Syntagma ad monacho

From the treatise of Saint Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, which was composed for monastics and all Christians, both clergy and laity. One must guard against being double-tongued, double-minded, a liar, a slanderer, shameless, self-willed, wandering about, given to untimely strolls, uttering foul speech from the lips, nor indeed any oath at all, but being content with yes and no; and if necessity arises, adding "know," "speaking the truth," "I do not lie." The venerable name is not to be taken in an oath, nor any other kind of oath, according to what we say from the divine Gospel; for none of these things befits Christians, but it even expels from the Church one who does not behave cautiously regarding them. Do not expose yourself before anyone, except when necessity or illness requires it in the bath. Do not call a brother "fool" or "moron." Do not share in the feasts of pagans. Do not practice sorcery or the so-called amulets and phylacteries, nor tolerate others who wish to do them to you. Guard the body from all shamefulness and licentiousness, and have no woman brought in, as some have called "beloved ones." Do not hold anything against anyone in your soul, for the prayer of such a one is unacceptable to God. Do not pray with heretics or pagans, nor break the fast of the fourth day or the day of preparation, except during Pentecost and the Epiphany season, unless some serious illness compels it.

To break the fast on account of the arrival of a brother is not the appointed fast, that is, Wednesday and Friday and the forty days of the saving passion, but the one chosen by one's own will, namely on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday one must by no means fast, except only on the so-called Great Saturday. The hour of Wednesday and Friday is appointed to be extended until the ninth hour. Whatever more you do and if you are able to use postponements of days, let this lie with your own choice. On Sunday, however, which falls during the season of Pentecost, one must neither fast nor bend the knee, for the church's rule does not permit this; nor should you at all tolerate or be persuaded by Marcionists or any other heretics to fast on Saturday or Sunday. Do not neglect the assemblies, and prepare yourself worthy of the holy mysteries, so that what is received may not become a judgment for you instead of sanctification. Do not disdain to wash the feet of brothers who have come to you, for this commandment will be demanded of those who have behaved arrogantly toward it, even if they are bishops, since our Lord himself first practiced it and gave the pattern, commanding us to imitate. Do not be avaricious, not a lover of shameful gain, not a lover of possessions, not a lover of wealth, for it is impossible for such persons to please God. But do not be wholly devoted to business dealings either, although I know some regions which, because they neither sow nor practice any of the crafts, are compelled to engage in business dealings; and even if they are monks, they do not abstain from it, but they do this badly, though from necessity.

Moreover, one must not take interest, nor buy in advance in order to sell at a higher price as if from a lesser value. When giving for use, take only the principal, without interest. Do not act deceitfully before the unerring eyes of God; for if, while claiming to abstain from interest, you refuse to lend, and thereby cause the one in need to purchase your goods at a high price, you will find yourself disposed toward your brother more avariciously and misanthropically than through interest. Be humble and quiet, and let the words of God instill trembling in you at all times. Do not mock any person, nor condemn anyone based on their appearance; be careful concerning your clothing, so as neither to use soft garments nor to go about in filthy ones. Do not tend to your hair at all, for such a practice has been cut off by the Apostle; but neither should you shave your beard, nor use barbers for trimming. Abstain from meat, not as if loathing it, but as cutting off the occasions of harm, and considering yourself weak and unworthy. Do not partake of wine except to taste and bless the Creator; and if, like Timothy, your body has been worn down by illnesses due to great strictness of life, use a little—for a little is a remedy for healing, but much is harmful to both body and soul. If possible, go barefoot; but if you wish to use sandals, let them be plain, and neither ornate nor superfluous.

If you partake of an egg while ill, this will not be a sin for you; and if necessity arises for you to partake of the flesh of a bird, let this not be considered a sin, but grieve only insofar as the precision has been curtailed for you and the intensity of your asceticism has relaxed. And if you are sick and there is a necessary need, bathe; for a priest and a monk in good health has no need of a bath. But also, sleeping on the ground is to be chosen when the body is healthy. Work with your hands, so that you do not eat bread idly, but rather have from the fruit of your hands, and give to brothers and strangers, and especially to widows and orphans and the needy. If you dwell among people, and you have a paternal plot of land, work it justly, and from its fruits first offer to the priests, then also to widows and orphans and others, give from just labors, for not from interest or usury, nor from commerce or extortion and such things. But if you reside in a monastery, do not insult the asceticism of the monastery; for if you possess a plot of land while dwelling in a monastery, this is not a withdrawal but a mockery. If you have some of the young around you, first, being humble, do not wish to be a teacher; but if you see that through your conduct souls are being saved, and you wish to double the five talents given to you, have care for their souls, and since they are young, restrain them; and prepare each of them to be alone apart from the table and the gathering in psalmody; but also keep vigil moderately in psalms and prayers.

Pray during the day more frequently rather than at length, neither shouting nor babbling. Let there also be moderation in psalmody, so that souls are not wearied nor give up. Hasten to train the children to be silent. These commandments are for monks and pious Christians, all contained in the divine scriptures and the tradition of the church, even if for the sake of brevity we have not set forth the proofs. The priest, however, must also have precision concerning the offerings, or rather concerning those who offer them. For if he receives from any of the soldiers who has shed blood, or from one who extorts, or steals, or from any of the merchants, or perjurers, or wealthy defrauders, or tax collectors still engaged in that profession, or usurers, or those who hoard grain for profit, or simply from such sinners, such a one offers to God something lame and blind. But for you, the layman, it is not permitted to judge the priest; if, however, you see a transgressor, at least do not associate with him.