T R A N SL A T I O N S O F C HRIS T I A N LI T ER A T U RE

SE RI E S I

G RE E K TE XTS

THE LA U S I AC

HI S TO RY O F P A LLA D I U S
 S O C I E TY FO R PRO M O TI N G
C HRI S T IA N K N O W LE DGE Lon don
.
 P RE FA C E

MY i n te re st in m o n a stici s m w a s fi rst awake n e d in

9 4 w he n I w as a the o lo gic al stud e n t a t C am br idg e
1 0 , ,

by the public atio n o f the s e co n d vol um e o f Abbot

Cuthbe r t Butl e r s L a usz a c M sz o ry of P a llaa zus The
'
’
' '
‘ '
.

a pp e ar an c e of a n e w work o f schol arship how e ve r ,

e x c e ll e n t ,
would have m e an t littl e to me at th at ti me ,

but my im agi n atio n was s t ruck by the di n n e r which the

th e ologic al t e ach e rs at Camb ridg e co mbi n e d to giv e
the autho r in ho n ou r o f the co mpl e tio n o f his ar duou s
task Som e how I had n o t a ssociat e d mo n ks with di n n e r
.

parti e s an d th e y app e are d to me h e n c e fo rward in a more

,

hum an an d att ractiv e g uis e I n 1 9 0 8 I b e gan to study

.

mo n astici sm taki n g Abbot Butl e r s wo rk s a s my g uid e

,
’
,

a n d h av e n e v e r s i n c e lo st i n t e r e s t in the s ubj e ct D u rin g

.

the p ast y e ar I h av e t ri e d du r i n g the fe w l e i su re ho urs

,

which w e re alo n e pos sible un d e r w ar con ditio n s to ,

fo rg e t the t rag e di e s o f the tim e by m aki n g a t ran s

latio n o f the [ a m id e His to ry I d o n o t k n ow wh e th e r
.

an o rdi n ary c r itical t e x t ,

wh e re an e dito r m e re ly g iv e s
the fi n i shi n g touch e s to the l abo ur o f h is p re d e c e ss o rs ,

is copy right so far as the right o f m aki n g a t ran slatio n

is con c e rn e d But in this ca se the t e x t b e lo n g s to
.

Abbot B utl e r in a sp e cial w ay s in c e b e fore him all w as

,

chaos I am grat e ful th e re fo re to him an d the Cam

.
,

b ridge U n iv e rsity Pre s s his publi sh e r fo r re adily g ra n ti n g

,

vii
 PRE FA C E

p e rmi ssion to m ake the pre s e n t v e rsion .Th e re is

n othi n g o rigi n al in my book ; if it s ucc e e d s in popul ar

i si n g the wo rk o f the Abbot o f D own sid e o n whom the

,

m an tl e o f the gre at B e n e dicti n e s chol ars o f old has

d e sc e n d e d my pu rpos e is accomplish e d
, .

To a l e sse r e x t e n t I a m i n d e bte d to M Luc o t s

.
’

e x c e ll e n t e ditio n an d t ra n sla tion

. Occ asionally he s e e m s
to me to hav e m iss e d the m e an in g but his Fr e n ch
,

clarity o f vision has fre qu e n tly give n me the clu e to the

r ight E n glish r e n d e ri n g
.

Fin ally I must e xp re ss my gratitude to the Socie ty

o f which I hav e the ho n ou r to b e Se c re t ary fo r u n d e r

t akin g the public a tion o f this wo rk at a tim e wh e n it

might h av e b e e n t e mpt e d to postpo n e all such pr oj e cts
u n til a more co n v e n i e n t s e ason
.

M ay 19 1 8 .
 C O N TE N TS

CHA P

PR EFA C E
I NTR OD U C T I O N

I
. THE AUT H O R AN D HI S B O O K
-

II
. THE T EX T O F THE HI ST O R Y

III. E AR L Y M O NASTI C IS M
IV. H IST O RI C A L V A L U E O F THE B O O K
V
. I TS SP I RITUA L V A L U E

VI. THE PR E S E NT E D I T I O N

V II
.
B I BL I O GRAP HY
VI II
. L IST O F A BB R E V IAT IO NS
T EXT : I NTR O D U C T O RY P IEC E S
PR O L O GU E
I . ISID O R E
D O RO THE U S

P O TA M UE N A

D I DY M US
A LEX AN D RA
THE RI C H V I RGIN

THE M O N K S O F N I TRI A

A M O UN O F N I TRI A
IX . OR
 C O N T E NT S
CHAP. P AG E

X . P AM B O .

AM M O N I U S

X II . BE N J AM I N

XI I I . AP O LL O NIU S
XI V . P AE SI U S AN D I SAIAS

M ACARI U S T H E Y O UNG E R

NAT H ANA EL .

M AC ARI U S O F E G Y PT

M ACARI U S O F A LEX AN D RIA

M O S E S T H E R O BBE R
PAU L
E U LO G I U S AN D T H E C RIPP L E

PAU L T HE S I M P LE
PA C H O N
STE P HE N
V AL E NS
XXV I . HE R O N
PT O LE MY
A V IRGIN W HO FELL
E L I AS
D O RO THE U S

PI AM O U N

PA CH O M IU S AND THE TABE N N E S I O TS

T H E TA BE N N E SI OT NUNS
T H E NUN W H O FE I GN E D M AD N E SS
J O H N O F L YC O P O L I S
P O S ID O N I US
S ARAP I O N T H E S I N D O N I TE

E VAG RI U S

P IO R
 C O NTENTS
P AG E

E P H RAI M
H O LY WO M E N
J U L IAN
AD O LI U S

INN O C E NT
XLV . P HI LO RO M U S

M EL ANIA T H E E L D E R
CHRO N I U S AN D PAP H NUTIUS

E LPI D I U S

SI SINNIUS
G ADD AN AS

EL IAS
SAB AS
L II I . A B RAM I U S

M EL ANI A T HE ELDE R
SI L VAN I A ( M EL ANIA co n tin ued )
O LY M PIAS
C AN D I D A
L V III . T HE M O N K S O F A N TI N O E
A MM A TA L IS AN D TA O R
CO LLY THU S

M EL ANIA T H E Y O UNG E R
P AM M ACHI U S

T HE V IRGIN AN D AT HANAS I US
J U L IANA
H IPP O L Y TUS
V E RU S T HE EX CO UNT
-

M AGNA
T H E C O M PASSI O NAT E M O N K
T H E NUN W HO FELL
xii C ON T EN T S
P AG E

A R E ADE R UNJ UST LY A C CUS ED

Lx x r
. T H E B R O T H E R W HO IS W I T H T H E WRITE R
IN D I CE S ( i) G E N E RA L
( ii ) P E RS O NS M E NT I O N E D I N T H E
TE XT
( iii ) R E FE R E N CE S To AN CI E NT
WRITE RS
( iv) M O DE RN WRI TE RS
M AP O F M O NAST I C E G YPT To f ac e title
HI THE R an d wi th o n e a cco r d
,

S i n g the se r van ts o f the Lo r d

Si n g e ach g re at a sc e t ic s i re ;
An t o n y shall l e a d the choi r .

E gypt, hail , thou fa ithful stran d '

Ha il tho u holy Libyan l an d !
,

N ur turi n g fo r th e re a l m o n h igh
Such a glo r io us co m p an y !

By wha t skill o f m o rtal t on gue

Sha ll yo ur wo n d r o us a c ts b e sun g ?
A ll the con flic ts o f the Soul ,

All yo ur s truggl e s t o the go a l ;

A n d yo ur vi r tue s p riz e i mme n se
’
,

A n d your vic to r i e s ove r se n se ,

H ow p e rp e tua l w at ch ye k e p t
O v e r pa ss io n s pra y e d an d w e p t ;
,

Ye a lik e v e ry an g e l s c ame
, ,

V i s ibl e in e arthly fram e .

Hy mn f o r Fr id ay b ef o r e Q ue n g a ag es z ma
tire
’ ’

St . Tlz eop /za n es. Tr an s la te d by ] M N e a fe

. .
 I N TRO D U C TI O N

I . T HE A UT H O R A N D HI S BO O K

I N the fou rth an d

fi fth c e n tu rie s o f o ur e ra Egypt had
com e to b e re garde d with g re a t re v e re n c e th roughout
Ch rist e n dom as a Holy Lan d o f pie ty Pilgrims cam e .

from all parts to visit the s ai n ts who liv e d th e re a n d ,

se ve ral wr ot e d e sc riptio n s o f what th e y saw an d h e ard ,

which are amon g the most i n t e re stin g docum e n ts o f the

e arly Chu rch Pal e sti n e was so n e ar that it was usually
.

i n clud e d in th e ir tou r the gl amou r o f its sac re d sit e s ,

which re main s with us still wh e n th at o f Egypt has fad e d

i n to oblivion was al re ady pot e n t
, But Pal e sti n e wa s
.

cl e ar ly s e con d to Egypt in the a ffe ction s o f the pilgrim s .

The fpre vailin g se n tim e n t was e x pre ss e d by Ch ryso s tom

with admirable cl e arn e ss (Ho m in M a tt .
'

I t was .

e mi n e n tly appr op ri at e h e e x pl ai n s th at th e child J e sus

, ,

should b e take n to Egypt to e scap e H e rod Pal e stin e .

p e r s e cut e s Him E gypt re c e ive s Him This typifi e s the

, .

positio n Egypt was to occupy in the d e v e lopm e n t o f the

Chu rch The l an d which had O ppre sse d the child re n
.

o f I s rae l had k n ow n a Ph ara oh had wo r shipp e d c ats

, , ,

w as d e sti n e d to b e mo re fe r ve n t than an y oth e r to h av e ,

its town s an d e v e n its d e s e r ts p e opl e d by ar mi e s o f

sai n ts livi n g the li fe o f a n g e ls an d to boa s
,
t the gre at e st ,

aft e r the apostl e s o f all sain ts the fa mous An to n y

, ,
.

Pallad i n s the author o f o ur book , who was d e stin ed

,

IS
I 6 I NTR O DU CT I O N

to b e Chryso sto m s d e vote d a dh e re n t m ad e a pilgr imag e

’
,

to thi s holy l an d lik e so man y oth e rs an d sta y e d th e re

, ,

man y y e ars The followin g is an outlin e o f his li fe with

.
,

the dat e s as e s ta blish e d by B utl e r .

He was born in Galatia in 3 6 3 o r 3 6 4 an d d e dic at e d ,

hims e l f to the mon astic li fe in 3 8 6 o r a littl e l at e r I n .

3 8 8 h e w e n t to Al e x an d ri a ; as Paul w e n t up to J e rusal e m

to se e P e te r Ja m e s an d Joh n s o he s ay s in the
, , , ,

P r ologu e did he go to Egypt to se e the sain ts fo r him

,

s e l f About 3 9 0 he pa s se d o n to N itria an d a y e ar
.
,

lat e r to a dist rict in the d e s e rt k n own as C e llia fr o m the

multitud e o f its c e lls wh e re he sp e nt n i n e y e a rs fi rs t
, ,

with M ac arius an d th e n with E vagrius At the e n d O f .

the tim e his h e alth h avi n g b r ok e n down h e w e n t to

, ,

P al e stin e in se arch o f a cool e r climat e I n 4 0 0 he w as .

con s e c rate d bishop o f He le n o po lis in Bithyn i a an d soo n ,

b e c a m e i n volve d in the co n t r ov e rsi e s which c e n t re d ,

r ou n d St Joh n Ch rysostom
. The y e ar 4 0 5 fou n d him
.

in Rom e whith e r he had gon e to pl e ad the cau se o f

,

Chryso sto m his fid e lity to whom re sult e d in his e x il e in

,

the followi n g y e ar to Sy e n e an d the Th e baid wh e re he ,

gain e d first h an d k n owl e dge o f an oth e r par t o f Egypt

-
.

I n 4 1 2 —4 1 3 he was re sto re d aft e r a soj ou rn a mo n g the ,

mo n ks o f the M ou n t o f Olive s His gre at work was .

writt e n in 4 1 9 —42 0 an d was call e d the La usz a cfiH

’

isto ry ,

b e in g compo se d fo r Lausus Ch amb e rlain at the court ,

o f Th e odo sius I I Pallad ius was also in all p rob a bility

.

the autho r o f th e Dialo gue o n the Lt /e o f Chryso sto m

' '

He die d som e tim e I n the d e cad e 4 2 0—4 3 0 .

The charact e r o f the man stan d s out cl e arly in the

History He was sin c e re simpl e min d e d an d n o t a
.
,
-

littl e c re dulous His d e e p re ligious fe rvou r o f the

.
,

asc e tic type n e e dl e ss to say a pp e ars th roughout the

, ,

book an d e spe cially in the co n cludi n g c hapt e r which

, ,

alm o st attain s e lo qu e n c e But he had a fun d o f go od

.
I 8 I NTR O DU CT I O N

P a trw n ( 1 6 1 5 an d an d i n cl ud e s the Histo r y o f the

M o n ks in Egypt (se e C b e low) I n 1 6 2 4 a G re e k t e x t .

w as publi sh e d by d u D uc pu rpo r ti n g to b e the o rigi n al

o f Ro sw e yd s L ati n though in re a lity it w as patch e d up
’

fro m v ari ou s s o urc e s Thi s is the t e x t which with som e

.
,

a dditio n s is re pri n t e d in M ig n e P a tro lo gz a Gr aeca

'

, , ,

xxx iv .

B Butle r s Sho rtfiRe c e n sio n c all e d o rigin ally P ara d isus

.
’
,

Heraclz d is pr in te d by Ro swe yd in his appe n di x

’

, .

C The Histo ria M o n acho rum in Aegypto which w as

.
,

till re c e n tly suppos e d to hav e b e e n w ritt e n in Lati n by

Rufin us but tu rn s out to b e Rufin us t ran slation o f a
,
’

Gre e k o rigi n al compil e d by an an on ymous w rit e r an d

d e sc ribi n g a vi s it paid by a party o f s e v e n in which ,

Rufin us w as n o t i n clud e d to the E gyptian a sc e tics in ,

—
39 4 3 9 5 The G re e k t e x t has b ee n e dit e d by Pre usc he n
.
,

a n d a t e x t o f Rufi n us Lati n ve rs io n fo r m s p ar t o f the

’

1
Lo n g R e c e n sio n as st at e d abov e , .

Tille mo n t lon g ago had s e e n the lin e s o n which the

probl e m was to b e solv e d but s ubs e que n t i n v e stigato rs ,

di s mi sse d his sugge s tion a s impo ssibl e an d it was l e ft ,

fo r Butl e r to show with a w e alth o f argu me n t the t ru e

re latio n s o f th e docum e n t s .

His solutio n is bri e fly thi s : A ( the Lo n g R e c e n sion )

B (the Sho rt R e c e n sio n ) C (Histo r ia M o n aeho rum) .

B is n o t an ab ridgm e n t o f A n o r is A P alladi n s
’
,

s e co n d e dition o f B I n So z o me n w ho us e d the .
,

Laus iac Histo ry ( se e Hist E ccl I 1 3 f I I I 1 4 V I . . . .

, .
, .

2 8 ff .
,
th e re are cl e ar t ra c e s o f B also o f C n o n e , ,

whate ve r o f A The e arly v e r sio n s e sp e cially the L ati n

.
,

an d Sy riac co n fi r m th e s e re sults
, T h e re is n o re aso n .

1 B utl e r s argume n ts have n o t appare n t ly w o n un ive rsa l a cce p t

’

a n c e o n th i s poi n t s i n c e S co tt M o n c rie fi P ag an i s m an d Chr is ti

'

-
, ,

a n ity in E gypt p 2 1 5 mai n tain e d that the re is n o do ub t

.
,

Rufin us w r o te the G re e k o r igi n al .

 I NTR O DU CT I O N 19

to thi n k that Pall adi n s use d Gre e k docum e n t s o r tha t ,

he t ran sl at e d from the C optic .

H avi n g e stabli sh e d thi s fact that the Latin v e rsio n in

,

Ro sw e yd s app e n di x r e p re s e n ts substan tially the wo rk o f

’

P alladi n s Butl e r p roc e e ds to di s cus s which is the b e s t

,

t e x t o f the Gre e k o rigi n al o f thi s He fi n ds that the .

M SS are divid e d as follow s

.

( i ) The B group givin g the Sho rt R e c e n sio n a s hith e rto

,

pri n t e d .

( ii) A sho rte r an d simpl e r t e x t which he calls the G ,

group .

( iii ) An A group which is compo sit e o f B an d G

,
.

Ruli n g out the A group acco rdi n g to the rul e s o f

t e xtual c riticis m as b e tw e e n B an d G he pr o n ou n c e s in
, ,

favou r o f the l a tt e r which is s uppo rt e d by So z o me n an d

,

the v e rsio n s an d is sup e rio r i n t r in sically as w e ll

,
B is a .

m e taph rastic te x t say s Pre usc he n an d Butl e r styl e s it

, ,
”
rh e to r ic al tu rgid an d ov e rl a d e n
,
.

I t re mai n s to discov e r the b e s t e x ampl e s o f the G t e x t .

Butl e r fi n d s th e se in a M S in the N atio n al Lib rar y at

.

Paris ( P ) an d o n e at Ch ri s t Chu rch O xfo rd ( W) The , .

l att e r was n o t avail abl e u n til mor e th an hal f o f the t e x t

’
had b e e n prin te d an d th e re fo re to ge t Butle r s m atu re
,

j udgm e n t o n the t e x t o f the e arli e r par t a n umb e r o f

re a di n g s fr om W giv e n in the app e n di x must b e sub sti

tute d fo r thos e o f the t e x t The two M SS are the

. .

o ffsprin g o f a com mon an c e sto r I t is cl e ar that P and

.

W hav e to s e rv e as the b a srs o f the t e x t pre —e min e n tly W ,

wh e re it is e x tan t O th e r M SS are us e d in the mai n to

.
”
.

e limi n at e the e cc e n t riciti e s o f P an d W Occa sio n ally .

n e ith e r are e x tan t an d the pri n t e d t e x t is Butl e r s c ritical

’
, ,

r e co n st ructio n from the oth e r sou rc e s .

20 I NTR O DU CT I O N

I I I E AR LY M o N A STI C I sM
.

The sto ry of Egyptia n mo n asticism is i n e vit ably an

o fttold t al e an d
-

,
n e e d n o t b e re p e at e d h e re s i n c e sum ,

mari e s o f it are re adily acc e ssibl e 1 All th at will b e . .

a tt e mpt e d is the e mpha s isi n g o f som e poin ts that might

b e ove rlook e d .

Asc e tici s m was i n h e re n t in Christi an ity fr om the fi rst ; 2

'

it could hardly have b e e n oth e rwi se amo n g the di scipl e s

o f Him Who had n o t wh e re to lay His h e ad I n I Co r .

in thia n s St Pa ul t e ach e s that in vi e w o f the shor t n e ss o f

.

th e tim e b e fo re the e n d the u n marri e d s ta t e is p re fe rabl e

h m
to t e arri e d 3
St Joh n con vi n c e d th at it was the la s t
. .
,

hou r bad e his littl e childre n k e e p th e m se lve s from idol s

, ,

a com m an d which in p r actic e i n volv e d r e n u n ciatio n o f

the wo rld ‘
We are th e re fore n o t surprise d to fin d
.

as c e ticism a st ro n g fo r c e in the e arly post apostolic age -

.

Th e re was as ye t n o fo rmal se paratio n from the world ;

d e vot e e s o f both s e x e s liv e d at ho m e an d we re d e sc rib e d
“
the w hol e yok e o f the Lo r d 5
”
a s b e ari n g Wh e n .

mon asticism u n d e rwe n t its gre at d e ve lopm e n t in the

e a rly part o f the fou r th c e n tu r y, it w as but a m akin g

e x plicit o f what had b e e n implicit in the Chu rch fr om

its e arly days an d e v e n so it would s e e m in the t e achi n g

, , ,

an d e x ampl e o f o ur Saviou r .

Two qu e stio n s may b e a ske d at this poin t : Why d id

mon asticism b e gi n wh e n it did ? Why did Egypt witn e ss
its b e gin n i n g rath e r than som e oth e r l an d such as A s ia
1
Se e B utl e r L ausi ac His to ry I 2 1 8—2 3 8
, nd C a mb ri d ge , .
,
a

M e d ie val Histo ry I 5 2 1 f “
M o n stici s m in E n cyc l of ”
ar t , . . a .

Re ligio n a n d E thic s D uche s n e Histo ire A n cie n n e d e l E glise

’

, ,

I I 4 8 5 f ; C l a rk e S t B a sil the G re at : a S tu d y in M o n a sticis m

. .
,
.
,

pp 2 6 —4 2 Han n ay The Spirit a n d O rigin of Christian

.
,

M o n as ticis m .

2
Se e C l ark e , pp —1 cit
p 1 5 o . .
, . .

1 Co r vii 2 9 an d th e w h ol e c h ap te r
3
. . .

1 J n ii 1 8 v 2 1 se e T e rt d e I d o l passim
4 . .
. . . .
,
5
D id ac he 6 ; c f 1 C l e m 38 I g n a d P o lye 5. .
, . .
 I NTR O DU CT I O N 21

M i nor, which was p e rh a ps the most C hr is ti an par t o f the

e m pi re at th a t tim e ?

I n an swe r i n g the fi rs t q ue stio n o n e wo uld b e i n cli n e d

to atta ch impo rt an c e to the t ra dition which co n n e cts the
origi n o f mo n astici s m wit h the D e ci an p e rse cutio n ( e .

an y Ch r i sti an s fl e d fro m th e s e ttl e d p ar ts O f

5 )
2 0 wh e n m
E gypt to the su rr ou n din g d e se r t s an d re ma i n e d th e r e fo r
s om e tim e ( D io n ysius o f Al e x an d ri a ap Eus H E . VI . . .

Som e at l e a st o f th e s e mu st hav e b e e n livi n g the

a sc e tic li fe at hom e which th e y would n a tu rally con tin u e
,

in the d e s e rt u n d e r mo re rigor ous co n dition s Wh e n a .

l at e r t radition afii r ms th a t c e r tai n o f th e s e re m a in e d in

the d e se r t p e rm an e n tly an d b e c a me the fi r s t Ch ri sti an
h e rm its it is i n tri n sic ally s o p r ob abl e th a t o n e is ju stifie d
,

in co n cludi n g that the D e cia n p e rs e cutio n was the

a
hi storic occ sio which le d to the o igin o f mon astici s m
n r
1
.

P arado x ica l a s such an argum e n t may s e e m at fi rst

Sight th e c e ssatio n o f p e rs e c utio n s may b e a dd uc e d as
!

a m ai n c au se o f the g re at d e v e lopm e n t o f mo n astici sm .

The d e liv e ran c e o f the Chu rch fr om thi s dan g e r coin cid e d
with the a doptio n o f Ch ristian ity as the Stat e r e ligio n
th e swa m
,

pin g o f o ld l an dm arks by a flood o f imp e rfe ctly

in struct e d a dh e re n t s an d the lowe ri n g o f s tan dards in
,

th e di re ctio n o f wo rldli n e s s M o n astici s m in o n e o f its

.

a sp e ct s was th e re actio n o f the st e rn e r s pi r its a ga i n st the

se c ul ari satio n o f the fou r th c e n tu ry C hu r ch

-
Hith e rto.

th e re had b e e n an in t e rmitt e n t warfa re o f the Stat e

ag ai n s t the Ch urch which e x p re ss e d its e l f in p e rs e cutio n .

Wh e n p e r s e cution c e as e d a n e e d was fe lt o n the part o f

,

“ ”
the Chu rch fo r a moral e quival e n t fo r w ar ; thi s the
C hu rch fou n d in mo n astici sm which re pr e s e n t e d the
,

Chur ch milit an t agai n st wo rldli n e ss within .

I f w e tu rn to o ur se con d que s tio n it is n o t h ard to se e

,

1
Se e E us C om mf i n P s lxxxiiif 4 ; J e r o me Vita P auli
. .
, ,

So z .I 1 2 an d B utl er I 2 30
.
, . .
22 I NTR O DU CT I O N

why Egypt rath e r th an som e oth e r cou n t ry was the

, ,

moth e rlan d o f mon astici sm The solitud e s o f Asia .

M i n or with th e i r r igo rou s wi n t e r clim at e w e re n o t suit

abl e plac e s fo r a sc e tic e x p e rim e n ts Egypt howe ve r .
, ,

w as id e al fo r thi s pu rpo se The climat e w as war m an d .

p ractic ally r ai n l e s s the d e s e r t was n e ve r far away from

,

the n arr ow st r ip o f c ultiva bl e l an d an d th e n e ighbou r in g ,

moun tain ran g e s abou n d e d in n a tural c a v e s .

An oth e r re as on may b e sugg e st e d The re c e n t dis .

c o ve rie s o f p apy ri hav e th r ow n a flood o f light upo n the

co n ditio n s o f life in a n ci e n t Egypt We c an t rac e the .

e v e r tight e n in g hold o f the Gov e rn m e n t upo n the p e opl e

-

an d the p r oc e ss by which the p e a s an t s b e c a m e as cr ipti

g le b a e
1
. T h e p roc e ss w as a t wo rk in oth e r p rovi n c e s ,

but Egypt was in the mai n docil e 2 had b e e n pate rn ally ,

gove r n e d si n c e the d ay s o f the Ptol e mie s an d w a s o f ‘

gre at impor t an c e a s the gra n ary o f I taly Acco r din gly .

th e p re s s ure o f t ax e s an d public bu rd e n s was g re at e st

‘

in Egypt an d the t e mpt atio n to e sc ap e fr om th e m by

,

r u n n i n g a w ay b e cam e v e r y st r o n g I n the se co n d an d .

thi rd c e n tu ri e s whol e dis tricts b e cam e d e populat e d by

the flight o f th e i r i n h abit an t s Thi n g s b e c a m e wor s e in .

h e fou rth c e n tu ry I n 3 1 2 th e villa g e o f The ad e lp hia

t .

“
b e cam e utt e rly d e s e r t e d so did tha t o f Philad e lphia
in 3 5 9 The p e a san t s r an awa y from th e i r i n tol e rabl e
.

bu rd e n s The wo rd us e d fo r the i r re t re at ( ava xépno i s) is

.
-

the s a m e as th a t which d e s c r ib e s the m o n ks ( ava xmpma i

’

a n cho rite s) What so me did fr o m e co n omic oth e rs could

.
,

d o from re ligious motiv e s doubtle ss in som e cas e s both

3
caus e s op e rat e d .

1
The n o te in Lk . 1 1. that all we n t t o
3, be en r oll e d e a ch to
, his
o wnci ty so , far fr o m b e i n g un hi s to rica l is
, a va l uabl e r e co rd o f the
be gin n i n g o f th i s p roce ss .

1
I n s pi te o f tur b ul e n t o utb re ak s in the th i r d ce n tury A D . .

3
S e e M itte is W ilc k e n , G run d e iige ge n d Chre sto ma thie d e r P apy
-

r u s ku n d e , I i 3 2 4 f . . .
 I NTRO DU C T I O N 23

Such an x plan atio n s e e m s fa r mo re plau sibl e than

e

that which us e d to b e giv e n acco rdin g to which the ,

p ag an mo n a sticis m o f Egypt w as the mode l fo r the

Chris ti an i n stitutio n Th e re is littl e to b e s aid fo r s uch
.

a th e o ry which is i n d e e d n o w g e n e rally aban do n e d

, .

The re s e mbl an c e o f the so Call e d mo n k s o f Sarap is to

-

1
h
t e lat e r Ch ri s tian mo n k s is m e re ly sup e r fic ia l .

The s olitary li fe b e gu n in the d e se r t as d e sc ribe d

,

abov e was o rgan is e d a bout 3 0 5 by St A n to n y who is

, .
,

j u s tly re ckon e d as the foun d e r o f Ch ristian mo n achis m .

Th rough the e ffor ts o f him an d his di scipl e s gr e at colo n i e s

-

o f mon ks ar o se the mo s t fa mou s o f whi ch w e re at Nit ria

,

an d Sc e te The c e lls w e re g r oup e d r ou n d a c e n t ral

.

ch urch wh e re se r vic e s w e re he ld o n Satu rd ay an d Su n d a y

, ,

d e votio n s oth e rwis e b e i n g said in the i n dividu al c e lls .

The mai n fe atu re o f this typ e o f mo n asticism w as its

volu n t ar y characte r ; e ach mon k live d his o w n li fe a n d ,

the m o n ast e ry had a n umb e r o f solita r y liv e s liv e d in

common rath e r than a t ru e common life .

The fi rst co en o b ium o r mon ast e ry o f the common li fe

, ,

w as fo un d e d by Pachomi us at Tab e n n isi s om e tim e in

the y ea rs 3 1 5 — 3 2 0 H e re Pall a din s foun d a fe de ratio n
“

o f mo n ast e ri e s co n stitutin g a tr u e O rd e r as u n d e r stood

sub se q u e n tly in the W e s t with ob e di e n c e to th e R ul e

,

an d the Sup e rio r as the mai n p ri n cipl e Th e re is n o .

n e e d to disc uss the two s y st e m s h e re s i n c e the re ad e r ,

w ill fi n d both mod e s o f li fe fully d e s c r ib e d in the t e x t

( se e e sp e ci ally Ch apte r s V I I an d .

By the sid e o f the mo n k s th e re we re n u n s o f variou s

kin d s The pu re ly solitary life was cl e arly i n appr opria te
.

to wom e n tho ugh it w as att e mpt e d as may b e se e n

, ,

Fo r Pre usche n , M o n c htu m a n d

’
1
the traxr o xo z o f Sara p is se e

S a r api s kn lt ( 1 90 3 ) R e i tze n ste i n D ie He lle n i stisc he n M ys te ri e n

,

r e ligi o n e m ( 1 9 1 0 ) , pp 7 2 —8 1 S e the , S a r api s a n d d i e s o ge n a rm te

p .

n d r o xo t d e s S a r api s ( 1 9 1 3 ) Th e l as t book I ha ve n o t se e n
. .
24 I NTR O DU CTI O N

from the sto ry o f Al e xan d ra who liv e d alo n e in a to mb ,

fo r te n y e ars ( Ch Wh e n wom e n we re g ath e re d i n to

.

a mon ast e ry the p re se n c e o f m e n w as n e c e ssary if o n ly

,

to admi n i s t e r the s ac rame n t s Co n v e n t s o f the An to n i an .

type e x i st e d but the t ru e commo n life fo r wo me n w as

,

fou n d in the P a cho m ian n u n n e ri e s ov e r the fifst o f ,

’
which Pa chomius Siste r was abb e s s The s e w e re clos e ly .

associat e d with the m e n s hous e s in a syste m o f doubl e ’

mo n ast e ri e s which fo r m e d a n e co n o mic whol e, the

,

wom e n fo r e xa mpl e makin g the m e n s cloth e s Thi s

, ,
’
.

i n stitutio n c are fully sa fe guar d e d a s it w as a n d providi n g

,

p rot e ctio n fo r wom e n in a r ough age fe ll in to suspicio n ,

in the E a st an d was forbidd e n by Justi n i an .

Littl e n e e d b e s aid abo ut P al e sti n e . The m o n a stic

li fe was i n t roduc e d th e re e arly in the fou rth c e n tu ry by
Hil arion a discipl e o f An to n y ; the o rigin al impul se
,

con tin u e d an d the mo n as t e rie s we re m ai n ly o f the

,

An to n ia n typ e .

IV . H IST O RI C A L V A L U E O F T HE BOO K

No o n e would d e n y th a t Pallad ius re fl e cts the age in

which he liv e d th e mo re faith fully b e caus e o f his sim
,

p lic ity an d l a ck o f o r igi n ality His casual allu s io n s to .

Chu rch O b se rva n c e s a re o f g re at valu e Not e fOr .

,

i n s ta n c e th e co n ti n u e d use o f th e Aga p e ( XV I
,
the .

i mportan c e a ttach e d to fre qu e n t co m mu n io n a fi ve ,

we e ks abst e n tio n b e i n g e n ough to d e se rv e s e v e re pu n ish

’

m e n t ( XV I I the o ffe r i n g o f the Euch ar i st fo r the

.

d e a d ( XXX I I I the use o f Holy Oil ( X I I I X V I II

. .
, .

Holy Wat ( I I ) to ff ct cu re s the I n vo

I I
) a n d e r X V 9 e e .
,

c ation o f Sai n ts ( L X the b e gi n n i n gs o f the Ros ar y

.

XX n d g e n e ra lly th e g re at e st e e m in which the

( . a

Bibl e w a s h e ld l arg e portion s b e in g l e arn e d by h e art

,
‘

.
26 I NTR O DU CT I O N

c e n tu ry schol ars n am e ly his co n victio n t hat he had

, ,

wit n e sse d miraculous an d sup e rn atu ral e v e n ts I t is .

comi n g to b e re cog n is e d that a fifth c e n t ury Ch ri sti an

-

writ e r who did n o t b e li e v e in the miraculous would b e

a po rt e n t which r e qui r e d e x plan atio n Th e re would b e
.

littl e l e ft o f the histo r y o f the tim e if all the wr it e rs who

b e li e ve d in co n t e mpo rary m i racl e s we re rul e d out a s
u n wo rthy o f c re d e n c e .

V S PIRITUA L
. V A L U E O F T HE BOO K

The m od e rn ad e r has to co n t e n d with c e rtai n

re

pre judic e s which hin d e r his p r op e r appre ci atio n o f the

p e ople d e pict e d in the Lausiac History To b e gi n .

with th e re is the pre occupation with s e xual t e mpt atio n s

, ,

which will o ffe n d som e Not th at this is u n famili ar to

.

th e r e ad e r o f m od e rn lit e ra tu re wh e r e th e re is e n ough
,

an d to s p are o f s uch topics But the Chr i stian to d ay

.
-

r e sti n g upo n th e a ccumul at e d e x p e ri e n c e o f th e Chu rch ,

has l e arn e d th a t solitud e is the wo rs t po s sibl e co n dition

fo r a man t roubl e d with such t e m ptatio n s an d is apt to ,

b e impati e n t with the str uggl e s o f the solitari e s D oubt .

l e s s the mo n ks w e re o ft e n m orbid in thi s matte r an d it ,

r e qui re s an e ffo r t o f s ympath e tic i magin a tion to do

the m j u s tic e .The b ackg rou n d o f th e ir liv e s mu s t n o t ,

howe ve r b e forgott e n Th e i r poi n t o f vi e w is re a dily

,
.

i n t e lligibl e wh e n it is re gard e d as a n e c e ssary re action

fr om the i n c re dibl e co rr upti on o f the p agan soci e ty o f
th e ir day with which e v e n the Chu rch was i n fe ct e d
, .

Thu s the wom e n who boa ste d th at th e y had n o t had a

bath fo r y e ar s are n o t to b e laugh e d at o r re proa ch e d
fo r di rtin e ss Th e i r con duct app e ar s in a n e w light
.

wh e n compare d with that o f tho se who did tak e a b ath ,

the Ch risti an l adi e s o f Al e x a n d ria who d e fi e d all mod e sty

 I NTR O DU CT I O N
1
in the public b ath s Th e y sac r ific e d phy sic al c le an li
.

n e ss as a p r ot e s t ag ai n s t mo ral u n cl e an n e ss A n d the .

mon ks who fought with th e i r pa ssio n s u n d e r the hot

Afric an sun an d d e s c rib e d th e i r s t ruggl e s with pa in ful
fran k n e ss w e re doi n g the r ight thi n g un d e r co n ditio n s
n e e dl e ssly di ffic ult We who hav e a tru e r i n sight i n to
.

the p sychology o f t e mpta tio n must n o t re p r oach thos e

who had n o t such kn owl e dge .

Again the d e mon ology o f the Lausiac Histo ry is at

,
“
ti me s g rote s qu e to m od e rn e y e s I n his po e m St . .

”
Simo n Stylit es T e n n y s o n show s a ju st a pp re ci a tio n o f
th is side o f e arly mon achism His d e sc riptio n o f the .

s ai n ts is fully bo rn e o ut by the re co rd s .

D e vil s p luck d m y sl e e v e ,
’

A baddo n an d A sm od e us c augh t a t m e .

I sm o te wi th the cro ss the y swar me d aga in

the m .

I n b e d lik e mon str o us a p e s th e y c rushe d my che st :

The y fl app e d my light o ut as I re ad I saw
The ir fa ce s gr ow b e tw e e n me an d my book
W i th col t lik e w h in n y an d wi th hoggi sh w hin e
-

The y b urst my pra ye r .

”

But theh e r oic n atirre o f the warfare is e asily mi s se d .

The a sc e tic w e n t in to the d e se rt kn owin g th at the

d e mo n s we re a wa itin g him o n th e i r o w n g r ou n d The .

e vil spi r its had a sp e ci a l fo n d n e ss fo r wa t e r l e ss pl a c e s ;

th e y took up th e i r a bod e a mo n g the an imal s w hich

2
f e qu e n t e d ui
r r n s Th e y we re also id e n tifi e d with the
.

h e ath e n gods whos e m o n ume n ts an d picto rial r e pre se n

,

tatio n s w e r e to b e fou n d in the E gypti an d e se r t It .

argu e d th e re fo re n o sm all d e g re e o f mo ral cou rag e if the

m on k w e n t out alon e to j oi n battl e with th e se pot e n t

1
C l e m Al , P ae d I I I 5 ; Cyp ri an , d e Hab Virg 1 9
. . . . . . .

2
C f L e v x vi 1 0 f R V ; I sa xxx iv 1 4, R V m arg
. . . . . . . . . .
( Lili th
a ssoci a te d wi th the wild be as ts
) M t x ii 4 3 . . .
28 I NTR O DU CT I O N

fo rc e s We fo rg e t the squ alo r a n d sh abbi n e s s

e vil
’

o f .

o f th e M iddl e Ag e s in o ur a d m i ratio n o f th e chival r y an d

d e votion which d a re d a n d a cco mpli sh e d g re a t thi n g s ,

a n d tho ugh w e l augh at D o n Q ui x ot e it is with a pa n g o f

re g r e t th a t the age o f chiv al r y is givi n g pl a c e to the

c e n tur ie s o f m a t e riali sm N o w the mo n ks w e n t i n to the.

d e se r t o f Egypt to fight th e i r battl e s in a spirit o f

chival ry M a yb e th e y tilte d a t wi n d m ill s s om e tim e s
.
,

but le t us n e v e r fo rge t tha t the battl e w a s w o n tha t th e i r ,

li fe w as a succ e ssful p r ot e st aga i n st corrupti on in the

Ch urch a n d tha t th e y h a n d e d the l a mp o f spiritu ality
,

down to post e rity th rough ag e s which apa rt from th e m

w e re t ruly d ark .

T e n n y s o n w as r ight I n m uch o f his po e m b ut sure ly ,

he w a s mist ak e n in m a ki n g his typic al asc e tic sp e ak in

so un i fo r mly p e n it e n ti al a v e i n The g re at mon ks mu st .

h av e b e e n ve ry h appy o n the whol e Cold in win t e r .

,

sco rch e d in summ e r alwa ys hu n gry to rtu r e d by vi s io n s

, , ,

y e t th e y h a d th e d e e p i n war d p e a c e o f k n owi n g that

th e y ha d ob e y e d the c all a n d we re doi n g God s Will ’

.

D o m M o ri n O f M are d sou s in B e lgiu m w r iti n g sho r tly ,

b e fo re the Gre at War poi nt e d o ut th at this is the sp e ci al

,
“
an d i n ali e n a bl e h appi n e s s o f the mo n k O n po urra .

m e xp uls e r com me t an t d autr e s d e s m ur s p a isibl e s d a

’ ’
, ,

cloit re o n pou rra me priv e r d e to ut e s le s co n s olatio n s d e

,

la vie r e ligi e u se o n pou rra dispo se r d e mo i d e d ive rse s

‘

taco n s i mp révu e s il e s t c e p e n d an t un e chos e que j a m a i s

on m e pou rra m e ravi r c e st le b o n he ur d o b éir : c e l ui
’ ’
,

la il m ac c o mpagn e ra j usqu a a mo rt 1 ’ ”
l
’
.
,

The mo n k in an O rd e r ob e y e d the Rul e an d its livi n g

e x po n e n t th e Sup e ri o r ; the solitari e s in the d e se rt
“

ob e y e d an in war d mo n ito r But fo r both ob e di e n c e .

