History of the Egyptian Monks, or The Paradise

uction, am taking up this narrative; ^A because it is not fitting that those who are small should touch upon great subjects, when they are not capable of speaking the truth worthily, and especially of committing the matter to writing, daring to express by a mediocre speech things that are difficult to express; which is something altogether too bold and dangerous for us, who are of lower standing, to be the first to approach this most sublime subject through writing. Nevertheless, because I have been very often asked by the religious brotherhood that dwells on the holy Mount of Olives to describe for them the ways of life of the monks in Egypt, which I witnessed, and their great love and much practice of piety; relying upon their prayers, I have dared to turn to this account, so that some gain might come to me also from this same profit, by imitating their way of life, and their complete withdrawal and quiet from the world, which they retain until the end through the endurance of virtues. For I have truly seen the treasure of God, the benefit to many, and I have brought the gain into common use, thinking that this business would be an excellent one for me, to share the benefit with the brothers, so that they might pray for my salvation. ^B First of all, I shall make this writing according to the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ; and that the monks in Egypt conduct their life according to His teaching. For I saw there many Fathers, leading an angelic life, and, in imitation of our Savior Jesus, advancing, and being like new and other prophets, according to their way of life—having a divine, admirable, and virtuous activity, a godlike energy; as truly servants of God, thinking nothing earthly, nor regarding any of these temporal things. For indeed, while living thus on earth, they live in the heavens. For some of them do not even know that another world exists on earth, nor that wickedness dwells and is practiced in cities; but truly, *Great peace have they that love thy law*, says the Lord Almighty. ^C And many of them are even astonished when they hear of things in the world, having forgotten earthly cares altogether. For it is possible to see them scattered in the deserts, like true sons waiting for their own Father, Christ; or like an army, waiting for their own king; or like a well-ordered household, waiting for their own master and deliverer. There is no anxiety among them, no concern for clothing, no care for food, but a single expectation in hymns of the advent of Christ. ^D Therefore, whenever one of them is in need of things necessary for use, he does not seek a city, nor a village, nor a brother, nor a friend, nor a relative, nor parents, nor children, nor household servants, in order to procure from there the things he needs; but the will alone suffices, which, by extending the hands to render thanks to God and opening them, displays all these things in a wonderful way. And indeed what

to manifest all things to him from what is impossible. And what need is there ^A to say much concerning faith in Christ himself, which is able even to remove mountains? For many of them have also restrained the rushing waves of rivers, and crossed the Nile on foot, and destroyed wild beasts, and performed cures, and miracles, and works of greatest power, such as the holy prophets and apostles used to perform. And in the same way the Savior works miracles through them; and it is clear to all who are there, that through them the world remains, and through them human life stands before God and is held in honor. I saw also another infinite multitude of monks, not able to be counted by number, of every age, in the deserts and in the regions, so great that a worldly emperor could not assemble so vast an army for himself. For there is neither village nor city in Egypt and the Thebaid which is not surrounded by monasteries as if by walls; and on their prayers the peoples rely as if upon God. And some in caves, in deserts, others in the most remote places, all everywhere, by striving exceedingly against one another, display their own wondrous exercise. Those from afar labor, lest any other surpass them in good deeds; and those nearby, lest, with malice pressing them on every side, they be approved less than the most remote. Whence, having derived much profit from them, I proceeded to this narration, for the emulation and admonition of those who are perfect, and for the edification and benefit of those who are beginning to exercise themselves in holiness.

