushed the weaker one down, and he broke his leg. When the camel drivers saw what had happened, they fought among themselves. But the Lord of the one whose leg was broken said to the other, 'I will take your camels to my place.' And a great disturbance arose between them. Mark, the presbyter, when he saw them fighting among themselves, went up and informed the bishop. He kept them in his heart, not to go down to them. When he came to the verse written, 'Blessed are the peacemakers,' for they are those who are called the sons of God. At that moment he closed the book and went down to them. When they saw him, the one who had done the wrong fled inside to him.

And he said, "Come, sit down, my father. You shall not judge us." And the bishop sat down. Anoub said to him, "I tied my camel. My companion, however, did not tie his. His camel came and knocked mine to the ground, and it broke its leg." While he was speaking, the other one was saying, "I did not tie it inside, but it was outside. I did not know." The bishop sat with his mouth closed until they finished all their words. The holy bishop said to them, "There is no matter of contention between you except this matter of the camel alone." One of them said, "I will tell you the truth, my holy father. Behold, for forty years we have walked together, and not one of us has quarreled with the other for a single day.

The holy bishop said, "Bring it to my mouth, the camel's leg." And it was brought to his mouth. And the other leg was also brought. The joint alone was what held, and it could not walk, but was limping, dragging its leg. When the holy bishop saw the animal, he did not delay the matter because of his haste. He said to the little one—that is, Esaias the deacon—"Go, bring me a little water in a basin." He went and brought it to him. He said to him, "Sprinkle on its leg, saying, 'In the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit,' and sign it." And he did as he told him. Its leg was healed as if it had never been broken at all. When they saw what had happened, Anoub and his companion were amazed, saying, "We do not know God." Some men passing by, who were from Pelak, when they saw what had happened, they glorified God and went into the city. They gave witness concerning the holy bishop about what they had seen. And they informed the high priest of the temple—that is, the priest—about his two sons, and that the little one among them was the one through whom the miracle had happened. When he heard,

Then the priest hurried to go out of the temple. He went to the place where the bishop was with his children. When he arrived at the dwelling place, they informed the bishop through the spirit. He arose immediately and came out to meet him. And he said to him, "Welcome! You have given me joy. For you have led this multitude astray to cause them to give heed to their soul." And immediately he prostrated himself at his feet and remained giving thanks to them, saying, "Forgive me.

Outside, my lord, my father.” But he took hold of his hands, raised him up, and brought him inside to his dwelling place. When the priest saw his eldest son, Mark, he turned his attention to him, intending to greet him. But he did not accept, saying, “He is not yet worthy of the holy baptism.” When his father saw this, he was amazed and said to him, “Are you not my son?” He said to him, “I am your son. Today I myself have found a good father.” His father said, “Tell me also the manner of the way that is fitting to live.” Mark, his son, said to him, “Behold, our father the bishop himself is the one who will tell you the way to live.” Then the bishop began to speak with him from the holy scripture, and he gave him the ordinance of baptism and the right faith. When the priest heard these things, he said to the bishop, “Blessed am I, my holy father, that I have been worthy to hear these sweet words from your holy mouth. I entreat you, my holy father, to give me the holy baptism as you have given it to my children.” When the bishop understood that the fear of God had moved him and had strengthened his heart,

Inside. He said, “I will baptize you here, but rise and go into the city, take care of the house, and turn it into a church.” When a great time had passed, they guided them. They said to Paphnutius, “The division of the water.” He then submitted and said again, “Bring me the oil.” He then brought it. The bishop gave it, prayed over the oil according to the canons of the holy fathers the apostles, and said to Mark.

The presbyter said, “Proclaim in the church that whoever wishes the Lord, let him come to me, and they will give their woe to his mouth at once, with haste, inside to his mouth, as he baptizes them.” He first baptized the priest, and he baptized him, and he called his name Jacob. Afterwards, all the people of the city, men and women and young children—none of them were left behind—received baptism on that day. When he went to the church, however, and when the bishop opened to baptize them, he said, and he called the man who was there, “I wish to ordain him as presbyter.” Likewise, the Lord Jesus arose and went, according to the way he had commanded, and he took care of his house, going outside with all the things that were his, and he filled it with water and made it ready outside. He crowned himself with linen garments, and the priest sent word to the bishop, saying, “I have taken care of everything according to your command to me. Arise and come into the city.” And the bishop arose, he and his disciples, and they went. When the people of the city heard, they rejoiced together, from the small to the great, and they came out to meet him, and they brought him into the house of the priest, and they placed a throne at his feet.

And when he had sat down, the multitude gathered at his door. He catechized them in the words of God, instructing them concerning the mystery of holy baptism and to love one another in sincere love, without hypocrisy in their hearts. He informed him that he should hide himself, because the priest was pursuing him. He ordained him as deacon. Then he said to them, “Where are the vessels with which you gather?” They said to him, “They are hidden in a certain place.” He ordered them to bring them quickly. They went immediately, arose, and brought them at once, placing them on their shoulders. And the bishop ordered them to set them down in the middle of the place. He said to Mark the presbyter, “Ring the bells so that the multitude may gather in the church.” And he did as he was told. And the whole multitude gathered. The bishop said to Jacob, “Take care of the wine and choice bread, so that I may gather the…” He remembered… to put outside… until the father who is in the heavens. He ordered them to bring the old woman to him on a mat, because she was unable to walk. They brought her and placed her at the feet of the bishop. The bishop said to her, “Believe, old woman, that God exists.” And she…

Of her head, she was saying, "They are outside. For if it is not a matter concerning the head, which was broken by the decision of the bishop who had appointed her to be shorn." Then the bishop Apa Macedonius arose and went inside to the cell. He put his finger inside her mouth, and immediately the bonds of her tongue were loosed. She spoke well and gave glory to God. The multitude, when they saw what had happened, cried out aloud with a great voice, saying, "One is God, the Holy One, Apa Macedonius the bishop, ... God ... baptism ..." When he had gathered the multitude, he went to the church and sat before them for seven days. He ordained for them presbyters and deacons, and he instructed them concerning the building and the canons of the church. After the seventh day, he went.