1 ’
L id ial mo n a sti que et la vie c hr étie n n e d es pr e mie r s j o u rs
(z ud e d . p .
33 .
 I NTR O DU C T I O N 29

w as th e mast e r wo rd an d in co n s e qu e n c e b e n e a th all
-

th e ir su rfac e st ruggl e s th e y had a d e e p p e ac e o f the

soul C ardin al N e wm an s wo rds about the B e n e dictin e s
.
’

e x p re ss b e tt e r th an an ythi n g e ls e the t ru e s pi r it o f
“
mon a stici s m To the mo n k h e av e n w as n e x t doo r ;
.

he fo r m e d n o pla n s he had n o ca re s ; the rav e n s o f his

,

fa th e r B e n e dict w e re e v e r at his sid e He w e n t forth

in his youth to his wo rk an d to his l abou r u n til the
‘ ’

e v e n i n g o f li fe ; if he liv e d a d ay lo n g e r he did a d ay s
’
,

wo rk more ; wh e th e r he live d man y d ay s o r fe w he ,

l aboure d o n to the e n d o f th e m He ha d n o wi sh to se e .

fu rth e r in adva n c e o f his j ou rn e y th an wh e re he was to

mak e his n e x t stage He plough e d an d sowe d he .
,

praye d he m e dita t e d he studi e d h e wrot e he taught

, , , , ,

1 ’
a n d th e n h e di e d a n d w e n t to h e a v e n .

Som e whil e re cogn i sin g the justic e o f wh a t has b e e n

,

said abov e will mai n tain that th e y are bou n d to p as s an

,

u n favou rabl e judgm e n t o n a mov e me n t so an ti soci al -

an d an ti n atio n al as mo n astici s m
-
I t is piti ful th e y say .
, ,

to se e the e l e ct spi rits o f th e ir g e n e ratio n e n g age d in

s pi r itu al se l f cultu re -
a se lfi sh e n d e avou r to sa v e th e i r
,

o wn sou ls Why did th e y n o t m arr y an d b ri n g up

.

childre n th row th e m se lv e s in to the n ation al li fe an d so

, ,

st re n gth e n the mo ral an d e con o mic fab ric o f the Stat e

that it might h av e had a fai r ch an c e o f re s i sti n g the
b arbarian o n slaught that was imp e n di n g P
“
I c an n e ve r forgiv e mo n asticism this w ro n g to
civilisation said a disti n gui sh e d C a mb ridge re sid e n t to
,

me o n c e At the tim e I fe lt th at the obj e ction w as

.

u n historical a j ud gin gf o f the me n o f bygo n e d ay s by

, ,

s t an d ar ds which would have b e e n m e an i n gl e ss to th e m ,

r e s e mbli n g the c riticisms o f mo n asticism which Ch arl e s

K i n gsl e y puts i n to the mouths o f his ch aract e r s in

Hyp a tia But the obj e ction was afte r all rais e d at the
.
, ,

1
Histo rical S ketc he s , I I 4 26
. .
30 I NTR O DU CT I O N

tim e fo r Eus e bius d e al s with this v e ry di ffi culty in a

,

1
pas sage o f g re a t i t e e st
n r .

Why he a sk s did the Old T e stam e n t Sai n ts attach

, ,

s uch import an c e to marriag e an d the b e ge ttin g o f

child re n whil e w e n e gl e ct the duty ? His an s we r is
,

fi rst that what was n atural in the e arly d ay s o f the

hu man rac e is u n suitabl e n o w wh e n w e are livi n g in the
l as t d ay s— quoti n g St P aul s wo rds in I Co ri n thi an s vii
.
’
.

I f the tim e was sho rt in the apo stl e s d ay ho w littl e is

’
,

l e ft n o w b e fo re the adv e n t o f the n e w o rd e r Th e n in . .

the Old T e stam e n t the bulk o f m an ki n d we re livin g a

li fe aki n to that o f the b e asts an d so the fe w who s e rve d ,

God we re oblige d to have fa milie s if the holy s e e d was

to b e pre s e rv e d at all ; whe re a s n o w th e re is such a
m ultitud e o f Ch ri sti an s tha t s om e c an b e s pare d fo r the
asc e tic li fe He go e s o n to spe ak o f spiritu al child re n
.

b e gott e n by the se holy me n an d poin ts out that aft e r all

,

fo r the g re a t m aj o rity o f me n the N e w T e stam e n t do e s

e n joi n marr i ag e .

’
Su re ly we c an a cc e pt Eu se bius con clusio n s Th e re .

will alwa ys b e e n ough to ob e y the p rimitive hum an

i n sti n cts which l e ad me n an d wom e n to m arriage th e re
will c e r t ai n ly b e e n ough child re n bo rn from th e se
marr i ag e s to c arr y o n the rac e ,if the Ch risti an t e achi n g
o n m arri ag e is ho n ou re d So w e c an but re j oic e if o ut
.
,

o f the g re at n umb e r who r e m a i n u n marri e d som e do So

in o rd e r to liv e a li fe s e p arat e d from the world an d

d e vot e d to u n se e n thi n gs Le t us e xe rcis e a littl e .

common s e n s e At this distan c e o f tim e who can pr e

.

t e n d to care wh e th e r a fe w littl e Egypti ans m ore o r l e s s

we re born in the fou rth c e n tury to liv e dim un d istin , ,

u ish ed liv es cultivati n g the soil in o rd e r to fill the

g ,

grain ship s with b re ad stu ffs fo r Rom e o r lat e r Co n

- -

, ,

stan tin o p le ? But it mak e s a good d e al o f diffe re n c e

1
D e mo n E van g I 9 ( P G XX I I 77
. . . . . . .
 I NTR O DU CT I O N 3:

to that me n an d wom e n we re re ady to fo rsake all

us

fo r Ch ri s t an d th a t the sw e e t savou r o f th e i r e x a mpl e

is still frag ran t in o ur midst M an y o f the mo n astic .

re co r d s ar e e x qui sit e ly b e auti ful Tak e fo r e xa mpl e .

, ,

the d e aths o f tw o g re at n u n s E mme lia an d M ac ri n a , ,

as d e sc rib e d in the Li fe o f th e l a tt e r
1
O f E mme lia the .
,
“
moth e r it is s aid th a t wh e n she c e as e d to bl e ss she
, ,
“
O f M ac ri n a he r d aught e r :
”
c e ase d to liv e .

'
A s she ,

a pp ro ach e d h e r e n d as if she di sc e rn e d the b e auty o f

,

the B rid e g r oom mo re cl e arly sh e ha st e n e d towards the ,

”
B e lov e d with the g re at e r e ag e rn e s s .

O r w e may quot e from P alladi n s the a n swe r giv e n

him by M ac arius wh e n he complai n e d that he was
,
“
m akin g n o p rog re s s :
’
Say fo r Ch ri s t s sak e I am ,
-

gua rdi n g the walls 2

He m e an s : Com fo rt yours e l f
.
”

with the thought that the p e opl e o f Egypt are livin g

th e ir li fe in the wo rld e x pos e d to s o m an y t e mpta tion s
,

a s a p r ot e cti n g wall b e tw e e n th e m an d the e n e my the

mon aste r ie s are i n t e rpo se d ; yo u with you r pray e rs are

h e lpi n g to g uard th at wall .

I s n o t this the re al poi n t at issu e ? I f w e b e li e ve in

praye r as the n obl e st an d mo st fruit ful activity o f man s ’

n a ture w e shall p r ob ably b e le d to b e li e v e th a t God

,

s e parat e s som e to a li fe o f pray e r an d that the mass ,

o f man k in d dw e ll in g re at e r se cu rity th an ks to the ,

p rote ctin g wall o f the praye r s o f th e se s e parat e d on e s .

I t is b e c au se the mo n ks o f Egypt p ut spi ritual thi n gs

fi rs t albeit some tim e s in an e x agg e rat e d an d strain e d
,

fa shio n an d b e li e v e d in the li fe o f p ray e r th at th e i r

, ,

e x ampl e is o f p e rman e n t v alu e to Ch rist e n dom .

Fin ally it is a common plac e to say that w e live in

,

a m at e r iali stic age Rich e s are the pathway to powe r

.

Se e my tran sl atio n G re go ry o f N y ssa M ac r in a e

’
1
of s Vita S .

( Lo n do n ,
2
XV I I I . 29 .
3 2 I NTR O DU CT I O N
an di n flue n c e ov e r the live s o f oth e r s The Chu rch .

itse l f is i n fe ct e d by m at e riali sm in tha t fi n an c e absorbs

,

so much o f its e n e rgi e s G re at phil an th ropi st s e c c le si

.
,

a stic al s ta t e s m e n an d
, missio n ari e s all n e e d mo n e y to
c arr y out th e ir sch e m e s o f b e n e fitin g m an kin d O f .

cou r s e th e re is a good s id e to thi s ; ove r agai n st o ur

Lo rd s prai se s o f pov e rty m ust b e se t His t e achin g ab o ut
’

s t e w ar d ship Ye t o n e s u sp e ct s th at E n glish Ch risti an s

.

ha ve n o t so far l e arn e d all th at is i mpli e d in His t re a t

m e n t o f r ich e s an d pov e r ty An d so it is a s alut ary
.
“

e x p e r i e n c e to r e a d the Laus iac Hi sto ry a n d liv e fo r a

whil e in an age o f the Chu rch wh e n re n u n ci atio n o f all
pos s e ss ion s w as the su re st ro ad to fam e an d wid e sp re ad
i n flu e n c e fo r good .

VI . T HE P R E S E NT E D ITI O N
Ihav e followe d Butl e r s t e x t th r o ughout i n cludin g
’
,

the r e adin gs fr om W giv e n in the App e n di x which ar e ,

in s o m e c ase s to b e sub s tit ut e d fo r tho se which a pp e ar in

the body o f the book Wh e re a di ffe re n t t e x t is followe d
.
,

fo r e x a mpl e a re a di n g s ugge st e d by C H Tu rn e r the . .

,

d e viatio n from B utl e r is in dic at e d in the n ot e s The .

paragraph divisio n s are thos e o f Butl e r the s e ctio n s ,

i n to which the ch apt e rs are divid e d are Luc o t s ’

.

I n plac e s I w as co n fr o n t e d with la n gu ag e which could

hardly b e t ran sl at e d lit e rally Lucot m an age s to do so ,

but the traditio n s o f E n gli sh are di ffe re n t To o mit the

p as sag e s would in som e cas e s h av e spoil e d the s e n s e
o f a whol e p a ss ag e ; b e sid e s the book is i n t e n d e d fo r
,

scholars who h av e a r ight to kn ow wh a t the autho r

,

said I me t the diffi culty by ton i n g down an d e mploy

.

in g e uph e mi s ms the s cholar will h ave n o di fficulty in

s e e i n g wh at is m e an t I can n ot p re t e n d that the
.

co mp romis e i s s ati sfacto ry .

 A BB RE V I A TI O N S

Budg e E . A . Wa llis B udg e The

.
, P a r ad is e o f the Ho ly Fa ther s
( E ng . tran s . of th e Syr i a c v e rsio n ) . Lo n don , 1 90 7 .

Butl e r E . C Butl e r, The L ausiac

. Histo ry of P a llad in s, V o l I . .

1 89 8 ; V ol . II . 1 904 . C amb ridg e .

D C
. . B . D ictio n ary f
o Chr istia n B iog r ap hy .

E R E
. . . E n cyclo p ae d ia of Re ligi o n an d E th ics .

Hi st . Mon . Histo r ia M o n a cho r u m in A egy to , Rufin us p G re e k

te xt in Pre usche n , P a lla d in s a n d Rnfi n n s G i e sse n , . 1 897 .

Luco t P a lla d in s, Histo ir e L a n siague ( Fre n ch t ra n s . of B utl e r s ’

te x t) . Pa r is , 1 9 1 2 .

T urn e r C . H Tur n e r
.
,
re vi e w o f Butl e r
’
s La usiac History in
[c a r n a l of Theo log ical S t ud ie s . 1 9 05 .

matte r not in the G re e k a dd e d t o co mpl e te th e s e n se .

( ge n e rally ) l atio n n o t o f the ac tual G re e k te x t

tran s b ut
of B utl e r s ’
c ritically re co n str uc te d te x t b ut se e n o te s .
 THE LA U SI AC HI STO RY

I N TRO D U C TO RY PI E C E S

P R E FA C E To T HE L I FE O F T HE H OLY FAT H E RS 1

[] T H I S b o o k is
‘

1 co r d o f the vi rtuous a sc e tici s m

a re

an d m arv e llou s m an n e r o f life o f tho se bl e s s e d an d holy

fath e rs th e monk s a n d an cho rit e s which i n h abit the

,

d e se rt ( writt e n ) with a V i e w o f s tirri n g to r ivalr y an d

,
r

imitatio n tho se w ho W i sh to re alize the h e av e n ly mode

o f li fe an d d e si r e to t re a d th e r o ad which l e a d s to the

ki n gdom o f h e av e n I t co n t ai n s al s o m e moi r s o f ag e d
.
‘
L

wo me n an d illu st riou s G o d i n spi re d mat ro n s who with

-

m a sc uli n e a n d p e rfe ct mi n d hav e s ucc e ssfully ac c o m

plished the st ruggl e s o f vi rtuou s ac e tic ism ( which may ,

se rv e ) as a m od e l a n d obj e ct o f d e s i r e fo r tho se wom e n

who lon g to we ar the c r own o f con ti n e n c e an d ch astity .

Thi s is ho w the b o ok ca me to b e writt e n 2 A

,
.

m an a dmi rabl e in e v ery w ay ve ry l e arn e d o f p e ac e abl e

, , ,
,

di spo sitio n r e ligio usly di spo se d an d d e vo ut mi n d e d

,
-

lib e ra l toward s tho se w ho l ack the n e c e ssari e s o f life in ,

r e sp e ct o f high disti n ctio n s p r e fe rre d a bov e man y me n o f

ra n k owi n g to the e x c e ll e n c e o f his ch ara ct e r an d with

'

,
.

all thi s g uar d e d co n ti n u ally by the pow e r o f the D ivi n e

Spi rit — such is th e man w ho comm an d e d uS to writ e o r ,

r ath e r if o n e mu st t e ll the t ruth ar ou se d o ur s loth ful

, ,

1 B utl e r p ri n ts this P re fa c e b ut con sid e rs it s purious

, .

1 B utl e r mark s the te x t h e r e co rr up t b ut the me an in g

, is cl e ar .
36 THE LAUSI AC H I ST OR Y

mi n d to the co n t e mpl atio n o f b e tt e r thi n g s to i mitat e ,

an d a tt e mpt to r ival the asc e tic vi rtu e s o f o ur holy an d

m mo r tal spi rit ual fath e r s an d all who hav e liv e d to

i
pl e as e God with much mo rtific atio n o f the body [3 ] .

A n d so h avi n g d e sc r ib e d the liv e s o f th e se i n vi n cibl e

,

a thl e t e s w e h a v e s e n t th e m to him p r ocl aimin g the c o n

, ,

spic uo us vi r tu e s o f e a ch o f th e se g re at p e rso n s I am .

r e fe rri n g to La usus the b e st o f m e n

, who by the favou r
,

o f G o d has b e e n appoi n t e d gu ardi an o f o ur godly an d

r e ligious e mpir e it is he who is i n spi re d with th is divin e

a n d spi r itu al p assio n .

[4 ] I th e n who am clu msy in utt e ran c e an d h ave

1
,

but a sup e r ficial acq uai n ta n c e with spir itual kn owl e dge
an d a m un wo rthy to d raw up a li s t o f the holy fath e rs o f

the spi ritu a l li fe fe ari n g the i n fi n it e g re a t n e s s o f the ta sk

,

se t me so much a bov e my capacity fou n d the comma n d

, ,

i n tol e r able re qui rin g as it did so much wo rldly wisdom

,

an d s pi r itu al u n d e rstan di n g N e v e rth e le s s r e sp e ctin g

.
,

in the fi rs t plac e the e ag e r vi rtu e o f the man w ho u rg e d

us to ob e y the com man d an d co n sid e r i n g the b e n e fit
,

acc rui n g to the re ade rs an d fe ari n g al s o the dan ge r o f

,

a re fus al alb e it with a r e aso n abl e e x cu se I fi rst co m ,

m e n d e d the n oble ta sk to P rovid e n c e an d th e n appli e d

my se l f dilig e n tly to it Sustai n e d as if o n wi n g s by the
.
, ,

i n t e rc e ssio n o f the holy fath e rs I a tt e n d e d the con t e sts

,

o f the are n a . I hav e d e sc rib e d in a ki n d o f summary

o n ly the m ai n co n te sts an d achi e ve me n t s o f the n obl e
a thl e t e s a n d g re a t m e n — n o t o n ly illust r ious me n who

h av e re alize d the b e st m an n e r o f life but also bl e ss e d ,

an d highbo rn wom e n who hav e p ractis e d the high e st

li fe.

[5] I hav e b e e n p r ivil e g e d to se e with my o w n e y e s

th e re v e re d fa c e s o f s om e o f th e s e but in the case o f ,

oth e rs who had al re ady b e e n p e rfe ct e d in th e are n a o f

,

1
Th i s a cco rds w ith the e vid e n c e o f the book .
 I NTR O DU CT OR Y PIE CES 37

pie ty I have l e arn e d th e i r h e av e n ly mod e o f life from

,

i n spire d athl e t e s o f Ch ri st I n the cou rs e o f my j ou rn e y

.

o n foot I visit e d m an y citi e s an d v e ry m an y vill ag e s ,

e v e ry c av e an d all the d e s e rt dw e lli n gs o f mon k s with ,

all accu racy as b e fi tte d my pious in t e n tio n s Som e .

thin g s I wrot e down afte r p e rs o n al in v e stigatio n the re st ,

I h ave h e ar d from the holy fath e r s an d I hav e re cor d e d

,

in thi s book the co mb a t s o f g re at m e n an d Wom e n ,

mo re lik e me n than n a tu re would s e e m to allow th an ks ,

to th e i r hop e in Christ I n o w s e n d the whol e to you

.

whos e e ars lov e divin e o racl e s to yo u Lausus who , , ,

a re the p r id e o f e x c e ll e n t an d God b e lov e d m e n an d -

the o rn am e n t o f the mo s t fa ith ful an d God b e lov e d -

e mpi re n obl e an d Chr ist lovi n g s e rvan t o f God

,
-
I hav e .

1
re c o r d e d t9 th e b e st o f my fe e bl e pow e r s the famou s
n am e o f e ach o f the a thl e t e s o f Ch rist m al e an d fe m al e , ,

d e sc ribi n g a fe w short co n t e st s o ut o f the m an y mighty

o n e s e n gage d in by e ach addin g in mo s t cas e s the
,

2
fa mily an d C i ty an d plac e o f re sid e n c e .

[6] We hav e al so told o f me n an d wom e n who have

r e ach e d the high e st stag e o f vi rtu e but owi n g to vai n
,

glo ry as it is call e d the moth e r o f prid e h av e fall e n

, , ,

i n to the lowe st pit an d abyss o f h e ll an d the t r iumph s ,

o f as c e tici sm so e arn e stly d e si re d an d so st re n uou sly

,

fought fo r acqui re d by th e m a ft e r lo n g p e riods o f tim e

,

an d man y labou rs hav e b e e n di s sip a t e d in an i n st an t by

,

prid e an d s e l f con c e it But by the grac e o f o ur Saviou r

-
.

an d the fo re k n owl e dg e o f th e holy fath e r s an d the sym

-

pathy o f sp iritu al afl e c tio n th e y hav e b e e n s n atch e d from

'

the n e ts o f the d e vil an d h e lp e d by the p ray e rs o f the

,

s ai n ts hav e re cove re d th e i r fo r m e r li fe o f vir tu e

,
.

1
Li t e rally e n g rave d ( as o n a statue )
, .

1
O r, si tuat io n o f the mo n aste ry ( r b y r brr or Ti :) no r/fir ) .
38 THE LAUSI AC H IS T O R Y

C O PY O F A L E TT E R W RITT E N BY PALLAD I U S T HE
B IS H O P TO LAU SU S T HE C H A M BE R L AI N 1 .

[I ] I con gratul at e yo u o n you r i n t e n tio n I n de e d I .

a m j ustifi e d in b e gi n n i n g m l e tt e r with co g a tulatio n

y n r ,

b e c ause wh e n all me n a re g api n g a ft e r v a in thin gs an d

,

b uildi n g th e i r e dific e with s to n e s fr o m which th e y go t n o

2
j o y yo u you rs e l f wan t to b e t aught wor d s o f e d ific atio n
, .

Fo r o n ly the G o d o f all is u n taught si n c e He is s e l f ,

o rigin at e an d has n o n e oth e r b e fo re Him B ut all oth e r .

thin g s are taught sin c e th e y are mad e an d c re at e d

, .

m
The fi rst o rd e r s ( o f an g e l s ) h av e the s up re e Tr in ity a s
t e ach e r the se co n d l e arn from the fi rst the thi rd fro m
, ,

the s e co n d an d so succ e ssiv e ly in o rd e r uhtil th e l as t

, .

Fo r thos e who are s up erio r in j udg me n t an d vi r tu e

t e ach tho se who are i n fe rior in kn owl e dg e [2 ] So th e n .

me n w ho thi n k th e y d o n o t n e e d t e ach e r s o r do n o t ,

ob e y tho se who t e ach th e m in lov e s u ffe r fro m the ,

di se a s e o f ig n o ran c e ; the moth e r o f a rroga n c e Th e i r .

l e ad e r s o n the r o ad to d e st r uctio n are tho se w ho h av e

fa ll e n from the h e av e n ly li fe the d e m o n s w ho fly in ,

th e a ir havin g fl e d from th e i r t e ach e r s in h e av e n Fo r .

t e achin g do e s n o t con sist in word s an d syll abl e s — som e

ti me s me n pos se ss th e s e who are a s vil e as c an b e — but
1
A g e n ui n e l e tte r se n t by Pa llad ius wi th his book L ausus Was .

pr ae po situs ( i e s a cri c u b icn li ) at the co urt o f T he odo s ius I I

. . Cf . .

J S R e id in“ Ca mb rid ge M e d i ae va l Histo ry V o l I c h 2

. .
, . . . .

( Thi s O ffi c e ) g r e w in i mpo t n ce as m e asu e d by dig n i ty an d

r r a ,
r

p re ce d e n c e un til in the ti me o f The odosi us the G e a t it w as o n e o f

, r

four h igh o ffi c e s wh ich co n fe rr e d o n th e i r hold e rs m e m b e rsh ip o f

the I mp e r i a l C o un cil So m e d uti e s fe ll to him w hich are
.

hardly s ugge ste d by his ti tl e He w as i co n trol o f the e m p e r o r s

. n
’

s e l e c t an d i n t i mate bodyg uar d w hich bo r e the ame o f sile n ti ari i

,
n ,

thi r ty in n um b e r wi th th r e e d e cur io n e s fo r o ffi c e r s
, Cur io usly he .
,

sup e r i n te n d e d o n e divi sio n o f th e vast im p e ri l do ma in s t ha t a ,

co n sid e rabl e por tion o f the m which lay wi thi n th e p r ovi n ce o f

C pp a doci a
a .

3
A l te r n ativ e r e a din g p ri n te d by B utl e r in the te x t b ut r e j e c te d
, ,

in a suppl e me n tary n o te fr o m which the y will ge t n o b e n e fit

“ ”
.
 PR O LO GUE 39

in m e ritorious a ct s o f charact e r ch e e rfuln e s s i n t re pidity

, , ,

b rav e ry good t e mp e r ; ad d to th e s e u n faili n g bold n e s s

, ,

which g e n e rat e s word s like a fl am e o f fire [3] Fo r if .

thi s had n o t b e e n so the gre at T e ach e r would n o t hav e

,

said to His di s cipl e s L e arn o f M e fo r I am m e e k an d ,

lowly I n h e ar t 1
He do e s n o t trai n the apostl e s with
.
”

e l e gan t l an gu ag e but with c ar e fo r ch ara ct e r di s t re ss in g

, ,

n o n e s av e thos e w ho h at e the wo r d an d h at e t e a ch e rs .

Fo r the s oul th at is b e i n g t rai n e d a cco rdi n g to God s

’

pu rpo se mu st b e e ith e r l e arn in g faith fully what it doe s

n o t k n ow o r t e achi n g cl e arly wh at it k n ows
,
But if it .

wan t s to do n e ith e r though abl e to do th e m th e n it is

, ,

m ad . Fo r to b e s at e d with t e achin g an d u n abl e to b e ar

the wo r d fo r which the s Oul o f him who lov e s God is
,

alway s hu n g ry is the b e gi n n in g o f a post asy Be st ro n g

, .

th e n an d o f s ou n d min d an d pl ay the man an d may ,

God g ran t yo u to pu rs u e clos e ly the k n owl e dge o f Chri st .

P R O L O GU E

[I ] Fo rasmuc h
2
man y hav e l e ft b e hi n d fo r th e ir
as

a e man y an d div e rs w riti n g s co n c e rn i n g di ffe r e n t e pochs

g ,

som e o f th e m by an i n spiratio n o f h e a v e n ly God giv e n -

grac e ( writi n g) fo r the e d ific atio n a n d safe ty o f thos e

w ho follow with loya l p urpos e th e t e achi n gs O f th e
Saviou r oth e rs with s ycoph an tic an d corr upt i n t e n tion
,

h avi n g i n d ulg e d in mad folli e s in o rd e r to e n cou rag e

such as d e si re vain glory oth e rs again i n spire d by a
-
, ,

c e rtain m ad n e ss an d the i n flu e n c e o f the d e mon who

hat e s good an d in th e ir p rid e an d wra th pl an n i n g the
,

d e struction o f light m i n d e d me n an d the soili n g o f the

-

imm acul a t e C atholic Chu rch h avi n g a ttacke d the mi n d s ,

o f the foolish to mak e th e m di slike the sa in tly li fe ,

1
M t xi 29 . . .

1
M od e ll e d o n the P r olog ue o f St Luk e s G o sp e l .
’
.
40 .
THE LAUSI AC H I ST OR Y

[]
2 it good
se e to me d
m e al s o you r humbl e se rvan t ,
1
,

r e v e re n ci n g the comman d o f you mag an i ity 0 man

r n m 2
,

mos t e age r to l e arn, a comm an d i ssue d with a V i e w to

s pi ritual p rog re ss to publi sh this book in n arrativ e fo r m
,

fo r you r b e n e fit ( t e lli n g my sto ry ) from the b e gin n i n g

, .

3
( Wh e n I thu s d e c id e d ) it w as I suppo se my thi r ty thi r d
, , ,
-

y e ar in the s ocie ty o f the b re th re n an d the twe n ti e th

y e ar o f my e piscop at e an d the fifty si xth o f my whol e ,
-

1 ‘
li fe . Y ou w e re aski n g fo r accou n ts o f the fath e r s both ,

mal e an d fe mal e ( sai n t s) both thos e whom I had s ee n ,

an d thos e about whom I had h e ar d an d tho se wit h

whom I live d in the Egyptian d e s e rt an d Libya the ,

T h e b aid an d Sy e n e n e ar which l as t are th e so call e d

,
-

Tab e n n e sio ts an d ag ain in M e sopota mia P al e stin e an d

5
, ,

Sy ria an d the di st ricts o f the W e st — Rom e an d Ca m

,

pan ia an d th e re abouts [3 ] ( M y aim is) tha t yo u ma y .

hav e ( in my book ) fo r the b e n e fit o f you r soul a sol e m n

re mi n d e r an u n fa ili n g cu re fo r fo rg e t ful n e ss
,
an d th a t
you may d r iv e awa y by its h e lp all d rowsi n e ss p ro
c e e d in g fro m irratio n al lust all i n d e ci s io n an d p e tti n e ss ,

in bu sin e ss affai rs all b ackward n e ss a n d pu sill an i mity in

,

the dom a i n o f charact e r all r e s e n tm e n t wo rr y g ri e f an d, , ,

i rratio n al fe ar ; an d m o re ov e r the e xcite m e n t s o f the

wo rld ; an d may with u n failin g d e sire m ak e pr og re s s in
the pu rpos e o f pi e ty b e comi n g a guid e both to yo ur ,

s e l f you r compan io n s you r subo rdin at e s an d the mo st

, , ,

r e ligious Emp e ro rs Fo r by m e an s o f th e s e m e rito rious

.

wo rks all lov e rs o f Ch rist p re s s o n to b e jo i n e d to G o d .

1
i 3 Th e lo n g an d i n volve d se n te n ce o f the o r igi n al has
Lk . . .

be e n re tai n e d in o rd e r to mak e the a ll us io n pl a in .

1
Ho n o r ific ti tl e s o f th i s ki n d w e r e v e ry co mm on in the E aste rn
E m pi r e fr o m w h ic h th e y h av e d e sc e n d e d to the E aste rn Ch ur ch o f
,

to d ay
-
.

1
Fr o m th i s p o mt the lo n g an d i n volve d c e o f th e o r igi n al
s e n te n
— li n e s ’
in B utl e r s te x t b e fo r e a full s top occ urs— has b e e n
39
b r ok e n up .

4
[.e 4 1 9 42 0
.
-
.
1
Se e Ch . XXX I I .
42 T H E LAUSI AC H I ST OR Y

1
if he t e lls o f it with a ki d cou ti g n of boast ful n e ss , re n n

his toils in o r d e r to s ti r to e mul a tio n tho s e who liv e in

“
sloth an d lazi n e s s sayi n g : I w e n t up to J e rus al e m to
,

vi sit C e ph a s if he Wa s n o t s ati s fi e d with the re port

o f P e t e r s vi rtu e but lo n g e d fo r a n a ctu a l m e e ti n g fa c e
’
,

to fac e — how much mo re w a s I the d e bto r w ho owe d ,

3
te n thous an d t al e n t s bou n d to d o thi s n o t fo r an y
, ,

good I might do th e m but fo r my o w n b e n e fit ? [7] Fo r ,

i n d e e d tho s e w ho w rot e the liv e s o f the F ath e rs Abra ,

ham an d his succ e sso r s M os e s Elij ah an d Joh n told , , ,

th e i r tal e n o t to glor ify th e m but to b e n e fit th e ir re ad e ts

, , .

K n owin g th e s e thi n gs th e n Lausus mo s t loyal se rv an t , ,

o f Ch r ist an d imp re ssi n g th e m o n you r se l f b e p ati e n t

, ,

with my folly ( which is d e sig n e d) to pre se rve the pious

,

di spo sitio n o f yo ur m i n d ; fo r it is n atu rally e x po se d to

wav e s o f e vil both visibl e an d i n vi sibl e an d c an e n j oy
, ,

c al m o n ly with the h e lp o f co n ti n uou s pray e r an d s piritu al

se l f cultu
-
r e
’
1
[]8 F o r m an y o f th e b re th re n
. plumi ng ,

th e m se lv e s both o n th e i r l abou rs an d ch ariti e s an d

boas tin g o f th e ir c e liba cy o r vi rgi n ity an d putti n g th e i r
t rust in m e ditatio n o n the divin e o racl e s an d acts o f
z e al hav e ye t fail e d to att ain impa ssivity 5 Th rough
,
.

lack o f di sc e rn m e n t u n d e r the p re t e x t o f pi e ty th e y
, ,

hav e fall e n victim to a dis e as e ( which m an i fe st s its e l f)

in act s o f idl e cu r iosity fr o m w hich sp ri n g o ffic io us o r ,

e v e n e vil activiti e s such as d riv e a way good activiti e s

, ,
6
the moth e r o f spi r itu a l s e l f cultur e -
.

1 i t
L e ra lly i ns c r ibi n g o n a pill a r
1
G al 1 1 8 . . . .

11
M t x viii 2 4
. . . id w p yy o a b vy rr a .

5
Th e S toic virtue o f ch atea u n aturally b e c a me an id e a l fo r the
ph ilosophe rs o f the d e se rt tho ugh Pa llad ius o f course in te rp re te d
,

it in a C hr i sti an se n se Se e B utl e r I 1 76
. A sa tis fa c to ry E n gli sh . .

e q uiv a l e n t is di ffi c ul t t o fi B l e e d e s by i mp assivi ty
“ ”
n d u t r r n r .

p e rha p s de tachme n t wo uld b e b e tte r ”

.

6
The pl a y o n wo rd s — (ptA payn a b r a s oA p yn a b ua
on
' -
na o ,
ir v rr a' o t,

b ia to o a b v s— can hardly b e ' '

x a p yy
a n rr
'
o rr r a t,
p yn
a o

r e p re se n te d in E n gli sh .
 PR O L O GUE 43

[9 ]Pla y t he man th e n I b e se e ch you an d do n o t , ,

i n c re ase you r w e alth Thi s policy yo u hav e a l re ady

.

a dopt e d si n c e o f you r o w n acco rd yo u h a v e l e s s e n e d

,

it by distributin g to tho se in n e e d owin g to the supply

o f vi r tu e which is th e re by g a i n e d N o r h av e yo u yi e ld e d .

to i mpuls e an d un re ason abl e p re m atu re d e ci sio n an d

fe tt e re d you r fre e choic e with an oath 1 to cu rry favou r
with me n a s so me h av e do n e w ho in a s pi rit o f rival r y
, ,

th a t th e y may bo ast o f n o t e ati n g o r d r in ki n g hav e ,

e n sl av e d th e i r fr e e will by th e co n st ra i n t o f a n o a th a n d

h ave s uccu mb e d a gai n mi se rably to the lov e o f this

2
wo rld a n d accidi e an d pl e asure an d so hav e su ffe re d
the p an gs o f p e rju ry Fo r if you p artak e re as o n ably
.

a n d ab s t a i n re as o n ably yo u w ill n e v e r s in
[ ]
10 F or .

re as on o f all the e m otio n s withi n us is divi n e b an i sh

, , ,

in g wh a t is har m ful a n d w e lcomi n g wh at is b e n e fici al .

“
Fo r the law is n o t mad e for a r ight e ous mm ”
Fo r .

to d ri n k wi n e with re a s o n is b e tt e r th an to d r i n k wat e r
with prid e An d pl e ase look o n tho se who d ri n k wi n e
.
, ,

with re aso n as holy m e n a n d tho se who d rin k wa t e r

without re aso n as p ro fan e me n a n d n o lo n ge r blam e o r ,

p ra i se the m at e r ial but cou n t h appy o r wre tch e d the

,

min d s o f thos e w ho use the mat e rial we ll o r ill Jos e ph .

d ran k win e in Egypt lon g a go but his min d s u ffe re d ,

no h arm fo r he k e pt his thought s u n d e r co n t rol

,
.

[ ]
4
I 1 But Pyth ago ras D iog e n e s an d Pl ato d ra n k wat e r
,

1
St B asil ( c 3 6 5) co n te mpl ate s p e rman e n t vows b ut the y w e re
. .
,

e vid e n t ly n o t g e n e r a lly a cc e p t e d w h e n Palla d ius w r o te Se e C lark e .

,

S t B a sil the G re at pp 1 0 7 f fo r a full di s cuss io n

.
, . .
, .

Si n c e Bp P ag e t s fam ous e ssa y O n A ccidi e in The S pirit

3 ’ “
.

of Di s ciplin e the wo r d wh ich is as o ld a s C hauce r has b e e n

, ,

r e ha bili ta te d in E n gli sh I t sign i fi e s a sta te o f s pi ri tual to r po r a n d

.

gloo m I t w as a sp e ci al te mp tation o f the mon k s a n d o f all w ho

.

had o r still ha v e fe w o utwar d di stra ct io n s an d are thr ow n l arg e ly

o n th e i r o w n me n ta l r e s o ur c e s 1 Tim i 9
3
. . . .

Se e B utl e r s n o te a d lo c w hic h i n cor po rate s a co m mun ic atio n

’
.

fr o m D r He n r y J a ck s on w ho co n cl ud e s th at
.
,
“
Py th agoras a n d
D iog e n e s w e r e t o tal ab sta in e rs b ut P l at o a mod e ra te d r i n k e r
”
.
,
44 THE LAUSIAC H I ST OR Y

so did th e M an ich ae an sst o f the ban d o f an d the re

so i—d isan t philo s oph e rs an d ye t the y re ach e d su c h a

,

pitch o f v ain —glo ry in th e ir i n t e mp e ran c e th at th e y faile d

to k n ow God an d wo r shipp e d idol s The apo stl e P e t e r .

an d his comp an io n s us e d win e to s om e e xt e n t s o that ,

th e ir M ast e r o ur Saviou r w as hims e l f re p roa ch e d o n

, _
,

a ccou n t o f th e i r p ar ticip atio n by the Je ws sayi n g ’

,
“
Why do n o t thy discipl e s fast as do the di scipl e s o f
1 ”
Joh n ? Agai n i n sulti n g the di scipl e s with r e proa ch e s
th e y said : “
You r M ast e r e ats an d d ri n ks with the
z ”
p ublic an s an d si n n e rs Cl e arly th e y wo uld n o t h av e
.

a tt ack e d th e m ov e r b re ad an d wat e r
[1 2 ] A n d again .
,

wh e n th e y w e r e u n re as o n ably a d m ir i n g wat e r d ri n ki n g -

an d bla mi n g win e d ri n ki g the Saviou r said :

n -
“
Joh n , .

c ame in the w ay o f right e ous n e s s n e ith e r e ati n g n o r ,

d ri n ki n g — o bviously m e a t an d win e fo r apart from the ,

oth e r thin g s he co uld n o t h av e live d — “

an d th e y say ,

He b ath a d e vil The So n o f M an c am e e ati n g an d

.

d ri n ki n g an d th e y say B e hold a glutto n ou s man a n d

, ,

a wi n e bibb e r an d a fr i e n d o f p ublic an s an d s in n e r s 3
-

,
”

— b e c au se o f his e a ti n g an d d r i n ki n g What are w e to .

do th e n ? Le t us follow n e ith e r thos e who bla m e n o r

tho s e w ho pra is e but le t us e ith e r fa st with John re aso n
,
“
ably e v e n if th e y say : Th e y h ave a d e vil or l e t us ” '

d ri n k wi n e wis e ly with J e su s if the body n e e ds it e v e n , ,

if th e y say : “
B e h old me n glutto n ous an d wi n e bibb e rs -
.

[1 3 ] Fo r in t r uth n e ith e r i s e ati n g n o r re fraln rn g an y

thi n g b ut faith e x t e n di n g its e l f in lov e to wo rks Fo r
,
.

wh e n fa ith a cco mpa n i e s e v e ry a ction he th at e a t e th an d ,

“
d ri n k e th b e cau se o f fa ith is u n con d e m n e d fo r wh a t ,

s o e v e r is n o t o f fa ith is sin
“ But wh e n an y o n e o f .

tho se w ho srn s ays he p artak e s in fa ith o r is doin g

an ythi n g e ls e with u n re aso n abl e s e l f c o n fid e n ce an d c o r -

1
Mk . ii 1 8
. .
2
Mt
. ix . I I ( Lk v . .

3
Mt . xx i 32 . an d xi . 1 8, 1 9 .
4
Ro m . x iv . 23 .
 PR O LO GUE 45

rupte d co n scie n c e the Saviou r has give n e x p re s s o rd e rs

, ,

“
s a yi n g : By th e i r fr uit s ye sh a ll k n ow th e m 1
But .
”

that the fruit o f thos e who liv e with r e aso n a n d u n d e r

“
stan d in g as the divi n e Apo stl e say s is lov e joy p e ac e
, , , , ,

lon g su ffe ri n g kin d n e s s good n e ss faith ful n e ss m e e k

-
, , , ,
2—
n e ss ,
t e mpe ran c e this is gran t e d by all [1 4 ] Fo r
,
”
.

P aul hi mse lf said : The fruit o f the spirit is so an d

“ -

so But b e c au se he who s e t s him se l f to ge t such fruit

.

will n o t e at m e a t o r drin k win e u n r e a son ably o r without

d e fi n it e aim o r out o f s e aso n n o r will h e dwe ll with an ,

u n e asy co n sci e n c e aga in the sam e P aul sa y s : Ev e ry

,
“

man th at st riv e th fo r the m ast e ry is t e mp e rat e in all

3
thin g s .
”
Wh e n th e body is in h e alth he ab st ai n s fr om
fa tt e n i n g thi n g s wh e n it is w e ak o r in p ai n o r m e e t s
,

with grie fs o r mis adv e n t ur e s he will m ak e use o f food s ,

o r d r i n k s as m e dici n e s to h e al wh a t g ri e v e s him an d ,

he will ab stai n fr om all th at h arm s th e s oul —an g e r ,

e n vy ,
v ai n glo r y accidi e d e tractio n an d u n r e aso n abl e
-

, , ,

suspicio n — givi n g th an k s to the Lo rd .