Paradisus

Of the city of Oxyrynchus

oratories of the mysteries, within each monastery; in short, the monks almost outnumber the secular citizens, being stationed at all the entrances of the city and in the towers of the gates. Certainly, it was said that there were five thousand monks inside, and as many outside throughout the surroundings; nor was there any hour of the day or night in which they did not offer sacred worship to God. Nor was there any inhabitant who was a heretic or a pagan; rather, all the citizens alike were believers and catechumens, so that the bishop could grant peace to the people in the public square. ^A Moreover, their magistrates and leading men, who distribute gifts to the people, placed watchers at the gates and entrances so that if any poor foreigner appeared, he might be led to them to receive necessary expenses as a solace. For how could anyone relate the piety of the people, when they saw us as guests, passing through the forum, and approached us as if we were angels? And how could one recount the multitude of monks and virgins, exceeding all number? Nevertheless, what we learned from the holy bishop of that place, we will state: that he had under his authority ten thousand monks and twenty thousand virgins. But I cannot recount their hospitality and the magnitude of their charity. For our cloaks were torn apart while they each pulled us toward themselves. And we saw there many great Fathers, adorned with diverse gifts of grace, some in the institutions of life, others in miracles, virtues, and signs. ^B

On Abbot Evagrius

We also saw Evagrius, a wise and learned man, who was gifted with great power in discerning thoughts, having attained this through experience. He often went down to Alexandria and silenced the philosophers of the Greeks and the heathens. He advised the brothers who were with us not to drink water to satiety. For, he said, demons constantly haunt places that pour forth water. And he also brought forth many other words for us concerning holy exercise, by which he strengthened our souls. ^C

On Abbot Patermutius

For there was a certain Father before us named Patermutius, who was the first of the monks in that place, and he first devised this monastic habit for them. Since he was in the beginning a prince of robbers and a grave-digger for the heathens, and famous for his wickedness, he found this occasion of salvation. He arrived one night at a certain virgin, having meditated in his heart to plunder her monastery; and when he had climbed onto the roofs with some machine, and found nowhere to ^D

^A enter into the inner room, or again any way to withdraw, he remained on the roof lost in thought until sunrise. Having slept for a short time, he sees in a dream a certain king, who said to him that he should no longer concern himself with murders and these petty thefts, keeping watch for them, but if he wished to change his ways toward virtue and to undertake an angelic kind of military service, he would receive from him such authority. Having gladly accepted the condition, the king showed him an immortal host of monks, whom he was commanded to lead. Therefore, when the man awoke, he saw the virgin standing by him and saying, "Whence have you come here, O man, or what is your station?" He, replying that he knew nothing and was nothing, begged that the church be shown to him. When she had pointed it out, he fell at the feet and knees of the presbyters, asking to become a Christian and to find a place for repentance. The presbyters, recognizing him and being amazed, warned and instructed him henceforth no longer to be a murderer. He asked them to hear the psalms, and having heard only three verses of the first psalm, he said that these were sufficient for him for the time being for instruction. Having remained with them for three days, he departed and traveled immediately to the desert. Spending three years in the desert, he passed his days in prayers and tears, and was content for food with wild herbs, on which he fed. He returned to the church, demonstrating his teaching with deeds; he said that grace had been given to him from God to learn by heart and recite the Holy Scriptures. But the presbyters again marveled at him, because he had attained the highest degree of asceticism.

^B And after they had illuminated him with baptism, they exhorted him to stay with them. But he, having remained with them for seven days, went out again to the desert, and having spent another seven years in the vast wilderness, the man was deemed worthy of great grace. For bread was found at his head by his prayer on the Lord’s Day alone, and taking this he was satisfied until the next Lord’s Day. He returned again from the desert, demonstrating his asceticism, and provoking some to come to his way of life. A certain youth approached him, wishing to be trained by him. He immediately clothed him in a tunic, placed a cowl upon his head, and furthered him in the ascetic life, placing a sheepskin about his shoulders and girding him with a linen towel. And in fact, if any of the Christians died, he would persevere in the vigils over him and bury him with care. The disciple, seeing him caring for the dead in such an admirable way, said to him, "Will you bury me in this way if I die, master?" He said to him, "I will bury you in this way, until you say, 'It is enough.'" Not much time later the youth died, and the word became ^C deed. For having piously buried him, he says to him before everyone, "Well done,

^A my child, or is there still a little that remains?" The dead youth uttered a voice in the hearing of the many: "It is well, Father; for you have fulfilled the promise." An extraordinary wonder gripped those present, and they marveled at God in him. He immediately withdrew into the desert, shunning glory and praise.