...to his place of dwelling. And it happened after some days, his body grew stiff, to his mouth. He had done many things in his days. He called Mark the presbyter and Isaiah the deacon. He said to them, "Behold, the days of my departure have drawn near. But you, my son Mark, after my completion, God will install you in my place, to sit upon my throne, to tend well the flock of God. [O my] son, according to the way I entrusted to you..." ...through him, by... ...he became ill, and the illness grew severe upon him more than before, and he did not give way until the eighth day of Mechir. He called his disciples, and he set his hand to all the works that were fitting for them to do. But on the morning of the twenty-eighth of Mechir, he rested in a good old age, the holy bishop Apa Macedonius. And when the people of his city heard, they came out to the place where he was, and they made for him a great mourning, because they loved him greatly. And they buried him according to his worth, and they sealed him outside their dwelling place. And it happened after some days, the place being vacant of a bishop, the entire people gathered together. They said to one another, "Until when shall we neglect this great matter? Let us seek a shepherd for ourselves...

...to his place of dwelling. And it happened after some days, his body grew stiff, to his mouth. He had done many things in his days. He called Mark the presbyter and Isaiah the deacon. He said to them, "Behold, the days ...and another one, that is, Mish, of the deacons, they were three days speaking with each other in this manner, and they did nothing. Then the great presbyter of the church arose and stood up. He said to the crowd, "I will speak a word to you, this word which is worthy to be spoken, if you will listen to me." They said...

...to him of the majority of the people, saying, "Speak it to us. If it is fitting, we will do it." He himself said to them, "Let us choose men from among us, according to the manner of Stephen and his companions, and let us cast lots. The one upon whom the lot falls, we will take him and ordain him as bishop." And it happened when the presbyter finished speaking, the archdeacon also answered. He said, "I have... to say it..." ...they said, "They are his children." The archdeacon said, "Behold, they are now the heirs. And you did not inquire after them." When he said this, they remembered Mark and Isaiah. The whole people answered, "The word of the archdeacon is what shall be." And immediately they sent and brought them from the place where they were. They sat in the church and spoke the word to Mark the presbyter. He himself said to them, "Leave me alone, my fathers. I am not worthy of such a matter. Look to another who will take care of the flock of Christ." But the whole people loved Mark because of his honor and his wisdom, for he had been well educated by his father, the bishop Apa Makedonios. They took him by force and wrote to the holy archbishop Apa Athanasios concerning him.

...and they went with him to Rakote. When they entered the city, they inquired after the patriarch. They did not find him on that day in the church, because he is a holy man who greatly loved his solitude. But some God-fearing men told us that he was living in seclusion in a small monastery on the west side.

...of the city. They entreated one of them to take them to his door, for they did not know the place. When they arrived at the monastery where he was, a deacon came out. They told him the matter for which they had come. He went in, informed the archbishop, and sent him out. He took them inside. They prostrated themselves on the ground and kissed his holy feet. The holy archbishop, Apa Athanasius, had been informed by the ... days ... near ... He answered, the holy Athanasius said to Mark, "You have done well, my son, at the time when they placed the tunic on you and covered you with the phelonion. This is the day that was appointed for you, O priest who is worthy." Mark marveled, however, at the word he had spoken to him, that he had known the vision, for he had not told any man about it, except Apa Macedonius the bishop and his brother Isaiah. Mark said, "You are truly a saint of God, O my lord, blessed father." The archbishop said, "You yourself, above all, have been a disciple at the feet of a bishop and a holy man who is holy." After they had spoken, he gave orders to a deacon to take them.

...they were in a place of their own. And he gave orders... When morning came... they also came, some archons from the side of the Hermit, wishing to receive a blessing from him. The deacon came in and informed them about him. He said, "He is not at leisure." He said to one of them, "Trouble yourselves and withdraw.

Until morning came outside, for they were waiting, some brothers who were from the place of the south. And when he informed them, they went, saying, "Pray for us, you yourselves, that we may go and pray in the monastery of Apa Mena, and that we may return to you." As for us, we gave him the psephisma, and when he read it, he rejoiced greatly. And he said to us, "I rejoice now over the sheep that are scattered, which are in your city, that God, the lover of humanity, may turn them to repentance." He also informed them about the canons of the church, and that they should read in whatever manner. We brought forth the example of our father Apa Magedonios, and when he heard, he built upon it. Truly, my children, not only did our holy father build the church, but he built until he completed it outside the church. But he built until he completed it, and he gave the blessing to you. As for you yourselves, it is your duty to preserve what he has honored, that is, you. When he finished speaking with us, Mark the presbyter said, "There is a word that also concerns me, and I wish to inform you of it, my holy father." The archbishop said, "Speak it." Mark said, "There is a nation to the west of the monastery, and in the south of the city, they call it Anouba, which is very dry. For it happens that they call it 'the one who eats bread'.