[1 5] Havin g th e n di scuss e d the m att e r s uffi ci e n tly

a bov e I b r i n g a n oth e r e x hort atio n to you r d e si re o f
,

l e arn i n g Fl e e as far as is in you r pow e r e n co un t e rs

.
, ,

with me n who se p re s e n c e co n fe r s n o b e n e fit an d w ho
b e auti fy th e i r Ski n in u n se e mly fashio n e v e n if th e y b e ,

o rthodo x— n o t to sp e ak o f h e re tic s Th e y d o you h arm

by th e i r hypoc risy e v e n wh e n th e y se e m to b e d raggin g
,

o ut a g re a t age with th e i r g re y h ai r an d w r i n kl e s Fo r .
,

e v e n suppo si n g yo u co m e to n o ha r m at th e i r h an d s by

re a so n o f you r n obl e ch ar act e r yo u will su ffe r thi s l e s s e r ,

e vil in b e comi n g i n s ol e n t an d p roud an d mocki n g at ,

th e m an d thi s will d o yo u har m But go n e ar a b right

,
.

wi n dow an d s e e k e n cou n t e r s with holy me n an d wom e n ,

in ord e r that by th e i r h e lp yo u may b e abl e to se e

1
Mt . VI I . 16 .
3
G al
. v . 22 .

1
1 Co r . ix . 25 .
46 THE LAUSI AC H IS T OR Y

l ly al so you r o wn h e ar t a s it w e re a clo se ly w ritt e n

C e ar -

book b e i n g abl e by co m p ari so n to di sc e rn you r o w n

1
,

s l ack n e ss o r n e gl e ct [ ]
16 F .o r th e colou r o f th e i r

fa c e s with the bloo m o f g re y h air s an d the ar ra n g e m e n t

o f th e i r cloth e s an d the mod e sty o f th e i r l an gu ag e an d

the re ve re n c e o f th e i r co n v e r sa tio n an d the g rac e o f

th e ir thoughts will st re n gth e n yo u e v e n if yo u should
,

h app e n to b e in a mood o f accidie “

Fo r a m an s
.
’

attire an d his gait an d the l augh o f his t e e th will

2
p roclaim what he is lik e as Wisdom say s , .

So n o w I b e gi n my t al e s I sh all l e av e u n n otic e d
.

n e ith e r tho se in th e citi e s n o r tho se in the villag e s o r

d e se rts Fo r the obj e ct o f o ur i n qui ry is n o t the pl ac e

.

w h e re th e y hav e s e ttl e d b ut th e fas hio n o f th e i r plan o f

li fe .

1
The h oly me n wi n do w thr o ug h W
a re the , hich the light sh i n e s .

A s yo u s tan d n e ar a wi n dow to r e a d a book wi th sm a ll typ e so ,

L ausus by fr e q ue n ti n g the co m p an y o f the sai n ts w ill se e cl e a rly

in to h is o w n life But the te x t is doubtful
. .

1
E ccl us x i x 30
. . .
 C H A P T ER I

ISI DO R E 1

[ ] T HE fi rst tim e that

I I se t foot in the city o f the

Al e xan dr ian s in the s e con d co n sul at e o f the g re at

,

2
Emp e o r Th e odosius who n o w live s with the a n g e l s
r ,

b e cause o f his faith in C h ri st I me t in the city a ,

won d e rful m an di s tin gui sh e d in e v e r y re sp e ct both a s

, ,

re gard s ch ara ct e r a n d k n owl e dg e I sidore the p ri e st , ,

ho spit all e r o f the C hu rch o f Al e x an dria He w as said .

to h av e fought succ e ssfully his fi rs t youth ful co n t e st s in

the d e s e rt an d I a ctu ally saw his c e ll in the mo un t a i n o f
,

N itria B ut wh e n I m e t him he wa s an o ld ma n
.
,

s e v e n ty y e ar s o f age who liv e d a n oth e r fi ft e e n y e ar s a n d

,

th e n die d in p e ac e [2 ] U p to the v e r y e n d o f his li fe

.

he wore n o li n e n e x c e pt a h e ad ban d n e v e r had a b ath -

, ,

n o r p artook o f m e at His Sl e n d e r fra m e w as so we ll

.

k n it by g rac e th at all who did n o t k n ow his m an n e r o f

life e x p e ct e d that he liv e d in lu xur y Ti me wo uld fa il .

m e if I w e re to t e ll in d e tail the vi rtu e s o f his s o ul

3
.

He w as so b e n e vol e n t an d p e ac e abl e th at e v e n his

e n e mi e s th e u n b e li e v e rs th e mse lv e s r e ve re n c e d his
sh adow b e c au s e o f his e x c e e di n g ki n dli n e ss
[]
3 S o .

g re at a kn owl e dg e had he o f the holy sc ript ure s an d the

divi n e p re c e pts th at e v e n a t the v e ry m e al s o f the
b re thre n h e wo uld h av e p e riod s o f abs e n t mi n d e d n e ss -

an d re mai n s il e n t A n d b e i n g u rg e d to t e ll the d e t ai l s
.

1
P lla d ius m e n tio n s thre e m o n k s n a me d I s ido r e
a B e sid e s th i s .

o ne the r e is the p i e s t o f S c e te ( X I X ) an d th e bi shop o f He r

,
r

m o p o lis P a r v a ( X LV I ) Se e B utl e s n o te ; an d D C B fo r o the r

'

. r . . .

p e rs on s o f the same n ame Se e a l s o n o te o n X 2 ( Fo r th i s . . .

I sido e c f So c r V I 9 So
r . VIII 2 12
. .
,
z . .
,
1
I e 38 8 But se e D uc he sn e His to ir e a n cie n n e d e l E glise
’
. . .
, ,

II . 6 10 .

3
The p hrase is tak e n fr o m He b x i . .
32 .

47
48 THE LAUSI AC H I ST O R Y
“
o f his csta sy he wo uld say : I we n t a way in thought
e

o n a j ou rn e y se iz e d by con t e mpl a tio n

, Fo r my p a r t .
”

I o ft e n k n e w him w e e p a t t abl e an d wh e n I ask e d the ,

“
caus e o f the t e ars I h e ar d him sa y : I sh ri n k from p ar
t aki n g o f irra tio n al food b e i n g mys e l f r ation a l an d
,

d e s ti n e d to liv e in a para di s e o f d e lig ht owi n g to the

[4 ] He b e ca m e k n own to
”
pow e r giv e n us by C h ri st .

all th e Se n a t e a t Rom e a n d to th e w iv e s o f th e n obl e s ,

w h e n h e p a id his fi rs t vi sit in comp an y with Ath an a siu s

an d o n a s e co n d occ asio n W ith D e m e t r iu s
1
the bishop ,

the bishop a man o f gre at w e alth an d e x t e n s iv e p rop e rty ,

he Wr ot e n o will wh e n he cam e to d ie an d l e ft n e ith e r ,

m o n e y n o r good s to his si s t e r s who w e re vi rgi n s But , .

b e comm e n d e d th e m to Ch r ist s a yi n g : “
He th a t ,

c re a t e d yo u will provid e fo r you r li fe as He ha s do n e ,

fo r m e . N o w th e re was With his si st e r s a commu n ity

o f s e v e n ty vi rgin s .

Wh e n I visit e d him as a you n g man a n d b e sought

th at I m ight b e t ra i n e d in the s olit ary li fe s in c e I w as in ,

th e full vigou r o f my age an d n e e d e d n o t di scou r se but , ,

bodily h ard ship s lik e a good t a m e r o f colts he le d me

,

o ut fr o m th e city to the s o c a ll e d S olitud e s five m il e s

-

awa y ( an d h an d e d me ov e r to D o ro the us) 2

.

C H A P T ER II

D O RO THE U S
3

[] I H AN D IN G m e ov e r to D o ro th e us a Th e ba n asc e tic ,

wh o w as Sp e n di n g the six ti e th y e ar in his cav e he ,

1
The vi si t w i th A tha n asi us would b e in 340 ; fo r the di ffic ul ti e s
o f th e o th e r vi si t se e B utl e r 11 1 8 5 . .

1
The D o ro th e us story is m ad e i n to a se p ar ate ch ap te r fo r the
con ve n i e n ce o f r e ade r s b ut the re is n o b e ak in the o igin al
,
r r .

Se e So z V I 2 9 fo r the same s to ry An o the r D o r o the a s I s

0

3 .
. .

me n tio n e d in cha p XXX .

50 THE LAUSI AC H IS T OR Y

W e ll as it h app e n e d I w e n t an d saw an asp at the

, ,

bottom o f the w e ll an d s topp e d d rawi n g wat e r an d we n t

,

a way an d said to him :

“
We are d e ad me n , fath e r fo r ,

I saw an asp in the w e ll But he s mil e d g rav e ly an d .

look e d at me fo r a tim e an d th e n shaki n g his h e a d ,

“
said : I f the d e vil d e cid e s to b e com e a s e rp e n t o r
to r tois e in e ve r y w e ll an d to fall i n to o ur wat e r supply -

,
”
will you re frai n from d ri n kin g fo r e v e r ? An d he w e n t
o ut an d d re w the wat e r him se l f an d was the fi rs t to ,
“
swallow s o me o f it fas ti n g sayin g : Wh e re the c ros s
, ,

1 ”
pass e s the e vil o f an ythi n g is powe rl e s s
, .

C H A P T ER I II
2
vi; PO TAM I rE N A

[1 ] T HIS bl e ss e d man I sido re who had me t A n to n y ,

o f bl e s s e d m e m o ry told me a sto r y which is wo r th ,

re co rdi n g which he had h e ard from An ton y Th e re

, .

live d in the tim e o f M aximian us the pe rs e cuto r a v e ry

b e autiful m aid e n c all e d Po tamiae n a a c e rtai n man s ,
’

sl av e He r m a st e r fail e d to s e duc e he r though he

.
,

b e sought he r e ag e rly with man y p romis e s [2 ] At l ast .

mad with r age he h an d e d he r ov e r to the th e n pre fe ct o f

Al e x an dria givin g he r up as a Ch ristia n an d o n e w ho
, g

abu s e d th e ti m e s
3
an d the Emp e r o r s b e caus e o f t he
p e rs e cutio n s an d s ugg e stin g this to him with the h e lp o f
,
“
mo n e y : I f she falls in with my d e sig n k e e p he r ,

without pu n i shm e n t But if she sho uld re m ai n pu ri

.

1
He had mad e the sign o f the c ro ss ove r his food an d d r in k ,

a cco rdi n g t o c us to m .

1
E use bi us d e scr ib e s the d e ath o f Po tam iae n a in the p e r se cutio n
o f Se v e rus 2 0 2—3 ( H E
, VI She co me s at th e e n d o f a li s t o f
. . .

m ar tyr s o f the s c hool o f O rig e n E vid e n tly bo th a cco un ts hav e the .

sa m e p e rs o n in V i e w an d P a ll adin s o r his a utho r i ty must hav e b e e n

,

m i stak e n as to the d at e .

th e st ate o f affa i rs gov e rn me n t

1 “ “ ”
r o b s x p b (i e
ar o s . . An ,

a l te r n ati v e r e ad in g T I S G b s is cl e ar ly a l ate r e me n d atro n

, O I eo ,
.
 DID YM US 51

tan ic al, he k e d that sh e might b e pu n i sh e d l e st c o n

as ,

ti n n in g to liv e she s ho uld mock at his lic e n tious way s .

[]
3 S h e w a s b r ought b e fo re the t r ibu n al an d the fo r t re ss

o f he r s o ul was att a ck e d by v ar ious i n st rum e n ts o f

tortu re Fo r o n e o f th e m the judg e had a g re at

.
,

cauld ro n fill e d with pitch an d o rd e re d it to b e h e at e d .

Wh e n the pitch w as n o w bubbli n g an d t e rr ibly hot he ,

“
gav e he r the choic e Eith e r go away a n d ob e y the
wi sh e s o f you r m ast e r o r k n ow that I shall o rd e r you to
,
”
b e plu n g e d i n to th e ca uld r o n
,
But she an sw e re d an d .

“
said : G o d forbid th at th e re should b e a n oth e r such
j udg e who o rd e r s o n e to submit to lic e n tiou sn e ss
,
.

[]4 S o in a fu ry h e o rd e re d he r to b e st ripp e d an d

th rown in to the c auld ron ; but she lift e d up he r voic e

.

“
an d s aid : By the h e ad o f you r Emp e ro r whom you
fe ar if you hav e d e cid e d to pu n i sh me thus o rd e r me to
, ,

b e le t down g radu ally i n to the cauld ro n that yo u may

kn ow what e n du ran c e the Ch rist Whom you k n ow n o t , ,

be stows o n me ”
A n d b e i n g le t down g radually du ri n g
.

a spac e o f o n e hou r she di e d wh e n the pitch re ach e d

he r n e ck .

C H A P T ER IV
1
D I DY M US

[]I V E R Y m an y in de e d wom e n who

o f the me n an d

r e ach e d p e rfe ctio n in the Chu rch o f Al e xan d ri a w e re

worthy ( to i n h e rit ) the l an d o f the m e e k ? Amo n g th e se
w as D idy m us the blin d a utho r I me t him fou r ti me s in .

all vi siti n g him at i n t e rval s du r i n g a p e riod o f t e n y e ar s

, .

He was 8 5 ye ars o ld wh e n he di e d He was bli n d .

,

1
A cco rdin g t o J e ro me ( d e vir illus t 1 09 ) D idy mus w a s an a ll
. .

r oun d s c hol ar o f g e a t abili ty

r A mo n g his book s w e re man y c o m
.

m e n ta ie s an d a tr e ati s e o n the H oly S pi ri t w hich J e r o me tran slate d

r

i n to Lati n Cf So e r I V 2 5 So z I I I 1 5 The o d H E I V 2 6
. . . .
, . .
, . . . . .

1
255 fis yfps é w wp éw The re fe re n c e is to M t v 5 y d
‘

101 r r a v. . ar
.
,

fr 37 6 ) fia o um ip:
‘

plat o p a e is : 01 7 0 n Anpo vo y r
fi r.
52 THE LAUSI AC H I ST O R Y

h avi n g lo st his sight at the age o f fou r so he told me , ,

1
an d he had n e v e r l e ar n e d to r e ad n o r go n e to school .

[2 ] ( This w as n o t n e c e ssary) fo r he had n ature s t e ach e r

’

— his o w n co n s ci e n c e st ro n gly d e v e lop e d He was -

.

a do rn e d with such a gi ft o f k n owl e dg e that so it w as , ,

sa id the pas sag e o f s c riptu re was fulfill e d in him

,
“
The
Lo rd m ake th the bli n d wis e 2 Fo r he i n t e rpre t e d the .
”

O ld an d N e w T e sta me n t wo r d by wo rd an d such att e n ,

tio n did he pay to doctri n e s e ttin g out his e x po sitio n o f ,

it subtly ye t su re ly th at he su rp ass e d all the a n ci e n ts in ,

k n owl e dge [3 ] O n c e wh e n he t ri e d to mak e me say a

.

pray e r in his c e ll an d I w as u n willi n g he told me this ,

sto ry : I n to this c e ll A n ton y e n t e re d fo r the thi rd tim e

o n a visit to me I b e s ought him to say a p ray e r an d b e
.

i n sta n tly k n e lt down in the c e ll an d did n o t make me

re p e a t m wo rd s givi n g m e by his actio n a l e sso n in
y ,

ob e die n c e So if yo u wan t to follow in the st e ps o f his

.

li fe as yo u s e e m to sin c e you are a s olitary an d livi n g

, ,

away from hom e to a cquire vir tu e lay asid e you r c o n ,

te n tio usn e ss A n d he told m e thi s also :

.
” “
A s I was
thi n ki n g o n e day abo ut the li fe o f the wre tch e d Emp e r or
J uli an ho w he w as a p e r s e cuto r an d w as fe e lin g d e j e ct e d
, ,

-
a n d by r e a so n o f my tho ught s I had n o t tast e d b re ad -

e v e n up to l a t e e v e n i n g— it happ e n e d that a s I sat in my

se a t I w a s ov e rcom e by sl e e p an d I saw in a t ran c e whit e

ho rse s ru n n i n g with rid e rs an d p rocla imi n g : T e ll D idy

m us to d ay at the s e v e n th hou r Juli an di e d
,
-
Ris e th e n .

an d e at th e y said a n d s e n d to Ath an asiu s the bishop

,
’
,
‘
,
“ ”
th at he too may k n o w A n d I mark e d he said the .
’
, ,

hou r an d mo n th an d w e e k an d d ay, an d it was fou n d to

” 3
be so .

1
He l e arn e d to re a d w ith his fi n g e rs fro m rai se d typ e ,
ac cordin g
to So z o me n .

1
Ps . cx lv ( c xlvi ) 8 LXX v e rs ion
. .
, .

3
So z .V I 2 al s o has th i s st o ry
. Se e . Th e o d I I I
. . 24 fo r a s i mil ar
st r oy .
 ALE XAN DR A 53

CH A P T E R V
'

g A L EX AN D RA
[]T H E told m e also o f a maid se rvan t n a m e d Al e x -

a n d ra who h a vi n g l e ft th e city a n d shut h e r se l f up in a

,

to mb re c e iv e d the n e c e ss ari e s o f li fe th rough an op e n in g

, ,

s e e i n g n e ith e r wom e n n o r me n fa c e to fa c e fo r te n
y e ars An d in the t e n th y e ar she fe ll a sl e e p h avi n g
.
,

1
array e d h e rse l f ( fo r d e ath ) : an d s o th e wom an w ho
_

w e n t as usual to e e e s h r a n d g o t n o an s w e r i o m d us
n f r e
2
.

So we b rok e dow n the door a n d e n t e ri n g in fou n d he r

fa ll e n a sl e e p []
2 Co n c e rn i n g he r al s o th e th r ic e bl e sse d
.
-

M e l an i a about whom I sh all sp e ak l at e r u se d to say :

3
, ,

“
I n e v e r saw he r fa c e to fac e b ut st an di n g by the ,

op e n in g I urge d he r to say the re a so n why sh e s hut he r

s e l f up in a tomb A n d she c all e d out to m e th ro ugh
-

the O pe n i n g A man was dist re sse d in mi n d b e cau se o f

‘

me an d l e st I sho uld se e m to afflict o r disp arag e him

, ,

I chos e to b e tak e my se l f aliv e in to the to mb r ath e r th an

caus e a s oul m ad e in the imag e o f God to stumbl e .
’

[3 ] Wh e n I sa id s h e co n ti n u e d ,
H ”
o w th e n do you ,
‘

e n du r e n e v e r m e e ti n g an y o n e but st ruggli n g with ,

a ccidi e ?
4
she re pli e d : Fr o m e arly mo m to the n i n th ‘

hou r I p ray hou r by hou r spi n n in g fl ax the whil e , .

1 '

o x nuar fa aw-a . Lucot ce t o the m o n as tic

se e s he r e a r e fe r e n

habi t La te r the re w e r e two h abi ts the Lit tl e an d G re at ,

o r An g e lic I t wo uld b e a pp r op ri ate fo r Al e x an d ra to a ssume t he

.

l atte r o n he r d e athb e d as is fr e que n tly do n e t o d ay o n M o un t

,
-

A tho s How e v e r the di sti n c tio n be tw e e n the tw o ha bi ts is n o t

.
,

fo und b e fo r e T he odo r e o f Studi um ( 8 th c e n tury ) un l e s s Jo hn the ,

Faste r s ( 6 th c e n t ) r e fe re n c e is to the same th i n g Se e C l a r k

’
. . e ,

S t B as il the G r e at pp 1 3 5 1 3 8 a n d N F Ro b in so n M o rz asticis m
.
, .
, . . ,

in the O rtho d o x Chur c he s p 5 2 , . .

2
P all adin s he re slips in to o r a tio re eta .

3
Se e X LV I an d LI V M e la n i a is a dop te d in thi s e di tio n a s
. .

the b e s t k n ow n fo r m b ut the re is good e vid e n c e fo r th e di mi n utiv e

-
,

M e la m u m ( c f E usto chium ) se e B utl e r I I 2 2 2 an d T urn e r

'

. . .

4
He re a l mo st bor e do m .
”
54 THE LAUSI AC HIS T O R Y

D u ri n g the re mai n i n g hou r s I m e ditat e o n the holy

pat ri ar ch s an d p r oph e t s an d a po stl e s an d m artyrs An d .

h avi n g e at e n my b re ad I re mai n in p ati e n c e fo r the

oth e r hou rs waiti n g fo r my e n d with ch e e rful hop e
, .
’

C H A P T ER v1

T HE RICH V I RG I N

[]
r B UT I must n o t omit fr om my s to r y tho se al s o

whos e life ha s b e e n ch aract e riz e d by p rid e th at I may ,

prais e thos e who hav e r e m ai n e d t ru e an d e n s ure th e

safe ty o f my re a d e rs Th e re w as a V irgin a t Al e xan d ria
.

o f humbl e e x t e r io r but haughty in w ar d d isp o s itio n e x

i

1
c e e d in gly w e althy but n e v e r givi n g
,
an obol e ith e r t o a

stran ge r o r a vi rgin o r a chu rch o r a poo r man I n spit e .

o f the fre qu e n t e x ho rt atio n s o f the fath e rs sh e w as n o t

w e an i n g h erse l f fr om m at e rial thin gs [2 ] N o w she had

.

re l atio n s livi n g o n e o f whom he r sist e r s d aughte r sh e

’ '

, , ,

a dopt e d an d n ight an d d a y she k e pt p r o m i s i n g th e gi rl

,

s hould hav e he r mo n e y h avi n g falle n a way fr om he r

,

a s piratio n s a ft e r h e av e n Fo r this is a fo rm o f the d e c e it

.

o f the d e vil who afflicts us with p an gs o f avar ic e u n d e r

,

the pre t e x t o f fa mily affe ctio n Fo r it is commo n k n ow

.

l e dg e that he c are s n othi n g about family ti e s si n c e h e ,

t e ach e s me n to mu rd e r b roth e r s an d moth e rs an d fa th e r s .

[3 ] But e v e n if h e s e e ms to i n spi i
r e an x e ty fo r re l a tio n s
,

he do e s n o t do so fr o m b e n e vol e n t fe e li n gs toward s th e m ,

but to p racti s e the soul in u n right e ous n e ss kn owin g the ,

d e c re e : The u n right e ous s hall n o t i n h e r it the kin gdom

“

N o w it is quit e possibl e fo r a man without

2 ”
o f God .

n e gl e cti n g his o w n soul to b e i n flu e n c e d by a godly c o n

sid e ration an d give as sistan c e to his ki n s folk if th e y are

in wan t . But wh e n a man subo rdi n at e s hi s whol e soul
1
The te xt is doub tful he re .
2
I Co r . vi .
9 .
 THE RI C H VIR GI N 55

to thei n t e re sts o f his r e l atio n s he com e s u n d e r thi s la w , ,

re cko n i n g his s oul u n to v an ity 1 [4] B ut the sac re d .

”

ps al mi st si n g s thu s co n c e rn i n g thos e who c are fo r the i r

s oul with fe ar Who sh all asc e n d i n to the hill o f the
:

Lo r d ? — me an i n g ( it is) rare ly ( an y o n e do e s)
”
or

who shall stan d U p in his holy pl ac e ? He th at has cl e an

h an d s an d is pu re in h e ar t who did n o t li ft up his s oul ,

u n to van ity 2 Fo r a s m an y as n e gl e ct the vir tu e s th e se

.
”
,

li ft up the soul u n to van ity b e li e vin g th at it is dis s olv e d ,

with the body .

[5 ] W i shi n g to bl e e d this vi rgi n so the sto r y go e s , ,

an d thu s re li e v e he r o f he r avaric e the mo s t holy ,

M ac arius the p r i e s t an d sup e r i n t e n d e n t o f the ho spit a l

3
,

fo r c rippl e s d e vis e s this e x p e di e n t

, I n his youth he had .

b e e n a wo rke r in p re cious sto n e s — wha t th e y call a

lapidary So he go e s an d say s to he r : So me p re cious
.

s to n e s e m e ralds an d sapphi re s
1
, hav e fall e n by fat e i n to ,
‘

my han ds an d I c an n o t say Wh e th e r th e y are t re asu re

,
a

trov e o r stol e n p rop e rty Th e y hav e n o t b e e n valu e d .

,

s i n c e th e y are b e yo n d p r ic e but a n y o n e w ho has the ,

mo n e y c an buy th e m fo r fi ve hu n dr e d pou n d s []6 I f .

o u d e cid e to t ak e th e m you c an ge t b ack you r fi ve

y ,

hun dre d pou n d s from o n e ston e an d use the re s t fo r the

ado r n m e n t o f you r n i e c e E x cit e d ( by his word s) the
.
”

“
vi rgi n is c aught by the bait an d falls at his fe e t By .

“
” ”
you r fe e t she says le t n o o n e e l se ge t th e m
, , Th e n .

“ ”
he i n vit e s he r Com e to my hous e an d look at th e m .

But she had n o t the pati e n c e ( fo r thi s) but fiin gs dow n ,

m ight ki g iously The

‘

1
O r, as we s ay, not ta n his so ul se r .

re n d e ri n g give n is n o t E n gli i d sh , b ut is r e ta n e in o r d e r t o k e e p the

r e fe re n c e t o the p sal m q uo t e d b e low .

S xx iii
2 P
.
3 4 .
, .

3
M e n tio n e d a l s o in Ca ssi an Co ll XI V 4 a s p re s idi n g ov e r the
, . .
,

gue st ho use at A l e xand ria n o t to b e id e n tifie d wi th the o the r

-

M a carii o f his book se e XV X V I I XV I I I XXI a n d a ca r e ful

, .
, .
, .

n o te ( n o 2 6 ) in Butl e r
. .

i
fa n t/004.
56 THE LAUSI AC H I ST OR Y
“
the five hu n d re d pou n d s b e fo r e him sayi n g ,
Y ou wan t '

th e m t ak e th e m Fo r I d o n o t wan t to se e the man

, .

[]
”
w ho s e lls th e m 7 . But h e t ak e s th e fi ve hu n d re d

poun ds an d give s th e m fo r the n e e ds o f the ho spital .

T i m e sp e d alon g an d she w as shy o f re mi n di n g him ( o f

the matt e r) fo r M acarius cl e ar ly ha d a g re at re put a tio n
,

in A l e x an d ri a b e in g a lov e r o f God an d ch ar it abl e — he

,

r e main e d vigo r ous u n til h e w as a hu n d r e d an d w e to o ,

pa ss e d som e tim e with him Fin ally h a vi n g fou n d him

.
,
“
in the chu rch she s ays to him :
,
I b e g you wh at d e ci ,

sion h ave yo u com e to about tho se sto n e s fo r which I

gav e the five hu n d re d pou n ds ? []
8 B ut h e an sw e re d

thus : “
The mom e n t yo u gav e me the mon e y I d e ,

po sit e d it fo r the pr ic e o f the sto n e s An d if you would .

lik e to com e an d s e e th e m in the ho spital— fo r th e re

th e y are — com e an d look if th e y pl e ase yo u I f n o t .
,
”
ta k e back you r mo n e y So she c am e v e ry willi n gly
.
,
.

N o w the hospital had wom e n o n th e fi rs t floo r a n d me n

o n the gr ou n d floo r An d h avi n g t ak e n he r th e re he
.

“
b rin gs he r i n to the po rch an d s ays to he r : Which do '

”
you wan t to se e fi rst the s apphi re s o r the e m e ralds ?
,

[9 ] He tak e s he r
“ ”
She says to him : As yo u pl e as e .

to the upp e r fl oo r an d shows he r the wom e n di sabl e d in

h an d o r fe e t with th e ir disfigure d fac e s an d says to he r :
”
Be hold you r sapphi re s ! Th e n he tak e s he r down
“
agai n an d s ays to he r showin g he r the me n : B e hold
,

you r e me ralds ! D o th e y pl e a s e yo u ? I f n o t tak e b ack ,

SO she tu rn e d an d w e n t o ut an d re tu rn
”
you r mo n e y .
.

in g ho m e fe ll ill from e x c e ss o f g ri e f b e c aus e she had ,

n o t do n e this thi n g in a godly fashio n A ft e r wa rds she .

th an k e d the p ri e st wh e n the m a id fo r whom she was

,

pl an n i n g di e d childl e ss aft e r m arri ag e 1 .

1
Wun d e re rz rz hlun ge n p 7 7 d e rive s
Re i tze n ste in , He lle n istisc he
’ '

, .
,

the a bov e st o ry fr o m th e s e con d e pi s od e o f the A c ts o f T h o ma s in ,

whi ch the apo stl e re c e i ves m o n e y fro m the ki n g wi th w hich to b uild

58 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

which st an d th re e p al m tre e s e ach with a whip sus

1 -

pe n d e d fro m it O n e is i n t e n d e d fo r the s olit ari e s who

.

t ran sg re ss o n e fo r robb e rs if an y pa ss that way an d o n e

, ,

fo r chan c e com e rs ; so th a t all who t ran sg re ss a n d ar e

j udge d wo rthy o f blows are ti e d to the pal m t re e an d -

r e c e iv e o n the b ack the a ppoi n t e d

(n u mb e r o f st rip e s)
an d a re th e n re l e a s e d
[]
4 N e x t to t h e chu r ch is a
.
l/

g ue st hous e wh e re th e y r e c e iv e the st ran ge r who has

-
,

arr iv e d u n til he go e s a w a y o f his o w n acco rd witho ut

, ,

li mit o f ti m e e v e n if he re mai n s tw o o r th re e y e ars

,
.

H avi n g allow e d him to sp e n d o n e w e e k in idl e n e s s the ,

r e s t o f his st ay th e y occupy with wo rk e ith e r in the

gard e n o r bak e ry o r kitch e n
, I f he should b e an
,
. it

i mpo rtan t p e rs o n th e y giv e him a book n o t allowin g

, ,

him to t alk to an y o n e b e fo re the hou r 2

I n this mou n .

t ain th e re also liv e doctor s an d co n fe ctio n e r s An d th e y .

use wi n e an d wi n e is o n sal e []
5 All th e s e m e n wo rk .

with th e i r han ds at l in e n m an u factu re so that all are -

s e l f s uppo rti n g An d i n d e e d at th e n i n th hou r it is

-
.

po s sibl e to stan d an d he ar how the stra in s o f p salmody

r is e fr om e a ch h abitatio n so that o n e b e li e v e s that o n e

is high abov e the wo rld in Pa radis e 3

T h e y occupy the .

4
church o n ly o n Satu rd y an d Su n d ay Th e re are e ight
a .

p rie st s who s e rve the chu rch in which so lo n g as the , ,

s e n io r p ri e st liv e s n o o n e e ls e c e l e brat e s o r p r e ach e s

, , ,

5
or giv e s d e cisio n s but th e y all j u s t sit quie tly by his
,

sid e .

1
Lit “
inwhich
. The church may ha ve b e e n buil t ro un d the
.

tre e s i n stan ce s o f th is a re n o t un k n ow n .

2
A re a di n g r e j e c te d by B utl e r d e fin e s thi s a s the s i xth ho ur
, , .

3
The O ffi c e w as r e ci te d se p ar ate ly I n e ach se ttl e me n t o f mo n k s .

Pa ll a din s ha s sa id a bove tha t the se ttl e me n t m igh t co n si st o f o n e

m o n k tw o m o n k s o r a n umb e r
, , .

4
Fo r the obse r van ce o f Sat ur d ay se e D uche sn e C hristi a n ,

Wo rship pp 2 30 f ,
. .

5
amd g a pp a re n tly
e r, he ar co n fe ss ion s “
I s thi s a s ur vi val o f .

so me p ri mi tive p rac t ic e ? ( Butl e r I I

u

.
 AM O U N O F N I TRI A 59

[6 ] oth e r o ld me n w ith him

Thi s A rsisius an d m an y
whom w e saw we re co n t e mpo rari e s o f the bl e s se d An to n y .

Som e amo n g th e m th e y told m e had a l s o k n own , ,

A moun o f N itria whos e soul An to n y saw b e in g tak e n

1
,

up an d co n duct e d to h e av e n hy an g e ls A rsisius us e d .

to say tha t he als o k n e w P achomiu s o f Tab e n n isi a

51
,

p roph e t an d archim an d rit e 3 ov e r 3 0 0 0 me n o f whom I ,

s hall spe ak l at e r .

C H A PTER V I I I
AMO UN OF N I TR I A

e d to say th at A m ou n liv e d in this

[] (A RSI S I U S)
us
‘

wi se Wh e n he w as a youn g man o f about twe n ty tw o

.
-

he was co n st rai n e d by his u n cl e to m arry a wi fe — he

( hi m s e l f) w as an o r ph an B e i n g u n abl e to re si s t the .

5
p re ssur e o f his u n cl e he thought it b e st to b e c r own e d ,

an d t ak e his se at in the n uptial chamb e r an d u n d e rgo

all th e m arr i ag e r it e s Wh e n all (the gu e st s) we re gon e .

Se e n e x t c hap t e r Fo r mod e rn p a rall e l s t o A n t o n y s vi sio n o f

’
1 . .

G ur n e y P han tas ms of the Livin g

, .

3
Se e C h XXX I I .
3
I e sup e r io r
. . . .

N o t to b e co n fuse d wi th A m mo n ius o n e o f the fo ur T a ll ,

B re thre n w ho is me n tio d in Ch XI Fo r thi s A mo un c f A tha

,
ne . . .

mas i n s Vit A n t 6 0 Hist M o n XX I X

,
. . So c r I V 2 3 So z
, . . .
, . .
, .

I . I4 .

5 cr ow n at w e ddi n gs se e Can t iii 1 1 I sa l x i I O E ze k

Fo r the . .
, . .
, .

x vi 1 2 Te rtulli an obj e c ts to i t as a he athe n pra ctic e d e Co r I 3

. .
, . .

C r ow n i n g fo r ms an i mpo r tan t fe a ture o f th e m arr i ag e c e re mo n i a l in

the E aste r n C hur ch to d ay Cf Bliss The Re ligio n s of M o d e r n -
. .
,

Syr ia a n d P a le stin e p 1 4 8 : Th e p r i e st the n tak e s a w re ath o f

, .
“

flow e rs c all e d the c ro wn an d t ouche s the man s he ad sayi n g the

,
‘
,
’ ’

wo rd s : The se rvan t o f G o d M is c r own e d fo r the se r van t o f

‘
, .
,

G o d N in the n ame e tc
, T he n t ouchi n g the wo man s he a d wi th
, .
’ ’

th e sa me c ro w n he say s the wo r d s a se co n d ti me ; fi n ally the

, ,

c row n is pl ac e d o n the man s h e ad whil e the fo rmul a is said fo r the ’

th i rd tim e T he n follows the c row n in g o f th e wo man fo r the man

.
’

in a p r e cise ly s i mil ar w a y T he n the p rie st str e tc hi n g o ut his .

,

c r osse d ar ms tow ards the he ad s o f the pa ir a n n o un c e s the bl e ss i n g ,

o f the c r o w n s thr e e ti me s : M ay the Lo rd o ur G o d crow n the m

w i th glo ry an d h o n our
’
.
60 THE LAUSI AC HI ST OR Y

out aft e r se ttlin g 1 the p ai r to sl e e p o n the couch in the

,

brid al ch amb e r Amou n ge t s up an d lock s the doo r th e n

, ,

he sit s down an d call s his bl e s s e d co mpan io n to him an d

“
sa y s to h e r :
[]2 Com e h e re l a dy an d th en ,
I w ill ,

e x pl a i n th e m a tt e r to yo u The marr iag e which w e h ave

.

co n t ract e d has n o sp e cial vi rtu e Le t us th e n do we ll .

by sl e e pin g in fut ure e ach o f us s e par at e ly th at we may ,

”
pl e ase G o d by k e e pin g o ur virgi n ity in tact An d d ra w .

in g fro m his bo som a littl e book h e r e a d to the gi rl who , .

,

2
could n o t re ad at all in th e wo rd s o f th e a po stl e a n d
,

th e Sa vio ur an d to m o s t o f wh a t h e re ad h e add e d all

,

th a t w a s in his min d an d e xpla in e d the p rin ci pl e s o f

vi rgin ity an d ch astity ; so th a t co n vi n c e d by the g ra c e
o o a m co n vi n c e d my lo rd
“
O f God she sa id :
[]
3 I t -
, .

A n d wh a t fu r th e r co mm an ds hav e yo u n o w ? I co m
“
m an d he s aid th a t e ach o f us live s a lon e in futu re
,
”
,
.
”

“
But She could n o t e n du re thi s s ayi n g : Le t us dwe ll ,

in the s am e hous e but in di ffe re n t b e d s

, So he liv e d .
l

in the sam e hou se with he r e ight e e n ye ar s D u ri n g e a ch .

d ay he occupi e d hims e l f with his g ard e n an d bal sa m

g rov e — fo r he pr e p are d bal sam B alsam g rows lik e a .

vi n e re quiri n g cultivati o n and prun in g an d much hard

,

wo rk Th e n in the e v e n i n g h e would e n t e r the hou se

.

an d o ffe r p ray e r s an d e at with his wi fe 3 an d th e n havi n g

s aid the n ight pra y e r s would go o ut [4 ] Such w as .

th e i r p ractic e an d both havin g att ai n e d impas sivity the

, ,

pray e r s o f Am ou n p re vail e d an d she s ays to him at l ast

,

I h av e som e thi n g to say to yo u my lo rd ; that if yo u , ,

h e ark e n to me I may b e co n vin c e d th a t yo u lov e me

,

in a godly way He s ays to he r

.
” “
Say what you wish .
”

“
She s ay s to him I t is just th a t w e should liv e a part
you b e i n g a man an d practisin g right e ou sn e ss an d I al s o ,

1
R e adi n g B utl e r give s thi s in the te xt , b ut in his
suppl e me n tary n o te p re fe rs n o p fia a y s r r e
'
.

fr o m th e pe rso n o f
2 ”
SK po d é wo n v
, .
 OR 61

g ly followin g the s am e way a s yo u Fo r it is a b surd

ea er .

that you should liv e with me in ch astity an d ye t co n c e al

[5 ] But he than kin g
”
such vi r tu e as this o f you r s .
,
“
God says to he r : Th e n you k e e p this hou se ; but I
,

will mak e my se l f an oth er hous e A n d he w e n t o ut an d .

se ttl e d in the i n n e r p ar t o f the mou n t o f N itria— fo r th e re

we re n o mon as t e ri e s th e re ye t— an d h e ma d e hi mse l f
tw o r ou n d c ell s 1 An d h avi n g liv e d tw e n ty two y e ars
.
-

m o re in the d e se r t h e di e d o r rat he r fe ll a sl e e p He , .

u se d to se e th at bl e sse d lady his wi fe twic e e ach ye ar .

The bl e ss e d Ath an a siu s the bi s hop in his li fe o f

An to n y told a marve llous s to ry abo ut thi s man ho w 2
,

th at he c a m e to the ba n k o f the riv e r Lycus with his

di scipl e Th e odorus an d sh ri n ki n g from r e movin g his
,

cloth e s l e st he should se e him n ak e d he w as fou n d o n ,

th e oth e r s id e havi n g b e e n carri e d ac ross by an g e l s

,

without u s in g the fe rr y Such th e n w as the li fe o f the .

bl e ss e d A mou n an d such his p e rfe ctio n th a t the bl e s se d

A n ton y saw his soul carri e d to h e av e n by a n ge ls I .

cro sse d thi s r iv e r on c e in a fe rry but with fe ar fo r it is ,

a c an al l e adi n g fr om th e gr e at Nil e .

CHAPTER IX

OR

[I ] this moun tai n o f N itria th e re was an asc e tic

IN
“

n am e d O r to who se g re at vir t ue the whol e b roth e r hood

,

bore wit n e ss an d e sp e cia lly M e lan ia th at woman o f

“
,
3
,

God who ca me to the mou n tain b e for e me

, Fo r my .

part I n e ve r saw him alive An d th e y u se d to say thi s

, .

1
860 Oék o us f
n e AA w v. The d os w a s a r un o de d an d vaul te d
c h a mb e r . Cf . th e b e e h -
ive c e ll s o f the Ce l tic m o n k s .

2
Vit A n t 6 0
. . .

i; Zir Opw rrp s 7 06 06 0 0,

- “
fe mal e man Of G o d . Fo r M e l a n i a se e
Ch . X LV I .
62 T H E LAUSI AC H I STORY

o f
him I n th e i r sto ri e s th at he n e v e r li e d n o r swo re
, , ,
nor

a bus e d an y o n e n o r spok e without n e c e ss ity

, .