Some time later, he came down from the desert to visit the brethren whom he had instructed, who had been overtaken by disease. And as one of them was soon to die, and God had revealed this to him, evening was already approaching, and the village was at a distance. Not wishing to enter at night, and avoiding the ill-timed arrival, and meditating on the Savior's saving admonition: "Walk while you have the light within you," and, "He who walks in the light will not stumble," as the sun was now setting, he uttered a voice to it, saying: "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, stand still for me for a short time at this point of your path, until I arrive at the village." ^B And the sun stood still, setting as if in a semicircle, and it did not set until he had reached the place, so that this became known to the inhabitants of that region, who, having gathered together to watch the sun, marveled for many hours as they saw it not setting. And seeing Patermuthius coming from the desert, they inquired of him what this sign of the sun might mean. But he says to them: "Do you not remember the Savior's voice saying: 'If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall do even greater signs than these'?"

Fear immediately seized them, and some of them remained with him as disciples. Having entered the house of one of the sick brethren, and finding him already dead, he approached the bed and having prayed, and having kissed him, he asked whether he would prefer to depart to God or still to live in the flesh. And he, having sat up, said to him: "It is better to depart and be with Christ, but to live in the flesh is not necessary for me." "Therefore," he says, "sleep in peace, my child, interceding for me before God." And as he said this, he immediately lay back and fell asleep; but all who were present were struck with amazement, saying: "Truly this man is a man of God." ^C Having buried him cleanly, he spent the whole night in hymns.

He also visited another brother who was suffering, and as he saw him anxious about death, as one who was being severely reproached by his conscience, he said to him: "You go to God unprepared, bringing with you as accusers the thoughts of your slothful life." But he begged him and entreated him to intercede for him before God, that he might grant him a little time for his life, intending to make some amends. ^D But he says to him: "Now you seek a time for repentance, when your life has reached its completion. What were you doing all this time? Could you not heal your wounds?"

^A And you were adding others besides. And as he persisted in his supplication to him, the elder answered him: "Do not add other evils to your life; if you are truly repenting, we will pray to God for you, for He is good and long-suffering, and He still grants you a little life, that you may restore everything." And having prayed, he said to him: "Behold, God grants you three years of this life; only repent from the soul." And taking him by the hand, he immediately raised him up, and took him away into the desert. And when the three years were fulfilled, he brought him back again to the place, showing forth to God not a man, but an angel, so that everyone was filled with wonder at his life and conduct. ^B When the brothers had gathered around him, he placed the man in their midst, sound, and for the whole night he delivered to them a discourse of instruction. Then, as the brother dozed off from the heavy sleep and fell entirely into slumber, he—having prayed over him—took care of the funeral according to custom, and sent him off to burial. They also say that he often crossed the river waters, passing through the Nile, the water only reaching his knees; and at another time he was carried through the air and found among the brothers in the upper room, with the doors shut. Frequently, too, wherever he wished, he was immediately present. ^C He related once to the brothers, upon returning from the desert, that he had been taken up in a vision to heaven and had seen the good things that await the true monks, which no speech can describe; and he said that he had been taken up in the flesh into paradise and had looked upon a multitude of saints, and had partaken of the fruits of paradise. And he was showing the thing itself as proof. For he brought to his own disciples a fig, large and exceptional and full of great fragrance, to show them that the things said by him were true. This fig, the one who related these things to us, Copres the presbyter—who was a young man then—saw in the hands of his disciples, and he kissed it and marveled at the scent. ^D For he said that for many years it remained with his disciples, kept for display; for it was of immense size, and only by one of those who were ill smelling it, was he immediately delivered from his illness. Regarding the beginning of his withdrawal into the desert, they say that he had not eaten for five weeks, and that a man had found him in the desert carrying bread and water, who persuaded him to take some, and then departed. At another time, a demon showed him the treasures of Pharaoh, overflowing with pure gold, to whom the man said: "May your money be with you for destruction" (Acts VIII, 20). These things, he said, and many other great things our Father Patermuthius performed, working signs and...