The Ancient Fathers of the Desert

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

Abba Markos once asked the holy Arsenios why it is that the most pious and virtuous people
pass through the world with numerous sorrows and in privation.

"Sorrows, for those who accept them with forbearance," the holy one answered,
"are the salt which prevents putrefaction by sins and allows the soul to approach heaven cleansed."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

It is said by the Fathers of Abba John the Persian that malefactors once went into his hut with the apparent intent of killing him.
The blessed one prepared a basin and stooped down to wash their feet, as he would do for his best friends.
At this, the malefactors, embarrassed, left him alone and departed.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

One night thieves went to a certain hermit.

"We came to take your things," they said to him viciously.

Without losing composure, he said to them, "Come in and take whatever you like."

They emptied his poor hut of every last thing and left hurriedly. They forgot, however, to take a small flask that was hanging from a beam of the roof. The hermit took it down and, running behind the robbers, shouted for them to listen and to stop.

"Come back, brothers, to take this too." And he showed them from afar the small flask.

They were amazed by his forgiving nature and returned, not to take the flask, but to offer repentance and to return all of his things.

"This is, indeed, a man of God," they said among themselves.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

"If our prayer is not in harmony with our deeds, we labor in vain," Abba Moses often told the young monks.

"How are we to accomplish such harmony?" they asked him one day.

"When we make that which we seek fitting to our prayer," explained the saint.
"Only then can the soul be reconciled with its Creator and its prayer be acceptable, when it sets aside all of its own evil intentions."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

"If you wish to progress in what is good," said another Father, "do not associate with a person of ill will."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

A novice monk sought out the advice of a certain elder of discretion:
"If the behavior of one of my brothers scandalizes me, should I ask his forgiveness?"

"Ask his forgiveness," the elder answered, "but cease associating with him.
Have you not heard what Arsenios the Great advises? 'Have love for all, but be detached from everyone.'"

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

If a man does not say with his heart, 'only God and I exist in this world,' he finds no peace," said Abba Alonios.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

"Beware, Christian, never to wrong your brother, lest your prayer become unacceptable before God.
If, nevertheless, you wrong someone, your prayer is not acceptable. The sighs of the one wronged do not allow it to reach heaven.
If you learn that someone is speaking ill things of you and he should come at some time to visit you, do not show him in your mannerisms that you know of all this and that you are upset with him.
Appear to him cheerful, with a calm face and a sweet way, so that your prayer might be bold before God," a certain Abba advises.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

And see what Abba Moses says of prayer:
"Take care to maintain deep in your heart cognizance of your sinful state, that your prayer might be acceptable.
When you occupy your mind with your own sins, you will not have time to keep track of the faults of others."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

"Do you wish God to hear your prayer immediately, brother?" asks Abba Zenon.
"When you lift your hands up to heaven, pray first of all, with your heart,
for your enemies and God will grant you speedily whatever else you request."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

Then there was a woman who was suffering from cancer and, having heard of the reputation of Abba Longinos, decided to find him that he might restore her health. While she was looking for him here and there in the desert, she encountered an elderly monk cutting wood. She approached him and asked him where Abba Longinos stayed.

"What do you want with him?" the monk asked. "I advise you not to go to him because he is not a good man ... But maybe something is troubling you?"

The unfortunate woman then showed him an open sore which gave off an unbearable odor. The monk made the sign of the cross over her and told her: "Return to your home and God will heal you. Longinos cannot help you in anything."

She left, receiving the words of the unknown monk with faith. By the time she reached her home, not a trace of her fearful illness remained. She later learned from the other brothers that the one who made her well in this strange way was Abba Longinos himself.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

A young monk asked Abba Moses to give him a piece of useful advice.

"Stay in your cell and your cell will teach you," the wise elder answered.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

"It is impossible for a monk to have Christ continuously in his heart without silence,
humility, and unceasing prayer," the same elder used to say.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1


Once the holy Makarios went to keep an ill hermit company. Casting an eye around the ill man's naked cell, he saw that there was nowhere even a scrap of food.

"What would you like to eat, brother?" asked the Saint.

The ill monk hesitated to answer. What was he supposed to ask for, since there was nothing in that wilderness? Finally, since the Saint was waiting for him to answer, he said that he had the desire for a little soup made with flour. But where was flour to be found?