C H A PTE R X
P AM BO W
[] I To thi s mou n tai n
l o b e lo n g e d th e bl e ss e d a s

P ambo t e ach e r o f D io sc o rus th e bi shop an d Am mo n ius

,
“
a d Eus e bius an d E uth m ius
1
t e ( Tall ) B e th e
”
n
y h r r n , ,

also o f O rige n the n e ph e w o f Drac o n tius a won d e rful ,

man Thi s P a mbo po ss e s se d h e r oic vir tu e s an d gre at

.

qu aliti e s o n e o f which wa s this : he was v e ry su spiciou s

,

o f gold an d s ilv e r as Sc r iptu r e d e m an ds , []

2 F o r the .

bl e sse d M e l an i a told me thi s s to ry : I n e arly d ay s ,

wh e n I c a m e to Al e x an d ri a from Rom e I h e ard o f his ,

vi rtu e an d the bl e sse d I sido re 2 h avi n g told me o f him

-

an d h avi n g co n duct e d me to him in th e d e se r t— I b r ought

him a ca sk e t o f silv e r co n t a i n in g silv e r to the w e ight o f

th r e e hu n d re d pou n d s an d b e sought him to t ak e a par t
o f my good s But he sittin g still an d w e avin g p alm
.

l e av e s m e re ly bl e ss e d me in a s e n t e n c e an d said : M ay
God giv e you you r re ward [] n d h e said to his
’
3 A .

s t e ward O r ig e n : T ak e it an d di str ibut e it to all the

‘

b re th re n who l i ve I n Libya an d the i sl an d s fo r th e se ,

mo n a st e ri e s are poo re r ( than the r e st ) i n s tructi n g him ’

to give to n o n e o f tho se in Egypt b e c au se th e i r cou n try ,

w a s mo r e fe rtil e But I she said re mai n e d stan di n g

“
.
,
”
, ,

e x p e ctin g to b e ho n ou re d o r glo r ifi e d by him b e c au se o f

my gi ft but h e ari n g n othi n g from him I said to him

,

That you may k n ow Sir, ho w much th e re is it amou n t s , ,

[]
’
to th re e hu n d re d pou n ds 4 But h e without e v e n .

1
Se e So z . VI I I . fo r the i r h i sto ry
12 .

2 “
D oub tl e ss th e bi sh op o f He r mopoli s me n tio n e d in X L V I
”
.

( Luco t) . B utl e r ,
I I 1 8 5 , fi n d s it i mpo ss ibl e t o d e cid e w ho th i s
.

I sido re is .
 RAM BO 63

r ai sin g his h e ad an swe re d m e : The O n e to Whom yo u

b rought th e m my child has n o n e e d o f we ights Fo r
, , .

He Who we igh s the mo un tai n s m uch more do e s He ,

k n ow the w e ight o f the s ilv e r I f you had giv e n it to .

me yo u would hav e do n e we ll to t e ll me ; b ut if it was

,

to God Who did o t sco rn the tw o O bol s th e n b e

,
n 1
,

sil e n t
.
’
So said she “
did the Lo r d man i fe st His
,
fi
,

powe r wh e n I c amé to th e mou n t ain [5 ] A fte r a .

littl e whil e the man o f God fe ll asl e e p n o t fr om an ,

att ack o f fe v e r n o r fr o m an y ill n e ss but whil e he w as

, ,

stitchin g up a b a sk e t at the age o f s e v e n ty He had , .

s e n t fo r me an d — the last s titch b e i n g re ady to b e c o m

l e te d — he sa id to m e wh e n a bout to d ie : R e c e ive the
p
ba sk e t at my han d s to re me mb e r me by fo r I h av e ,
’
n othi n g e l se to l e av e you H avi n g pre pare d the body .

fo r bu rial an d wr app e d it in li n e n cloths she bu ri e d him ,

an d th e n re tu rn e d fr om the d e s e r t k e e pi n g the bask e t ,

with he r till he r d e ath .

[6] Thi s Pambo o n his d e ath b e d at the v e ry mom e n t -

o f his p a s si n g is re por t e d to hav e said thi s to the

,

byst an d e r s O rig e n the pri e st an d st e ward an d A rn

,

mo n ius — fa mou s me n both o f th e m— an d the re st o f ,

“
th e b re th re n : Fr om the d ay that I c a m e to this pl ac e
in the d e se r t an d built my c e ll an d i n h abit e d it I c an n ot ,

2
re m e mb e r havi n g e at e n b re ad fo r n ought ’
n o t e a rn e d
‘
,

by my han d s I h av e n o t ha d to re p e n t o f an y wo rd
.

th at I hav e spok e n up to the pre s e n t hou r An d so I .

go to God as o n e who has n o t e ve n b e gu n to b e pious

, .

P romi n e n t me n O rig e n an d Ammo n ius t e stifi e d

'
, , ,

fu r th e r to us sayin g : Wh e n he was ask e d about a wo rd

‘

o f Sc riptu re o r oth e r p ractical matt e r n e v e r did he an sw e r

at o n c e but would say : I h av e n o t ye t fou n d ( the

,
‘

O fte n he w e n t th re e mon ths e v e n an d gav e

no an sw e r sayin g he had n o t put his h an d o n it
, .

M k xi1 4 2 Lk xx i 2 2 T he ss iii 8
1 2
. . . . . .
, .
64 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

Acco rdi n gly me n r e c e iv e d his an sw e rs a s com e fro m

God s o c are fully w e r e th e y fra m e d as God would
, ,

a pp r ov e th e m Fo r this o n e vi rtu e he w as said to

.

po sse ss e v e n abov e the g re at A n to n y an d abov e all

oth e r s n a me ly e xact n e s s o f la n guage
, .
”

[8 ] The followin g i n cid e n t is told o f P a mbo Pio r

1
.

the asc e tic cam e to s e e him b r i n gi n g his o wn b re a d , ,

an d b e in g accu se d by P ambo “
Why h av e yo u don e ,
”
thi s ? an swe re d : L e st I should bu rd e n you P ambo .

g av e him a sile n t l e sso n e x pre ssly Fo r aft e r a whil e h e .

w e n t to s e e Pio r an d took with him his b re ad havi n g ,

“
fi rst moi st e n e d it a n d wh e n a sk e d why he said : I
,

moi ste n e d it as w e ll l e st I sho uld b urd e n you , .

CHAPTE R XI
AM M O N I US

I S A mmo n ius P a mbo s discipl e with his th re e

[]
’
I T H , ,

2
b roth e rs an d tw o si s t e r s h avi n g re ach e d the p e rfe ctio n
“

o f th e lov e o f G o d m ad e th e i r hom e in the d e se rt the

, ,

wom e n livi n g s e p arat e ly by th e m se lve s an d the m e n ,

by th e m s e lv e s so as to have a s uffici e n t di st an c e b e twe e n

, -

th e m B ut s i n c e Ammo n ius was e x c e e di n gly l e a rn e d

.
-

an d a c e rta i n city cov e t e d him fo r its bi shop a d e puta ,

tio n wa it e d o n the bl e ss e d Timothy b e s e e chi n g him to

3
,

o rd ai n him as th e ir bi shop [2 ] A n d h e said to th e m .

“
B rin g him to me an d I will ord ai n him Wh e n .

th e re fo re th e y ha d go n e with a fo rc e an d he saw tha t

he was caught he b e sought th e m a n d s wo re th at he
,

would n o t acc e pt o rdin ation n o r d e pa rt fr om the d e s e rt , .

1
Se e Ch XXX I X
. .

2
His th e e b ro the rs an d
r The se wo rd s ar e om i tte d .
”
in s o me
M SS p r ob bly owi n g to an ti O r ig e n i s tic fe e li n g
.
, a -
.

3
Bi shop o f A l e xan d i a 3 8 1 —5 Se e So e r I V 2 3 fo r
r , . . . an o the r
ve r sio n o f th e sto ry Cf So z V I 3 0
. . . . .
66 T HE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

C HAPTER XI I
BEN J A M I N 1

ri a th e re w as a m an c all e d
[]
I IN thi s mou n t ai n
Nit o f
B e n j ami n who a t the age o f e ighty y e ar s h avi n g re ach e d
th e p e rfe ctio n o f as c e tici sm w a s cou n t e d wo r thy o f the

gi ft o f h e alin g so th at e v e r y o n e o n who m he l aid his

,

h an ds o r to who m he gav e o il aft e r bl e s si n g it w a s cu re d

o f v
e e r y a il m e n t 2
N o w thi s m an who w a s a cco un t e d
.

wo rthy o f such a gi ft e ight mo n th s b e fo re his d e ath ,

d e v e lop e d d rop sy an d his body sw e ll e d so g re atly th at

,

h e se e me d a s e co n d J o b So D io s c o rus th e Bi s hop a t
3
.
,

th at tim e a p ri e st O f M ou n t Nit ri a took us— the bl e ss e d ,

E g v a r iu s
1
th
,
‘
a t is a n d m e — an d sa id to us
, [2 ] C o me ,

se e a n e w J o b w ho with s o g re a t s w e lli n g o f bo d y a n d
,

i n c ura bl e s uffe r i n g ye t main tai n s an u n bo un d e d th an k

”

ful n e ss So w e w e n t an d sa w his body so g re atly

”
.

’
s woll e n th at an oth e r m an s fi n g e rs co uld n o t ge t r o u n d

o n e fi n g e r o f his h a n d We tu rn e d o ur e y e s away b e i n g
.
,

un a bl e to look owi n g t o th e t e rr ibl e n a tu r e o f the

.

a fflictio n . Th e n th a t bl e sse d B e n j a mi n said to us :

“
Pra y child re n th a t m y i n n e r man may n o t b e co me
, ,

d rop s ic al Fo r my out e r man n e ith e r b e n e fit e d me

.

wh e n it w as w e ll n o r h ar me d m e wh e n it w a s ill
, .
”

D r i n g th e se e ight mo n th s a se a t w a s arr an g e d fo r
[3 ] u

him v e r y wid e in which h e sa t co n ti n ually b e i n g n o

, , ,

lo n g e r a bl e to lie dow n owi n g to the oth e r re q ui re me n t s

o f h is body But w hil e h e w as in thi s s ta t e o f a fflictio n
.

h e h e a l e d oth e r s I h av e fe lt bou n d to d e sc r ib e thi s

.

a ffl ictio n l e s t w e should b e su rp ri se d wh e n so me un
,

towar d fa t e b e fall s right e ou s m e n Wh e n h e di e d the .

,

1
C f So z V I 2 9
. . . .

2
Fo r h oly o il c f XV I I I . . 1 1 , 22 .

3
Se e X 1 . .

1
Se e C h XXXV I I I . .
 APOLLON I U S 67

li n t e l s an d doo r post s we re re m ov e d th a t his body might

-

1
b e ca ie d o u
rr t O f th e hou se so g e at w as t e s we lli g
r h n , .

C HAPTER XI I I
A P O LL ON I U S
I ] A M AN n a m e d Apollo n i us a m e r cha n t who had
[ , ,

re n o un c e d th e wo rld an d co m e to liv e o n M o un t N itria ,

b e i n g u n abl e owin g to a dvan c e d y e ar s e ith e r to l e arn a

2
c raft o r wo rk as a s c rib e had thi s occup atio n du ri n g ,

his tw e n ty y e ar s li fe o n the mou n t ai n F r om his p rivat e

’
.

m o n e y an d fro m ( the p roduc e o f) his o wn l abou rs he

bought in Al e xan d ria all ki n d s o f d rug s a n d thin g s
n e e d e d fo r th e c e ll s an d p r ovid e d all th e b r oth e rhood
,

with t he m in th e i r ill n e s se s []
2 A n d o n e might se e .

him fro m e arly mo rn u n til the n i n th hou r goi n g the

r o un d o f th e mo n ast e ri e s an d e n t e r i n g in a t e a ch doo r

in c as e th e re should b e an y o n e ill in b e d ta ki n g with ,

him d ri e d grap e s po m e g ran at e s e gg s an d b re ad m ad e

, , ,

o f fi n e flo ur th e thi n g s which s uch p e opl e n e e d

,
Thi s .

pl an he had d e vi se d fo r a p rofit abl e li fe in his o ld age .

Wh e n he di e d he l e ft his s to re s to o n e lik e m i n d e d with -

hi ms e l f e xhor ti n g him to c arr y o n this m i n i st ration

,
.

Fo r with so o o m o n k s i n h abiti n g the m oun t ai n th e re w as

n e e d o f thi s vi siti n g s i n c e th e pl a c e w as d e se r t
, .

CHAPTER XIV
P A E SI U S AN D ISAIA S

r oth e r s c all e d Pae sius a n d

[]
I T HE R E w e re tw o b
I sai as s o n s o f a Sp an i sh me rch a n t O n th e i r fath e r s
3 ’
.
,

d e ath the y divid e d the re al p r op e rty which th e y go t ,

1
P a pias in his fo u th book told a s i m il r story o f J ud a s I s cario t
r a .

Se e Lightfoo t Harm e r The A p o sto lic Fa the r s p 5 2 3

-
,
-
, . .

2
lim /j a w yp amfir
e W r itin g w as a l r e ady r e cogn ize d a s a n
a .

a sce tl c e x e r c 1se .

3
Ea OB
PJ/a o s , i . e . he took h is good s to Sp ai n .
68 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

a sl o the p e rs o n a l p r op e rty co n sisti n g o f 5 0 0 0 pi e c e s o f

m o n e y an d cloth e s an d sl av e s Th e y co n sid e re d with
.

“
e a ch oth e r a n d took cou n s e l tog e th e r sayi n g : Wh at
mod e O f li fe sh all w e a dopt b r oth e r ? I f we a dopt the
,

m e rch an t c are e r which o ur fath e r followe d th e n we ,

sh all h av e to d ie a n d l e ave o ur l abour s to oth e r s .

[]2 P e rh a p s w e m ay e v e n s uccu m b to d an g e rs fr om

r obb e r s o r o n the se a C o m e th e n le t us e mb ra c e the

.
, ,

mo n a stic li fe th a t w e may m ak e a p rofit a bl e use o f o ur

,

fa th e r s r ich e s an d n o t lo se o ur o w n s o ul s
’
So the .
”

id e al o f the mo n astic li fe pl e a s e d th e m But th e y fo un d .

th e mse lv e s a t v ari an c e di ffe ri n g fr o m e a ch oth e r in

,
1

th e i r vie w s . Fo r h avi n g divid e d the p rop e r ty th e y ,

a ppli e d th e m s e lv e s e ach to his p urpos e o f pl e a si n g G o d ,

b u t by di ffe re n t t actic s [3 ] Fo r. th e one b e stowe d

e v e rythi n g o n the mo n as t e r i e s a n d chu rch e s a n d p r i s o n s ,

an d hav in g l e arn e d a t ra d e by which to e arn his b re ad

appli e d hi m se l f to asc e tici s m a n d p ra y e r But the oth e r .

part e d with n othi n g but m aki n g him se l f a mo n aste ry

,

an d ge tti n g tog e th e r a fe w b re th re n w e lco me d e ve r y

stran g e r e v e ry in va lid e v e r y o ld man e ve ry poor man
, , , ,

p re pari n g th re e o r fou r t abl e s e v e ry Su n day a n d Satu rday .

I n thi s w ay he Sp e n t his m o n e y .

[] Wh e n th e tw o w e r e d e ad v ariou s e ulo gi e s w e r e
‘

4 ,

p ro n o un c e d ov e r th e m as if both ha d re ach e d p e r
,

fe c tio n . An d s o m e p r e fe rre d P a e sius oth e rs I sai a s , .

But a con t e n tio n havi n g a ris e n in the b roth e rhood ov e r '

th e i r p rai s e s th e y w e n t to the bl e s se d Pambo an d re

,

fe rre d the d e ci sio n to him implo rin g that th e y might

,

l e arn w hich w a s the b e tt e r m e thod But he said to .

“
th e m : Both are p e rfe ct ; fo r o n e showe d the works
2
[5 ] An d
”
o f an Ab rah a m the oth e r thos e o f an Elijah
, .

1
R e a di n g R ttAo
d ?
!
wi th T urn e r .

he Sy r i a c v e rsion ( B udg e ) give s the se n se a cc ura te ly :

2 T “
On e
man ma d e man ife s t the wo rk s o f A b raha m by his ho spi t li ty an d a ,

the o the r the se l f d e n i a l o f E lij ah

-
”
.
 MACARI US THE YO U NGER 69

“
wh e n o n e party said : By you r fe e t ( w e ask) ho w c an ,
”
th e y po ssibly b e e qu al ? a n d p re fe rr e d the asc e tic an d
sa id :
“
He e r p fo r me d an Ev an g e lic a l wo r k 1
se lli n g all

an d givi n g to th e poo r an d e v e r y hou r both by d ay an d ,

n ight b e ari n g the c r oss a n d followi n g the Saviou r an d

his p ray e rs
”
But the oth e r sid e co n t e n d e d with th e m
.

O ur man show e d such g re at m e rcy to the

“
an d said :

n e e dy th a t h e e v e n sat in th e r o ad s an d coll e ct e d the

a fflict e d An d n o t o n ly did he re fre sh his o w n s o ul b ut

.

the souls o f m an y oth e rs t re ati n g th e i r di se a se s an d ,

s se d P a m bo s aid to th e m :
h e lpi n g th e m [] Th bl ”
6 e n e .

O n c e agai n I t e ll yo u th e y ar e both e qual I assure ,

.

e a ch o f yo u that th e o n e u n l e s s he had b e e n so g re a t ,

an a sc e tic w as n o t wo rthy to b e co m p are d with the

,

b e n e vol e n c e o f the oth e r whil e the s e co n d ag ai n re , ,

fr e shi n g the s tran g e r w as hims e l f re fre sh e d an d though

, ,

he se e m e d to c arry the bu rd e n o f toil ye t ha d the ,

re fre shi n g th a t follows it But wait u n til I r e c e ive a .

re v e latio n fr om God an d a ft e r th at co me an d yo u sh all

,
”
l e arn . So th e y c am e aga i n a fe w d ays aft e r an d h e said
“
to th e m : I saw both s t an di n g in Paradis e as it w e re ,

in the p re se n c e o f God .
”

C H A PTER XV
M ACA RI U S T HE Y O UN G E R 2

'

e d M a c arius
[] I A YOUT Hm wh e na
n h e w a s a bo ut ,

e ight e e n y e ar s old a s h e pl ay e d with h is com ra d e s by

,

h
t e lak e c a ll e d M a r i a
3
b e i n g in cha rg e o f a n i mal s
, ,

un witti n gly co mmitt e d a m u r d e r A n d sa yi n g n ot hi n g .

abo ut it to an y o n e h e took to the d e s e r t an d b e c a m e so

1
Luke x viii 2 2 ; c f i x 2 3 x iv 27
. . .
,
. .

2
N o thi n g e l se is k n ow n a bout h im tho ugh So z V I 2 9 se e ms , . . to
co fuse him wi th M ac arius o f A l e x an d ria se e C h XV I I I
n . .

3
Se e Ch V I I . .
70 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

a fra id both o f G o d an d man th at he lo st all fe e li n g an d

r e m ai n e d th re e y e ars in the d e se r t without a r oo f to his

h e ad The l a n d in th e se part s is rain l e s s an d all me n

.
,

kn ow thi s s o m e fr om h e ar say oth e rs fro m p e rs on a l

, ,

e x p e ri e n c e
[2 ] Thi s man aft e rward s built hi mse l f a
.

c e ll A n d h avi n g liv e d a furth e r twe n ty fi ve y e ars in

.
-

th a t c e ll he w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f the gi ft o f blowi n g

‘

a w ay d e m o n s ,
1
all his pl e asu r e he foun d in s olitud e .

H avi n g sp e n t a lo n g w hil e with him I in q uire d ho w he

'

fe lt o n the subj e ct O f his s in o f murd e r He d e cl are d .

th at s o far from g ri e vi n g he actually g av e th an ks fo r the

mu r d e r si n c e the murd e r un witti n gly com mitt e d p rov e d
,

th e occ as io n o f his salva tio n [3 ] A n d b r i n gi n g t e sti

.
,

m o n y fr om the S c riptu re s he u s e d to say that M o se s ,

would n o t have b e e n a ccou n t e d wor thy o f the divi n e

vi sio n an d so gr e at a gift an d th e writi n g o f th e holy
wo rd s u n l e s s he ha d fle d to M ou n t Si n a i in fe ar o f
,

Ph araoh owi n g to the murd e r which he had com mitt e d

in Egypt I say thi s n o t to l e a d an y o n e to commit
.
,

m u r d e r but to show th at th e re are vi rtu e s d ue to ci rcum

,

s t an c e s wh e n a man do e s n o t com e to the good o f his

,

o w n a cco r d Fo r s o m e vi rtue s a re cho se n volu n t ar ily

.
,

oth e r s are d ue to ci rcumstan c e s .

C HAPTE R XV I
NAT H ANA EL
[] I T HE R E w a s a n oth e r o f the o ld ( mo n ks
) c all e d

N ath an ae l I did n o t vi s it him du ri n g his li fe ti m e

.
,

sin c e he had fall e n a sl e e p fi ft e e n y e ars b e fo re my

arr ival But wh e n I me t the m e n w ho liv e d with him
.

1
C f Sulp itius Se ve r us D ial I I I 8 wh e re St M a tin blow s
.
, . .
,
. r

a w ay a d e m o n th t is s i tti n g b e h i n d the b a ck o f A vitian us

a Ex .

sa y s th e a uth o r a pologizi n g fo r th e use o f a wo r d w hic h

”
suflla n s , ,

is hardly L at i n .
 NATHANAEL 71

an d s h ar e d his li fe o f asc e tici sm I ma d e a poi n t o f in ,

ui r i n g a bout the vi rtu e s o f thi s man Th e y show e d

q .

me his c e ll wh e re i n n o o n e dw e lt a n y lo n g e r b e c aus e
,

it wa s too n e ar the wo rld ; he had m ad e it wh e n the

a n cho rit e s w e re fe w in n u m b e r Th e y told thi s s to ry.

a bo ut him a s s p e ci ally charact e ri stic th a t he stopp e d ,

in his c e ll so p e rse v e rin gly as n o t to b e shak e n fr om

his p ur po s e . []
2 Amo n g oth e r thi n g s h avin g b e e n ,

m o c k e d at th e o uts e t by the d e mo n w ho mock s all

me n an d d e c e iv e s th e m he se e m e d to fe e l a dist a st e 1
,

fo r his fi rs t c e ll a n d w e n t O ff an d built a n oth er n e ar e r

a vill ag e .So wh e n he had co m pl e t e d the c e ll an d
occ upi e d it th re e o r fou r m on ths aft e r the de mo n c a m e
,

by n ight holdi n g a whip o f O xhid e lik e the e xe c utio n e rs

,
-
,

an d h avi n g the a pp e aran c e o f a ragge d soldi e r an d ,

b e gan c rackin g his whip Th e n the bl e sse d N ath an a e l

.

“
a n sw e re d an d said : Who ar e yo u who do such thin g s
in my dw e lli n g ? The d e mo n an s we re d :
” “
I a m he
w ho d r ov e yo u fro m th a t c e ll I hav e co me to ch a s e.

y o u out o f thi s to o [3 ] K n owi n g th a t h e w as

. the
victi m o f an illusio n he re tu rn e d agai n to the fi r st c e ll
, ,

a n d in a p e r iod O f thi r ty se v e n y e ar s in all did n o t C

!
ro s s

the th re shold h avin g a qu arre l with the d e mo n ; who

,

s how e d him such wo n d e r s t ryi n g to forc e him o ut as it

, ,

is imp o ssib le to re l at e Thi s is o n e o f th e m H avin g

'

. .

watch e d fo r a vi s it from s e v e n holy bishops— e ith e r

’
arran g e d by God s p r ovid e n c e o r b e i n g o n e o f his o w n

t e mpt at io n s— the d e mo n v e ry n e arly tu rn e d him from

his p u rpo se Fo r wh e n the bi s hops w e n t out a ft e r
.

p ray e r he did n o t e sco r t th e m e ve n o n e st e p [4] The

,
.

“
d e aco n s s aid to him This is an act o f p r id e Fath e r , ,

n o t e sco r ti n g the bishops But he said to th e m : I

.

a m d e a d both to my lo rd s the bi shops an d to all the

wo rld Fo r I h a v e a hidd e n d e sig n an d God kn ow s my

.

d na au 1
to fe e l acc id ie
n r
72 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

h e art Wh e re fo re I do n o t e sco r t th e m
. Havi n g fa il e d .

in thi s affai r the d e mo n disg ui se d him se l f n i n e mon ths

,

b e fo re N a than ae l s d e ath an d b e c am e a lad about te n

’

y e ars O ld d rivin g an ass l ad e n with lo av e s in a bask e t

, .

A n d havi n g arriv e d lat e in the e ve n i n g n e a r his c e ll he

m ad e it s e e m th a t the ass w as fall e n an d the b o y c ryi n g °

[5 ] Fath e r Na than ae l pity me a n d give me a han d

“
, .

H e ari n g the voic e o f the s uppos e d boy an d O p e n in g the

d oo r he s tood withi n an d s aid to him :
,
“
Who are yo u
an d what do yo u wa n t me to d o fo r yo u ? He s aid : ”

I a m so a n d so s littl e s e rvan t an d I am carryi n g lo av e s

’
- -

fo r it is thi s b roth e r s ag ap e an d to mo rrow wh e n Satu r

’
-

,
1
d ay d aw n s o ffe rin gs will b e wan t e d I b e se e ch you .
,

do n o t n e gl e ct me l e st p e r chan c e I b e e at e n by hyae n as
,
.
”

Fo r m an y hy ae n as are fou n d in tho se pl a c e s So bl e s s e d .

Nathan ae l s tood in sil e n c e with his b rai n in a whirl an d

his h e art s o re t roubl e d an d a rgu e d thus with him se l f :
Eith e r I must give up the comm an d me n t o r my 2
,

pu rpos e A ft e rward s how e v e r co n sid e ri n g th at it w a s

.
, ,

b e tt e r fo r the con fusio n o f the d e vil n o t to distu rb the

pu rpo s e o f so m an y y e ars he p ray e d an d said to the ,
“
s uppo se d b o y t ha t s pok e to him : List e n b o y ! I ,

1
Li t the sabba th C f So e r V 2 2 : Fo r al tho ugh al mo st all
. . . . .

ch urche s thr o ugho ut th e wo ld ce l e b ate the sa cre d myste r ie s o n r r

th e sabb a th o f e v e ry w e e k ye t th e C hri sti an s o f A l e x an d ri a a n d

,

a t R om o n a cco un t o f s o me a n ci e n t tra di tio n

e , ha v e c e a se d to do ,
.

thi s. The E gyp ti n s in the n e igh bo u h ood o f A l e x an d r i a an d the

a r ,

i n h abi tan ts o f The b ai s h old the i r e ligio us asse mbli e s o n the

, r

s a bb a th b ut do n o t p rtak e o f the m y ste r i e s in th e man n e r usua l

,
a

a mo n g Chr i sti an s in g e n e ra l : fo r h avi n g e ate n a d sati sfie d th em n

s e lv e s wi th food o f a ll ki n d s in th e e v e n i n g m a ki n g the i r O ffe r i g s

, n

t he y p a tak e o f th e m y s te r i e s The e vid e n c e

”
r C f So V I I 19 . . z . . .

o f th e se h i st o i a s l e a d s us to the co n cl usio n th at a n ag a p e co mbi n e d

r n

wi th th e E uch ar i st is i n te n d e d in the p r e se n t p assag e Fo r a re c e n t .

di s c ussio n s e e art “
A ga p e in E R E
. by Bp M a cl e a w ho ”
. . .
, . n ,

quote s the A cts o f Pio n ius ( 1 2 5 0 A D ) fo r a Satu day a gap e ‘

. . r .

The r e mark a bl e p hra se in the te x t thi s b ro the r s a ga p e s e e ms ,

’
,
”

t o p i n t to o n e b r o the r b e i n g r e s po n sibl e fo r p r ovidi n g the food at

o

the g a p e
a .

2
L e o f me r cy c f Lk x iii 1 5 x iv 5
. . . .
,
. .
74 TH E LAUSI AC H I STORY

c all e d Sc e te Th e re was always o n e o f th e m at his

.

s e r vic e n e ar a t h an d b e c a use o f thos e th at c a m e to b e

h e a l e d whil e the oth e r r e st e d in an a dj oin i n g c e ll Aft e r

,
.

s o m e ti m e ha d e l ap se d h avi n g se e n i n to the futu re ,

with p r op he tic e ye he said to the man who wait e d o n,

him n ame d Joh n who a ft e r wa rds b e c a me a pr i e s t in

, ,

the pl a c e O f M ac arius him s e l f : “

Li s t e n to me b roth e r ,

John an d b e ar with my war n i n g ; fo r yo u are b e in g

,

t e mpt e d a n d the spi rit o f cov e tou sn e ss is t e mpti n g yo u .

[4 ] I h ave se e n thi s an d I k n ow that if you will b e ar,

with me you will b e p e rfe ct e d in thi s pl ac e an d glor ifie d ,

1
n e ith e r sh all an y plagu e com e n igh thy dw e lli n g but
if yo u will n o t li s te n to me the e n d o f G e h azi sh all ,

com e upon you o f who se ill n e ss yo u are e v e n n o w

,

N o w it c a me to p as s wh e n fi ft e e n o r tw e n ty
2 ”
s ick .

y e ar s had e l a ps e d a ft e r the d e ath o f M a c ar ius th at he

disob e ye d an d acco r di n gly aft e r robbi n g the poo r fu n d
,

co n t racte d e l e ph an tia si s so th a t th e re w as n o t fou n d o n

,

his body a whol e par t o n which o n e could p ut his fi n g e r ,

.

SO thi s is what the holy M a c arius pr oph e si e d [5 ] N o w .

co n c e rn i n g e ati n g an d d r in ki n g it is sup e rfl uous to r e l at e ,

s e e i n g th at n o t e v e n amon g the in dol e n t is it po ssibl e to

fi n d glutto n y o r c are l e s sn e ss in th e se re gio n s owi n g both ,

to the scarcity o f n e c e ssari e s an d the z e al o f th e in

habitan t s B ut co n c e rn i n g the re st o f his asc e ticism I
. .

d o sp e ak fo r h e was said to b e in a co n ti n u al e c st a sy
,

a n d to sp e n d a far lon g e r ti m e with God than with thi n g s

s ublu n ar y The followi n g m arve l s are told o f him

. .

[]
3
6 A c e r tai n Egyptia n e n a mou r e d o f a lady m arri e d
,

to a hu sban d an d b e i n g u n abl e to s e duc e he r co n sult e d

, ,

a magicia n sayi n g : L e ad he r to lov e me o r co n t riv e

“
, ,

tha t he r hu s ban d re j e ct he r A n d the magici an havi n g .

1
Ps . x
c’ ( ci ) 1 0
. x . .
2
2 Ki n g s v . 27 .

2
{ Ae v ee pa v yur a md s , a fr e e w o ma n , o r, p e rhap s b e tte r ,
a wo man
of good po si tio n .
 MACARI US OF EGY PT 75

re c e ive d a su ffici e n t sum us e d m agic sp e ll s a n d arran ge d ,

fo r h e r to t ak e th e fo r m o f a mare The hu sb a n d h avi n g .

co me in an d se e n he r w as su rp ris e d th at a mare lay o n

his b e d He we e p s an d l a m e n ts he talk s to the an ima l
.
,

b ut g e ts n o re ply He c all s in the p r i e st s 1 o f the vi ll ag e

. .

[7 ] He b ri n gs th e m in shows he r to th e m b ut do e s n o t , ,

di scov e r wh a t has h app e n e d D u ri n g th re e d ay s she .

n e ith e r took fodd e r as a m are n o r b rea d a s a h u man

b e i n g th us d e p rive d o f both form s o f n ou ri s hm e n t

, .

Fi n ally th at G o d might b e glo ri fie d an d the V i rtu e o f

,

the holy M ac ari us a pp e ar it e n t e re d i n to he r h usb an d s

’
,

h e ar t to take he r i n to the d e se r t An d havi n g put a .

halte r o n he r as upo n a hor s e he le d he r i n to the ,

d e s e rt Wh e n th e y cam e n e ar the b re thr e n stood

.
,

by the c e ll o f M ac arius st rugglin g with the wom an s ,

’

“
hu sb an d a n d sayi n g : [8 ] Why did yo u b ri n g thi s
m are h e re ? He s aid to th e m Th at she may
re c e iv e m e rcy Th e y said to him .
“
Wh at is the
m att e r ? The hu sb an d an sw e re d th e m :
” “
S he w a s
my wi fe an d w as t urn e d i n to a m are an d t o d ay is the ,
”
thi rd d ay th at she ha s t a st e d n othi n g Th e y re fe rre d .

the ma tt e r to th e sai n t w ho w as p rayi n g withi n , Fo r God .

had r e v e al e d the m a tt e r to him an d he w a s p rayi n g fo r

he r The holy M ac arius th e re fo r e a n sw e re d the b re th re n
.

“
an d s aid to th e m : Y ou are ho r s e s si n c e you h a v e ,

the e y e s o f ho rs e s [9 ] Fo r she is a wom an an d has

.

n o t b e e n t ra n sfo r m e d e x c e pt in the e y e s o f d e lud e d

,

me n . An d he bl e ss e d w t ea r
2
an d pou ri n g it fr om the ,

h e ad down ward s o n to he r b are ski n he p ray e d An d .

1 w ps a
’
r e
po v s . P o ss ibly
ld e r s in a se c ul a r se n se as B udg e
e , ,

i n te r p re ts th e Sy r i a c O n m uch o f th e l an d o f E gyp t the c ul t i

.

va to r s fo rme d a co r po ra t io n se p ara te fo r e a c h vill ag e

, wh ich w as ,

r e s po n s ibl e to th e G ov e rn m e n t w e r e at the i r he ad l
Wp O fl T p
'
. G l G Ot
,

S e e M itte is Wilc k e n
/

an d th e y h ad a se c re ta r y yp fl fl l ,
‘
a a ’r e t s .
-
,

G ru n d z uge a n d Chre sto m a thie d e r P apyr u s kun d e l i 2 7 5 f

’

. .
, .

2
H oly w a te r ; c f holy oil in XI I 1 XV I I I 1 1 2 2
. .
-
, .
,
.
 76 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

imm e diat e ly b e ma d e he r a pp e ar to all as a wo ma n .

Th e n givi n g he r food he m ad e he r e at an d s e n t he r a way

with he r hu sb a n d th an ki n g the Lo r d A n d he advi se d he r .

“
thu s N e ve r giv e up th e chu rch n e ve r st ay away fr om ,

the Co m m un io n Fo r th e se thi n gs h app e n e d to you

.

”
b e cau se you d id n o t a tt e n d the my st e ri e s fo r five w e e k s .

[I o ] H e re is an oth e r e xampl e o f his asc e tici sm He .

mad e in the cou rse o f tim e a t un n e l ru n n i n g u n d e r the

gr ou n d from his c e ll fo r hal f a s t ad e an d fi n i sh e d it o ff
a t th e e n d with a c av e An d if e v e r a c rowd o f p e opl e
.

t ro ubl e d him he would l e av e his c e ll s e c r e tly an d go

,

a w ay to the c a v e a n d n o o n e would fi n d him Now one .

o f h is z e alo us di scipl e s told us this an d sa id th a t h e ,

u se d to say t w e n ty fou r p ray e r s o n h is w ay to the c ave

-

an d tw e n ty fo ur a s he r e tu r n e d
-
.

[1 1 ] A re po r t was p re v al e n t co n c e rn i n g him th a t he
r ais e d a d e ad man in o rd e r to p e rsu a d e a h e re tic wh o
,

did n o t ack n owl e dg e th a t th e re w as a bodily re su r re ctio n .

A n d th is re po r t w as c urre n t in th e d e se r t .

O n c e a yo un g ma n po sse sse d with a d e vil was b rought

to him by his la m e n ti n g moth e r bou n d to tw o you n g , _

me n A n d the d e vil had thi s m ethod o f wo rki n g A fte r

. .

e ati n g th re e bu sh e ls o f b r e a d a n d d r i n ki n g a b e a k e r o f

wat e r he wo uld b e lch o ut the food an d di ss olv e it i n to

,
1

vapou r fo r in thi s w ay wh at had b e e n e ate n an d d ru n k

'

w a s di s solv e d as it w e r e by fir e [1 2 ] Fo r th e re is a
.

class ( o f d e m o n s) c all e d fi e r y Sin c e th e re are di ffe re n c e s

.

a mo n g d e m o n s as a lso amo n g m e n
, n o t o f n atu r e but ,

Of ch aract e r This yo un g man the n n o t re c e ivi n g

.
,

e n o ugh food fr om his m o th e r O ft e n ate h is o w n di r t

,

a n d d r an k his o w n wat e r A s th e n his m oth e r w e pt a n d

.

i mplo re d th e s ai n t he took the lad an d p ra y e d ov e r him

,

b e se e chin g G o d A n d aft e r a d ay o r t w o the malady

.
,

1
mAmfm i Bw
o r/
’
z B utl e r mark s the wo rd as o f un c e r tai n
ros .

m e an in g .
 MACARI US OF ALE X ANDR I A 77

havi n g e a s e d a littl e the holy M ac arius s aid to he r

,

[1 3 ] Ho w much do yo u wan t him to e at ?

“
She r e
pli e d : Te n pou n d s o f b re a d
“
SO h avi n g r e buk e d .

he r sayi n g this w as too much an d h avi n g p ra y e d ov e r

, ,

him with fa sti n g fo r se v e n d ay s h e put him o n to ( a ,

r e gim e
) o f th re e pou n d s with O blig atio n t o wo rk A n d, .

so havi n g c ure d him he r e s to re d him to his moth e r .

A n d this wo n d e r God w rought th r ough M ac arius I .

n e v e r m e t him fo r he ha d fall e n a sl e e p a y e a r b e fo re m
, y
e n t ry i n to the d e se r t .

C HA PTER XV I I I
1
M A CA RI U S O F A LEX AN D RIA
m e e t the oth e r M a c a rius th e Al e x a n
[]
I did
BU T I ,

d ri an a p ri e s t O f th e pl ac e c a ll e d C e llia
,
I soj o ur n e d in .

thi s C e llia n i n e y e ar s 2
He survive d fo r th re e y e ar s o f
.

my st ay th e re An d s om e thi n g s I sa w ( fo r m y se l f)
.
,

s o me I h e ard fr om him an d s om e thin g s a g ai n I h e ar d

,

fr o m oth e rs Thi s th e n w as the m e thod o f his a sc e tici s m

. .

I f e v e r he h e a r d o f a n y fe a t h e did th e sam e thi n g , ,

v

p e r fe ctly Fo r i n s tan c e havi n g h e ard fr om s om e th a t

.
,

the m o n k s o f Tab e n n isi all th rough L e n t e at ( on ly)

food th a t ha s n o t b e e n n e ar th e fi re he d e cid e d fo r ,

se v e n y e a rs to e at n othi n g th a t had b e e n th r ough the fi re ,

an d e x c e pt fo r raw v e g e tabl e s if an y such w e re fou n d , ,

an d m O 1s te n e d puls e he t ast e d n othi n g [] H avi n g

’

2 .

p racti se d this vi rtu e to p e r fe ctio n he h e ard about an oth e r ,

man t hat he ate a pou n d o f br e ad

,
3
An d havi n g b r ok e n .

up his ratio n bi scuit 1 a n d put it i n to a v e s se l with a

‘
-

n ar r ow m outh
5
he d e cid e d to e at just as m uch as his
,

1
Se e Hist M o n XXX So . .I I I 14 .
, z . . .

Pall a din s w e n t to C e lli a in 39 0 o r 3 9 1 : Butl e r I I 2 4 5 , . .

O n ly o n e po un d O f b r e a d e ach d y ( Sy r i ac )
1
a .

B um k k a o ce a har d bi s c ui t use d by soldi e s

r o v, r .

