Apophthegmata

Concerning Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus. 1. Saint Epiphanius the bishop related that in the time of the blessed Athanasius the Great, crows flying around the temple of Serapis cried out incessantly, "Cras, Cras." And the pagans, approaching the blessed Athanasius, cried out, "Wretched old man, tell us what the crows are crying." And he answered and said, "The crows cry, 'Cras, Cras'; and 'Cras' in the Ausonian tongue means 'tomorrow,'" and he added, "Tomorrow you will see the glory of God." And thereafter the death of the Emperor Julian was announced. And when this happened, they ran together and cried out against Serapis, saying, "If you did not want him, why did you accept his offerings?" 2. The same man related that there was a certain charioteer in Alexandria, who was the son of a mother named Mary. When a horse race was being held, he fell; then, rising, he passed the one who had thrown him and won. And the crowd shouted, "The Son of Mary has fallen and risen and conquered." While this cry was still being uttered, the report concerning the temple of Serapis fell upon the crowd, that the great Theophilus had gone up, overthrown the idol of Serapis, and taken possession of the temple. 3. It was reported to the blessed Epiphanius, the bishop of Cyprus, by the abba of the monastery which he had in Palestine, that "By your prayers we have not neglected our rule, but with zeal we perform both the third, the sixth, and the ninth hours." And he, disapproving of them, reported to them saying, "It is evident that you are neglecting the other hours of the day, being idle from prayer.

For the true monk must have prayer and psalmody unceasingly in his heart. 4. Saint Epiphanius once sent to Abba Hilarion, beseeching him and saying, "Come, let us see one another before we depart from the body." And when he arrived, they rejoiced together. While they were eating, a fowl was brought. And the bishop took it and gave it to Abba Hilarion. And the old man said to him, "Forgive me, for since I received the schema, I have not eaten meat." And the bishop said to him, "But I, since I received the schema, have not let anyone sleep who held a grudge against me, nor have I myself slept holding a grudge against anyone." And the old man said to him, "Forgive me, for your way of life is greater than mine." 5. The same said that the image of Christ Melchizedek blessed the root of the Jews, Abraham; much more does the truth itself, Christ, bless and sanctify all who believe in him. 6. The same said, "The Canaanite woman cries out and is heard; the woman with the issue of blood is silent and is blessed; the Pharisee shouts and is condemned; the tax collector does not even open his mouth and is heard.

7. The same one said that David the prophet prayed at the untimely hour, rose at midnight, entreated before dawn, stood at dawn, besought in the morning, and supplicated at evening and midday, and because of this he said, "Seven times a day I have praised you." 8. He said again that the possession of Christian books is necessary for those who have them. For even the sight of the books by itself makes us more sluggish toward sin and rather urges us to rouse ourselves toward righteousness. 9. He said again that great security against sinning is the reading of the Scriptures. 10. He said again that great is the precipice and deep the abyss, the ignorance of the Scriptures. 11. He said again that great is the betrayal of salvation, to know none of the divine laws. 12. The same one said that the sins of the righteous are about the lips, but those of the impious, from the whole body. Whence David sings, "Place, Lord, a guard at my mouth, and a door of enclosure about my lips," and "I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue.

13. The same one was asked, "Why are there ten legal commandments, but nine beatitudes?" And he said, "The Decalogue is equal in number to the Egyptian plagues; the numbering of the beatitudes is an image of a triple Trinity." 14. The same one was asked whether one righteous man suffices to appease God, and he said, "Yes, for He Himself said, 'Search out one man who performs judgment and righteousness, and I will be merciful to the whole people.'" 15. The same one said that God, to sinners who repent, forgives even the principal, as to the harlot and the tax collector; but from the righteous He demands even the interest. And this is what He said to the apostles, that "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." 16. He also said this, that God sells righteousness very cheaply to those who are eager to buy: for a small piece of bread, a cheap garment, a cold cup of water, a single obol. 17. He added also this, that when a man borrows from another man because of poverty or need of means, and repays, he acknowledges gratitude, but secretly repays with shame. But the Lord God does the opposite: He borrows secretly, but repays in the presence of angels and archangels and the righteous.