The holy Makarios, so as to comfort his sick brother, went fifty miles on foot to Alexandria to find flour.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 1

In the present time, a struggling Father went to a bishop of discernment and told him of a spiritual problem. It seems that the Father was so struck by spiritual words and Divine Services that he could not control the flow of tears from his eyes.
Embarrassed by this phenomenon when it took place in the presence of others, the monk found it increasingly difficult to participate in public worship.

The wise bishop advised the Father that he was suffering from hidden pride and that the most efficacious tears spiritually were those hidden within the heart.
The Father wrestled endlessly with the secret pride within him, sincerely asking for God's help, and his tears began to subside.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

A highly respected elder of our own days was visited by a young man tempted with lustful desires. Questioning the man about the sincerity of his intent to overcome such temptation, the elder asked him if he was willing to obey without question the advice he was about to be offered.

"I will do whatever you say," the man answered.

The elder then advised him to take a certain bus to its last stop, get off the bus, and remove all of his clothes within sight of the bystanders there. With great hesitation, but nevertheless acting out of sincere obedience, the young man went to wait for the bus that he was instructed to take.

In the meantime, the wise elder sent a brother to fetch the waiting man, explaining to him that the elder wished to speak with him once more before he boarded the bus. When the young man again approached the elder, the elder asked him: "Do you still have your lustful thoughts?"

The formerly tempted man answered, "No, Father, they have left me."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

Once I saw the devil lying in wait outside the cell of my disciple," said a sagacious elder.
"So I cast an eye inside to see what my disciple was doing.
He had the Holy Scriptures open in front of him and was plunged deep in study.
As soon as he closed the book and ended his reading, the devil rushed in to tempt him.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

"The sacred writers of the Old and New Testaments, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, authored books," said a certain elder. "The Fathers took care to apply the writings in their lives. The next generation knew them by heart. But those of modern times have copied them and shut them away in libraries."

"Come, my child, and taste of the blessed life of obedience," Abba Moses told a young man who was ready to follow the monastic life. "In this life, you will find humility, strength, joy, patience, and forbearance. Within it, contrition is born and love blossoms. It aids the good monastic disciple to keep all of the divine commandments throughout his life."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

Likewise, Abba Iperechios calls obedience the invaluable treasure of the monk:
"Let him who has attained it be assured that his prayer will always be heard and will be presented
with boldness at the altar of Him Who was obedient even unto death."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

Again, Abba Rouphos says that greater glory awaits the monk who is obedient to an elder
than the hermit who lives by his own will in the solitude of the desert.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

"There are three things especially pleasing to God," said Abba Joseph the Thebite.
"Illnesses suffered with patience, works done without ostentation and for His love only,
and submission to a spiritual elder with perfect self-denial.
This last thing will gain the greatest crown."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

Once some elders went to visit Abba Antonios. Along with them was Abba Joseph.
The Great Father, to test them, chose a certain written maxim and asked each of them, one by one, to tell its meaning.
So each one began to explain it according to his understanding

"You did not find its meaning," he answered each of them.

Then came Abba Joseph's turn.

"What do you have to say about this, Joseph?" Antonios the Great asked him.

"I do not know of such things," he replied.

"Abba Joseph gave the correct answer," the holy one then said, marveling at Abba Joseph's humility.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

The Fathers of the skete once gathered to speak among themselves about spiritual things, and forgot to invite Abba Kopris.
They began to discuss the person of Melchizidek and did not come to agreement in their opinions.
Then they remembered Abba Kopris and sent summons to him so that they could get his opinion.
When he heard of the cause of their disagreement and the subject about which they had idled away so many hours arguing, he struck himself three times on the mouth and said:
"Woe to you, monk. You have set aside that which God has asked of you and you have sought to find those things which He will never ask of you."

Hearing his wise words, the other elders left their gathering and returned to their cells, pensive.

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

"Whosoever enters a perfume shop," a certain elder related, "even if he does not purchase any perfume, leaves filled with fragrance.
The same thing happens to one who associates with holy people.
He takes on himself the spiritual aroma of their virtue."

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The Ancient Fathers of the Desert
Section 2

Three elders customarily went three times a year to the mountain of Abba Antonios to be taught by the Great Saint.
Two of them would ask various questions concerning spiritual and bodily exercises.
In this way they provided the occasion for the Saint to pour forth the river of wisdom flowing within him.
The third elder always listened silently, without asking anything.
Once the Saint asked him: "So many years you have visited me, brother, without making the slightest inquiry.
Do you not wish to learn anything?"

"It is enough for me to see you, Abba. Indeed, this has taught me much," the elder answered reverently.