5
The t e x t is do ub tful b ut thi s is cl e a ly the m e an i n g
,
r .
78 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y
h an d b r o ug ht o ut A n d he wo uld t e ll the sto r y thu s in
.

a joki n g m an n e r : I se iz e d hold o f a n u mb e r o f pi e c e s ,

but I co uld n o t e x tract th e m all at o n c e by re aso n o f the

n arrow n e ss o f th e op e n i n g fo r like a tax g ath e r e r it would ,
-

n o t le t m e
1 ”
.So fo r th re e y e a rs he k e pt up thi s p ractic e
o f a s c e tici sm e a ti n g fou r o r fi ve ou n c e s o f b re a d an d
,

d ri n ki n g as m uch wat e r an d a pin t o f o il in t he y e ar , .

[3 ] H e re is a n oth e r p ra ctic e o f his H e d e t e r mi n e d .

to di sp e n se with sl e e p an d h e told us ho w he did n o t go

,

u n d e r a roo f fo r tw e n ty d ays th at he m ight co n qu e r ,

sl e e p b e i n g bu rn t up by th e su n s h e a t an d sh r iv e ll e d up
’
,

with cold by n ight An d he us e d to say thi s . U n l e ss I

ha d s o o n go n e u n d e r a r oo f an d go t som e sl e e p m y ,

b ra i n wo uld hav e s o d ri e d up as to d riv e me i n to

d e lirium fo r e v e r a ft e r A n d I con qu e r e d so far as .

d e p e n d e d o n me b ut I g a ve w ay s o far as d e p e n d e d o n
,
”
my n at ur e th at had n e e d o f sl e e p .

[]
4 A s h e sa t e arly in the m o rn i n g in his c e ll a , ,

m o sq uito se ttl e d o n his foot an d s t un g him An d fe e li n g .

th e p ai n he s q uash e d it with h is h an d a ft e r it was full o f

blood SO acc usi n g hi ms e l f fo r h avi n g t ak e n v e n g e an c e
.
, ,

he co n d e m n e d hi ms e l f to Sit n ak e d fo r si x mo n ths in
the marsh o f Sc e te which is in th e gr e a t d e s e r t
, The .

m o sq uito s th e re are lik e w as p s a n d e v e n pi e rc e the hid e s ,

o f wild boars So th e n he w as bitt e n all ov e r an d

.

d e v e lop e d so many s w e llin g s tha t so m e thought he had

e l e ph a n ti a si s R e t urn i n g to his c e ll aft e r six m o n th s he
.
,

w as re cog n iz e d by his voic e th at it w as M ac arius hi m se l f .

e g ar d e n to m b o f
[]5 O n ce h e d e si re d to e n te r th -

Jan n e s a n d J a mb r e s 2 s o he told us But thi s gard en

, .

tomb had o n c e b e lo n g e d to th e m agici an s wh o had

1 “
The n a row O p e n i n g o f th j ar to o k to ll of the ha n d ful o f
r e

b re a d tha t h ad co me up SO far ( T urn e r ) .

2
Fo r the l e g e d a y h i sto y o f the se m agici an s se e th e co mme m
n r r

tari e s o n 2 Tim iii 8 an d Schu e Histo ry of the j e w ish P e o ple

. . r r, ,

I I iii 1 5 0
. . .
 MACARI US O F ALE XAN DR I A 79

g re at powe r lo n g ago with Ph ara oh Fo rasmuch th e n a s .

th e y ha d th e pow e r fo r lo n g p e riod s th e y b uilt th e i r ,

wo rk with sto n e s fac e d fo ur s qu are an d mad e th e ir -

to mb th e re an d s to re d aw a y much gold Th e y al s o
, .

pl an t e d t re e s fo r the pla c e is ra t he r d amp an d th e y d ug

, ,

a w e ll b e s id e s [6 ] Si n c e th e re fo re th e sai n t did n o t
.

kn ow the w ay he follow e d the st ars by a k i n d o f g ue ss

,

wo rk c r o ss i n g the d e se rt as o n e do e s a t se a T aki n g a
, , .

bu n dl e o f r e e d s h e pl a n t e d th e m o n e e ach mil e a s
l an d marks in o rd e r to fi n d his w ay a s he re t urn e d SO .

h avin g t rav e ll e d n e arly n i n e d ay s h e app r o a ch e d th e

pl ac e Th e n the d e mo n who a lway s with stan d s the
.
,

a th le t e s o f Ch r i s t co ll e ct e d a ll th e r e e d s a n d p ut th e m
,

at his h e a d as he sle pt a bo ut a m il e fr o m th e g ar d e n

to mb [7 ] So he aro se a n d fo un d th e r e e d s God
.
,

h avi n g a l low e d thi s p e rh ap s to try him fu rth e r th a t he ,

might n o t t r u st in r e e d s b ut in the pill ar O f cloud th at

1
,

le d I srae l fo r ty y e ars in the d e se r t He use d to say -

Se v e n ty d e m o n s c a me o ut fr om the gar d e n to m b to
“ -

me e t m e sho uti n g an d fl utt e r i n g lik e c ro w s ag ai n st my

,

fac e an d sa yi n g : Wh a t d o yo u wa n t M ac arius ? Wh at ,

d o yo u wa n t m o n k ? Why hav e yo u co me to o ur
,

plac e ? Y ou c an t st ay h e re I told th e m he said

’ ’ ”
.
,

‘
Le t m e ju st go in an d look r ou n d an d go a wa y .

“
[] e n t in a n d
”
8 S o h e sa id
,
I w fou n d a littl e b raz e n
,

j ar su sp e n d e d an d an i r o n ch ai n ag ai n s t the w e ll r u st e d ,

al re ady by ti m e an d s o m e po m e g ran at e s with n othi n g

,

i n sid e b e cause th e y had b e e n d rie d up by the sun 80 .

”

th e n he t urn e d back a n d w e n t o n his w a y fo r twe n ty

d ay s But wh e n the wa t e r which he w a s c arr yi n g fa il e d
.

him an d al so the loav e s he w a s in gre a t di st r e s s , .

An d wh e n he w a s n e arly coll ap si n g th e re a pp e are d to

him a maid e n so he d e cl are d we ari n g a pu re whit e
, ,

1
P o ssibly an a ll usio n to Mt . xi .
7, a re e d sh a k e n wi th th e
wi n d .
”
80 TH E LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

r ob e an d holdi n g a c ru se d rippi n g with wa t e r [9 ] He .

s aid she was som e di s t an c e about a stad e awa y fr o m , ,

him an d h e w e n t o n fo r th re e da y s gazi n g at he r a s she

, ,

stood with the v e ss e l an d b e in g u n abl e to c atch he r up ,

1
as h app e n s in d re a m s ; but he l ast e d o ut su sta i n e d
by the hop e o f d ri n ki n g Aft e r he r app e ar e d a h e rd o f
.

an t e lop e s o n e o f which with a c al f stopp e d — th e r e are

,

m an y in thos e re gio n s A n d he s a id th a t h e r udd e r w as

.

flowin g with milk SO c re e p i n g u n d e r he r an d sucki n g

.
, ,

he w as sati s fi e d An d the an t e lop e we n t a s far as his

.

c e ll givi n g him milk but n o t allowi n g he r o wn c al f to

, ,

Suck .

[1 0] O n an oth e r occ asio n whil e diggi n g a w e ll n e ar ,

to som e v e g e t abl e s hoot s h e w as bitt e n by an a sp ,

.

N o w this b e ast is a bl e to caus e d e ath An d h avin g .

t ak e n it with both h an ds he se iz e d it by the j aws a n d

“
pull e d it in pi e c e s sayi n g to it : Wh e n God did n o t
,
”
se n d yo u ho w did yo u d are to com e ?
,

Now he had s e ve ra l c e ll s in the d e s e rt : o n e in Sc e te ,

the g re a t i n t e r io r d e se rt a n d o n e in the Liby an d e se r t

, ,

a n d o n e a t the so c all e d C e lli a an d o n e o n M o un t N itria

-

,
.

Som e o f th e se are without wi n dows an d in th e s e he wa s ,

said to Si t du ri n g L e n t in dark n e s s A n oth e r w as to o .

n arr ow fo r him to s t re tch o ut his fe e t in it A n oth e r in .

,

which he me t his vi s ito r s w as more Spa cious ,

.

[I I ] He h e al e d so g re a t a c rowd o f d e m o n iac s tha t

th e y can n ot b e cou n t e d Wh e n w e we re th e re a high .

born m aid e n was br ought from Th e ssalo n ic a paralyz e d ,

fo r man y y e ars He rubb e d he r fo r twe n ty d ay s with

.

2
holy oil with his o wn h an ds p rayin g the whil e an d , ,

s e n t he r back to he r city re s to re d to h e alth A ft e r sh e .

had go n e She s e n t him man y g e n e r ous gi fts .

R e ad cits pl a ce B utl e r s
' ’
1
f we fpwv in évrl
’
f d! : 63V ispe wv f
’
e 1r o 7 o

te xt .

2
C f XI I
. . 1, XV I I I . 22 .
82 TH E LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

took n othi n g an d th e m o n ly o n Su n da y th at he might

, ,

a pp e ar to e at [1 5 ] A n d if e v e r he w e n t o ut in ob e di
.

e n c e to n a tu re h e quickly c a m e in ag a in an d took his

,

stan d sp e akin g to n o o n e a n d n o t O p e n i n g his mouth

,

but stan di n g in s il e n c e An d apar t fro m pra y e r in his .

,

h e art an d the palm l e av e s in his h an d s he w a s doi n g-

n othi n g All the a sc e tics th e re fore se e i n g thi s rai se d

.
, ,
“
a re volt aga i n s t the sup e r ior s ayi n g : Wh e re did yo u ,

ge t this fl e shle ss man from to co n d e m n us ? Eith e r ,

d r ive him o ut o r k n ow that w e are all goi n g

,
Pacho mi us .
”
,

th e re fo re h avi n g h e ard the d e t a il s o f his O b se rvan c e

, ,

p ray e d to G o d th at the id e n tity o f the st ran g e r might b e

re v e al e d to him [1 6] A n d it w as re v e al e d ; an d he
.

took him b y the han d a n d le d h im to the hou se o f

p ray e r wh e re the altar w as an d said to him H e re
,
“
, , ,

good o ld man you are M ac arius an d yo u hid it from

,

me . Fo r man y y e ar s I h av e b e e n lo n gi n g to se e you I .

tha n k you fo r l e tti n g m y childre n fe e l you r fi st l e st th e y ,

Should b e p r o ud o f th e i r asc e tic a chi e v e m e n t s N OW go .

a w ay to you r o w n pl a c e fo r yo u h av e e d ifie d us suffi ci e n tly

, .

”
A n d p ray fo r us Th e n he w e n t awa y as ask e d
.
, .

[1 7] O n an oth e r occ asio n he told us this sto ry

Havi n g p e rfe ct e d e v e ry kin d o f li fe th at I d e sire d th e n ,

I had an oth e r d e si re I d e si re d to k e e p m y mi n d fo r
.

fi ve d ay s o n ly u n distract e d from ( the co n t e mplatio n o f)

Go d . An d h avi n g d e t e r m i n e d thi s I b arre d th e c e ll
, ,

an d e n closu re so as n o t to h a v e to an sw e r an y ma n an d
, ,

I took my sta n d b e gi n n i n g at the se co n d hou r , SO I .

gav e thi s com man dm e n t to my min d : D O n o t d e sc e n d

fr om h e av e n The re yo u have an ge ls arch an g e l s the
.
'

, ,

pow e rs o n high the God o f all do n o t d e sc e n d b e low

,
”
h e av e n [1 8 ] A n d havi n g l ast e d out two d ays an d
.

two n ights I e x asp e rat e d the d e mo n so th at he b e cam e

,

a flam e o f fi re an d bu rn e d up all the thi n gs in the c e ll ,

so that e v e n th e littl e mat o n which I stood was c o n

 MACARI US OF ALE XAN DR I A 83

su me d with fire a n d I tho ught I w as b e in g all bu rn e d up .

Fi n ally st rick e n with fe ar I l e ft o ff o n the thi rd d ay

, , ,

b e in g un abl e to k e e p my mi n d fre e fr om dist ractio n b ut ,

I d e sc e n d e d to co n t e m pl atio n o f the wo rld l e st va n ity ,

should b e i m put e d to m e
”
.

] O n c e I vi s it e d this holy M ac arius an d fou n d a

[1 9
village pri e st lyi n g ju st out sid e his c e ll whos e h e ad w as ,

all e at e n a w ay by th e di s e ase c all e d c an c e r an d the ,

a ctu al bo n e app e are d o n th e c rown o f his h e ad He had .

co m e to b e h e al e d an d M ac arius would n o t gra n t him

“
a n i n t e rvi e w SO I b e s ought him :
. I p ra y yo u pity ,

him an d giv e him his an sw e r [2 0 ] A n d he said to

.

me He do e s n o t d e s e rve to b e h e al e d fo r it has b e e n ,

s e n t him as a pu n ishm e n t But if yo u wan t him to b e.

h e al e d p e is uad e him to giv e up takin g s e rvic e s Fo r

,
.

he w as t akin g se rvic e s though livi n g in fo rn ic atio n a n d

, ,

fo r this re as o n he is b e i n g pu n i sh e d an d G o d is h e ali n g
his soul 1 So wh e n I said thi s to the a fflict e d man he
.
”

co n se n t e d an d swo re th a t he would n o lon g e r e x e rci s e

,

“
his p r i e sthood Th e n he r e c e iv e d him an d said : D o
.

y o u b e li e v e th at G o d is ? H e said ”
to him :
“
Ye s .
”

“ “
[2 1 ] We re you abl e to mock G o d ? No h e ,

an sw e r e d He s aid : I f yo u re cog n iz e you r sin an d

.
“

th e ch as t e n i n g o f God o n accou n t o f which yo u su ffe r e d

,

thi s r e form you rse l f h e n c e fo rward

, So he co n fe ss e d
.
”

2
his fault an d g ave a p romis e that he would sin n o mo re
n o r tak e th e s e rvic e but e mb rac e the positio n o f a lay
,

man .Th e n he l a id his han d s o n him an d in a fe w d ay s

he was cu re d a n d the hai r g re w an d he w e n t a way h e al e d .

[2 2 ] B e fo re my e y e s a you n g lad was b rought to

him po ss e sse d by an e vil spirit So puttin g o n e han d .
,

“
1
Lit . him .

2
N o te that M ac ar ius, tho ugh n o t a bi shop , mak e s absol ution ,
a d mi n i ste r e d by i mpo s i tio n o f han d s, an d in th i s c as e co n fe rr i n g

bodily as w e ll as spir i tual re n e w al , co n di tio n al o n the si n ful p r i e st

c e asin g to e x e rci se his pr ie stly fun ction s .
84 T H E LAUSI AC H I STORY

on his h e a d an d the oth e r o n his h e art he pray e d so ,

m uch th a t he m a d e him h an g in mid air Th e n the -

.

boy sw e lle d lik e a wi n e ski n an d fe st e r e d so th at h e-

b e c a me a ma ss o f e ry s ip e las 1
A n d h avi n g c r i e d out
.

su d d e n ly he produc e d wat e r th r o ugh all his s e n se s

, ,

an d c almi n g d own r e tu r n e d to his o r igi n a l s iz e So he .

a n oi n t e d him w ith holy o il an d h an d e d him to his

fa th e r an d h avi n g pou re d wa t e r upo n him o rd e re d th at
,

he should touch n e ith e r fl e sh n o r wi n e fo r fo rty d ay s .

An d so he h e al e d him .

[2 3 ] O n e d ay vai n glo rious thoughts t roubl e d him ,

d rivi n g him out from the c e ll an d sugg e sti n g to him a s

if by a divi n e di sp e n satio n th at he sho uld vi s it th e city
o f th e Ro man s to cu re the sick Fo r gr ac e act e d pow e r .

fully in him agai n st ( e vil ) spi rit s A n d wh e n fo r a lo n g .

whil e h e would n o t ob e y but w as b e i n g v e h e m e n tly ,

pre sse d fallin g o n the doo rst e p o f his c e ll he p ut his

, ,

fe e t outsid e an d said : “
D rag me d e m o n s pull me , ,
.

Fo r I am n o t goin g with my fe e t I f you c an t ak e me .

,

th e n I will go He swo re to th e m : H e re I lie u n til

.
” “
,

e ve n in g U n l e ss yo u sh ak e me I wil l n o t li st e n to
.
,

[ ] S h avi n g l ai n th e re a lo n g whil e h
”
yo u . 24 o , e go t ,

up but wh e n n ight c a me o n th e y a tt ack e d him agai n

, ,

an d h avi n g fill e d a two bu sh e l bask e t with san d an d -

u t it o n h is should e rs he t ra m p e d a bout in the d e s e rt

p ,
.

The o se b i u s th e C o s m e t o r
2
an A n tiochian by rac e me t
, ,

“
him an d said to him : What are yo u c arryi n g fa th e r ? ,

Giv e me the bu rd e n an d do n t t roubl e you rse l f ’

But .
”

he said to him : “
I t roubl e my t roubl e r Fo r he is .

i n satiabl e an d t e mpts me to go o ut SO h avi n g t ramp e d .

about fo r a lo n g tim e he w e n t i n to his c e ll h avin g ,

pun ish e d his body .

e a di n g ép o s a s sugg e st e d by B utl e r The w as ri e

1 R ’
A v
-
t rr e ar o , . v r:

o f th e te x t is e vid e n tly co rr up t
’
w A
e a vr o s .

2
The m e an i n g is un c e rta i n S op h ocl e s in h is Le xico n sugg e sts
.

x ap h n
o in the se n se o f a s we e pe r o f m o n as te r y
'
r s, a .
 MACARI US OF ALE XAN DR I A 85

[ ]
25 Thi s holy M ac ar ius told m e t h e followi n g — fo r
he was a p ri e st I n otic e d at the tim e o f di st ributin g
.

the my s t e r i e s th a t it w as n e v e r I which gav e the obl ation

to M arcu s the asc e tic but an an ge l us e d to giv e it him
,
’
from the alt a r I saw o n ly the k n uckl e o f the do n o r s
.

han d . Now this M arcus w as a you n g man who l e arn e d

”
,

by h e art the Old an d N e w T e sta me n t s e x c e e din gly m e e k ,

1
an d co n tin e n t b e yo n d all oth e rs .

2 6 O n e d ay h avi n g l e i s u re — M ac arius th e n
[ ] b e in g

in e x t re m e O ld age — I w e n t o ff an d sat by his doo r ,

thi n ki n g him sup e rhu man s e e in g that he w as so old , ,

an d list e n e d to wh a t he s a id an d wh at h e did He w as .

q uit e alo n e i n sid e ; b e i n g al re ady a hu n dr e d y e ar s old

an d havin g lost his t e e th he was fighti n g with hi mse l f ,
“
an d the d e vil an d sayi n g : Wh a t do yo u wan t b ad ,

old man ? Se e you h av e had O il an d h ave t ak e n

,

som e win e What do you wan t mo re you whit e h ai re d

.
,
-

glutton scoldi n g hims e l f Th e n to the d e vil : D o

-
.

’
I o we you an yt hi n g n o w ? You won t fi n d a n ythi n g .

Go away from me A n d as if hum min g to hims e l f

.
”
,
.

,
“
he was sayin g : H e re you whit e h ai re d glutton how
,
-

,
” 2
lon g sh all I b e with yo u ?
[ ]
27 P a ph n utius his di s cipl e told us, that o n e d ay

a hy ae n a took he r wh e lp which wa s blin d an d b ro ught , ,

it to M a c arius A n d havin g k n ock e d with he r h e ad a t

.

the doo r o f the e n clo s u re she e n t e re d M ac ar ius sitti n g , ,

out sid e ( his c e ll ) an d th re w the you n g o n e dow n at his

,

fe e t. An d he took it an d spat o n its e y e s a n d p ray e d ,

3
an d imm e di at e ly it re cov e re d its sight A n d its m oth e r .

havin g suckl e d it took it an d we n t awa y [2 8 ] An d .

on the n e x t d ay she b rought the sai n t th e fl e e c e o f

a la rg e sh e e p
4
A n d the bl e ss e d M e lan ia sa id this to
.

1
Cf So z V I 2 9
. . . .
2
Cf M t . . xvn . 17 .

3
C f Lk x viii 4 3
. . . .

1
C f the s to ry o f St Fr an ci s
. . an d the wol f o f G ubbio .
86 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY

me : got th at fl e e c e from M ac arius as a gi ft to

I
a visito r A n d wh a t m arv e l if He w ho t a m e d the lio n s
.
,
”
fo r D an i e l al s o mad e the hy ae n a i n t e llig e n t ?
,

A n d he said th at from the d ay he wa s b aptiz e d he

,

1
n e v e r sp t o
a n t e g ou d
h r n it b e i n g th e n s i x ty y e ars fr o m
,

his b a pti s m [2 9 ] As to his bodily fo rm he w as ra th e r

.
,

sho r t an d b e ardl e s s h avi n g n o h ai r s e x c e pt o n his lips

, ,

an d th e tip O f his chi n Fo r owi n g to the e x c e ss o f his

.

as c e ticis m the h a i r s o f his b e ar d did n o t e v e n Sp r o ut .

O n e day wh e n I was su ffe r i n g fr om accidi e I w e n t

, ,

“
to him an d said Fath e r what shall I do ? Sin c e my ,

thought s afllic t me sayi n g Y ou ar e m aki n g n o p rog re s s

‘
,
-

go a wa y fr o m A n d he s a id to me Te ll th e m ,

Fo r C h rist s sak e I a m gu a di n g the w ll 2

’ ’
r a s

I hav e told you th e s e fe w s to ri e s o ut o f man y re l ati n g

to the holy M ac arius .

C H A P T ER XI X
M O SE S T HE RO BBE R 2

I N M os e s — this w a s his n am e — an Ethi

[]
I A C E RT A
opian by rac e an d black was hous e s e rvan t to a gov e rn ,
-

m e n t o fficial His o wn m a ste r d r ove him o ut b e c au se

.

o f his im mo rality an d b rigan d ag e Fo r he was s aid to .

go e v e n the l e n gth o f mu rd e r I am co mp e ll e d to t e ll .
‘

his wick e d acts in o rd e r to Show the vi rtu e o f his r e p e n t

an c e . A n yhow th e y us e d to say that he was l e ad e r
1
Spi tti n g w as p r ob ably a s co mm o n in M e di te r a n e an l a n d s a s i t r

is n o w an d to re frai n fr o m it se e ms to hav e b e e n a ma k o f
, r

as c e t icism .

2
Th e m o n k s gua r d the w all s the re st o f th e Chur ch ca r r y o n ,

the i r a voc atio n s in the ci y t C H s

f i t M o n p r ol 1 0
.
“
T he re
. . . . .

is n o vill ag e o r ci ty in E gyp t an d the T he b id w hich is n o t a ,

surr oun d e d by m o n as t e r i e s as if by w all s an d the i n ha bi ta n ts a re ,

s uppo r te d by the i r p r ay e s a s if re sti n g o n G o d

r .

3
Cf So z V I 2 9
. . B utl e r I I 1 9 7 di s ti n gui she s b e tw e e n the
. .
, .
,

various m on k s o f thi s n ame M ose s the R obb e r is the M ose s .

w ho e sayi gs are r e c ord e d in the A po phthegmata

s n .
 MO SE S THE ROBBER 87

of a r obb e r ban d a n d amo n g his a cts o f b rigan dage o n e

-
,

s tood out sp e ci ally th at on c e he plott e d ve n g e an c e

,

again st a sh e ph e rd who had o n e n ight with his dogs

imp e d e d him in a p roj e ct [2 ] D e sir ous to kill him .
,

he look e d abo ut to fi n d th e pl ac e wh e re the sh e ph e r d

ke pt his sh e e p A n d he w as i n for m e d th at it w as o n
.

the oppo s it e ba n k o f the Nil e A n d s in c e the r ive r w a s .

,

in flood an d about a m il e in e x te n t he g rasp e d his Swo rd ,

in his mouth an d put his Shi rt o n his h e a d an d so go t

ove r swi mmi n g the r iv e r Whil e he was s wim mi n g
, .

ov e r the sh e ph e r d was a bl e to e sc ap e him by buryi n g

,

hi mse l f in the s an d So h avi n g kill e d the fou r b e s t

.
,

ra m s an d ti e d th e m tog e th e r with a co rd h e s wam b a ck ,

again [3 ] An d havin g Com e to a littl e ho me st e ad he

.

fl ay e d the sh e e p an d havi n g e at e n the b e st o f the fl e sh

,

an d sold the s ki n s in e x chan g e fo r wi n e he d ran k a ,

quar t tha t is e ight e e n I t alian pi n t s an d we n t o ff fi fty

, ,

mil e s fu rth e r to wh e re he had his ba n d .

I n the e n d thi s ab an do n e d m an co n sci e n c e strick e n ,

-

as a re sult o f o n e o f his a dv e n tu re s g a v e hims e l f up to a ,

mo n ast e ry an d to such p rac tisin g o f a sc e tici s m th at he

'

b ro ught publicly to the k n owl e dg e o f Chr i s t e v e n his

accomplic e in c rim e from his youth the d e mon who had ,

1
s i n n e d with him Amo n g oth e r t al e s thi s is told o f
.

him O n e d ay r obb e r s a tt ack e d him as he sat in his

.

c e ll n o t k n owi n g who it w as Th e y w e re fou r in

,
.

n umb e r []
4. H .e ti e d th e m all tog e th e r an d putti ng ,

th e m o n his b ack lik e a t russ o f st raw b rought th e m to ,

“
the chu rch o f the b re th re n s ayin g : Si n c e I am n o t,

allowe d to hu r t an yo n e wh at do yo u bid me do with

,
”
th e s e ? Th e n th e s e robb e rs h avi n g con fe sse d th e i r ,

1
B utl e r say s : I am un abl e to ill ustra te o r e x pl ai n this cur io us
pi e c e o f d e mo n ol gy But p e rhaps it is o n ly an un usual w ay o f
o .
”

re fe rr i n g to th e re s t o f the b an d in wh o m the d e mo n w as as it
, ,

we re i n carn ate
, .
88 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

i s an d
s n cogn iz e d that it w as M os e s the e r stwhil e
re

re n own e d an d far fa m e d r obb e r th e ms e lv e s also glor ifi e d

-

G o d an d re n ou n c e d the wo rld b e c aus e o f his co n v e rsio n

“

“
sayi n g to th e m se lv e s : I f he who was so g re a t a n d
pow e rful in b rigan dag e ha s fe are d G o d w hy should w e ,
”
d e fe r o ur salvatio n ?
[5 ] Thi s M o s e s w a s a tt a ck e d by d e mo n s w ho t ri e d ,

to plu n g e him in to his O ld h abit o f s e xua l i n co n ti n e n c e .

He w as t e mpt e d so g re atly as he hi m se l f t e stifi e d that

, ,

he almo s t r e li n qui sh e d his pu r pos e So havi n g co m e to .

,
-

1
h
t e g re at I sido re the o n e who liv e d in Sc e te h e told
, ,

him about his co n flict A n d he said to him : D o n o t.

b e gr i e v e d Th e s e are the b e gin n in gs a n d th e re fo re

.
,

th e y h a v e attack e d yo u the mor e v e h em e n tly s ee ki n g ,

o ut you r old habit [6 ] Fo r j u st as a d o g in a butch e r s

’
.

s hop owi n g to his h a bit s c an n ot t e a r hims e l f a way but if ,

th e shop is clo se d an d n o o n e g iv e s him an ythi n g he n o ,

lo n g e r com e s n e ar it So al s o with yo u if yo u e n dure

.
,
”
th e d e mon g e t s di s cou rag e d an d has to l e av e you So .

he r e tu rn e d an d fr om th at hou r p ra ctis e d asc e tici sm

'

m o re ve h e me n tly an d e sp e ci ally re frai n e d fr om food

, ,

t akin g n othin g e x c e pt d ry b re ad to the e x t e n t o f twe lve

o un c e s a cco mpli shin g a g re at d e al o f wo rk an d com
,

p le tin g fi fty p ray e rs ( a Thu s he mo rtifi e d his

2
body but he still con tin u e d to bu rn an d b e t roubl e d
,

by d re a m s [7] Aga i n he w e n t to a n oth e r o n e o f the

.

sa i n ts an d said to him :
“
Wh at am I to d o se e i n g tha t ,

th e d re a m s o f my s oul d ark e n my re a so n by r e ason o f ,

my s i n ful h abits ? He said to him : B e c au se you

“

h av e n o t withd rawn you r mi n d from im agi n i n g th e s e

thi n gs th a t is why yo u e n du re thi s Giv e you rs e l f to
, .

w atchi n g an d p ray with fa stin g a n d yo u will quickly

1
T hi s I sido r e ls o m1tte d in D C B . .
-
. Se e I . 1, X .
2, X LV I . 2
,
a n d B utl e r , I I 1 85
. .

2 C f, 1 C o r , vii
9
. .
90 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y

a mo n g g re a t o n e s o f the fath e r s So he di e d in
the .

Sc e te s e v e n ty five y e ars old hav i n g b e com e a p ri e st ;

-

an d he l e ft s e v e n ty discipl e s .

CHAPTER XX
1
P A UL

n t a i n in Egypt call e d Phe rm e

[] I T HE R E is a m ou ,

which bo rd e rs o n the gre a t d e s e r t o f Sc e te O n thi s .

mou n tai n dwe ll som e 5 0 0 me n d e vot e e s o f asc e ticism , .

O n e o f th e m a man n a m e d P aul h ad thi s man n e r o f

, ,

li fe : he touch e d n o wo rk a n d n o busin e ss n o r did he , ,

re c e iv e a n ythi n g fr o m an y man b e yo n d what he ate .

But his wo rk an d his asc e ticism co n sist e d in c e as e l e s s

p ray e r SO he had 3 0 0 se t p ray e rs an d he coll e ct e d a s
.
,

2
ma y p e bbl e s d k e pt th e m in his lap an d th re w o ut
n an

[]
3
o f his lap o n e p e bbl e at e ach p ray e r 2 H avi n g .

go n e fo r an i n t e rvi e w with M acarius the o n e k n own a s ,

4
Citize n he said to him :
,
“
Fath e r M ac ar ius I a m ,

a fllic te d So b e comp e ll e d him to say fo r what re as on

. .

“
But he said t o him : I n a c e rt a i n vill age th e re dw e lls
a vi rgi n who has liv e d the asc e tic li fe fo r thirty y e a rs .

Th e y h av e told me o f he r that e x c e pt o n Saturd ay a n d

5
Su day she n e ve r e at s
n But all the whil e d raggi n g o ut
.

the lo n g w e e ks an d e a tin g at i n t e rvals o f five d a y s she

1
Se e B ut l e r , I I 1 7 7 Thi s Paul is id e n ti fie d in o n e M S wi th
. . .

Paul the Si mpl e o f Ch XX I I C f So z V I 2 9

. . . . . .

2
The fold in his g ar me n t m a d e by the gi rdl e .

2
The e arlie st e x am pl e o f the p ra c tic e n o w k n ow n a s the R o sary .

Se e C h XV I I I. He w as so call e d b e c ause he w as a ci tiz e n

.
“

a n d w as o f A l e x an d r i an o r igi n ,
”
So z I I I 1 4 T hat r o Arr mo s
.
’
. .

A l e xan d ri an is s tr iki n g te sti m on y to the po sit ion o f A l e x a n d r ia in

re l a tio n t o th e re st o f E gyp t .

5
I n his n o te o n thi s p a ssag e ( I I 1 9 8 ) B utl e r coll e cts the e vid e n c e
.

fo r th e ob se rvan c e o f Satur d ay a n d Sun d ay in E gyp t He c o n .

c lud e s that the r e w as ra c tic al c o o rdi n atio n o f the Sa turd a y

“
a
p
-

an d Sun d a
y .
 E ULOG I US AND THE CR I PPLE 91

mak e s 7 o o pray e rs A n d wh e n I l e arn e d thi s I d e spa ire d

.

o f my s e l f b e c a use I co uld n o t m ak e m o re th a n 3 0 0 .

[]3 T h e holy M ac arius an s w e re d him :

“
I am n o w

s i x ty y e ar s o ld I m ak e 1 0 0 se t p ray e rs an d p r oduc e
my food by my o wn wo r k an d giv e the b r e th re n the ,

i n t e rvi e ws that ar e th e i r d ue an d my re a so n do e s n o t ,

con d e mn me as h avi n g n e gl e ct e d my duty But if yo u .

say 3 0 0 an d are co n d e m n e d by you r co n s ci e n c e o u a re

y ,

cl e arly no t p rayi n g th e m with pu rity o r e l se you co uld ,

”
p ray more an d do n o t .

C HAPTER XXI
E ULO G I US A N D T HE CR I PP L E
r i e st o f N itria told me thi s : Wh e n
[] I p
CRO N I U S the
I wa s you n g an d be c au s e o f accidi e fl e d fr om the mo n a s
te ry o f my archim an d rit e I c a m e in my w an d e ri n g s t o ,

1
the mou n t ai n o f th e holy A n ton y I t lay b e tw e e n .

3
Babylo n an d H e racl e s in the g re a t d e se rt th a t l e ads
2

to the Re d Se a about thi rty m il e s fr om the Rive r So

, .

h avin g co m e to An to n y s mo n as t e ry by the Riv e r wh e re ’

his tw o discipl e s dw e lt a t the pl a c e c all e d Pisp ir— I

m e an M ac arius an d A mat a s who also bu ri e d him wh e n ,

he di e d — I w ait e d fi ve d ays fo r an i n t e r vi e w with the

holy A n ton y [2 ] Fo r he was s aid to vi s it thi s m on as
.

te ry a t i n t e rv al s n o w o f te n day s n o w o f tw e n ty n o w o f , ,

five as G o d le d him to do good to tho se who h app e n e d

, ,

to vi sit the mon ast e ry So a n umb e r o f b re th re n we re .

1
C f Athan as i us Vit A n t 1 2 w he r e A n to n y go e s to the m o un
.
, . .
,

t i n 4 9 an d 5 0 w he e h e wi thd ra w s to a h ig h moun ta i n thre e d a y s

a , ,
r ,

a n d thr e e n ig hts a w a y a n d 9 1 b ut he
, ha vi n g bidd e n far e
w e ll to the m on k s in the oute r moun ta i n e n te re d the i n n e r mo un ,

ta i n w he e he w as a cc usto m e d to a bid e
,
r Th e o ute r moun tai n a t .
”
,

Pis pir n e ar th e N ile ,is he r e m e an t

.
,

J us t s o uth o f Ca i r o ; c f I P e te r v w hich con c e ivably r e fe rs

2
. . 1
3,
to th e E gyp tian Babylo n .

2
I . e. H er acl e opol is .
 92 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

ass e mbl e d o n e with thi s n e e d an oth e r with th at

, , .

Amon g th e m w as a c e rta i n E ulo gius a mo n k o f A l e x ,

an d ri a an d a n oth e r m an a c r ippl e who had com e fo r

, , ,

the followin g re as o n .

[3 ] This E u lo g us w as a l e arn e d man

i 1
h avi n g had ,

2
a good all rou n d e duc atio n who smitte n with a lov e o f
-

immo rt ality re n oun c e d th e cl a mou rs ( o f the wo rld ) an d ,

disposi n g o f all his good s l e ft him se l f a littl e mon e y ,

s i n c e he w a s u n abl e to wo rk We ll s u ffe ri n g fr om .
,

a ccidi e a n d wishi n g n e ith e r to e n t e r a co n v e n t n o r to

'

r e ach p e rfe ctio n alo n e he fou n d a man lyi n g in the ,

mark e t pla c e a c r ippl e with n e ith e r han ds n o r fe e t

-

, , .

His ton gu e wa s the o n ly par t o f his body that was

2
u d am ge d a d was us e d to a pp e al to the pass e r b y
n a n ,
-
.

O E ulo gius s tood an d g az e d at him an d p ray e d to

[]4 S
“
God an d m ad e a cove n a n t with God ( sayi n g) : Lo rd ,

in Thy n ame I tak e thi s c rippl e an d com for t him u n til

'

d e ath tha t I al s o m ay b e sav e d th r ough him Gran t

, .

me p ati e n c e to s e rv e him ! A n d a pp r oachi n g the

”

c rippl e d a m n h e s aid to him

“
Would you like me °

g re at o n e to t ak e you to my hou se an d com fo rt you ?

,
”

He said to him : Ye s i n d e e d
“ ” “
Th e n sh all I ge t , .

an ass an d t ak e you He agre e d So he fe tch e d an .

ass an d carri e d him an d b rough t him to his o wn gu e st

.

[]
4
cha mb e r an d took c are o f him 5 W e ll th e c rippl e .
,

last e d o n fo r fi ft e e n y e ars an d w as n u rs e d by him b e i n g ,

wa sh e d a n d t e n d e d by the ha n d s o f E ulo gius an d fe d ,

in a way suit abl e to his mal ady But aft e r the fi ft e e n .

y e ars a d e mo n att ack e d him an d he re b e ll e d agai n st ,

a o aav
' -
mo s
'
. The wor d is a s lo use d in the s p e cializ e d s e n se o f
a dvocate .
”

2
a. 7 g e n e ral e ducation o f the
6311 é-yxw d t fw v w a rb e vp d r w v, th e
G re e k b e for e b e s p e ci aliz e d o n p ro fe ssio n a l st udi e s .

2
Re a di n g pbs a n éO ia wi th o n e M S B utl e r s te xt 1 pb r
n v n e v .
’
,
'

tr um p o d ( 7 63 vr vyxa d w w y ) is d i ffi c ul t
’
o v 11 e
‘
v .

2 T e p hras in g is re m n i sc e t o f Lk x
h i n 34 . . .
 E ULOGI US AN D THE CR I PPLE 93

E ulo gius . b e gan to d re s s the man down with

A n d he
1
g e at a bus e a n d r e vilin g addi n g : Assa ssin d e s e rt e r
r , , ,

you s tol e oth e r folk s p rop e rty an d yo u wan t to b e ’

,

sa v e d th r ough me Th r o w me i n to the mark e t plac e

.
-
.

I wan t m e a t He b r ought him m e at [6 ] Again he

.
”
.

c ri e d a m n o t satisfi e d I wan t c r owd s I . .

wa t to
n b e in the m k e t plac e
ar Oh t e viol e c e
h -
n
'
.

Put m e wh e re yo u fou n d me I f he had had ha n ds .

”

he would h a v e quickly s t ran gl e d him to s uch an e x t e n t ,

had the d e mo n i n fu riat e d him So E ulo gius w e n t o ff .

to the n e ighbou rin g asc e tic s an d said to th e m : What

shall I do b e caus e this c rippl e has b rought me t o
,

d e spa ir ? A m I to c as t him o ut ? I pl e dge d my s e l f

to God an d I a m a fraid B ut a m I n o t to c a st him .

o ut ? He give s me b ad day s an d n ight s so th a t I do ,

[7] But th e y said

”
n o t k n ow wh a t to do to him .

“
to him : Whil e the g re at o n e is still aliv e —fo r so
th e y c all e d A n to n y — “
ut th e c rippl e in a bo at an d go
p
to him an d tak e him to the mo n ast e ry an d wa it till
,

A n to n y com e s out from the cav e an d re fe r the c ase to

him A n d wh at ev e r he say s to yo u go by his d e ci sio n
.
, ,

fo r G o d s p e ak s to yo u by him An d he h e ard th e m .

pati e n tly an d puttin g the c ripple in to a rustic bo at we n t

,

o ut by n ight fr om the city an d took him to the mo n as

te ry o f th e di scipl e s o f the holy A n to n y [ ] Now it

8 .

happe n e d th a t the gre at man cam e the n e x t d ay in the

l at e e ve n i n g a s G ro mus had sa id w rapp e d in a cloak
, ,

o f s ki n Wh e n he re ac he d the mo n a st e r y thi s was his

.
,
“
custom to summo n M ac arius an d ask him : B roth e r
,

M ac arius h av e an y b re th re n com e h e re ?
,
He an sw e re d
Ye s .
”
Egyptian s o r from J e rusal e m ? An d he had
give n him a Sig n I f you se e th e m i n cli n e d to b e c are
l e s s say Egyptian s b ut wh e n th e y are mo re se riou s an d
,

1
a xcim B utl r mark s as cor rup t o r o f un ce rtai n m e an i n g ;
r a . e

L co r e d e
u t n rs
“
a ssass i n .
94 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
tudious say fro m J e ru sal e m ask e d him
s , []
9 S o h e .

“
as u sua l : Ar e the b re th re n Egypti an s o r fr om J e ru
“
sa l e m ?
”
M ac arius an sw e re d an d sa id to him : A
” “
mi x t ure . N o w wh e n he said to him Th e y are E gyp
” “
tian s the holy A n to n y would say to him : P r e p are
,

s om e l e n til s an d giv e th e m a m e al a n d he would utt e r ,

a p r a y e r fo r th e m an d say good b ye But wh e n he said -

.