My thought moves within me, to give them not sleep, for what nation? God... find, seek, that I might open for you. Have you not heard the apostle saying, "Is God only for the Jews, and not for the other nations? Rather, he is for the other nations as well, because God is one." He said to Abraham, "Behold.

Behold, I have placed you, O father, among many nations. And again he said, Cornelius in the Acts, "He is a Gentile," because God is one. God sent to his door the great apostle Peter, and he baptized him, and he raised him up from the vision, so that no man might say that he is defiled or unclean. You take how many testimonies to your door, O Mark, my son, that they might convince you from the holy scriptures. Mark said, "I have sought, and I have... opened for me... from..." The archbishop said to him, "Is it not that you are ignorant of these things until now? Have you not labored in the Gospels, that our Savior said, 'What of the Canaanite woman?'" He said, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and throw it to the dogs. But she answered, saying, 'Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.' See how our Savior praised her apology. In what manner did he speak to her? He said, 'O woman, your faith is great. Let it be as you wish.' And her son was healed from that very hour because of this word alone." Again the archbishop said, "I will tell you another parable that I heard from them.

...our fathers the monks who are in [lacuna]... [lacuna]... not his work, what he does, but [lacuna]... not what he does. James also said in his Catholic Epistle: He who says, "I am a servant," does not restrain his tongue, but he deceives his heart. This is empty service. Said the other one.

...also, that his work is good. The holy psalmist David says, "I will give my prayers before all who fear the Lord." And again the apostle says, "Prayer without ceasing." Behold, they convince us from the Scriptures in many places concerning prayer. The other brother who was there also said, "Our Savior taught us, 'When you pray, go into your inner chamber, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is hidden, and your Father who looks at you from the hidden place will answer you.'" The other one likewise said, "I do not believe in this matter." The other brother said to him, "Let us ask Apa Phou the Fire, and he will tell us the solution to our inquiry." ...they... the brothers gave him a name, calling him "Phou the Fire" because he did not please any man in what was established. The two brothers arose and fled to him, and they called according to the rule of the brothers. He came out, took them inside to his cell. They prayed, sat down together, and he said to them, "You have come well, brothers from the mountain." They said to him, "Forgive us, our holy father." But one of them was silent to the other, speaking. The one who was patient answered the brother.

...that he should perform his labors openly. He informed him about the pride that was in their midst. The old man answered, "Leave me, brothers. Pride is a hardship in the Scriptures, for it binds in one place and loosens in another. Nevertheless, I will tell you a word that belongs to this world. It happened one year before my ascension that all the fields received water, but there were only a few men, two...

...in a single house. One of them said, "I will go out to the field to see if I can find a few vegetables. Perhaps we will die of hunger and thirst." The other said, "I will not go, for all the fields have received no water because they will not be irrigated." And the one who had spoken went out to his companion. He took a few wheat, a few figs, a few lentils, a few beans, and the rest of the vegetables, accordingly. The ebony tree, however, took root in the ground. Now then, my brothers, which of them is the one who will live? The one who took a few things, or the one who took nothing at all? The one who gives answer said, "The one who took a few vegetables." The holy man said to him, "You have judged rightly, my son. For even the one who performs, in general, a few commandments will live more than the one who has performed nothing at all." Immediately the brother who was there prostrated himself before the one who gave answer, when he heard him say, "Forgive me... and this... his hand... in the two... Now then, my son Mark, let me tell you about the nation you spoke of to me, concerning which... It is a road to you, concerning love, more than to her, that they might come to you, for there is no love in your heart.

...outwardly, because love, as it were, outwardly over a multitude of sins, that nation there, it is fitting that he believe in God. After a time, because of this, I have said to you all these things, that I have found you like a pearl in the mud, according to the way that Isaiah said, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing of the Lord within it." And when the holy archbishop Apa Athanasius said these things, he said to his deacon, "Take

The care of the offering: that we might give the hand of fellowship to the bishop. And this is the manner in which he arose. He took the hand of Mark, brought him inside to the church, while the whole multitude walked with him. He gave him the hand of fellowship, came out, and went to his own place. And he said to his deacon, "Let us eat bread together." And this is the manner in which we were worthy to receive the blessing of his holy fatherhood. We spent three days with him, doing according to that manner. On the fourth day, however, he gave us the document of the episcopate. He placed it outside the door. He sent his deacon to Apa Mark the bishop. He brought him inside to his door and said to him, "If you go south to your district, lay your hand first upon your brother, then appoint deacons, afterwards presbyters, because he himself is bound by an economy outside, for they have placed the stole upon him, they have clothed him with the phelonion. And as for you, they have cast you out while you are seeking your father and your brother. He himself also, they have cast him out while you are seeking him. Because of this, after you have completed it, he himself will sit in your place." Now when he heard this... the archbishop... this is the manner. And this is the manner in which we came out from his hand. We went to Alexandria. We embarked upon a small boat and came.

...outside, to a place called Schissa. And a multitude of boats were moored in that place. We all departed together in the same manner, as one who would flee, because we had left the city outside, since they were bringing grain from that district. And now, may God grant us a good opportunity. After we had spent a few days in that place with the brothers and the bishop, they were saying, "Why did the boats not come in all these winds? He will go to our district." The bishop said to them, "Be diligent. God will send us the opportunity, and we will go to our home in peace." On the following night, a boat moored, hidden, heading to the city of Souan, a place not far from his city. This one had brought his cargo toward the city... ...the rulers boarded it with their wives and their children, and all their equipment, and their servants. They came to Rakote. When morning came, the brothers who were traveling with the bishop looked, and when they saw the boat, they realized that it had moored that night. Immediately one of the brothers went and spoke with the captain of the boat, saying, "Will you take us with you where you are going south?" The captain said to him, "Where are you from? For I see your speech...