“
from J e ru sal e m
”
he wo uld Sit up all n ight t alki n g to
, ,

th e m about s alvatio n [1 0 ] So th at n ight he sat down

.
,

ro n ius say s an d c all e d th e m all to him an d

( C ) ,
tho ugh ,

n o n e had told him wh at n am e h e bo re c all e d o ut in the ,

dark an d said E ulo gius E ulo gius E ulo gius —th re e

“
, ,
”

ti me s He the l e arn e d man I m e an did n o t an s we r

.
, , ,

t hi n ki n g th a t an oth e r E ulo gius w as b e i n g c all e d He .

s aid to him ag ai n : I a m sp e aki n g to y o u E ulo gius

“
, ,

th e man who c ame fr om Al e x a n d r ia E ulo gius s aid

”
.

“
to him : Wh at a re you r com man d s I p ra y ? “
Why ,
”

hav e you com e ? E ulo gius an s w e re d an d said to him

He that re ve al e d to you my n ame h ath al so re ve al e d ,

[ ] m
” “
to yo u my bu si n e ss 1 1 A n to n y s a id
. to hi : I
k n ow w hy yo u c am e But sp e ak b e fo r e all the b re th re n
.
,

th a t th e y also may h e ar E ulo gius s aid to him : I foun d

’

thi s c rippl e in the mark e t pl a c e an d I pl e dg e d my se l f to

-

G o d th a t I would n u r s e him an d so b e s av e d th r ough

him an d he through m e So s i n c e aft e r all th e s e y e ar s
.

he to rme n t s me to dist ractio n an d I co n t e mpl at e d ,

casti n g him out ; o n thi s a ccou n t I c ame to you r holi

n e s s in o r d e r th a t you might cou n se l me wh a t I ough t
,

to do an d p ray fo r m e fo r I am t e rribly dist re s se d , .

[1 2 ] An ton y said to him with a n g ry an d st e m voic e

“
Cast him o ut ? But He Who m ad e him do e s n o t
cast him o ut Will y o u cast him o ut ? God will r ai se
.

up a man b e tt e r than you an d he will succou r him ,

”
.

E ulo gius who had b e e n c alm up till n o w t re mbl e d

, , .

An d A n to n y l e avi n g E ulo gius b e g an to c a stig a t e the

 E ULOG I US AN D THE CR I PPLE 95

c rippl e with his ton gu e an d c ry : Yo u c rippl e d an d “

ma i m e d m an d e s e rvi n g n e ith e r e arth n o r h e av e n wi l l

’

, ,

y o u n o t c e as e fighti n g a g a i n st G o d ? D o you n o t k n ow

that it is Ch r i st Who is se rvin g yo u ? Ho w d are yo u fl

utt e r such wo rd s aga i n st Ch ri st ? Wa s it n o t fo r Ch ri st s ’

s ake th a t he mad e hi mse l f a sl ave to m in is t e r to you ?

SO h avi n g re p ri man d e d h im h e l e ft him alo n e to o, An d .

h avi n g co n v e rse d with all the re st abo ut th e i r n e e d s b e

r e t urn e d to E ulo gius an d the c rippl e a n d said to th e m

D O n o t wa n d e r about an y m o re go a wa y Do n o t b e
, .

se p arat e d fro m o n e an oth e r e x c e pt in you r c e ll in which

,

yo u h av e d we lt s o lo n g Fo r al re ady G o d is s en di n g
.

fo r you Fo r thi s t e mptatio n has co me upo n you b e caus e

.

yo u are both n e ar you r e n d an d are a bout to b e co un t e d

wo rthy o f c rown s D o n ot hi n g e l se th e r e fo re an d may
.
,
”
the a n g e l wh e n he com e s n o t fi n d you h e r e So th e y .

j o urn e ye d in h a st e an d c am e to th e i r c e l l an d withi n ,

fo r ty d ay s E ulo gius di e d an d in th re e d ay s mo re the

,

c rippl e d i e d to o .

[ ]
1
5 But C r o n i n s a ft e r st a i n g in th e r e gio n s rou n d
, y
the Th e baid c a m e down to th e m o n a st e r i e s o f Al e x an
,

d ria An d it h app e n e d tha t the se rvic e s fo r the fo r ti e th

.

1
d y o f the o n e an d the thi rd d ay o f the oth e r w e re
a

b e i n g c e l e brat e d by the b re th r e n Cr o n ius le arn e d thi s .

a n d w as am az e d an d h avi n g t ak en a go sp e l an d put it
,

b e fo re the b re th re n took an o a th a ft e r t e llin g wh at had ,

h a pp e n e d an d said : I wa s bl e sse d A n to n y s in t e rp re t e r
,
’

i n th e se co n v e r satio n s si n c e he do e s n o t k n ow G r e e k ;
,

fo r I k n o w both to n g ue s an d in t e rp re t e d to th e m s p e ak ,

in g to th e s e tw o in Gre e k to An to n y in Egyptian
, .

“
[ ] An d Cr o n i n s told thi s sto ry al so :
16 I n th a t
n ight bl e sse d A n to n y told me thi s Fo r a whol e y e ar I
1
B utl e r pre fe rs this to thi rtie th the o the r re adi n g s i n ce
“
, ,

G re e k c usto m an ci e n t an d m od e rn is t o c e l e b rate the d e p ar te d o n

, ,

the fo r ti e th d ay C f XXX I I I 4
. . . .
96 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

pray e d that the pl ac e o f the j us t an d o f s i n n e r s might b e

re v e al e d to m e A n d I saw a t all gi an t r e a chi n g to the
.

cloud s bl ack with his h an ds st re tch e d up to h e av e n

, , ,

an d u n d e r him a l ak e as vast as the se a an d I saw s oul s ,

flyi n g lik e bi rd s [1 7 ] A n d as m an y as fl e w O ve r his

.

h an ds an d h e ad w e re s ave d But a s m a n y a s we re .

st ruck by h is h an d s fe ll i n to the l ak e Th e n c ame a .

vo 1ce to me sayi n g Th e se soul s o f the r ight e o us which

,

thou s e e st flyi n g are the souls which ar e sav e d fo r

Paradi se But the oth e rs a re tho se which ar e d rawn
.

down to h e ll h avi n g followe d the d e sire s o f the fl e sh

,

1 ’
an d re v e n g e .

C HA PTE R XX I I
P AUL THE SI MPLE 2

[] I C RO N I U S holy H ie ra x an d a n umb e r o f
an d t he
oth e rs about who m I sh all p re se n tly sp e ak told me this
, ,

tal e also A c e rt ai n P aul a r u stic p e asan t e x c e e di n gly

.
, ,

1
I t look s as if thi s vi s io n w as s ugg e ste d by so me pic tur e wi th
wh ich An t on y w as fa mili ar D r W a lli s B udg e w ri te s to m e a s
.

follow s The sy mboli sm is c e r tai n ly E gyp ti an The god re fe rre d .

t o is pr ob ably tha t w hich w e s e e in the vig n e t te s o f the se v e n te e n th

chap te r o f the Book o f the D e ad stan din g wi th his body rai se d to
h e a v e n by the s id e O f the La k e o f M aat , w he re i n s o uls w e re te ste d .

Th e C op ts ma d e it the La k e o f d am n e d so ul s I n that M ic hae l .

use d to dip a wi n g , an d a ll the s o ul s w ho co uld cli n g to i t e sc ap e d

he ll The ha wk is the usual bi r d sy mbol fo r th e s o ul ”
. Cf . .

3 B a r uch x 1 f . A n d w he n I h ad l e ar n e d a ll th e se thi n g s fr o m
.

the A r chan g e l , h e took an d le d m e i n t o a fo ur th h e a v e n An d I .

saw a m on o to n o us pl a i n , a n d in th e m iddl e o f it a pool o f w a te r .

An d the r e w e re in it m ul ti tud e s o f bi rd s o f a ll kin d s, b ut n o t lik e

th o se h e r e o n e a r th The pl a i n
. is the pl ac e w he re the
s oul s o f t he r ig ht e o us co me a l s o S an he d r in 9 2 h A n d the .

s o ul m ay say The body ha s si n n e d fo r si n c e I a m se p arat e d fr o m

i t I fly in th e a ir lik e a bir d ”
.

2
C f Hist M o n XXX I , So z I I 3
. . . Re itz e n ste in , He lle n ist
. . .

i so he Wun d e re rz d hlun ge n , pp 5 9 —6 1 , di sc usse s th i s s to ry P aul the

. .

Si m pl e is to b e disti n g ui s he d fr o m P aul the He r mi t , w h o se li fe

Je r o me w r o te , an d w h o w as, a cco rdin g t o J e r , E p 2 2 , the . .

o r igi n ato r o f th e m o n astic life .

98 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

o ut an id to him ag ai n : Go away fro m h e re O ld

d sa
“
,

man . Why do yo u a n n oy me ? Yo u c an n ot sta y h e re .

P aul s aid to him : I t is impo ssibl e fo r me to d ie e l se

“

wh e re th an h e re SO An to n y look e d about an d n otic e d

.

th at he had n o t with him an y fo rm O f n ou ri shm e n t ,

n e ith e r b r e a d n o r wa t e r an d th a t h e w a s n o w in th e ,

fo urth d ay o f his fa st an d sayi n g : L e st p e rchan c e you

,
”
d ie an d st ai n my s oul h e r e c e ive d him An d A n to n y
,
.

a dopt e d in tho se d ay s a r e gi m e which he had n e v e r tr i e d

in his yo uth []
5 A n d havi n g m oi st e n e d som e p al m
.

l e av e s he s aid to him : T ak e th e se w e a v e th e m i n to
“
,

m at s as I d o
,
The old man wov e u n til the n i n th
.

1
hou r l abo r iou sly compl e ti n g n i n e ty fe e t
,
So A n ton y .

look e d an d w as di spl e as e d an d said to him Yo u h av e

”
wov e n b adly un pick th e m an d w e av e th e m ov e r agai n
,

— impo s i n g thi s n au se o us t ask upo n h im 2 tho ugh h e

,

w a s h u n g ry an d age d in o r d e r th at he might b e d is ,

g ust e d an d fl e e a wa y fr om A n to n y But b e both .

u n pick e d an d wov e agai n the s a me l e av e s though it w as ,

m o re di fficult b e ca u se th e y w e re all s h r iv e ll e d up 2
, .

A n d A n to n y s e e i n g th a t he n e ith e r mu rmure d n o r w as
,

di scou rage d n o r a n gr y fe lt co mpu n ctio n [6 ] A n d aft e r ,

.

“
s un se t h e sa id to him : Would you lik e us to e at a
“ ”
pi e c e o f b re ad ? Pa ul said to him : A S you pl e ase ,

fa th e r ”
A n d thi s ag ai n mov e d A n to n y that he d id n o t
.
,

r ush e ag e rly a t the m e n tio n o f food b ut had th r ow n the ,

pow e r ( o f choic e ) upon him So he l aid the t abl e an d .

b rought in bre a d An d A n to n y havin g put o ut the .

,

bi s cuit s w e ighi n g si x ou n c e s e a ch moi s t e n e d o n e fo r

, ,

hi m s e l f— fo r th e y w e r e d ry— an d th re e fo r P aul An d .

An ton y struck up a p salm which he k n e w an d a ft e r ,

'
1
5p yv fa s Be xa ir e vr e
' '
.

2
m
r ad - v éira ya yhv r hy O fill
'
l l y , lit'
havi n g b r o ught thi s n ause a
'
. on
him So B utl e r, w ho how e v e r is n o t c e r ta i n o f th e me a n i n g
”
. .

2
Li t w rin kl e d ,
. : éppvr rb é m
7 2 ea r
‘

.
 PA U L THE SI M PLE 99

s ni gi n g it twe lv e ti me s h e p ray e d twe lv e ti me s to t e st ,

Pa ul [7] B ut he e ag e r ly joi n e d in the pra y e r fo r he

. ,

w o uld h av e p re fe rre d b e i n g e a t e n by scorpio n s so I ,

thin k to livi n g with a n a dult e r ous wom an But a ft e r

, .

t he tw e lv e pra y e r s th e y sat dow n t o e a t l at e in the e v e n

in g . N o w A n ton y h avi n g e a t e n the o n e bi sc uit did
, ,

not touch an oth e r But th e old man e ati n g m o re

.
,

Slowly w as s till at his littl e bi scuit

,
A n to n y w as waiti n g
.

fo r him to fi n i sh an d say s to him :

“
E at fa th e r a , ,
“
se co n d bi s cuit
”
. P aul say s to h im : I f yo u will e a t I ,
”
will to o ; if yo u d o n o t e at I will n o t , An to n y sa y s .

I h a v e had e n ough fo r I a m a m o n k
, []
8 P a ul sa y s .

“
to him : I to o h av e h ad e n o ug h fo r I to o w an t to ,

b e co me a mo n k . He ri se s aga in an d p ray s t w e lv e
p ray e r s an d ch an t s twe lv e psal ms A n to n y sl e e p s a .

littl e o f his fi rst sl e e p an d th e n g e t s up to si n g p salms a t

mid n ight u n til d ay So wh e n h e sa w the o ld man
.

e ag e rly followi n g h is mod e o f li fe h e said to him :

“
If
you c an do th us e v e r y d ay stay with me , P aul s aid to .
”

him I f th e r e is an ythi n g m o re I do n o t k n ow ; fo r I,
”
c an do e as ily th e se thi n g s which I h av e s e e n A n ton y .

s aid to him the n e x t d ay B e hold yOu h av e b e com e a ,

”
mo n k .

[]
9 S o A n to n y co n vi n c e d a ft e r th e re qui r e d n umb e r
,

o f mo n th s th a t P aul had a p e rfe ct s oul b e in g v e ry ,

s i mpl e an d g rac e c o op e ra ti n g with him mad e him a

-

c e ll th re e o r fou r mil e s away an d said to him

, , B e hold ,

o u h av e b e com e a mo n k ; r e mai n alo n e in o r d e r th a t

y
you may b e t rie d by d e mo n s ”
So Paul dw e lt th e re
.

o n e y e ar a n d w a s cou n t e d wo r thy o f g ra c e ov e r d e mo n s

an d dis e a se s . Amon g oth e r c ase s a d e mon ia c w a s ,

o n c e b rought to An to n y e x c e e din gly t e rrifyin g p o s

, ,

se sse d by a Spi r it o f high ran k who cu r s e d e v e n h e a v e n

,

it se l f [1 0 ] So An ton y h avi n g e x ami n e d him said to

.
, ,

thos e who b r ought him : This is n o t my wo rk fo r I

“
,
1 00 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

h av e n o t ye t b e e n co un t e d wor thy o f pow e r ov e r thi s

o rd e r o f high ran k but thi s is Paul s bu sin e ss, So
’
.
”

A n to n y w e n t o ff an d le d th e m to P aul an d said to him ,

F a th e r P aul c as t o ut thi s d e m o n from the man th a t

,

he m ay go a wa y cu r e d to his hom e Sa id P aul to .

”

h im : “
Wh at are yo u doin g ? A n to n y said to him ”

I h av e n o l e i su r e I h av e som e thi n g e l se to do
,
-

A n d A n to n y l e ft him a n d w e n t ag ai n to his o w n c e ll
.
.

[1 1 ] So the o ld m an go t up an d h a vi n g pray e d an ,

e ffe ctiv e p ray e r add r e sse d the d e m o n i a c

“
,
Fa th e r A n
to n y has said Go o ut fro m the m an
, But the d e m o n .
’

“
c i e d o ut sayi n g with bl a sph e m i e s : I a m n o t goi n g
r ,

o ut b a d o ld m an
”
, SO P aul took h is Sh e e p ski n co at
.
—

an d s t ruck th e ma n o n th e b a ck with it sa yi n g :
“
Fa th e r
A n ton y has said G O Ag a i n the d e mo n c urs e d
,
‘ ‘

with s o m e viol e n c e both A n to n y an d him Fi n a lly he .

s aid to h im :
“
Yo u are goi n g o ut ; o r e l se I ll go a n d ’

t e ll Ch ri st B y J e su s if yo u do n t go o ut I a m goin g
.
,
’

thi s v e ry mi n ut e to t e ll C hr i st an d He will do yo u ,

h a rm .
[1 2 ] Ag ai n the d e m on c ur se d ye t mo re say
”
,

I a m n o t goi n g o ut
“ ”
in g : So P a ul go t an g ry with .

the d e mo n a n d w e n t o utsid e his dw e lli n g at high n oo n .

But the h e at o f the Egyptian s is aki n to the furn ac e o f

B abylo n ia 1 An d s t a n di n g o n a rock o n the m oun tain
.

0 J e s u s Ch r i st Who was t c ruci

“
he p ray e d an d s aid : ,

fi e d un d e r Po n ti us Pil at e thou se e st th a t I will n o t ,

d e sc e n d fr o m the rock I will n o t e a t n o r d r in k till I ,

d ie u n l e s s Thou d r iv e o ut the Spi r it fr o m the man an d

,

fre e the m an [ ]
”
1 3 B. ut b e fo r e th e wo rd s w e r e o ut o f

h is m o uth the d e mo n c ri e d o ut sayi n g : “

Oh viol e n c e
‘

I a m b e i n g d riv e n a way The s i m plicity o f P aul driv e s

.

me aw ay an d wh e re a m I to go ?
,
A n d i mm e dia t e ly
th e spi r it w e n t o ut an d w as tu rn e d i n to a g r e at d rago n
s e v e n ty c ubits lon g an d was s we pt aw ay to the Re d Se a ,

1 D an iii . .
1 02 TH E LAUSI AC HI STORY

he sa id thi s con firmi n g it with a n o ath : Fo r tw e lve

,
“

ye ars aft e r m y fi fti e th y e ar the d e mon g av e m e n o

re s pit e in his attack s by n ight an d d ay Suppo sin g .

th e re fo re th at God had l e ft m e an d o n thi s a ccou n t I

wa s u n d e r his pow e r I p r e fe rr e d to d ie in an i rra tio n al
,

m an n e r ra th e r th an ac t imp r op e rly th r o ugh bodily pas

s io n An d h avi n g go n e out an d e xplo re d the d e s e r t I
.
,

fou n d a hy ae n a s cav e I n which c av e I l a id my se l f

’
.

down n a ke d in the d aytim e in o rd e r th a t the b e asts ,

wh e n th e y cam e out might e at me [4] So wh e n e ve n .

,

in g cam e as it is wr itt e n : Thou m a d e st d ark n e ss an d

,
‘

n ight c a m e : in it all the b e a sts o f th e fo re st will r o a m

1

—the b e asts c am e out m al e an d fe mal e a n d s me lt m e

, , ,

licki n g me from h e ad to foot An d wh e n I was e x .

p e c tin g to b e e at e n up th e y l e ft m e So h avi n g l ai n , .

d own all n ight I was n o t e at e n But r e ck o n i n g that

,
.

God had s pare d me I re tu rn e d ag ai n to the c e ll We ll ,

.
,

the d e mo n h avi n g re s t ra i n e d hi m s e l f a fe w d ay s th e n
, ,

a ttack e d m e ag a i n more v e h e m e n tly than a t fi rst so ,

th a t I v e ry n e arly bl asph e m e d [5] He ch an g e d him .

se l f i n to an Ethiopi an m aid e n whom I had o n c e s e e n ,

in my youth in the summ e r tim e picki n g r e e ds an d sat -

o n my kn e e 2 So in a fu ry I gav e he r a blow an d she

.

’
di sapp e are d W e ll fo r two ye ars I could n o t b e ar the
.
,

e vil s m e ll o f my ha n d ! So I w e n t o ut i n to the g r e at
d e se r t; wan d e rin g up a n d dow n discou rag e d an d in
d e spair A n d havi n g fo un d a littl e a sp I pick e d it
.
,

3
up an d appli e d it to my e s fl h in o rd e r th a t I might ,

d ie e ve n though it w e re by a bit e o f thi s ki n d

, An d I .

1 ‘
r ubb e d the b e as t s h e ad o n my fl e sh as the ca use O f
’ ‘

my t e mptatio n but I was n o t bitt e n , [6] Th e n I .

h e ard a voic e sayin g in my thoughts : Go P acho n ‘

, ,

1
PS ciii ( civ ) 20
. . . .

The e st o f the s e n te n c e is :
’
l iunx u
’
2
r l T a u [ rea e 1r o o vr o '
. LG nen e

wa
n to n : jue
4 ’
3
7 023
y e r/ 11 117 1140 3 7 y o pio rs . r o is yo p ro i s .
 STE PHEN I O3

st ruggle o n Fo r this is why I h ave l e ft yo u to b e

.

tyran n iz e d ove r tha t yo u should n o t b e p roud as if

, ,

you had an y st re n gth but r e cog n izi n g you r we ak n e ss

,

sho uld n o t t r ust in you r m an n e r o f li fe but run fo r th e ,

h e lp o f God Thus co n vin c e d I r e tu rn e d an d dwe lt

.
’

in co n fid e n c e an d n o lo n g e r t roubli n g a bout the w ar

,

I was in p e ac e the re st o f my d ay s But he kn owi n g .

,

ho w I d e spis e d him n o lo n g e r cam e n e ar me

”
.
,

C HAPTE R XX I V
ST E P HE N
1

[1 ] O N E St e ph e n a Libyan by rac e d we lt o n the

, ,

sho re s o f M ar m arica a n d the M are o tis fo r si x ty y e ars

2
.

He b e c am e an a sc e tic o f g re at e min e n c e with a gi ft o f

disc e rn m e n t a n d wa s cou n t e d worthy o f s uch a gift o f
,

grac e that e v e ry afflict e d man wh a t e ve r his afllic tio n , ,

w e n t away fr e e fr o m a ffl iction afte r me e ti n g him N o w .

he w as k n ow n to the bl e s se d An to n y ; an d he liv e d o n
a l s o to o ur o w n day s I n e v e r me t him b e ca us e his
.
,

pl ac e was so far a wa y [2 ] But the holy A mmo n ius.

an d E vagrius an d th e i r compa n io n s who m e t him told , ,

me the followi n g : “
We fou n d him suffe rin g fr o m an
illn e ss lik e thi s h av ing d e ve lop e d an ulc e r o f the so rt
,

call e d c an c e rous We di scov e re d him b e in g tre at e d by

.

a docto r an d wo rki n g with his h an d s an d we avi n g palm

,

l e av e s an d talki n g to us whil e the re st o f his body was ,

b e i n g op e rat e d o n He w as b e h avi n g just as if an oth e r

.

man w e re b e i n g cut Though the fl e s h w as cut a way

.

lik e h air he was in s e n sibl e th an ks to the g re at n e ss o f

, ,

his re ligiou s p re p ara tio n [3 ] But whil e w e we re o n .

the o n e ha n d g r i e vi n g an d o n the oth e r h an d fe e li n g

1
Cf So z V I
. . . 29 .

2
The co un t ry b e t we e n E gyp t an d Cy r e n a ic a .
1 04 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
di sgust e d th at such a life had e n d e d in such su ffe ri n g
an d s uch su rgic a l op e ra tio n s h e sa id to us : Child re n ‘
, ,

do n o t b e t ro ubl e d by th i s affai r Fo r God do e s n othin g.

o f wh at He do e s fo r m alic e b u t fo r a good e n d ,
Fo r .

p e rh aps my fl e sh d e se r ve s ch asti se m e n t an d it is fittin g ,

th a t it sho uld p ay the p e n a lty n o w rath e r th an wh e n

I h a v e quitt e d the are n a 1 So he e d ifi e d us with his
’
.

e x ho r t a tio n s a n d
”
e n cou rag e m e n t s But I h av e told .

thi s l e st w e Should b e di sco n c e r t e d wh e n w e se e sai n t s

s uffe rin g such affl ictio n s .

C HAPTER XXV
VA L E N S

[
I ] T HE R E w as a m an n a m e d V a l e n s a P al e sti n i an ,

by rac e but Co ri n thian in his ch aract e r— fo r St Paul

, .

a tt r ibut e d the vic e o f p r e su m ptio n to the C or i n thian s .

H avi n g t ak e n to the d e se r t he dwe lt with us fo r a num

b e r o f y e ars He re ach e d such a pitch o f arrog an c e
.

that he w as d e c e iv e d by d e m o n s Fo r by d e c e ivi n g him

.

littl e by littl e th e y i n duc e d him to b e v e r y p roud s up ,

po si n g th at an g e l s m e t him [2 ] O n e day at l e ast so

.
,

th e y told the t al e as he w a s wo rki n g in the d ark he le t

,

d r op the n e e dl e with which he w as stitchi n g the b ask e t .

A n d wh e n he did n o t fi n d it the d e m o n mad e a l amp

, ,

an d he fou n d th e n e e dl e Agai n p ufl e d up at thi s h e

.
, ,

wax e d p roud an d in fa ct wa s so g re atly pu ffe d up th at he

d e spis e d th e commu n io n o f the m yst e ri e s N o w it .

h app e n e d that c e r t ain s t ran g e rs cam e an d b rought s we e t

m e a t s to the Chu rch fo r the b r e thre n [3 ] So the holy .

M a c arius o ur p r i e st r e c e iv e d th e m an d se n t a h an d ful
o r s o to e a ch O f us in his c e ll a mo n g th e re s t a l s o to
,

V al e n s . Wh e n Val e n s re c e iv e d the b e a re r he i n sult e d

1
Ste p h e n a ssume s purgator ia l p ai n s e v e n fo r the r ighte ous .
 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
[

1 06

may n o t b e p r oud th e i r vi rtu e Fo r o ft e n e ve n vi r tu e

of .

b e com e s the c aus e o f a fall wh e n e v e r it is n o t a c c o m ,

p lis he d with up ight i t e tio

r n n n Fo r it is w ritt e n : “
I .

saw a ju s t m an d e s t r oy e d in his ju s t ac t an d thi s thi n g

1 ”
is i n d e e d va n ity .

CH A PTE R XXV I
HE RON 2

[ ] I T HE R E w a s a c e r t ai n H e r o n a n e ighbou r o f mi n e , ,

an Al e xan d rian by rac e a n e x c e ll e n t you n g man o f , ,

good n atu ral a bility an d pu re in his li fe He al s o aft e r .

m an y toil s was att ack e d by p rid e an d fl un g o ff all r e

s t ra i n ts an d ch e r i sh e d p r e s umpt uous s e n tim e n t s ag a i n s t

th e fath e rs i n s ulti n g e v e n the bl e s s e d E vagr ius by sayi n g

,

“
Tho se who O b e y you r t e achi n g are dup e s ; fo r o n e
s hould n o t pay h e e d to an y t e ach e r s e x c e pt C h ri st ”
.

He e v e n ab use d Scriptur e to se rve the p urpose o f his

folly an d wo uld say : “
The Savio ur Hi m s e l f said Ca ll ,
‘

n o m an t e ach e r up on the e ar th
[2 ] His m i n d b e
3 ’
.

c a m e so d ark e n e d that he to o wa s aft e rwards put in ir o n s ,

si n c e he wa s u n willin g e v e n to a tt e n d the my st e ri e s
t ruth is d e ar He w as e x c e s siv e ly ab s t e miou s in his mod e
.

o f li fe so th at m an y who k n e w him in ti m a t e ly d e cl ar e d
,

that b e fre qu e n tly w e n t th re e mo n th s without e atin g ,

b e i n g co n t e n t with the commu n ion o f th e m y st e ri e s an d

an
y wild h e r b s th at might b e fou n d An d I too had .

an e x p e r i e n c e o f him wh e n I w e n t to Sc e te w ith th e

bl e s se d Alb an ius [3] Sc e te w as for ty m il e s away fr om

.

1
I n the cou rse o f tho se fo r ty m il e s w e ate twic e an d
‘
us .

d ran k wat e r th re e tim e s b ut he withou t e ati n g anythin g ,

1
E co l V I I 1 6 , 7 ( L
. .
) XX .

C f C a ssi an , Co ll 5 , wh e re a m o n k c a ll e d He r on is
2
. II . .

me n tio n e d I t is n o t c e r ta i n that th e y a re to b e id e n ti fie d
. .

3
Mt iii 9
. xx . .
1
I e , p r oba bly , fro m Ce lli a . . .
 PTOLE MY

we n t o n foot an d said by h e ar t fi ft e e n p salm s th e n the ,

1
lo n g p salm th e n the Epi s tl e to the H e b re ws th e n
, ,

I sai ah an d p art o f J e r e mi a h th e n Luk e the Ev an g e li st , ,

th e n the P r ov e rb s An d thi n gs b e i n g so ye t w e could

.
,

n o t k e e p up with him as he walk e d [4] Fi n ally d rive n .

,

a s it w e re by fi re h e could n o t re m ai n in his c e ll but

, ,

we n t o ff to Al e x an d ria by ( divin e ) di sp e n sation an d as

, , ,
“ ”
the s ayi n g go e s k n ock e d out o n e n a il with a n oth e r
,
.

Fo r o f his o wn fre e will he fe ll i n to i n diffe re n c e but ,

aft e r w ards fou n d salva tio n i n volu n t arily Fo r h e fre .

q ue n te d the th e at re an d ci r cu se s an d e n j oy e d the
div e rsio n s o f the t ave rn s An d thu s e atin g an d d rin k
.
,

in g i m mod e ra t e ly he fe ll i n to a m i re o f co n c upi sc e n c e
, .

[5] A n d wh e n he was re solvi n g to sin he me t an actre ss

an d ha d con v e rse with he r I n co n s e q u e n c e a c ar bu n cl e
.

d e v e lop e d o n his p r ivat e part s an d fo r si x m o n th s he ,

w as so ill th a t the par t s rott e d aw ay an d fe ll o ff L at e r .

,

r e sto re d to h e alth without tho se p art s a n d r e t urn e d to a

re ligious fr a m e o f mi n d h e c a m e an d co n fe s se d all th e se
,

thi n g s to the fath e r s A fe w days a fte r he fe ll a sl e e p

.

b e fo re he had re tu rn e d to wo rk .

C HAPTER X X VI I
P TO L EM Y
[I ] A G A I N an oth e r mo n k Ptol e my by n a me live d a , ,

li fe d i fficult e ve n i mpo ssibl e to d e sc rib e He d we lt

, , .

b e yo n d S c e te in a pl ac e c all e d Clim ax 2 The plac e .

which b e ars this n am e is o n e in which n o o n e c an live ’

b e c au se the w e ll o f the b re th re n is e ight e e n mil e s away .

He th e n carryi n g a n umb e r o f pots 2 b ro ught th e m th e re

, ,

an d coll e cti n g the d e w with a S pon g e fr om the r ocks ,

1
PS . c x viii .
2 “
The Ladd e r .

3
mAur fa ta '
. Se e XV I I . I I .
1 08 T HE LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

du r in g the mo n ths o f D e c e mb e r an d Jan uar y— fo r th e re

is a pl e n ti ful fall o f d e w th e n in tho se p art s — h e m ad e
thi s su ffi c e dur i n g the fi ft e e n y e ars he live d th e re [2 ] .

An d he b e cam e a st ran g e r to the t e a chi n g o f holy me n

a n d i n t e r cou r s e with th e m an d the b e n e fit d e r iv e d th e re ,

from an d the co n stan t commu n io n o f the my s t e ri e s 1 an d

, ,

div e rge d s o gre atly fr om the straight w ay th at h e d e cl are d

th e thi g w e othi g b t th e y say he is wan d e ri n g
e s n s e r n n u
2

a bout in Egypt up to the p r e s e n t d ay all pu ffe d up with

pr id e an d has giv e n himse l f ov e r to glutton y a n d

,

dru n ke n n e s s sp e akin g n o ( e di yi g) wo d to
f
,
n r a n yo e
n
3 .

A n d this di sast e r fe ll o n Ptol e my fr om his i rratio n al

“
co n c e it as it is writt e n : Th e y who h av e n o dire ctin g
,

in flu e n c e fall like l e av e s .

CHAPTER XXV I I I

WA V I RG I N W H O FE LL
A G A I N I kn e w a vi rgi n in J e rusal e m who wo re sack
,

cloth fo r Six y e ars an d shu t h e rse l f up in a c e ll takin g ,

n o n e o f the thi n g s th a t b e s tow pl e asu re I n th e e n d .

she fe ll a b an do n e d ( by God ) b e c au se o f he r e x c e ssiv e

,

arr og an c e She O p e n e d the wi n dow an d a dmitt e d the

.

man who wait e d o n he r an d sin n e d with h im b e cau se ,

She had p r acti se d asc e tici s m n o t with a r e ligiou s m otiv e

an d fo r th e love o f m
God but with hu a n o ste n ta t ion 5
, ,

which sp ri n g s fr om va i n glo r y an d co rrupt i n t e n tio n -

.

Fo r he r thought s b e i n g e n gr oss e d in co n d e m n i n g oth e rs

, ,

6
the gu ardi an o f he r ch as tity w as a bs e n t .

1
Cf XVI I 9 whe e a five w e e k s a b se n c e is e n o ugh t o ca ll
. .
,
r
’

down p un i shme n t .

2
The tran sl a t io n is a pp ro x i mate o n ly th e te x t is quite unc e rtain .

3
[ n h t un Bl Op k ii
I e ri ,
-
f /
r P r ov x i I 4 ( LXX )
r o v'
r a. . . .

5
K a m min d uflpw f n lit o n a human the tre o stage
ar ( / f rr y v
, . a r .

1 e guar di a n an ge l
. . .
1 10 THE LAUSI AC H I ST OR Y

pa ssion will yo u go an d care fo r th e m ?

,
He a g re e d
to thi s Th e y ma d e him sw e ar an o a th [4 ] He said
. .

Sw e ar to us by Him Who c are s fo r

“
thi s w as the o a th ,

me I will c ar e fo r th e m A n d h e s wo re to th e m
. .

Th e n o n e o f th e m s e ize d his h an d s an d an oth e r his ,

g

fe e t an d a thi rd t akin g a ra zo r u n m an n e d him n o t

'

, ,

r e ally but in th e vi s io n So he se e m e d to him se l f to

.

h av e b e e n c ure d so to say in the t ran c e

, Th e y ask e d
, .

him : “
D o yo u fe e l an y b e n e fit ? He s aid to th e m : ”

I fe e l g re atly light e n e d an d a m p e rsu a d e d th a t I a m

e y s aid to him :
“
r e li e v e d O f my p as sio n
[]
5 Th . Go
”
aw a y ,
th e n An d he r e tu rn e d aft e r fi ve d ay s the
.
,

m o n ast e r y mou rn i n g fo r h im th e whil e a n d w e n t in a n d ,

r e mai n e d i n sid e h e n c e fo r w ard in an a dj oi n i n g c e ll fr o m

, ,

which b e in g n e ar a t h an d h e co rre ct e d th e m co n tin ually

so far a s he co uld But he liv e d fo rty y e ars mor e
.
,

a l wa y s ass u r i n g the fa th e rs :
“
P as sio n co me s n o mo re
”
i n to my mi n d Such w a s the gi ft o f g rac e o f th a t holy
.

man who thu s look e d a ft e r the m o n a st e ry .

CHAPTER X X X
D O R O THE U S

HE ucc e e d e d by D o ro the us a we ll t r i e d man

wa s s ,
-

w h o had g row n o ld in a good an d a ctiv e li fe Not .

b e i n g abl e to sta y in the m o n ast e ry it se l f as Elia s had ,

do n e b e shut him se l f up in an upp e r ch a mb e r an d

,

mad e a wi n do w looki n g o n to the wo me n s mon a st e ry

’
,

which he u se d to shut an d op e n So he w o uld s it .

con ti n ually at the wi n dow re mi n di n g th e m to k e e p the

p e ac e A n d so he g re w o ld up th e re in the upp e r
.

chamb e r without e ith e r the wom e n goin g up to him

,

o r hi m s e l f b e i n g abl e to com e down to th e m Fo r th e re .

was n o la dd e r fi x e d .
 PI AMOUN 11 1

C HAPTER XXX I
it P I AM O U N

[] I P IA M O U N w as
vi rgi n w ho liv e d the y e a r s o f he r a

li fe with he r m oth e r e ati n g e v e ry oth e r d ay in the 1

,

e v e n i n g an d s pi n n i n g fl ax She w as a cco un t e d wo rthy .

o f the gi ft o f p roph e cy o f which thi s is an e x a mpl e It

, .

h a pp e n e d o n c e in Egypt du r i n g the ove rflow (o f the

Nil e ) th a t o n e villag e a tt ack e d an oth e r Fo r th e y fight .

ov e r the di st rib utio n o f th e wa t e r so t hat murd e rs a n d

2
,

wou n di n g s e n su e W e ll a s t ro n g e r vi llag e a tt ack e d

.
,

h e r vill ag e a n d m en c a me in a c rowd with Sp e ar s an d

,

cl ub s to d e s t roy he r vill ag e [2 ] But a n an g e l a pp e a re d .

to he r re ve alin g to h e r th e i r att a ck
,
A n d se n di n g fo r .
,
.

“
th e e ld e rs 2
o f th e vi llag e s h e sa id : G O o ut an d m e e t ,

th e m e n w ho a re co mi n g ag a i n s t yo u fr o m th a t vill a g e ,

l e s t yo u al s o p e ri sh with the vill ag e a n d u rge th e m to ,

c e ase fro m th e ir malic e But the e ld e r s w e r e afraid .

”

a n d fe ll at he r fe e t b e se e chi n g he r an d s ayi n g to h e r :
“
We d are n o t me e t th e m ; fo r w e k n ow th e ir d r un k e n
n e s s an d m ad n e ss [3 ] But if yo u h ave pity both o n
.

the whol e vill ag e a n d you r o w n hou se go out yo ur se l f ,

an d m e e t th e m
”
N o t ag re e i n g to thi s she w e n t up to
.
,

he r o w n cottag e — it w as n ight a t the ti me — a n d stood

co n ti n u ally in pra y e r n o t k n e e lin g dow n an d b e se e chin g , ,
“
G o d thu s : 0 Lo rd Who j udg e s t the e arth to Who m , ,

no u n ju st a c t is pl e asi n g wh e n thi s p ra y e r r e ach e s ,

Th e e le t Thy po we r n ail th e s e men to the s pot wh e re

,

e v e r it fi n d s th e m []
”
4 A nd a bout th e fi rs t hou r
.
,

uf ga af So T urn e r w ho re j e cts B utl e s r e n d e r i g

’
1
,
av r a ar . , r n

o n c e a d ay .
”

2
Se e M itte is Wil k e n G r un d z n ge a n d C hr e s toma thie d e r
-
c ,

P a pyr u s ku n d e I i 2 7 3 fo r the di ffe re n t c a te go r i e s o f l n d w h ich

, . .
, a ,

w a cl ass i fi e d a cco r din g a s it g o t a n e x c e ssiv e n o r mal o r d e fi ci e n t

s , ,

s upply o f flood w te r a .

S e n o te o n XV I I 6 I t c an ha rdly me n
2 ’
7r
p a Bu p
e r e o vs . e . . a

p i s ts he r e th o ugh Luco t so tr n s l a te s
i e
,
a .
1 12 T H E LAUSIAC H I STOR Y

wh e n th e y w e re abo ut thr e e mil e s away th e y w e re ,

n ail e d to th e g r ou n d an d co uld n o t mov e A n d it w as .

r e v e al e d a lso to th e m that this h in d ran c e had com e

to th e m th r ough he r p e titio n s A n d th e y s e n t to the
.

“
village an d ask e d fo r p e ac e d e cl ari n g : Giv e th an ks to
,

God an d the pray e r s o f Piamo un fo r th e y hin d e re d us ,

.
”

C HAPTE R XXX I I
P ACHO M I US AN D THE TA BE N N E S I O TS

[ ] TA BE N N I SI
1
I is a pl ac e so call e d in the Th e baid
,
-

, ,

in which th e re live d a c e rt ai n P acho m iu s o n e o f tho se ,

‘

who h av e liv e d in the st raight w ay so that h e was ,

cou n t e d wo rthy both o f p roph e ci e s an d a n g e lic vi sio n s .