...outside, to a place called Schissa. And a multitude of boats were moored in that place. We all departed together in the same manner, as one who would flee, because we had left the city outside, since they were bringing ...he stood up. He said, "Where are you going?" He said to him, "Where have you come from? To this place, or have you come for some reason?" He began [lacuna] ...he stopped, sitting at the door of the church. He prostrated himself, he worshipped on his face, and he said, "I am worthy of a great grace today, my holy father." And he spoke, and they told him how they had beached his boat. The bishop said to him, "They will release it today, if it is the will of God." But his mind fled to the boat. He told the archon and his companions. They also fled into the church to receive a blessing from him.

The bishop entreated the archons to release the boat for the poor, that they might send it south. But they said, “As you have commanded, our holy father, so it shall be.” And this is the manner of the fortune(?) ... in a great ... [five or six lines wanting] ... the virtue of Christ. The winds drew us in various directions until a certain landing place reached his city. When they arrived south at their home, they showed great hospitality to the bishop. They slaughtered cattle for him, so that they might send him and take him to his city. When the people heard, they all came out to meet him with psalms and hymns. They sang before him until they brought him into the church and seated him upon the throne. And he gave them the episcopal constitution. The deacon who had spoken to the people concerning him took it, saying, “The heirs are present.” He read it to the people, and he caused them to take care of the offering. He gathered them all together in his hands, from the small to the great. He spent three days in the church instructing them ... [three or four lines wanting] ... he performed many acts of charity, keeping all the commandments of his holy father, Apa Makedonios the bishop. After some days, it happened.

by a great multitude of the people, all of them, they entreated him to come into the city to gather them together. And when he took up the care of the offering, he called to his brother Esaias, took hold of him, and ordained him as a presbyter, just as the archbishop Apa Athanasios had laid his hand upon him. And this is the way he gathered the people, blessed them, and dismissed them in peace.

After this, when he had spent some days tending his people in the fear of God, his body grew weak and gave way. He called to Esaias, his brother, and said to him, "Listen, I will tell you now." For the holy archbishop Apa Athanasius had said to him, "I have ordained you to give the offering." And he prepared for the illness for a period of ten months, and thus he rested for a period of fifteen days of this same month. And when the people were informed, they came out, they prepared his body, and they all wept over him, saying, "He was a good man." And this is how they buried him near the body of Apa Makedonios the bishop. Immediately, they took hold of Esaias the presbyter, brought him into the city on the same day, and all persuaded him to establish him in the place of Markos his brother. And this is how they wrote the testament over him, and gave him to some God-loving brothers to take him to Alexandria to be consecrated. Immediately he came out to the boat, they embarked, they sailed forward, and by the will of God they arrived at... He said to them, "He is coming today, and I... churches, you will see her when she comes, and when he comes, he goes.

into her. He gathered them together that day within her. When he spoke with the man, behold, the archbishop came, singing before him. They gave their voices, they prostrated themselves, they worshipped at the feet of the archbishop. He raised them up, saying, "Arise, my children." They arose, received a blessing from him, gave him the episcopal consecration, and walked with him into the church. He sat down.

When he had finished the psalmody, he commanded them to take up the offering. He arose, took hold of Isaiah, and brought him inside. He ordained him as bishop, and he consecrated him with his own holy hands. He sat down and had them write... [three or four lines missing] ...we went up, we went out, and by the will of God, within a few days we journeyed to the city of Soun. The people heard, and they came out to meet him, and they sang before him. They brought him into the church, they enthroned him, and he gave them the writings of the archbishop. They read them, and in this manner he dismissed them in peace. After three days, while he was in the church, he came out and withdrew to his dwelling place. And he did not go to the city except on a great feast day. And also on these occasions, the clergy and the clerics and the nobles of the people would come and entreat him until he consented to accompany them. He himself, the blessed Apa Isaiah, was a man of good appearance and beloved by all. The rich... [three or four lines missing] ...they came out, they inspected his venerable reliquary, and all their coverings were removed from his face, for he was a man of great goodness indeed, when they buried him.

according to his worthiness, they buried him near his companions, the holy liturgist, the blessed one, who is Apa Makedonios, and Apa Markos. And this is the manner in which each one withdrew to his place of dwelling. The city spent days in mourning, without a bishop. But there was also a monk in the island, whose name was Psoulousia, and many who knew him bear witness to his deeds. This is what our father

Apa Haron made his monastic life in his episcopacy. God, however, placed it in the heart of the people to seek after him. The clergy and the people came out to the island. And [three or four lines wanting] ... who? For I am a layman, I do not know my right from my left. When they made a great entreaty, they beseeched him, and he did not yield to them. They took him by force, they lifted him up, they brought him into the city. They wrote the decree in his name, and they sent with him some other God-loving brothers who had come to their hands to guard him until they should bring him to Alexandria to ordain him. When they arrived at the gate of Scythia, they boarded a small skiff until they should go into the city. When they arrived at the gate, they found a brother; they beseeched him to tell them the place where the archbishop was. He himself, the archbishop, was sitting inside the gate, ordaining two bishops, one of Athribe ... [three or four lines wanting] ... Apa Sellousia said to him in a voice full of joy, "Why, O monk, are you without care today? You will take care of us in the same way." When the archbishop had said these things, he arose.

He brought him into the church. He had them lift up the care of the offering and the sanctuary. He prayed over him. He appointed him as reader. Then he appointed him as deacon. Then he made him a priest likewise. He consecrated him as bishop. He set them outside, saying, "Go in peace. But we came out from him. We performed the washing of the synodical of the episcopacy. We returned to his door. We entreated him concerning her.

He himself commanded his deacon. He took the offering. He received it from him. [three or four lines wanting] ... of any matter of the bishopric that had established me beyond my worth, saying, "I saw you, that you were clothed in a stole, and they placed fetters on your hands." It happened, however, after he came south, the bishop went first to his place, which is in the island. He himself and those with him sat down in that place, outside, because he was a man who desired only quietude. But the people, when they heard, were troubled, and they boarded boats and came outside to the island. And when they had received a blessing from him, they informed him about the bishopric. The brothers who were traveling with him told them that he had been ordained. The people said to him, "Why did you not come into the city, O our father, like all the bishops?" He himself said, "Believe me, O my children, that I desire my small dwelling place, so that I might see him first." They brought him out, however, and placed him in a small boat. They sang psalms before him until they brought him into the church, and they seated him upon the throne according to the custom. And this is how he gathered them all together and dismissed them in peace. The bishop, Apa Silvanus.

He went into the church. He spent forty days instructing the people with the words of God, exhorting them to preserve purity and love toward one another. Afterward, he returned to his dwelling place. But after these things, Apa Timothy rested, having installed Apa Theophilus and all the bishops to go to Alexandria to venerate him. He went then

He himself, the holy Apa Sylousia, when he arrived in the city, they found the archbishop inside the church, with all the clergy and the entire people gathered around him, as was the custom on the Sabbath of Thomas, when they used to baptize there. When the baptismal font was filled with water, the archbishop went in with the other bishops, and they prayed over the Jordan. Apa Sylousia, however, stood by himself at the door of the baptistery, keeping himself a little apart; he did not go in there, considering himself unworthy. The archbishop, moved by the Spirit, gave orders to bring him in and said to him, “Why did you not come into the church to pray with us?” He himself said to the archbishop, “Forgive me, my holy father; I am a sinful man.” And immediately he stretched out his hands and prayed with them at once. The baptismal font boiled like a bronze cauldron being heated under its mouth. The archbishop and all the other bishops, when they saw the miracle that had happened, gave glory to God and to the holy one. The bishops praised Apa Sylousias for his purity. When the archbishop finished baptizing, he gathered them together and dismissed them.

The bishop remained with him that day. As for his feast, however, he dismissed them, so that each one might go to his own city. The holy one himself, Apa Psalousias, remained, having taken up residence in the place where he had been before he became bishop, until the day he was completed. He had fallen ill from the twenty-first of the month of Paone, and afterwards he rested on the twenty-third of that same month. Then all the clergy and the people came out and prepared his body with honor. They buried him in the martyrium, which is itself honored. Now then, my brother, my father God, since you have informed me about a few things, behold, I have informed you about the bishops who were in the Lakh. In the manner that my father Apa Haron informed me as well. As for his parents, however, they also gave money and equipped him, and he himself took seven annona each month, though he did not eat any of them, but rather gave them to the monastery. If his parents wished to take a wife for him, he himself did not wish it, but rather preserved his body in virginity from his birth until his completion. It happened one day that letters were sent to the king so that they might be taken to another city. The ordinance of Apa Haron, however, caused him to take them and go there. When he came out,

in the city, a lion came to him at the ninth hour on the road at night, wanting to seize him. And the righteous one said, “Did I not remember the word that the prophet David spoke: ‘The lion and the bear, his servant, he subdued them’? I took my eyes.” I said, “My Lord Jesus Christ, I give this wild beast into my hands. I will renounce all the things of my house and all my possessions, and I will become a stranger to my fathers and to all my people, and I will become a stranger to this world. I put on the habit of the monastic life for your holy name.” Then the holy one, Apa Haron, said, “When I said these things, I prepared myself to go out of the cell that was in my hand. I considered the lion, and it died. And immediately I did not return to the city again, but I went to another city that was to the south of me, for three more days of travel. I gave to

I unyoked my donkey and my camel, and my satchel and all my equipment that was in my hand. I took for myself a garment of the pagan, and the rest I distributed to the poor who were in that place. I went to the mountain of Shiet, and I put on the monastic habit in that place. Again, I could not remain in that place because of my parents, lest they find me. I traveled a little at a time toward the south until I came to this mountain. Now these things I have sent to you, my brother, my God. From the hand of my father Apa Haron. I received the apostasy from him, and afterward, if you pray for me, I will tell you what I saw with my eyes. It happened to me when I was a small child in the house of my parents. My parents gave me to my teacher to teach me writing. My teacher was always diligent with me until he taught me writing in holy writings. When I came to the passage in the Gospel that says, “He who does not leave his father or mother behind, and the rest that follows after these, he is not worthy of me,” I set my mind to this saying, and I meditated on it in my whole heart. It happened after some days that I heard the voice of our holy father Apa Haron.

...that he was practicing asceticism in a place called Peia, where he performed many healings of all the sick. I arose and went to the place where he was. I sat down at the door of his dwelling until the sun set, for that was his wish that day. When evening came and he did not come out, I arose and walked in the mountain for three miles. Then I looked down at the desert and saw some human footprints being drawn inward by a whirlwind of the...