He w as e x c e e di n gly d e vot e d both to his fe llow m e n an d -

his b re th e n
r Acco r din gly to him as h e sat in his c av e
.
,
2

an an g e l
2
app e are d an d sa id :
“
Yo u h ave s ucc e s sfully
o rd e r e d you r o w n li fe So it is sup e rfl uo us to re m ai n
.

s itti n g in you r c a v e U p ! go o ut an d coll e ct all the

.

you n g mo n k s an d dwe ll with th e m an d a cco rdi n g to th e ,

mod e l which I n o w giv e you so l e gi sl at e fo r th e m ;,

”

an d he gav e him a b rass t a bl e t o n which t hi s w as

i n sc rib e d
alt allow e ach man to e a t a n d
[]
“
2 Thou sh d rin k

a cco r di n g to his st re n gth ; a n d p r opo r tio n at e ly t o the

st re n gth o f the e at e r s appoi n t to th e m th e i r labou rs .

1
N e ar D e n d e rah o n th e N il e S e e I n tr od uc tio n , p 2 3, an d
. .

Lad e uze , E tud e sur le Cén o b itis rn e p a kho mie n , p a ss irn The .

e r r o r th a t Ta b e n n is i w a s a n i sl an d go e s b a ck to s o m e M SS o f .

S o z o m e n , I I I 1 4 , wh ich ha v e Ta Be z/ Vn 11 73 0 03
'
. .

2
He w as w i th Pa l ae mo n at the ti me .

2
La d e uz e co n sid e rs the G r e e k Vita P ac ho mi i the s our c e o f the
o the r ve rs io n s , a n d the Rule in its var ious re c e n sio n s to b e i n fe rio r
in a uth o r i ty to th e Li ve s .The an g e l he re se e ms to him l e g e n d ar y,
s i n c e h e is n o t me n t io n e d in the L ive s ( p But c f G e n n a d ius ,
. .

d e vir illu s , 7
. . .
1 14 TH E LAUSIAC HI STORY
b usi e d him se l f with the affa i rs o f the g re at multitud e ,

he a sk e d th e s e co n d “
Ho w is the Alph a se ctio n ? ' ”

or , Ho w is the Z e ta ? o r agai n Gre e t the Rho an d ,

”

th e y followe d a p r ivat e m e an i ng assig n e d to the l e tt e r s

‘

“
A n d to the s impl e r an d mo re u n wo rldly thou sh alt
giv e the I ot a an d to the mo re di fficult an d p e rve r s e
,

[]
”
thou s h alt assign the X i 5 A nd so in co rr e spo n d .

e n c e with th e n a tu re o f th e i r dispo s itio n s a n d m an n e r s

an d liv e s h e fitt e d the l e tt e r s to e a ch se ctio n o n ly th e

, ,

spi ritu al k n owi n g wh at w as m e an t A n d it w as writt e n .

“
o n th e t a bl e t : A st ran ge r o f an oth e r mo n ast e ry which
has a di ffe re n t r ul e is n o t to e at with th e m n o r d ri n k , ,

n o r e n t e r i n to the mo n as te ry u n l e ss he happ e n s to b e ,

o n a ( g e n ui n e ) j ou rn e y How e v e r the man w ho has

1 ”
.
,

co me to re m ai n with th e m th e y do n o t allow to e n t e r
i n to the san ctu ar y fo r th re e y e a rs 2 But aft e r a thr e e .

y e ar s p rob atio n an d p e rfo rm an c e o f the mo re toil s om e

’

“
l abo urs th e n he e n t e rs
, []
6 As th e y e at le t th e m .

cov e r th e i r h e ads With th e i r cowl s l e st o n e b roth e r se e

an oth e r ch e wi n g A m o n k is n o t allow e d to t alk at
.

m e als n o r le t his e ye wan d e r b e yo n d his plat e o r the

tabl e . An d he o rd e re d th e m du ri n g the whol e d ay to
”

m ak e tw e lv e p ray e rs a n d twe lv e at the lam p lightin g , ,

an d twe lv e at the n ight vigil s an d th re e at th e n i n th -

hou r But wh e n a g roup was about to e a t he o rd e re d

.

3
a ps alm to b e su n g b e fo re e ach p ray e r .

sup e r fi c ie lle m e n t r e n se ign é d aille urs sur le s m oi n e s d e Tab e n n isi

’
,

a i n v e n té la r egl e q ue n o us a vo n s e x am i n ée
”
.

B utl e r is n o t con v i n c e d by Lad e uz e s d e p r e ci ation o f Pallad iu

'
’ ’
S

ve rsio n o f the R ul e s ( I I an d in the Ca mb r id ge M e d ie val

.

Histo ry I 5 2 4 ( 1 9 1 I ) sp e ak s o f i t as p rob ably the m o st authe n t ic

, .
,

e pi t o m e .

1 T o e x c lud
e p r o fe ss io n a l w an d e re r s gyr o vagi , .

I n the Live s P a ch o m i us re c e iv e s vi si to rs fr o m o the r fo rm s o f

m o n a stici sm fr e e ly La d e uz e p 2 6 4 , , . .

2
N o tra c e o f thi s in the L ive s o r J e ro me Lad e uze p 2 8 1 , . .

2
S e e B ut l e r I I p 207 f fo r a discussion o f the se p raye rs
, .
, . .
, .

P all adi n s v e rsio n co n flic ts wi th Cassia n s

’ ’
.
 PA CHOMI U S AN D THE TABE N N E SI OTS 11 5

[7 ] Wh e n P achomiu s obj e ct e d to the a n ge l th at the

“
p ray e rs we re fe w the an ge l s aid to him : I gav e thi s ,

r ul e so a s to m ak e s u re in advan c e th at e v e n the littl e

o n e s k e e p the rul e an d are n o t afllic te d 1 But the p e r .

fe c t h av e n o n e e d O f l e gi sl atio n fo r by th e m se lv e s in ,

th e i r c e ll s th e y h av e su rre n d e r e d the whol e o f th e i r li fe

to the co n t e mpl atio n o f G o d But I h a v e l e gisl at e d fo r .

as man y as h av e n o t a disc e rn i n g mi n d in ord e r th a t ,

th e y lik e ho use s e rv an t s fulfillin g the duti e s o f th e i r

,
-

s t atio n may liv e a li fe o f fr e e do m

,
.

N o w th e re ar e a n umb e r o f th e se mo n ast e ri e s which

hav e O b se rv e d thi s rul e a mou n ti n g to 7 0 0 0 me n 2 But , .

th e fi r st an d gr e a t mo n as t e ry is that wh e re P a chomius
hims e l f d w e lt w hic h it se l f also is the pare n t o f the oth e r
‘

m o a st e ri e s ; it as 3
n h 1 0 0 m e mb e s r
3
[8 ] A mo n g th e m .

th e re w as al s o the n obl e Aphtho n ius who b e ca me my ,

i n tim at e fri e n d an d is n o w se co n d in the m o n ast e ry

,
.

Him th e y se n d to Al e xan d ri a Si n c e n othi n g c an mak e ,

him stumbl e in o rd e r to s e ll th e i r p roduc e an d buy

,

n e c e s sar i e s [9 ] But th e re ar e al s o oth e r m o n as t e ri e s

.

tw o hu n d r e d o r th r e e hu n d re d st r o n g O n e o f th e s e
!

.
,

with 3 0 0 mo n k s I foun d wh e n I e n t e re d the city o f

,

P an opoli s [I n the m o n ast e ry I fou n d fi ft e e n t ailo rs

.
,

s e v e n s miths fo ur c a rp e n t e r s tw e lv e cam e l d r iv e r s an d
, ,
-

fi fte e n But th e y wo rk at e v e ry ki n d o f c raft

an d with th e i r su rplu s output th e y p r ovid e fo r the n e e d s

both o f the wo me n s co n v e n ts an d the p ri s on s [ ]

10
’
.

[Th e y k e e p pigs to o an d wh e n I blam e d the practic e , ,

1
Cf . the B e n e dictin e R ule w hich w as i n te n d e d o n ly t o b e a ,

li ttl e r ul e fo r b e gi n n e rs min ima in c ho atio n is r egu la , .

Cas si an I n st I V 1 sa y s m o re than 5 000 J e r o me in p r olog ue

,
.
, . , ,

to the La ti n v e rs ion o f the R ul e ,

3
Cf XV I I I 1 3 whe re th e n um b e r is giv e n as 1 400
. .
, The .

m o n aste r y w h e re Pa c ho m i us dw e l t w as Pa b au n o t Tab e n n is i ,
P all adin s is in e rro r .

4
The p as sag e s in squar e b ra ck e ts are appare n tly ge n ui n e th o ugh
'

o mi tte d in some M SS .
1 1 6 T H E LAUSI AC H I STORY

th e y s aid : I n o ur t raditio n w e h av e re c e iv e d thi s tha t ,

th e y are to b e k e pt b e c aus e o f the cha ff an d the r e fus e ,

o f the v e g e t abl e s an d oth e r s c ra p s th a t o n e th r ow s a w ay ,

1
l e t th e y e w st e d
s b a An d the pig s a re to b e kill e d an d
.

th e i r m e at sold but the tit bits ar e to b e d e vot e d to the

,
-

s ick an d ag e d b e c aus e th e n e ighbou rhood is poo r an d

,
’

popul o u s ; fo r the t rib e o f the Bl e mmy e s liv e n e ar ] .

[1 1 ] But th ose who are to se r v e th a t d ay r i se e arly an d

g e t to th e i r wo rk s o m e to the kitch e n oth e r s to th e
, ,

t abl e s Th e y sp e n d th e i r t i me th e n u n til the m e al hou r

.
-

in a rran gi n g a n d p re p arin g the t abl e s putti n g lo av e s o n ,

’
e ach , an d cha rlock p re s e rv e d oliv e s ch e e s e o f cow s
, ,

m ilk [the tit b its o f the m e at ] an d chopp e d h e rb s

,
-

,
.

So me co m e in at the si x th ho ur an d e at oth e r s at th e ,

s e v e n th oth e r s at th e e ighth oth e r s at th e n i n t h oth e rs

, , ,

at t he e l e v e n th oth e rs in th e l a t e e v e n i n g oth e rs e v e ry
, ,
2
oth e r d ay so th at e ach l e tt e r k n ow s its o w n ho u r
,
.

[ ]
1 2 S o a l s o is it with th e i r wo rk O n e wo rk s o n the .

l a n d a s a l abou re r an oth e r in the gard e n an oth e r at the

, ,

fo rge a n oth e r in th e b ak e ry an oth e r in the c ar p e n t e r s

’
, ,

shop an oth e r in the full e r s shop an oth e r w e a vi n g th e

“
’
, ,

big b ask e t s a n oth e r in the t an n e ry an oth e r in the sho e

, ,

m ak e r s shO p an oth e r in the sc riptor iu m an oth e r w e avi n g

’
, ,

the yo un g re e d s An d th e y l e a r n all th e sc r iptu re s by

.

h e ar t .

C HAPTE R XXX I I I
2
T HE TA BE N N E S I O T N U N S
T HE Y lso h d m o n a s t e r y o f wo m e n W ith so m e
[] I a a a

m mb e r s it h a d th e s a m e co n stit utio n an d th e
4 0 0 e ;
G e o g e H b e t s C o un try P s o n k e e p s pigs fo r th e sa m e
’
1 r ar
r er

re as o n (P rie s t to the Te mple Ch , .

2
I n poi n t o f fa c t s ys L a d e uz e ( p 2 9 8,
a th e y a te tog e the r .

t w ic e a d a y at th e sam e ti me .

2T he re w e r e th r e e T b e n n e sio t n un n e i e s B utl e r is i n cli e d to

a r n

id n t i fy thi s n e wi th Tism e n e wh e re the e w as a m on aste y o f

e o a ,
r r

P a ch om i an mo n k s m e n tio n e d in the Vita P ac ho mii

,
.
1 1 8 TH E LAUSI AC H I STORY

u n abl e to b e ar (the sham e o f) the a flair So wh e n the .

pri e st cam e the re st o f the sist e r s told him the affair .

A n d he o r d e re d fi rst th a t the sa c rific e should n o t b e

o ffe re d fo r e ith e r o f th e m ; an d a s fo r thos e who had
n o t k e pt the p e a c e s i n c e th e y had b e e n accomplic e s o f
,

the calum n iato r a n d had b e li e v e d th e s ca n dal h e s e p a ,

ra t e d th e m ( fr om the r e st
) fo r s e ve n y e ars d e p rivi n g ,

th e m o f Commu n io n 1 .

C H A P T E R XXX I V
N U N W HO FE I GN E D MA D N E SS

[I ] I N this mo n ast e r y th e re was an oth e r vi rgi n w ho

fe ig n e d mad n e ss an d pos s e ssio n by a d e mo n A n d th e y .

d e t e st e d he r so much th at th e y would n o t e ve n e at
with he r She p re fe rri n g this She would wan d e r ab out
,
.

in the kitch e n an d do e ve ry ki n d o f m e n i al wo rk an d ,
“ ”
Sh e w a s as th e y say
, the mo n as t e r y spo n g e
, fulfilli n g ,

in fact the wo r d s o f Sc riptu re : I f an y o n e s e e m to b e

wi se a mo n g you in this wo rld le t him b e com e foolish ,

2 ”
th at he may b e wi s e She fast e n e d s om e rags o n he r
.

h e ad— all the re s t had the to n su re an d wo re cowls an d -

s e rve d in this gui se [2 ] No n e o f the 4 0 0 sis t e rs e ve r

.

saw he r ch e wi n g du r i n g the y e ar s o f he r li fe She n e v e r .

sat at t a bl e n o r p artook o f a pi e c e o f b re a d but wipin g

, ,

up the c r u mb s fr o m the tabl e s an d wa shin g the kitch e n

pots she w as co n t e n t W ith wh at she got in this w ay .

N e ve r did she in sult an y o n e n o r g rumbl e n o r talk e ith e r

littl e o r m uch although she was cu ffe d an d i n sult e d an d
,

cu rs e d an d e x e c rat e d .

[3 ] N o w an an g e l app e are d to the holy Pite ro um a n ,

a n cho rit e o f high re putatio n who dwe lt in Po rphy r it e s

2
,

Cf XXI 1 5 I C o r iii 1 8
1 2
. . . . . .

2
O n the sho re s o f the Re d Se a Pite ro um may p e rha p s b e
.

id e n tica l w tth Pityrio n the d iscipl e o f An ton y me n tio n e d in ,

Hist M o n XV I I
. . .
 THE NU N WHO FE I GNE D MADNE SS 1 19

“
an d said to him : Why are yo u p ro ud o f yo urs e l f fo r
be in g re ligiou s an d dwe lli n g in a pl ac e lik e thi s ? D o
you wan t to se e a wo man who is mo re re ligiou s th an
you ? Go to the mo n a st e ry o f the Tab e n n e sio t wo me n
an d th e re
yo u will fi n d a wom an w e ari n g a c r own o n
he r h e ad She is b e tt e r th an yo u
.
[4] Fo r though .

s he sp ars with so g re at a c r owd sh e has n e v e r le t h e r ,

h e art go away from God But you sit h e re an d wan d e r .

in im agi n atio n th ro ugh the di ffe re n t citi e s 1 An d he .

”

who had n e ve r gon e out we n t o ff to that mo n a st e ry an d

b e sought the ma st e rs 2 to le t him go to the mo n ast e r y o f
the wom e n Th e y w e re e mbold e n e d to le t him in si n c e
.
,

he w as fa mou s an d advan c e d in y e ars [5 ] An d havi n g .

gon e in he d e m an d e d to se e th e m all But she did

. .

n o t app e a r At last he sa id to th e m
.
“
B r i n g me all fo r ,

th e re is o n e lacki n g Th e y s aid to him .

“
We have o n e
withi n in the kitch e n a sa le 2 Fo r thu s th e y styl e the , .
”

m e n t ally afflicte d He said to th e m . B rin g he r al s o to

me . Le t me se e he r
”
T he y w e n t o ff to c all he r She
. .

did n o t a n sw e r p e rh aps p e rc e ivi n g wh a t w as the matt e r

, ,

o r e v e n h avi n g had a re v e latio n Th e y d rag he r forcibly .

an d say to he r : “
The holy Pite ro um wan ts to se e
you fo r h e w as fa mou s [6 ] Wh e n she ca m e he .
,

p e rc e ive d the rag o n he r fo re h e ad an d fe ll a t he r fe e t

“
an d sa id to he r : Bl e ss m e She al s o fe ll at his .
”

fe e t in lik e m an n e r sayi n g D o you bl e s s m e M as t e r

, ,
.
”

The y w e re all amaz e d an d said to him : Fath e r do n o t

_
“
,

Sa id Pite ro um to th e m
”
le t he r i n s ult you she is s a le ,
.

a ll : Yo u are s a le Fo r she is moth e r both o f me

.
4

e t e n ste in
1 R i z He ll Wun d e re r z p 7 7 say s thi s s tor y is asc r ibe d
, . .
, .
,

t o Sa ra pio n in the Sy i ac Life o f Sar pio n Se e XXXVI I 5 wh ich

r a . .
,

s p e ak s o f the co n t i n ua l w a n d e r i n gs o f Sar p io n a .

2
The se n io r mo n k s w h o w e re r e spo n sibl e fo r the d i sciplin e o f
th e n un s .

As a ti tl e it w a s b e st ow e d upo n c e rta i n h oly me n w ho

2 ’
a uAo s
'
.

fe ign e d idiocy fo r Chr i s t s sak e , the mo st di sti n g ui she d o f w ho m

’

w a s Sime o n the Fo o l ( Sophocl e s)

”
.

p h as, the fe mi n i n e e quival e n t o f d BBcis

2 al
‘

.
1 20 T H E LAUSI AC H I STORY

an d yo u thu s th e y c all the s pi ritu al wo me n

— fo r
“
an d I p ray to b e fou n d wo rthy o f h e r in the d ay o f

judg me n t [7].
”
Havi n g h e ar d th e s e wo r d s th e y fe ll

at his fe e t all co n fe s si n g in di ffe re n t w ay s : o n e th a t

,

She had pou re d the ri n si n g s o f the plat e ov e r he r ;

a n oth e r th a t she had b e a te n he r with he r fi st ; an oth e r
tha t sh e had appli e d a mu stard pl ast e r to he r n o s e -
.

A n d in a wo rd all co n fe ss e d out rag e s o f o n e ki n d o r

, ,

an oth e r So a ft e r p rayi n g fo r th e m he w e n t away

. An d .

aft e r a fe w d ay s u n abl e to b e ar h e r glo ry an d the

,

ho n ou r b e stowe d by the s i st e rs an d bu rd e n e d by th e ir ,

a pologi e s sh e l e ft the mo n a st e ry
,
A n d wh e re she W e n t .
,

o r wh e re she disapp e ar e d to o r ho w she di e d n o one

, ,

k n ows .

CHAPTER XXXV
1
J O H N O F LY CO P O L I S

R E wa s a c e r t ai n Joh n in Lycopoli s who in

[] IT HE ,

his childhood l e arn e d t h e t ra d e o f c arp e n t e r i n g — he had

a b r oth e r a dy e r L at e r wh e n he was about twe n ty five

.
,
-

y e ar s o ld h e re n ou n c e d the world An d h avi n g liv e d

,
.

in var iou s mo n ast e ri e s fo r five y e a rs he re tire d by him

s e l f to the mou n t ai n o f Lyc o wh e re he m ad e hims e l f ,

th re e c e lls o n the actual summit an d w e n t in an d

\
immu re d him se l f O n e ch amb e r w as fo r his bodily
.

n e e d s an d a n oth e r wh e re h e wo rk e d an d a te
,
an d th e ,

thir d wh e re he pray e d [2 ] H avin g compl e te d thi rty .

y e ars thu s immu re d an d re c e ivi n g the n e c e ssari e s o f

,

li fe thr ough a wi n dow fr om o n e who min i ste re d to him ,

he was cou n t e d wo rthy o f the gi ft o f p re dictio n s .

Amo n g othe r i n stan c e s he s e n t various p re diction s to

1
O th e r wi se call e d St
. John of E gypt . Cf . H is t
. M on . I . Ca s
s i an , I n s t I V . . 2 —26
3 Co ll I
. . 21, XX I V .
26 , Lyc o polis is t he
mod e rn Asyut,
1 22 T HE LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

a fte r gre e ti n g me he s a id th rough an i n t e rp re t e r 1

, .

“
Wh e n c e are yo u ? an d why have you c om e ? Fo r I _

co n j e ctu re tha t you b e lo n g to the con v e n t o f E vagrius .

I said I a m a st ran g e r who start e d out fr om Gal atia .

’
A n d I co n fe sse d th at I b e lo n g e d to E vagrius soc i e ty .

M e an whil e as w e talk e d the rul e r o f the dist rict c ame

,
2
,

up A ypius by n am e He tu rn e d to him an d l e ft O ff
, l 2
.

t alki n g with me So I r e ti re d a littl e an d gav e way to

.

th e m stan din g s om e way o ff As th e i r co n v e rsatio n

,
.

l a ste d a lo n g tim e I b e c am e di sgust e d an d in my , ,

disgust I mu rmu re d again st the good o ld man si n c e ,

he d e spi se d me an d ho n ou re d him [6 ] And an n oy e d .

in mi n d a t this I for m e d the pl an o f goi n g away dis

, ,

d ai n i n g him But h avin g c all e d his i n t e rp re t e r n a m e d

.
,
“
Th e odo re he said to him : Go t e ll th at b roth e r D o
, , ,
‘

n o t b e p e tty mi n d e d I am j ust goi n g to di s mi s s the

-
.

r ul e r an d t alk to you So I re solve d to w ait p ati e n tly

.
,

att e n di n g to him as a Spiritu al man An d wh e n the .

rul e r h ad go n e he c all e d me an d said to me :

,
Why
ar e
yo u v e x e d with me ? What did yo u fi n d wo r thy o f
bl a m e th at you thought thos e thin g s th at n e ith e r appli e d
,

to me n o r b e fitte d yo u ? O r do yo u n o t k n ow that it
is writt e n : Th e y that ar e whol e n e e d n o t a phy s ici an ,

4
but th y th a t a e sick
e r I fin d yo u wh e n I wan t you ,

an d you me A n d if I do n o t con sol e yo u th e re are

.
,

oth e r b re th re n to con sol e you an d oth e r fath e r s But .

thi s man is d e liv e re d up to the d e vil th r ough his wo rldly

a ffairs an d havi n g re spit e fo r a b ri e f hou r like a s e rvan t
, ,

r un a w ay fr om his m ast e r he has com e to re c e iv e ,

b e n e fit I t would have b e e n a b su rd that w e should l e ave

.

1 B utl e r sugg e sts that P a ll adi n s k n e w C op tic b ut n o t Sahidic , ,

the di a l e c t O f U pp e r E gyp t .

The ij y n wv o f the The ba id a cco r din g to D iocl e ti an s arran g e

’ ’
2 e ,

me n ts w a s r e spo n sibl e to th e g a pxo s o f A l e x an d r i a th e civil he a d

,
r ,

o f th e co un t r y Se e M itte is Wilc k e n I i 7 3
.
-
, . . .

2
Se e Butl e r I 2 96 ,
.
4
Lk v 3 1
,
. . .
 JOHN OF LYCO POLI S 1 23

him an d att e n d to yo u wh e n you hav e u n in t e rrupte d

,

So I e x ho rt e d him
”
l e isu re to att e n d to yo ur salvatio n .

to p ray fo r m e an d w as fully con vin c e d tha t he w as

a s iritual m an
p []
8 Th e n h avi n g a ffe ctio n at e ly sl ap e d
.
, p
my l e ft ch e e k ge n tly with his right han d he said to me ,
“
M an y a fflictio n s are in sto re fo r yo u an d man y tim e s ,

h ave you b e e n t e mpt e d to l e av e the d e s e rt A n d yo u .

hav e b e e n timid an d hav e d e fe rre d (a d e ci sion ) But .

the d e mo n by p rovidi n g yo u with piou s a n d sp e ciou s

e x cu se s u n se ttl e s you Fo r he sugg e st e d to you both
.

a lo n gi n g to se e you r fath e r an d th e i n st r uctio n o f you r

,

b roth e r an d s i ste r with a V i e w to the mo n as tic li fe .

[] 9 B e hold th e n I giv e yo u good n e ws

,
both ar e s av e d ,

fo r both hav e r e n ou n c e d the wo rld An d as r e g ar d s .

your fath e r at this v e ry mom e n t he still has oth e r ye ars

,

to live So con ti n u e in the d e s e r t an d do n o t wish o n

.

th e ir a ccou n t to go hom e to you r n ativ e l an d fo r it is ,

writt e n : N 0 man havi n g put his han d to the plough

‘

an d tu rn i n g b ack is fit fo r the ki n gdo m o f h e av e n 1 ’

.

So b e n e fit e d by th e se wor d s a n d su ffici e n tly co rr e ct e d

, ,

I th an k e d G o d h avi n g l e a rn e d that the p re t e x t s which

,

w e re d rivi n g me w e re fi n ish e d with .

[1 0 ] Th e n agai n h e said to me g ra ciou sly : D O yo u

“

“”
wan t to b e com e a bi shop ? I said to him : I am
one . He said to me : Wh e re ?
” “
I said : “
( I am
”

bi shop ) ov e r the kitch e n s the shops the tabl e s an d the

, ,

pots I am th e i r bi shop an d if th e re is an y Sh arp win e

.
,

I e x commu n ic at e it but I d rin k the good, Simil arly I .

,

a m bi shop ov e r the pot to o a n d if s alt o r an s o i g

y e as n n

is l acki n g I th row it in an d s e a so n ( the pot) an d th e n

,

I e at it This is my bishop ric fo r glutto n y o rdai n e d

.
,

me .
”
[1 1
] H e said to m e w ith a smil e :
“
S top you r

j ok e s Yo u hav e to b e o rd ain e d bishop an d toil m uch

.
,

an d b e affl ict e d I f th e n yo u would e s c ape a fflictio n s

.
,

1
Lk i x 1 2 . . .
1 24 T HE LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

d e part n o t from the d e s e rt Fo r in the d e s e r t n o man .

”
can o r d ai n you bishop .

So I l e ft him an d w e n t i n to the d e s e rt to my accu s

to me d pl a c e an d told th e se thi n gs to the bl e s se d fa th e r s
, ,

w ho a ft e r tw o mo n th s w e n t by bo a t an d me t him B ut .

I fo rgot his word s fo r a ft e r th r e e y e ar s I fe ll ill with a n

,

ill n e ss o f the spl e e n an d stom ach [1 2 ] I w as s e n t by .

the b re th re n fr om the m o n a st e r y to Al e x a n d ri a u n d e r ,

t re a tm e n t fo r d r op sy The docto rs a dvi se d me to b e tak e

.

m y se l f fro m Al e x a n d ria to Pal e sti n e fo r the s ak e o f the

air . Fo r ( Pal e sti n e ) has light ai rs such a s b e fit o ur ,

co n stit utio n Fr om P al e stin e I ca me to Bithyn i a an d

.
,

th e re — I k n ow n o t ho w wh e th e r fr om hu man z e al o r ,

from the good pl e a s ure o f Him Who is mo re pow e rful ,

G o d wo uld k n ow— I w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f the l ayi n g—o n

o f han d s so m uch a bov e my d e s e rt s h avi n g b e co me
,
1
,

e mb r oil e d in the distu rb an c e co n n e ct e d with the bl e ss e d

[I 3 ] An d fo r e l e v e n mo n th s hidd e n in a gloomy
2
John .

c e ll I re m e mb e re d th at bl e s s e d man th at he had fo re ,

told th e se thi n g s which I e n du re d An d i n d e e d he told .

me thi s d e sig n in g by h is tal e to l e ad me to e n du re the

,
“
d e se r t . Fo rty y e ar s have I sp e n t in the c e ll I h ave .

n o t se en th e fac e o f wom an n o r the app e ara n c e o f

mo n e y I have s e e n n o o n e ch e win g n o r has an y o n e
.
,

s e e n me e ati n g o r d ri n kin g .
”

[1 4 ] Wh e n Poe me n ia the se rva n t o f God c a m e t

\
o
i n t e rvi e w him h e did n o t m e e t he r but he had a n umb e r
, ,

o f s e c re t m a tt e rs told to h e r An d he e n joi n e d he r .
,

wh e n she w e n t down fr om the Th e b aid n o t to tu rn asid e

“ ”
to Al e xan d ria fo r yo u will fall i n to t e mpt atio n
,
B ut .

s he ,
thin kin g diffe re n tly o r fo rg e tti n g tu rn e d asid e to
, ,

Al e x an d ria to se e the city But o n the way she moo re d .

553 Im ép l O r pe rhap s o n ly l ayi n g o f han ds

‘
1 7
x
et o'
p r o r a s.
upon me .
”

9
Chryso s to m .
1 26 TH E LAUSI AC HI STORY
mon ths .
[]4 A nd this w as th e mi ra cl e h e did in

B e thl e h e m A c e rt ai n wom an appr o achi n g he r c o n fin e

.

m e n t had an u n cl e an spi r it an d wh e n she w as actu ally ,

about to b e d e liv e re d sh e had di ffi cult l abou r the spi r it

, ,

torme n ti n g he r The husb an d th e re fo re si n c e his wi fe

.
, ,

w as s u ffe ri n g from the d e m o n ca m e an d b e s ought th a t

,

holy man to co me So he s tood up— w e w e re p re se n t

.
,

h avi n g co me at the sam e tim e to p ray — an d p ray e d an d ,

aft e r k n e e li n g dow n fo r the s e co n d tim e he d r ov e o ut

“
the s pi r it .
[]
5 S o h e s tood up a n d s a id to us : P r ay ,

fo r a t thi s m om e n t th e u n cl e an Spi rit is goi n g o ut a n d ,

th e re sho uld b e a Sig n th at w e may b e co n vi n c e d

, SO .
”

the d e mo n o n h is way o ut o f h e r th re w dow n the whol e

wall o f the pre cin ct s fo un d atio n s a n d all N o w the
, .

wo man had b e e n six y e ars without sp e e ch A ft e r the .

d e mon had go n e o ut she gave bi rth to a child an d

s pok e .

[6 ] I k n e w al s o t h e followi n g p roph e cy s pok e n by

thi s man A c e rt ai n J e r o me a p ri e st di sti n g ui sh e d
.
, ,

L a ti n w rit e r an d c ultiva t e d s cholar as h e w a s s howe d ,

qualiti e s o f t e mp e r so di sast r ous th at th e y th re w i n to

1
i
the sh a d e h s spl e n did a chi e v e m e t s n We ll P o sido n iu s .
, ,

who had liv e d with him man y day s s aid in my e ar ,

“
Th e n obl e P a ul a w ho look s a ft e r him wil l d ie fi rst
, ,

an d b e fre e d from h is b ad t e mp e r so I thi n k []

7 A nd , .

b e c au se o f thi s man n o holy man will dwe ll in th e se

par t s but his e n vy will in clud e e v e n his o wn b r oth e r
, .
”

The thi n g h a pp e n e d a s h e s aid Fo r in fact he d rov e.

, ,

o ut the bl e ss e d O xyp e r e n tius the I t ali an an d an oth e r ,

man Pe te r a n Egypti an a n d Sim e o n admi rabl e me n

_
, , , ,

whom I n otic e d with approv al at the tim e Thi s Po si .

d o n ius told me th at h e had n o t t r i e d b re ad fo r fo rty

ye ars n o r i n d e e d had he bo rn e malic e fo r h al f a d ay
, .

1
Pa ll adi n s un fa vo ura bl e O pi n io n f J e r o m e w as cipr oc ate d
’
o re se e
B utl e r, I 1 73 f , a n d I I 2 1 3
. . . .
 SARAPI ON THE SI N DON I TE 1 27

C HAPTER XXXV I I
SA RAP I O N T HE S I N D O N I TE
1

n oth e r mo n k Sarap io n
[] I T HE R E w as a a n d h e w as , ,

su rn a m e d th e Sin d o n ite fo r a p art fro m a sin d o n ( loi n

,

cloth) he n e v e r wore cloth e s He practis e d gre a t d e t ach .

m e n t from po sse ssio n s an d b e i n g w e ll e duc at e d k n e w , ,

all the Sc riptu re s by h e art A n d th ro ugh his g re at .

d e t a ch me n t an d his me dita tio n o n the Sc riptu re s he was

un abl e to re m a i n c al m ly in th e c e ll ; n o t b e c a u se h e

w as di st ract e d by ma t e ri al thi n g s ye t n o n e th e l e ss he ,

t rave ll e d up an d down the world an d p e rfe ct e d this typ e

o f asc e tici sm Fo r he w as bo rn with thi s n atu re ; fo r
.

th e re are di ffe ren c e s o f n atu re s n o t o f sub stan c e s ,

.

[2 ] The fath e rs us e d to re l at e ho w taki n g an asc e tic ,

as his a ccomplic e
2
he sold hi mse l f to som e G re e k a cto r s
,

1
P e rhap s the mo st i n te r e sti n g o f all P all adi n s ta l e s Se e B utl e r ’
.
,

II . 2 14 f A bbé N au ha s show n that Sara p io n n o t Pa ph n uti us

.
, ,

co n ve r t e d the fam o us cour te san T hai s N O W the to mb s o f Sara pio n .

a n d T ha i s ha v e b e e n di s cov e r e d s id e by s id e a t A n tin o e se e A r c hee o

'

lo gic a l Re p o rt ( 1 9 00— 1 90 1 ) o f the E gyp t E x plo r a tio n Fun d p 77 , . .

Th e bodi e s lie in th e M us ée G uime t a t Pari s an d ar e p r ob ably th o se

o f th e fam o us co upl e .

R e i tz e n ste i n He ll Wun d e re rz pp 6 4 f say s tha t the wh ol e

, . .
, . .
,

s to r y is i m po ss ibl e in its p r e se n t co n n e x io n An e x a gg e ra te d .

m od e sty chara c te r iz e s the E gyp ti an m o n k s a n d th i s is an O ld C y n ic ,

t al e p ut i n t o a Christi an s e tti n g P o ssibly h e is r ight b ut h e do e s

.
,
N

n o t se e m to a llow suffi ci e n tly fo r the fa c t th at e x tr e me s m e e t

“ ”
.

B utl e r s wor d s are wo rth quo tin g : I had look e d upo n Palla d ius
’ ’

a cco un t o f Sa rap io n s li fe a n d t ra v e l s a s e x tra v ag an t a n d i mpo s s i b l e

’

un t il a li ttl e t i me ag o I m e t a Hi n d u R e n un ci an t a w e ll e d uc ate d ,
-

h igh c as te B rahm in w ho o n a re ligio us m i ss io n tra v e ll e d fr o m I n di a

-
,

to E ur op e cl a d in w h a t m a y b e d e s c r ib e d as pyj a mas an d a b r ow n
d re ssi n g gown wi th sho e s an d sk ull cap carryin g n o m o n e y n o r
,
-
,

an y thi n g b e s id e s th e clo th e s he wo re an d a n umb r e ll a : h e ar r iv e d

in Lo n do n wi th n o m o n e y n o l uggag e n o fr i e n d s n o i n tr od uc t io n s
, , ,

ye t h e man ag e d t o e ffe c t the p ur po se o f h is jo urn e y an d sa id he ,

had n o d o ub t h e wo uld g e t ba ck to I n dia so m e h ow W hat P a ll adin s .

te ll s o f Sarapio n s a dve n tur e s is har dly mo re wo n d e rful than th i s

’
.
”

2
A Ba w w a a um a r nv G
’
R e i tz e n ste in fi n d s thi s sus
’
ia n ni nu
-
a r r tn .

p ic io us an d a Sig n that the st o r y h as b e e n bo rr ow e d fr o m an old e r

coll e c tion T his fe mal e co mp an io n i n comp re he n sibly disapp e ars ;
.
1 28 THE LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

in a c e rt ai n city fo r twe n ty pi e c e s o f m o n e y An d h avi n g .

se a l e d up the m o n e y h e k e pt it o n his p e r so n Th e n .

he stay e d a lo n g whil e an d s e rv e d a s sl av e to the a cto rs

w h o ha d bought h im un til h e both m ad e th e m Ch r i s ti an s
,

an d i n duc e d th e m to l e av e the st ag e All the ti me he .

took n othi n g e xc e pt b re ad an d wa t e r n o r did his lips ,

r e s t fr o m e x pou n di n g the Sc r iptu r e s

[3 ] Aft e r a lon g.

p e r iod fi rst the m an w as strick e n with co mp un ctio n

, ,

th e n the a ctre ss th e n the W hol e hou se

,
But it wa s s aid .

th at as lo n g as th e y did n o t kn ow him b e wa sh e d the

fe e t o f th e m bo th So both w e re b a ptiz e d an d g av e up
.

th e st ag e an d a pplyi n g th e ms e lv e s to an ho n ou rabl e
,

a n d piou s li fe th e y r e v e re d th e man e x c e e di n gly a n d said

to him : H e re br oth e r le t us fre e yo u s i n c e yo u you r

, , ,

s e l f hav e fre e d us fr om di sgra c e ful sl a v e r y He said to .

”

“
th e m : Si n c e G o d has wro ught thi s a n d yo ur s o ul is ,

s a ve d le t m e t e ll yo u the my st e ry o f my co n duct [4 ] I
,
.

piti e d you r s oul b e i n g mys e l f an asc e tic a fre e man an

, , ,

Egypti an by r ac e an d I sold m y se l f fo r thi s re aso n th a t

, ,

I might sav e yo u But si n c e G o d has don e thi s an d

.
,

yo ur soul ha s b e e n s av e d th r o ugh my hu m iliatio n t ak e ,

b ack you r mo n e y th at I may go a way an d h e lp oth e rs

,
.
”

But t he y u se d m an y e n t re a ti e s an d a ssu re d him : We “

”
will h av e yo u as fath e r a n d m ast e r o n ly s t ay with us ,
.

But th e y co uld n o t p e rsu a d e him Th e n th e y said to

.

“
him : Giv e the mo n e y to the poo r fo r it has b e e n o ur ,

fi rst p ay m e n t fo r salvatio n but com e an d se e us if o n ly ,

”
o n c e a y e ar .

[]
1
5 I n the cou r s e o f h is i n c e ssan t w an d e r i n g s h e

c a m e to G r e e c e an d du ri n g a thre e d ay s st ay at Ath e n s
,
’

n o o n e thought fit t o giv e him b re ad he c a rri e d no ,

sh e is o ut o f pl a c e he re , b ut wo uld b e q ui te in pl a c e as a su b
in tr o d ucta o f a n e a rli e r c e n tur y K r o tte n thale r e ch o e s R e i tz e n s te i n
. .

I t is s uffi ci e n t to r e ma rk tha t a vuwa ix r pta an d éa mrr p ta are t he

’
'

fe m i n i n e fo r ms .

1
Cf XXX I V 4
. . .
 1 30 THE LAU SI AC HIS T O R Y

[]
8 Th e n the philo s oph e r s re cog n iz e d th at he w as t ruly
vi rt uous an d givi n g the b ak e r the p ric e o f th e b re a d
,

th e y took the pie c e o f m o n e y 1

But h a vin g c o m e to .

the co un t r y wh e re the Sp ar t an s liv e h e h e ard th a t o n e ,

o f the fi rs t m e n o f the city w as a M an ich a

2
e an with a ll

his ho use tho ugh vi r tuous in oth e r r e sp e ct s

, To him .

ag ai n h e sold him s e l f a s he had do n e a t fi rs t an d withi n

tw o y e a rs h e i n d uc e d him to fo r sak e his h e r e sy an d ,

b rought him to the Ch urch an d his wi fe al so Th e n .

th e y lov e d him n o lon ge r as a s e rvan t but t r e at e d him ,

as a t ru e b r oth e r o r fa th e r an d glo rifi e d God .

[]
9 O n e d a y h e flu n g hi m s e l f i n to a v e s se l as if he

had a r ight to sa il to Rom e The s ailo rs thi n ki n g that .

,

e ith e r h e had p aid his fare o r ha d th e p ric e o f i t in c ash ,

r e c e iv e d h im without t r o ubl e e ach thi n ki n g th a t a n oth e r ,

had t ak e n his l uggag e But wh e n th e y had s ail e d a way

.

an d go t 5 0 0 s ta d e s fro m Al e x an d r i a th e p asse n g e r s
b e ga n to e at about su n down the sailo rs h avi n g e at e n ,

fi rst [1 0 ] Th e y sa w th a t he did n o t e at the fi rst d ay

.
,

s i mil arly
3
a d e x p e ct d it w as b e c a u se o
n e f t e voy ag e ;
h
o n th e se co n d thi rd an d fo urth d a y s
, O n the fi fth d ay .

th e y saw him sitti n g q ui e tly whil e all a te an d s aid to

him : “
Why a re yo u n o t e ati n g m an ? ”
He sa id to ,

“ ”
th e m : B e c aus e I h av e n othi n g So th e y i n qui re d .