I walked on foot. I found my holy father, Apa Haron, with a large stone tied to his neck. When I called out to him, "Bless me," he loosened the stone from his neck, threw the stone to the ground, put on his garment, looked inward at me, and said to me, "Where are you coming from, my son of this place?" And I said to him, "Let me go, my father. I have not gone astray." He said to me, "Come, sit down, my son. I have not gone astray. Rather, you have found the good path." When I sat down beside him, I entreated him, "I wish to become a monk beside you." He said to me with compassion, "Our Savior said in the Gospels, 'Come to me, all who labor,' and I will give you the name of the good monastic life. But this life is hard to fulfill." I said to him, "I have come to this place for this matter, O my holy father. If I am to fulfill it, have mercy on me." He said to me, "It is a good thing you seek, my son. If you have set your hand to the good work, who will hinder you, my son?" Then we arose and went out from the mountain. He took me to a presbyter to give me the monastic habit.

of the monastic life, and in the name of God, he came out. The presbyter came, greeted us, and took us inside to his place. My father said to him immediately concerning me, and at once he cut the hair of my head and placed upon me the monastic habit. We arose and went to our dwelling place. My holy father, Apa Haron, performed a service of seven days, building me up in the works of the service of God. After these things, he said to me, "Sit down.

to you. In this place, I will go and find the brother, and I will return to you. But he did not wish me to know that he wanted to go to his ascetic practices. I said to him, "Are you coming today?" He said to me, "No. The brother will not let you go until the Sabbath, the first day that he went out, according to his will." And he spent the first day and the second and the third, up to the fourth and the fifth. I, however, the demon, I am suffering greatly. "Why did your father leave you alone? Why did he not take you? You will receive a blessing from the brother there." And when they ceased to trouble me, I arose and went inside the mountain to the place where I had found him the first time. I found him sitting in the middle of the cave, with a great jar outside, for it was the season of the filling of the water, and a great stone was placed at its mouth. His eyes were closed because of the jar outside. He fell to the ground and let his hand go out, as if to die. But I seized him and raised him up, weeping over him, saying, "Stop! You are suffering so much, O my holy father!" He said to me, "Why have you come to this place, O my son?" I said to him, "I am suffering greatly; I came to inform you." He was silent.

of mockery. He said, "Truly, your good deeds are hidden, my son. I entreated him, saying, 'I beg you, by your holy fatherhood, why do you subject yourself to these labors and these ascetic practices?' The true elder, Apa Hārōn, answered, 'I will hide nothing from you, my son, concerning what you seek. For at the time when I recall the labors that my good brother endured for the sake of the good, until he gave up his life.'

of our race, out of the captivity of the devil. He gave his body and his blood for us, until I say, "If God has endured suffering for us, we too ought to endure suffering for him." Who will bear suffering until he shows mercy to us on the day of our finding? When he had said these things, we arose, we went out, we went to our dwelling place on that day, and he continued in this manner on that day, when he would eat, he would not taste death within him, and on the day when he would drink water, he would not eat. It happened one night while we were sleeping in our dwelling place, the demons made a phantasm, crying out with the voice of wild beasts. When I heard them, I was troubled and moved toward my father, saying, "The wild beasts have come to us." But he said to me, "Do not be afraid, my son, for it is written that in our God we will do a mighty deed, and also, 'Let God arise and scatter his enemies.'" When he had said these things, we arose, we went to the place of the roof, and the demons were crying out in that manner. Some said, "Bring them out so that we may kill them," others said, "Let us kill them on the spot." But the saint knew by the spirit that they were demons. He said to me, "Let us give them.

to prayer. And immediately they gave themselves to prayer. And immediately they gave themselves to prayer. They fled into the desert. I, however, marveled and said to the holy old man, Apa Haron, "Do the demons often change their forms?" He said, "You have seen, O my son, a small thing. This is what you have done. For indeed, a brother said to me, 'It happened to me once, as I was standing under a mountain in the days of summer, that my sheep

He did not eat, nor did he drink, nor did he sit down. Then a demon came, holding a rod of gold in its hand. It said to me, "Conquer yourself, O poor one of Christ, for you have fought well. I have seen your labors. They have sent you to Solomon." But the brother who was there, when he saw the deception of the devil, he made the sign of the cross on the ground. Immediately the demon became invisible. When the holy one, Apa Haron, said these things, I fell at his feet and besought him, saying, "Who is that brother?" He said, "Rise up, and I will tell you." When I rose up, he said to me, "Look, do not tell anyone. I am that servant." This happened to me. And it happened also on another day, while we were sitting together, a man came out of the mountain with his son, to wash themselves in the river. And when the little son put his hand into the water to wash, a great crocodile drew him in and snatched him away and went off immediately. Then his father threw himself on the ground, crying out, weeping with a loud voice, for he had no other son besides him. But as he ran on the mountain, crying out, he tore his body on the sharp rocks in the cave, and he wounded his body. Only I was there.

Now when I saw his great grief of heart, I said to my father. He arose and came to the door. He opened his hand to send me away to his mouth. When he came, however, he saw the wounds that were in his body. He wiped away the blood that was flowing downward in his body. He seized him and took him inside to his dwelling place. He took him and made him sit down. When he sent him away, however, he did not know what had happened.

He said to him, my father said to me, "Arise, see if you will find a man on the road, call to him. Perhaps you will find him knowing how to speak with him." When I went, I found a man from the prison, hanging from a tree, about to go to Syene. I called to him. I said to him, "Do you know the language of the Anoubans?" He said, "Yes." I took him to my father, Apa Haron. When that man saw the Anouban, with the wounds in his body, he marveled greatly. He said to him, "Are you not wounded, Anouban?" The Anouban told him what had happened. The holy one, Apa Haron, took a wooden plank and gave it to him, saying, "Take it, throw it down into the river, to the place where the crocodile took your son from it." And he went as he had told him. When he threw the wooden plank into the water, a great crocodile came, cast the small child onto the bank, with no harm to his body. And it took his hand and brought him to the holy elder. When Apa Haron the Anouban saw the miracle, he laughed aloud for joy, embraced him, and kissed him. The man went to the prison; he did not go to Syene that day, but he walked about telling the miracle that had happened. When the Anouban saw it...

And the wonder happened. He went to his house, glorifying God, and proclaiming what had happened. And all who heard gave glory to God and to the holy Apa Haron, until this day. And it happened also on one day, while we were sitting in our dwelling place, a man came weeping to our door, his clothes torn, his head full of ashes, weeping greatly in a lament. And I gave my voice to him, saying, "What has happened to you?" And he said to me, "It has happened to me that I was pulling the rope with my little son, while he was in the boat in a storm. He fell down into the water. He went down to the abyss, and I was not able to pull the rope up, because the water was very strong. Then I remembered my Lord, the holy father Apa Haron. I arose and came to him, so that his grace might save me, for he is a true son to me. And I arose and went and told my father. He arose and came down. And the man prostrated himself at his feet, worshiping him, saying, 'Help me, O Christ, save me! Grant me my son, for I have only him.' And the blessed old man said to him, 'Go, my son, in the name of the Lord. I believe that you will find your son sitting in the boat.' And he said, 'I believe.'

...ere with the holy Apa Haron. And it happened also on one day, while we were with the holy Apa Haron, there was a man, a vinedresser, who was working in a vineyard. And it happened that when he climbed up a vine to tie up its fruit, the ladder slipped, and he fell backward onto the ground, and became like one dead. His son was sitting under the vine, and when he saw what had happened, he wept bitterly. And the men who were around him, when they heard his voice crying out, they went to see what had happened. And when they saw this one lying on the ground, who was their companion, being like one dead, they said to his son, "Go to the holy Apa Haron, and receive water from him in faith, and pour it upon him; perhaps he will recover." The young son...

He went to the holy one weeping. The holy one, however, was sitting near the door, for he had come in the heat, suffering. The little son fell down before him and told him what had happened. The righteous one, when he heard what had happened, was grieved in his heart. He said to me, "Bring me a little water." He took it and threw it on him in the name of Christ. I brought it to him. He made the sign of the cross over it and gave it to him, saying, "Take it and throw it on him." And when he threw it on him, he arose immediately. He came with his son and worshipped the holy Apa Haron. He himself, however, raised him up, saying, "Worship God, for I am a lowly one." When he arose, his son told him what had happened, saying, "When I threw the water on you, you were cleansed and stood up as if you had never been ill from the fever." And thus they went away from him in peace. A woman in that district, when she was about to give birth, her child was stillborn in her womb and died. And when she remembered the miracles that God performs through the holy Apa Haron, she cried out, saying, "God of the holy Apa Haron, hear me in this hour of need!" Immediately she gave birth to the little child, though it was dead. Her parents, however, grieved.

heard this, he said to the little son, "Do not be troubled. The child is not dead, but the Lord has taken him to himself." And he said to the little daughter, "Go, and you will find him sitting under the tree.

Her parents were grieving in their hearts. She said to them, "Why are you grieving in your hearts over the little child? For I have asked God, the holy Apa Haron, whether I would die in my body." When her parents heard this, for they were wealthy, they took some money in their hands and went to the holy Apa Haron. He, however, knew in the spirit that they were coming to his door. He said to them, "Close the door. Do not let anyone in to me today." When they arrived, a great multitude was pressing in, but he looked outside with a stern gaze and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered, "We seek your holiness." He said, "What do you need?" They said, "We have come so that we might meet your holiness and receive from your hand a small blessing, and you will pray over the little child so that he may live, for his mother also invoked your name at the time she came to give birth. Otherwise, her two children would have died." The holy Apa Haron said to them, "Well did the apostle say, 'The root of all evil is the love of money.' And also Peter rebuked Simon, saying, 'May your silver and your gold be destroyed with you, because you thought that the gift of God is bought.'

through money, this one, because of the love of humility, they have written (sic) "Giese" (sic) in a book, our Lord Jesus also, he said to the king, "Go, your son is alive," but he did not give him a calf, nor silver. As for you, all of you, if you have faith, the gift of Christ will be yours. They answered, "We believe in our holy father. Whatever works you will send to us, Christ will accomplish them." The father of the little child [took]

a small piece of earth, at the door of his dwelling place, he bound it to his foot, and when they entered the house, they found a great multitude gathered with his wife and her child. His father untied the small piece of earth that was bound to his foot and threw it upon the small dead child. Immediately, the child moved his body and opened his eyes. Those who were sitting near her were amazed; they gave glory to God, the holy Apa Haron. But a multitude who were in various illnesses used to be brought to his door, and he would heal them, being like the apostles to whom God gave authority over every illness. Moreover, a man came to his door one day, hidden from the city of Souan, and he remained weeping at his door, saying, "A rich man in the city, I owe him ten gold coins. I did not find them to give to him. I begged him, 'Have compassion on me, concerning the debt I owe him.' But he did not accept; rather, he seized me because of his debt, wishing to take from me my vineyard which I had planted for my parents, to find a little consolation for my heart, because of my livelihood and my poor children. And I give him his measure. I beg your holiness to send to him that he may accept from me, so that one of his household...

He said to me, "He will compel you, concerning the head covering. He will make you shave, and you will renounce your place of the vine. And I believe that if you send to him, he will not listen to you at all." As he was saying these things, he was weeping. The time of evening came. And he arose, saying that he would go to his house. But Apa Hārōn, when he saw his distress of heart, said to him, "Sit here in this place until morning, for the time has advanced, and...

He sat down in the courtyard, outside. My father said to me, "Take, for yourself, some bread and water, and give them to him. And say to him, 'Sit for yourself until morning, and God will help you.'" And I did according to the way he told me. And the man did not wish to accept anything because of the grief. And I went and told my father. He came out to his door. He said to him, "Do not be disobedient, my son. Rise and eat a little bread. And I trust that God will help you." And this is how he persuaded him. He rose and ate. The holy one, Apa Haron, rose and went up to the place of the cell, and spent the whole night beseeching God and praying on his behalf. At dawn, when it came, the man sought to go to his house. But the holy one, Apa Haron, said to him, "Stay a little longer. You will go to your house with your heart at peace." And before the word had settled in his mouth, behold, the rich man came, mounted on a donkey, with a servant holding him, and two other men following him, leading the way before him to the judge. His eyes were open, but he did not see outside. He prostrated himself and bowed down at the feet of my father. He took hold of him and raised him up. The holy one said to him, "Did you not hear the law that says...

to him, saying, "Do not covet anything of your neighbor's goods, neither his house, nor his field, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." But if we send all the... he said also... a house that is roofed with a field, a field, that they might take from their neighbor this word, saying, "Woe! Woe!" revealing the matter openly, for a great punishment awaits the one who covets the goods of his neighbor, from

A great one, even a small, the least, also reads aloud, namely the Lord, "Blessed are the merciful, for they are the ones who will have mercy." And again, "The Spirit glorifies itself over your judgment, my son, so that they may have mercy on you in the other place where you will go. It is good for you to set your heart on the poor, so that wickedness may not overtake you, for your judgment is alone, of one who has not done mercy." And again, "The Spirit glorifies itself over your judgment. Have you not heard about Ahab, that what happened to him when he coveted the vineyard of Naboth the Israelite?" Now when the holy man Apa Haron sent the rich man, he answered, saying, "My righteous father, who is honored, I beseech Christ for me, that this darkness may remain upon my eyes, and that I may not hear you in any matter." The holy man said to him, "Do you believe that I have the power to do this?" He answered, "Now then, my holy father, listen to me, that I may tell your love what happened to me. It happened when the man you spoke with about him went out from beside me. I went into my house, I slept, I rested that night. I perceived this great darkness upon my eyes.

And when morning came, I said to the men, "I do not see outside today." But they said to me, "Surely this one has brought you concerning the holy Apa Haron. Look at the man you spoke with yesterday about the gold he went to his door." When I heard that he had come to your holiness, I knew that this matter had brought me concerning him. I came to your door myself because of this. I believe that you have the power to heal me." The holy one said to him,

If you show mercy to the poor, Christ himself will heal you." He called one of those who walked with him, took your document from his hand, and gave it to the righteous Apa Haron. The holy Apa Haron said to him, [two lines illegible] "In this world, I will give you your reward in the coming age." Immediately he sealed his eyes and called to me, saying, "Bring the flask of water." And he said to him, "I have washed your face with faith." At that moment, when he washed his face, he saw again. Those who were near him marveled and glorified God. He arose and worshipped the holy Apa Haron, giving thanks to God with him for his recovery of sight. The holy one then gave the document to the poor man, took his hand, and said, "You also, show mercy to your neighbor as was done for you, lest you say, 'I am poor and unable to fulfill the commandment of the Gospel.' The Gospel accepts no excuse from you, O poor one, for you to say otherwise. But until they say to you, 'Strive,' God will give you a reward for your mouth. Do not be like the foolish servant whose master gave him many blows for nothing. He went and beat his fellow servant because of others who were against him. But rather, be like the wise servant.

...the strength of his grip failed him. The poor man answered, "Pray for me, my holy father, and I will keep all the tasks you have entrusted to me." And thus they took leave of each other, and they went out from his presence, glorifying God. As for the rich man, when he went to his house, he told his men all that had happened to him. Now there was also a man in his house whose kidneys were causing him great pain. When he heard of the wonders that the...

...the strength of his grip failed him. The poor man answered, "Pray for me, my holy father, and I will keep all the tasks you have entrusted to me." And thus they took leave of each other, and they went out from his presence. The holy man performed them. He said, "Would that I were the one who was worthy to meet Apa Haron, to receive mercy for my wretchedness, to grasp the healing." The man who was giving the alms to the rich man said, "Apa Haron did not touch any of your limbs." He said, "Indeed, he touched my hands, and I prostrated myself at his feet, I lifted my hands upon his thighs, I worshipped him. He said to me, 'Do me the kindness, and I will bring you in to me.'" When he entered to him, he took his hand and placed it upon his thighs, saying, "I believe..." [one line illegible] ...the holy hand of Apa Haron ... the healing. And this is how his thighs became alms from that time onward. And all who heard gave glory to God and to Apa Haron. Now there was also a man in the laura who had a donkey working for him in the field. When he came, thinking he would go to his house, the donkey fell at the feet of the field and died. But he, through his great faith, went in to the righteous one. He left the donkey lying outside, dead, and came to him. He told the matter to him. The righteous one said to him, "He has not died, my son, but he is sleeping." He gave him a rod, saying, "Go and rouse him, three times.