“
o n e o f an oth e r Who re c e iv e d his l uggage o r his fare ? ”

[ ]
1 1 A n d wh e n th e y fo un d th a t n o o n e ha d th e y b e g an

to atta ck him a n d say : Ho w did you com e o n witho ut

“

payi n g ? F r o m wh at s ou rc e c an yo u giv e us the fare ?

O r fr om wh at s o urc e c an yo u ge t fe d ? He said to ”

th e m : “
I h a v e n othi n g Pick m e up a n d th row m e
.

wh e re yo u fou n d me ”
But th e y would n o t wi lli n gly
.

h ave re lin qui sh e d th e i r voy ag e e v e n fo r 1 0 0 gold pi e c e s , ,

1
To k e e p a s a sa c re d re lic .

2
R e ad in g T w o: r f
é w 7r pc6r w v W i th
‘
'
T urn e r .

3
I . e . se a s ick n e ss .
 SARAPI ON THE SI N D ON I TE 131

but th e y wa n t e d to ge t to th e i r d e sti n a tio n So he .

re mai n e d in th e ship an d fou n d th a t th e y fe d him un til

( th e y go t to ) Ro me .

[1 2 ] So h avi n g com e to Rom e he i n qui re d who w as

a g re a t a sc e tio in the city man o r wom an A mo n g
, .

oth e rs he me t al s o a c e rt ai n D o m n in us a di scipl e o f ,

O rige n who se b e d h e al e d sick p e r so n s aft e r his d e ath

, .

So he me t him an d w a s b e n e fit e d fo r h e w as a m a n o f ,

re fi n e d m an n e r s an d lib e ral e d uc a tio n an d l e arn i n g fr om

,

him wh at oth e r a sc e tic s th e r e w e re mal e o r fe mal e h e , ,

w a s told o f a c e rt a i n vi rgi n who cultiv at e d s o litud e an d

wo uld m e e t n o o n e 1 [1 3 ] A n d h avi n g l e arn e d wh e re

.

sh e liv e d he w e n t o ff an d said to th e o ld wo ma n w ho

a tt e n d e d h e r :
“
Te ll the vi rgi n I must m e e t yo u fo r ,
‘
,

G o d has s e n t m e So a ft e r wa iti n g tw o o r t hre e d ay s

’
.

a t la st he m e t he r
“
an d sa id to h e r :,
Why do yo u
r e ma i n
“
s t a tio n ary? She said to h im :
”
I do n o t
re m ai n st atio n ar y I am o n a j ou rn e y ,
He said to he r .

“
Wh e re are yo u j o urn e yi n g ? Said she to him :
“
To”

Go d . He said to he r : Ar e you a liv e o r d e ad ?

” “ ”

“
She said to him : I t ru s t in G o d th a t I a m d e ad fo r ,
”
n o o n e who liv e s to th e fl e sh sh all m a k e th a t j ou rn e y .

He said to he r : Th e n do wh a t I do th at yo u may
“
,

con vi n c e me th a t yo u are d e ad She said to him .

[ ]
“
O rd e r me po ssibl e thin g s an d I will d o th e m ,
14 .
”

He an sw e re d he r : All thin g s are po ssibl e to a d e ad

“

p e rs o n e x c e pt i mp ie ty Th e n he said to he r : Go o ut
.

“
a n d app e ar in public She a n s w e re d him . Thi s is °

the twe n ty fi fth y e ar th a t ha s pa ssed without my a pp e ar

-

“
in g in public A n d why should I app e ar ?
. I f yo u
”

”
a re d e ad to the wo rld said h e to he r an d th e wo rld to
, ,

2
y o u ,
it is all th e s am e to you wh e th e r you a pp e ar o r
So app e ar in p ublic She did so an d
”
a pp e ar n o t . .
,

1
Fo r a k e tch o f a v irgin livin g
s a s i m il a r li fe at R ome , se e

J e r o me s a cco un t o f A se ll a in E p 2 4 vi
’ 3
. . C f G al
. . . I4 .
1 32 T H E LAUSI AC H I STORY

t she had a pp e are d out s id e an d go n e a s far as a

af e r

ch urch h e said to h e r in the chu rch

, N o w th e n if yo u ,

w i s h to co n vi n c e m e th at yo u are d e ad an d n o lo n g e r
live pl e a sin g me n do wha t I do an d I sh all k n ow th a t
1
,

yo u are d e ad [ ]
1 5 Fo llow m y e x a mpl e a
. n d t ak e o ff
all you r cloth e s p ut th e m o n yo ur should e rs go th r ough , ,

the middl e o f th e city with me l e adi n g the w ay in thi s

2
fashio n She s aid to him : I should sc an d aliz e m an y
by the u n s e e mli n e ss o f the thin g an d th e y would b e abl e
t o say She is mad an d po sse sse d by a d e mo n
,
‘
He .
’

“
a n sw e re d he r : Wh at do e s it co n c e rn you if th e y say ,

Sh e is mad an d pos se ss e d by a d e mo n ? Fo r you are ’

“ ”
d e ad to th e m Th e n she sa id to him : I f yo u wan t
.

a n ythi n g e l se I will do it ; fo r I do n o t p r o fe ss to h a v e

[ ] Th e n he said to he r : Se e
“
r e a ch e d this stag e 16 .

th e n n o lo n g e r b e p r oud o f yours e l f as mo re pio us than

,

a ll oth e rs an d d e a d to the wo rld fo r I a m m o r e d e a d ,

th an yo u an d show by my a c t th at I a m d e ad to the
wo rld fo r i m p a ssiv e ly an d without sh a m e I do this
thi n g Th e n havi n g l e ft h e r in h umility an d b r oke n
.

he r p rid e he d e p art e d ,
.

Th e re are m an y oth e r marv e ll o u s act s which he did

in the di re ctio n o f i mp a ssivity He di e d in the si xtie th .

3
y e ar o f his age an d w as bu ri e d at Rom e it se l f ,
.

C HAPTE R XXXV I I I
4
E V A G RI U S

[] 1 I T is not r ight to be s il e n t a bout th e story o f the

illust riou s d e aco n E vagrius a man w ho , liv e d in apostolic
1
C f G al i 1 0 . . . .

2
So far fro m thi s be i n g n i n c e dibl e d e man d it w as fre q ue n tly a r ,

d o n e by bo th se x e s in the e ly d ay s o f the Q u k e r m ove me t ar a n .

3 Th re i
e s M S auth o r i ty i n cl udi n g th e S y r i a c Vit S um p
. fo r , .
,

in the d e se t
”
r .

4
Fo r E vagr ius se e So e r I V 2 3 So z V I 30 ; G e n n ad ius d e vir . . . .
, .
 THE LAUSI AC HI ST O R Y
‘

1 34

an i mag e d e s ire o f a wom an as he hi mse l f told

o f the ,
1

us a t a l a t e r ti me wh e n his so ul w as fre e d fr om such

,

tho ught s The woman lov e d him in r e t urn ; n o w she

.

b e lo n g e d to the high e st ran k So E vagrius fe ari n g God .

,

a n d r e sp e cti n g his o w n co n s ci e n c e an d putti n g b e fo re ,

his e y e s the g r e a t n e s s o f the sh ame an d th e m aliciou s

2
j oy o f the h e re s i e s p ra y e d to G o d in supp lic atio n th at
,

he would put som e ob st a cl e in the w ay N o w t he .

wom an was p re ssi n g a n d madly e x cit e d whil e b e though , ,

d e si ri n g to withdra w had n o pow e r to b e i n g co n st ra i n e d

, ,

by the ch a i n s o f this s e rvitud e [4 ] Aft e r n o lon g

‘

tim e wh e n his p ray e r had succ e e d e d but he had n o t

,

e x p e r i e n c e d the b e n e fit o f it th e r e app e are d to him an ,

a n g e l vi sio n in the s h a p e o f soldi e rs o f the gov e rn o r an d ,

th e y se iz e d him an d took him app are n tly to the t rib un a l

a n d th r e w him i n to th e so —c all e d custo d y th e me n who ,

had com e to him as it se e m e d without givi n g a r e as o n

, ,

h avi n g fi rs t fas t e n e d his n e ck a n d h an ds with i ro n coll ar s

“

an d ch ai n s But he k n e w in his co n sci e n c e th at fo r the

.

sak e o f the a bov e fault h e w as su ffe r i n g th e se thi n g s a n d ,

i magi n e d th a t he r hu sb an d had i n t e rv e n e d [5 ] So .

n o w h e was e x t re m e ly an x io us A n oth e r t rial w as goin g

.

o n a n d oth e rs w e re b e i n g put to to rtu re fo r s o m e a ccu sa

tio n s o h e co n tin u e d to b e much p e rtu rb e d An d the

, .

an g e l w ho b r o ught the vi sio n t ra n s fo r m e d hi m s e l f to -

re p r e se n t th e comi n g o f a g e n ui n e fri e n d an d said to

him ti e d up as he w as a m o n g fo r ty pr i so n e rs ch ain e d
,

“
toge th e r : Why a re yo u re t ai n e d h e re my lor d d e aco n ? ,

He s aid to him “
I n t ruth I d o n o t k n ow b ut I h av e a ,

s u spicio n th a t s o a n d so the e x gov e rn o r has l aid a ch arg e

- - -

a ga i n st me imp e ll e d by an absu r d j e alou sy

,
A n d I fe ar .

1
e
’
lSa Mq) w e prr ay ij va t y vva tx mfis e zr t flvjufa s
’
. The re n d e r i n g give n
hard ly mak e s s e n se . C an w e p m a yij va r me an
“
w as b e se t , fix e d
” “

a ll ro un d
”
?
2
T3) e m xa tpc a ixa n o u E xa c tly the G e r m an S c had e n fr e ud e
’
. .
 E VAGRI US 1 35

th at the j udg e co rr upt e d by b rib e s may i n flict p un i sh

m e n t o n me []
6 H e s a id to him :
.
“
I f y o u will li s t e n

to you r fri e n d it is n o t e x p e di e n t fo r yo u to st a y in this

,

E vagrius s aid to him : “

I f G o d will re l e ase me
”
city .

fro m thi s mi sfo rtu n e an d yo u se e me in Co n st an ti n opl e

( y
a n mo re ) k n ow that, I sh all s u ffe r thi s p un i s h m e n t
ju stly He said to him : Le t me b rin g the gosp e l
.
” “
,

an d sw e ar to m e by it th a t yo u will l e av e thi s city an d

c are fo r you r so ul an d I will fre e yo u fr o m thi s duran c e

,
.

[]
7 S o h e b r ough t the go sp e l an d he swo re to him by

the go sp e l : E x c e pt fo r o n e d ay to giv e m e ti me to put ,

”
my cloth e s o n bo ard I c e rtain ly will n o t r e m ai n , So .

wh e n the o ath had b e e n produc e d 1 he c am e b ack out o f ,

the t ran c e which ha d com e o n him in th e n ight ; an d

he aro se an d arg ue d with hi mse l f : “
Ev e n if the o ath
w as in a t ran c e n e v e r th e l e s s I did t ak e it So h avi n g
”
, .

put all his b e lon gi n g s i n to the ship he w e n t to J e rusal e m .

[8 ] An d th e re he wa s r e c e iv e d by t he bl e ss e d M e
lan ia the Rom an lady
, But o n c e agai n the d e vil
.

h ard e n e d his h e ar t as h e did Ph araoh s an d sin c e he

,
’
,

w as you n g an d vigo r ou s doubts b e se t him an d h e h e si ,

ta te d s ayi n g n othi n g to a n y o n e an d ch an gi n g his

, ,

cloth e s an d his habit o f sp e e ch b ack to his o ld way s 2

,

v ain glo r y stup e fyi n g him

-
But God Who wards o ff .

d e st ructio n fr om us all i n volv e d him in a bout o f fe v e r ,

an d aft e r that in a lo n g ill n e s s lasti n g si x mo n th s d ryi n g ,

up his fl e sh the so ur c e o f his t r oubl e [9 ] But wh e n

, .

th e phy sici an s w e re at a lo s s an d could fi n d n o w ay o f

cu re the bl e s se d M e l an ia said to h im : So n you r lo n g
, ,

illn e s s do e s n o t pl e ase me T e ll me th e re for e wh a t ar e .

yo ur tho ughts Fo r thi s ill n e ss o f yo ur s is n o t without

.

”
Go d . Th e n he co n fe sse d to he r the whol e matt e r .

1
I . go sp e l o n which the o ath w as mad e
e . th e .

1
T hat is fro m the cl e r ica l to the lay B ut the te xt
, . is di ffi c ul t
an d p r obably co rrup t .
1 36 THE LAUSI AC HIS T O R Y

But she said to him : Giv e me you r wo rd b e fo re the “

Lo rd that yo u will k e e p to the m ark o f the mo n astic

li fe ; a n d s in n e r though I am I will p ray that yo u may
, ,

1 ”
b e g ran t e d a u rlough o f li e
f f A n d h e co n se n t e d So . .

withi n a fe w d a ys he go t w e ll a n d h e ar o se an d re c e iv e d ,

2
a ch a g en o f cloth e s a t the h an d s o f the l ady h e rs e l f
a n d w e n t a w ay an d e x il e d hi m s e l f in th e mou n t o f N it r i a

which is in Egypt .

[1 0 ] H avi n g live d th e re two y e ars in the thir d y e ar ,

h e e n t e re d the d e s e rt So he liv e d fou rt e e n y e ar s in the

.

pl ac e th e y c all C e llia an d he u se d to e at a po un d o f
,

b re ad an d in thre e mon ths a pi n t o f O il though he w as

, ,

a m an w ho ha d com e from a lu x ur iou s an d r e fi n e d a n d

voluptuous li fe A n d he m ad e I O O p ra y e rs an d he wrot e
.

du ri n g the y e ar o n ly the valu e o f what he a te — fo r he

w rote the O xyrhyn c us ch aract e rs e x c e ll e n tly So in the
3
.

cours e o f fi ft e e n y e ar s h avi n g p ur ifi e d his min d to the

utmost he was cou n t e d wor thy o f the gi ft o f k n owl e dg e
an d wi s dom an d th e disc e rn i n g o f spi rits SO he c o m .

po se d th re e h oly book s fo r mo n k s c all e d An tir rhe tica 4 , ,

in which he t aught the art s to b e us e d ag ai n st d e mo n s .

[1 4 ] The d e mon o f fo rn ic atio n t ro ubl e d him g ri e vously ,

as i n d e e d he told us hims e l f An d all n ight lo n g he .

stood n ak e d in the we ll though it w as wi n t e r so th a t his

, ,

fl e sh w as froze n O n an oth e r occ asio n ag ai n the spi rit

.

\
O f bl asph e m y t roubl e d him A n d fo r fo rty d ay s h e did .

n o t e n t e r u n d e r a roo f a s h e told us hims e l f so th a t his

, ,

1
xo y ia'r o s ( wij s . So T urn e r , w ho q uote s A cta 5 . P e rpe tu ae
an pa ssio sit c o mm e atus .
1
I ecl e r ic a l o r m on astic clo the s
. .

3
T urn e r thi n k s that the M SS di scov e re d a t O xyrhyn cus do n o t
.

b e tray an y chara cte ri stic styl e ; so thi s m ust r e fe r to s o me s o rt o f

han dw r i ti n g r e se r v e d fo r M S S d e luxe . .

The A n tirrhe tz ca o r A n s w e rs w e re in e ight book s Turn e r

“ ”
’

4
, , .
,

followin g the Cop tic an d l a te r v e r sio n s co n sid e rs th e thre e book s ,

r e fe rr e d to in th e te x t to ha v e b e e n ( a) th e P r i e st ( b ) the M on k , ,

( 0) A n sw e r s But se e B utl e r I I 2 1 8
.
,
. .
1 38 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

CHAPTER XXX I X
1
PI O R

[I ] P I O R a youn g Egyptia n h avin g re n ou n c e d the

, ,

wo rld l e ft his fath e r s ho use a n d in an e x c e ss o f ze al

,
’

gav e his wo rd to G o d that he would n e v e r se e an y o f his

re l a tio n s ag ai n Fi fty y e ar s aft e r his si s t e r n o w an o ld
.
,

woman h avi n g h e ar d th a t he w as aliv e s e e me d like ly to

,

go o ut o f he r mi n d if s he co uld n o t se e him But b e i n g .

u n abl e to go to the gre at d e se r t she b e s ought the bi shop

o f th e di s t r ict to w rit e to the fath e rs in the d e s e rt that

th e y shoul d s e n d him an d she might se e him So c o n .

,

sid e ra b le p re ssure h a vi n g b e e n b r ought to b e ar o n h im ,

he d e cid e d to t ak e o n e oth e r with him an d go [2 ] An d .

“
he an n ou n c e d at his s i st e r s hous e : Y ou r b roth e r Pio r
’

has co m e
”
So s tan di n g o utsid e an d p e rc e ivi n g from the
.

c re aki n g o f the doo r th at the o ld wom an c a m e o ut to

m e e t him b e clo se d his e y e s an d c al l e d to he r : H O !
,
“

Wha t s you r n am e I am Pior you r b r oth e r I am he

’
- -

, , .

Look at me as much as you wan t So she w a s c o n .

vin c e d an d glo r ifi e d G o d an d havi n g fail e d to p e rsuad e

,

him to e n te r he r ho use she re tu rn e d to he r dw e llin g .

But he h avin g o ffe re d a p ray e r o n the doo rst e p e x il e d

him se l f a gai n in the d e se r t .

[3 ] N o w thi s mi ra cl e is told O f him that he dug ifi ,

th e pl a c e wh e re h e liv e d an d fou n d som e v e r y bitt e r

wat e r An d u n til he di e d he r e m ai n e d th e re acc e ptin g
.
,

the bitt e rn e s s o f the wa t e r in o rd e r to show his e n du r

an ce . M an y o f the mo n ks th e r e fo re a ft e r his d e ath
t ri e d to r iv al him by dw e lli n g in his c e ll but th e y could ,

n o t compl e t e a y e ar ; fo r the plac e is t e rribl e a n d

i n co n sol ably d re ary .

M a man o f e x c e e di n gly g e n tl e
[]
2
4 o se s the Libya n ,

1
Cf . X . 8 , So z . VI . 29 .
1
Se e B utl e r ,
II . 1 97 .
 EPHRA I M 1 39

di spo sitio n an d v e r y a ffe ction a t e w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f ,

the gi ft o f h e ali n g s He told me thi s : Wh e n I w as

.
“

a you n g m an in t h e mo n ast e ry w e dug a v e r y big pit ,

t we n ty fe e t b ro a d I n thi s e ighty o f us e x cavat e d fo r

.

th re e d ays an d w e got a cubit fu rth e r th an the v e in

wh e re w e g e n e rally fou n d w at e r an d e x p e ct e d it ( in this
c ase ) b ut fou n d n o n e
, SO v e ry m uch di sh e art e n e d
.

w e w e r e co n t e m pl ati n g the a b an do n m e n t O f the wo rk .

Th e n Pio r app e are d from the gre at d e se r t at the s ix th

hou r ( the tim e ) o f bu rn i n g h e at an O ld man clad in
, ,

a sh e e p ski n co a t—
an d g re e t e d us an d
,
sa id a ft e r the

g re e tin g : Why h av e you lost h e ar t me n O f littl e fa ith ? ,

Fo r I h a v e se e n yo u s in c e y e st e rd ay lo si n g h e ar t .

n g d e s c e n d e d b y a l a dd e r to th e c avity
[]5 A nd h a vi
o f the w e ll h e s aid a p ray e r with th e m an d havi n g tak e n ,

th e pick h e said a ft e r st r iki n g the thi rd blow : O God

o f th e holy p at ri a
1
r ch s m ak e n o t the toil o f thy s e rvan ts
,

u se l e ss b ut se n d th e m the wat e r th e y n e e d
, A n d im .

m e diat e ly wat e r sp ran g o ut so th at th e y w e re w e tt e d

all ov e r SO he p ray e d o n c e m o re an d w e n t o ff
. Th e y .

t ri e d to make him e a t but he w ould n o t su ffe r th e m

, ,

sa yi n g :
“
Th at fo r which I w as se n t is a cco mpli sh e d ;
”
fo r th is I w as n o t s e n t .

C HAPTE R XL
2
E P H RA I M
[1 ] Y O U must hav e h e ard p ar ticul ars about Eph raim ,

the d e aco n o f the Chu r ch o f Ed e s s a ; fo r h e is o n e

o f tho se who d e se r v e to b e re m e m b e re d by re ligious

p e opl e Havi n g compl e t e d in wor thy fashio n the j ou rn e y

.

o f th e Spi r it without b e i n g div e rt e d fr om the st raight

’

1
W ho a re fr e q ue n tly re co rd e d in G e n e si s as diggin g w e ll s
.

3
Se e So z . I I I 1 6 , an d D C B
. . . .
1 40 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
r oad he w as cou n t e d wo r thy o f the grac e o f n atu ral
,

k n owl e dge an d a ft e rwards o f the kn owl e dg e o f G o d 1

,

a n d fi n al bl e ss e d n e s s SO havi n g a l wa ys p racti se d the

.

quie t life an d fo r man y y e ars co n ti n uin g to e di fy his

vi sito rs at l a st he l e ft his c e ll fo r the followi n g r e aso n
, ,
.

[2 ] A g re a t fa m in e h avi n g co me upo n the city o f

Ed e ss a he fe lt co mpa ssio n fo r the whol e cou n t r y sid e
,
-

which w a s b e i n g d e str oye d an d a pp ro ach e d tho se w ho ,

-

w e re rich in m at e rial thi n gs a n d said to th e m : Why “

d o yo u n o t t ak e pity o n hu man n atu r e b e i n g d e s t r oy e d ,

i n ste a d o f l e tti n g you r we alth b e co rrupt e d fo r the c o n

d e mn atio n o f you r s o ul s ?
”
Th e y co n sid e re d the matt e r
an d s aid to him :
“
We hav e n o o n e whom w e c an t ru st
to mi n ist e r to the fa m i n e st r ick e n Fo r all ar e dis -
.
“

ho n e st in bu s in e ss affai r s He said to th e m : Wh at
.
” “

d o yo u thin k O f me ? ”
N o w h e had a g re a t r e putatio n
a mo n g all n o t fal se ly
,
but t ruly [3 ] Th e y said to .

him : “
We k n ow yo u to b e a m an o f G o d “
Th e n .
”

t rus t me he said “
Se e o n yo u
”
,
. r b e h al f I a ppoi n t
,

my se l f ho spit all e r A n d he r a i se d mo n e y an d p ar
.
,

titio n e d th e po r tico e s an d m ad e up so m e 3 0 0 b e d s a n d ,

so n u r se d th e su ffe r e r s fr om th e fa mi n e bu ryi n g thos e ,

w ho suc cu m b e d an d t re ati n g thos e who had hop e o f

li fe an d in a word o ut o f the fu n d s e n t ru st e d to him
,

p r ovid e d d ay by d ay ho spitality an d a ssi s ta n c e fo r all

th e i n h a bit an t s [4] So wh e n the y e ar w as compl e t e d
.

an d p ro sp e rity re tu rn e d an d all w e n t hom e n o lo n g e r ,

havin g an ythi n g to d o he e n t e re d his o w n c e ll an d di e d

a ft e r a mo n th G o d havi n g p r ovid e d him thi s o pp o r
,

tun ity o f ga i n i n g a c r ow n just b e fo re his e n d Al so he .

l e ft s om e wr iti n g s mo s t o f which d e s e rv e to b e studi e d

,
.

1
Oe v y fa
'
.
1 42 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY

w ho live d in a i n d e e d co mp ara bl e to he r but

way no t ,

p r opo rtio n at e ly to he r o w n c a pac ity []

4 I k n e w al s o .

Bas ian illa th e wi fe o f Can d id ian us the g e n e ral w ho

, ,

p racti se d vi rt ue ard e n tly an d s cr up ulo usly an d is still ,

e v e n n o w s t re n uou sly e n g ag e d in co n t e st s Al s o the .

vi rgi n Photi n a v e n e rabl e in the e x t re m e d aught e r o f

, ,

The o c tis tus th e p ri e s t n e ar L aodic e a Agai n I m e t in .

,

A n tioch a m o s t v e n e rabl e l a dy w ho c o n v e rse d fa m i liarly

with G o d the d e a co n e s s S ab an ian a a u n t o f Joh n th e
, ,

bi shop o f Co n st an tin opl e An d I sa w al s o in Rom e .

the b e auti ful A se ll a the vi rgi n w ho h ad g r ow n o ld in

,

the mo n ast e ry a v e ry g e n tl e l ady a n d a s uppo rt e r o f

,

co n v e n t s [5 ] Th e re al s o I saw m e n an d wo me n
.

r e c e n tly i n s t ruct e d I sa w a ls o Avit a 1 who w a s wo r thy

.
,
.

O f G o d with he r hu sb an d A ro n ian us an d th e i r d aught e r

, p
E un o mia all so d e si rou s to pl e as e G o d th at th e y w e re
,

publicly co n ve rt e d to the li fe o f vi rtu e an d con ti n e n c e ,

an d w e r e h e ld wo rthy o n thi s a cco un t to fall a sl e e p in

Ch ri st fre e d fr om a ll s in h avi n g b e com e pos se sse d o f ,

k n owl e dg e an d l e avi n g th e i r li fe in good re m e mb ran c e ]

CHAPTER X L I I
J UL I A N
2

\
[I HA V E h e ard o f a c e rta i n J ulian in the re gio n o f
‘

Ed e ssa a v e ry asc e tic man w ho wo r e aw ay his fl e sh till

, ,
,

it w as so thin th at he c arr i e d a bout on ly ski n an d b on e .

At th e v e ry e n d O f his li fe he was cou n t e d wo rthy o f the

hon ou r o f the gi ft o f h e ali n g ]
1
Cf LI V 4
. . .

1
Se e S o z I I I . . 14 . E p hra i m Sy r us L if e
’
fj
o u /z c m
‘

is e x tan t in
G re e k .
 ADO LI US 1 43

C HAPTER X L I I I
A D O LI U S

[1 ] A G A I N I k n e w a ma n at J e ru sal e m n am e d Ad o lius
, ,

a Tar sian by o rig in w ho h a vi n g co me to J e rusal e m

,

followe d e ag e rly the u n t rodd e n r o a d n o t th a t o n which ,

m ost O f us walk e d but c arvi n g o ut fo r hi m se l f a st ran g e

,
.

m od e o f li fe Fo r his a sc e tici s m w as sup e rhu man s o

.
,

th at the v e ry d e m o n s t re mbli n g at his a us t e r ity d are d

, ,

n o t a pp ro a ch h im Fo r by r e as o n O f his e x c e ssiv e
.

absti n e n c e an d h is vigi l s h e w a s e v e n su sp e ct e d o f b e i n g

a ph an to m 2 ] Fo r in L e n t h e wo uld e a t a t i n t e r va ls o f
[ .

fi ve d ay s a n d th e whol e r e s t O f the ti m e e v e ry oth e r d ay

,
.

But his g r e a t e st ac t o f a s c e tici s m w a s thi s Fr om e v e n i n g .

un til the ti me wh e n the b r oth e r hood b e ga n to a sse mbl e

a gai n in th e i r hou se s o f p ra y e r he wo uld co n ti n ue o n

his fe e t si n gi n g ps alm s an d p ra yi n g o n the M ou n t o f ,

Olive s the hill o f the A sc e n sio n wh e n c e J e su s wa s t ak e n

,

up ; an d wh e th e r it sn ow e d o r ra i n e d o r th e r e w as a

white fro st he re mai n e d un d a un t e d [3 ] SO h avin g .

compl e t e d his a ccu sto m e d ti me h e k n ock e d a t the c e ll s

o f all the mo n ks with h is littl e w aki n g up k n ock e r -

coll e cti n g th e m i n to th e hou se s o f pray e r a n d in e ach

ho use si n gin g o n e o r t wo p sal ms with th e m an tipho n ally
an d p rayi n g with t h e m Th e n he w e n t a way to his o wn
.

c e ll b e fo re d ayb re ak so th at o f a t ruth the b re th re n o ft e n

,

had to u n d re s s him a n d w ri n g o ut his cloth e s as if a ft e r

th e w ash an d p ut oth e r cloth e s o n him
,
SO th e n aft e r .
,

re s ti n g u ntil th e ho ur o f p sal mody

1
he appli e d hi ms e l f ,

( to worsh ip ) un til e v e n i n g An d so this wa s the vi rt ue .

of A d o lius the Tarsian who r e ach e d p e r fe ctio n in

,

J e ru sal e m an d die d th e re .

1
I . e. , as in th e Sy r ia c , un til the th r i d ho ur .
1 44 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y

C HAPTER X LI V
1
I N NOC E NT
[1 ] Y O U hav e h e ard sto r y o f the
fr om man y the
bl e sse d I n n oc e n t the p rie st o f the M ou n t o f Oliv e s b ut
, ,

n o ne the l e ss you will h e ar it also fr om us w ho liv e d with

him fo r th re e y e ar s He was si mpl e to an e x c e ss H avin g

. .

b e e n o n e o f the dig n itari e s o f the pal ac e in the e arly d ays

o f the Emp e r o r Co n st an tius he re n o un c e d the wo rld , ,

l e avi n g his m arriag e by which he had also a so n Pa ul

, ,

by n a m e o f the i mp e rial bodygu ard

, []
2 W h e n t h e .

l att e r had s i n n e d with the daught e r o f a pr i e s t I n n oc e n t ,

curse d his o wn so n b e s e e chi n g God an d sayin g

,
Lo rd ,

give him such a spirit th at his fl e sh may n o lo n ge r fi n d

oppo rtun ity to sin — thi n ki n g it b e tt e r th at he should
st ruggl e with a d e mo n tha n with i n co n tin e n c e which ,

a ctu ally happ e n e d At thi s p re s e n t mo me n t he is s till

.

o n the M ou n t o f Oliv e s w e ari n g i ro n s an d ch a sti se d by

,

th e spi r it []
3 . H o w comp a s s io n at e i n d e e d this I n n oc e n t

w as so that o ft e n he hi mse l f s tol e fr om th e b r e th r e n an d

,

g av e to the n e e dy— I sh all s e e m to b e t alki n g n o n se n se

if I t e ll the t ruth A n d he wa s e x c e e di n gly i n n oc e n t a n d
.

simpl e an d w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f the gi ft ( o f pow e r)

,

ov e r d e mo n s As an e x ampl e o f this : O n c e a yo un g
.

m an w as b r ought to him b e fo re o ur e ye s t ak e n by a
spi rit an d by paraly s i s so t ha t I h avin g s e e n him , , ,

wi sh e d publicly to re p e l the moth e r o f the man who had

b e e n b r ought s i n c e I d e sp ai re d o f his c ur e [4 ] W e ll
, .
,

it h app e n e d in the m e an tim e th at the O ld man h avi n g

com e up saw he r st an di n g an d w e e pi n g a n d la m e n ti n g
1
P r ob a bly to be id e n ti fie d wi th P op e I n n oc e n t I . He is
m e n tio n e d in B asil E pp 2 5 8 A tha n asius
l e tte r to
’

, .
,
259 , an d

P a ll adi n s ( P G XXV I
. . . But the P all adin s m e n tio n e d by
Athan as ius an d B a sil is n o t th e a uth o r o f th e L a us ia c His to ry .

( B utl e r I I 2 1 9 f )
, . .
1 46 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y

in the d ay s o f Juli an th e i n famous Emp e ro r an d s pok e to ,

him with bold n e ss Julian o rd e re d him to b e sh av e d.

an d bu ffe t e d by boy s He e n du re d the o rd e al pati e n tly

.

an d e x p re ss e d his th an ks to Juli an as h e told us him se l f , .

[]2 I n his e arly d ays w ar ag a i n st fo rn ic a tio n an d glutto n y

w as his lo t He d rov e o ut th e se p assion s by sh utti n g

.

hims e l f up an d w e ar in g i r o n s an d by abstin e n c e from ,

corn b re ad an d all thi n gs cook e d by fire Aft e r p e r

-
.

s e v e r in g in this cou r s e fo r e ight e e n y e ars he s an g the

hym n o f t r iu mph to Ch rist Att ack e d in div e rs ways by .

the Spi r it s o f wick e d n e s s h e abod e in o n e mo n a s t e r y fo r ,

fo rty y e ar s He told us thi s : Fo r thi rty two y e ars I

“ -

touch e d n o fruit ”
O n c e wh e n ti midity a ttack e d him in
.
,

o rd e r to ge t rid o f it he shut him se l f up in a tomb fo r ,

six y e a r s [3 ] The bl e sse d B asil the bi shop took g re at

.
, ,

care o f him re joicin g in his aust e r ity an d fi rm n e ss

, .

Ev e n n o w he has n o t re n o un c e d th e p e n an d the w r iti n g

sh e e t though p e rh a p s in his e ighti e th y e ar He said
1
, .

“
Fr om the ti me that I w as in iti at e d an d bo rn again
’
u n til t o d ay I h av e n e v e r e at e n an oth e r s b re ad fo r
,
”
n othi n g but always as the re sult o f my o w n labou r s
,
.

( S p e )
a ki n g as in th e p re s e n c e o f G o d h e co n vi n c e d us ,

that he had giv e n to the crippl e s 2 5 0 pi e c e s o f mo n e y

e arn e d by th e wo rk o f his h an d s an d had n e v e r w r on g e d ,

an yon e [4] He w e n t o n foot e v e n a s far as Rom e

.
’

it se l f to p ray at the m artyr chap e l o f the bl e ss e d P e t er? -

He w e n t al so as far a s Al e xan d ria to pray at the m artyr ,

c hap e l o f M ark Th e n he cam e also a s e co n d tim e to

.

J e ru sal e m h avi n g go n e o n his o w n fe e t an d d e fray e d his

,
“
o wn e xpe n s e s A n d he s aid thi s
. I do n o t r e m e mb e r
th at I w as e v e r abs e n t in min d fr om my
1 i f
v ii: Te '
r
po ao s 7
7 01
ypa cpe w
‘
.
 MELA N I A THE ELD ER 1 47

CHAPTE R X LV I
1
ME L A N I A T HE E LD E R
[] I T HE th r ic e bl e sse d M e l an ia w as a Span iar d by
-

o rigi n but a ft e r ward s b e lo n ge d to Rom e She w as the

,
.

d aught e r o f M arc e llin us th e e x co n sul an d wi fe o f

2 -
,

a c e rt ain man o f high o ffici al ran k whom I do n o t ,

quit e r e me mb e r H avi n g b e com e a widow at twe n ty

.

two she was favou re d with the divi n e love an d h avin g

, ,

s aid n othi n g to an y o n e — fo r she would h av e b e e n p re

v e n t e d — in the tim e wh e n Val e n s ha d the rul e in the

e m pi r e she ha d a gu ar dian n omin at e d fo r h e r s o n an d
,

took all he r mo va bl e prop e rty an d put it o n a ship th e n

sh e s ail e d with all s pe e d to Al e x an d r i a a ccomp an i e d by ,

variou s highborn wo me n an d child re n []

2 A ft e r th at .
,

h avi n g s old he r good s an d tu rn e d th e m in to mo n e y she ,

w e n t to the mou n tain o f N itria wh e re she me t the fo l ,

lowi n g fath e rs an d th e i r co mpan ion s— P a mbo Arsisius , ,

Sarap io n the Gre at P aph n utiu s o f Sc e te I sido re the

, ,

Co n fe sso r bi shop o f H e rmopoli s an d D io sc o rus A n d

, ,
.

sh e soj o urn e d with th e m fo r h al f a y e ar t rav e llin g a bout ,

in the d e se rt an d visiti n g all the s ai n t s []

3 B u t aft e r .

3
this wh e n the p re fe ct o f A l e xan d ri a b an i sh e d I sidore
, ,

Pisim ius Ad e lp hius Pa ph n utiu s an d P a mbo with th e m

, , ,

also A mm o n ius Paro te s an d tw e lve bishops an d p ri e sts , ,

to Pal e sti n e in the n e ighb ou rhood o f Dio cae sare a she ,

follow e d th e m an d m in ist e re d to th e m from he r o w n

mo n e y But s e rvan ts b e in g fo rbidd e n th e m so th e y
.
, ,

told me — fo r I me t the holy Pisimius an d I sidore an d .

1
Se e l o LI V B e sid e s P all adin s Pa uli n us
a s .
, of N ol a , Ep . 29,
is o ur ch ie f i n fo r ma n t about M e l an ia .

2
But se eRufin us, A150] I I . . 26 : She w as the gr a n d d a ug fife r of
the con s ul M ar ce lli n us ”
Se e . l o P a ulin us
a s .

3
f
’
the p r afi A ug u sta lz s
'

a tr yo uo r a k o v, ctus .
1 48 TH E LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

P aph n uti us an d A mmo n ius—

w e arin g th e d re s s o f a 1

yo un g sl av e she b rought th e m in th e e v e n i n gs wh at th e y r e
q ui re d But the con s ular o f Pa l e sti n e go t to k n ow o f it
.
,

2
a n d wi hi n g to fill h is pock e t thought h e would t e rr i fy
s he r .

[4] A n d h avi n g arre st e d he r he th re w he r i n to pri so n ,

ig n o an t that she w as a lady But she told h im : Fo r

r
“
.

my p ar t I am SO a n d —So s d aught e r an d SO a n d So s wi fe
,
-
’
- -
’
,

but I a m Chri s t s sl av e A n d do n o t d e spi se the ch e ap ’

.

n e ss o f m y clothi n g Fo r I am able to e x alt my se l f if I .

lik e a n d yo u c an n ot t e rri fy me in this w ay o r t a ke a n y O f

,

my good s SO th e n I h ave told yo u thi s l e s t th r ough

.
,

ig n o ran c e yo u sho uld i n cu r j udicia l a cc usa tio n s Fo r .

o n e m us t in d e ali n g with i n se n sat e folk b e a s a ud acious

3 ”
as a h awk Th e n the j udg e r e cog n izi n g the s itu ation
.
, ,

both mad e an apology an d ho n ou re d he r a n d gav e ,

o rd e rs th a t she should succo ur the s a in t s without

hi n d ran c e .

n d e d a m o n a st e ry in
[5 ] A f t e r th e y w e re r e c a ll e d sh e f o u

J e r usal e m an d sp e n t twe n ty se v e n y e ars th e re in ch arge o f

,
-

a co n v e n t o f fi fty vi rgi n s With he r live d al s o the m o s t .

n obl e Rufi n us fr om I t aly o f th e city o f Aquil e i a a m an, , ,

s i m ilar to he r in cha ra ct e r an d v e ry s t e d fas t w ho w as ,

a ft e r w ard s j udg e d wo r thy o f th e pri e s thood A mo re .

l e arn e d man o r a ki n d e r than he w a s n o t to b e fo un d '

a mon g m e n [
1
6 ] SO th e se du i n g tw e n ty s e v e n
t
‘
. w o r -

y e ars r e c e ivi n g a t th e i r o w n ch arg e s tho se w ho vi sit e d

J e ru sal e m in pu rsu an c e o f a vo w bi shop s an d mo n ks ,

an d virgi n s e d ifie d all who vi sit e d th e m a n d th e y

, ,

re co n cil e d h
t e schism o f P a uli n u s
5
so me 4 0 0 mon ks ,

1
u p d
a a A L ti n ca a a lla a lo n g tun ic o r g re a t co at mad e
ro v
,
a r c ,
-

with a hood ( Le wi s an d Sho t) r .

2
mK
re a /
( B utl e r mark s thi s wo rd as cor rup t o r o f un c e rtai n
e rri .

me a n i n g ) .

p i p m T p 6W
3 i !

fl aa e xpij o fi
e a a 1 ne at
'
na .

P all adi n s t k e s Rufin us p a rt un h e s i ta ti n gly in the f m o us

a
’
a

quarr e l b e tw e e n him an d J e r o m e .

5
The lo n g co n ti n ue d A n tiochi an s chi s m ; un l e ss the the o ry o f
-
1 50 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

T e sta m e n t s i n t e rpre ti n g it all without h avi n g re ad the

,

Sc riptu re s but he was so mod e st that his p roph e tic

,

vi rtu e w a s co nc e al e d I t is told o f him th a t du ri n g

.

e ighty y e ars h e n e v e r wo r e tw o t un ic s tog e th e r The .

bl e sse d E vagrius an d Alb an ius an d I wh e n we m e t th e s e

me n sought to k n ow the c au s e s o f b r oth e r s falli n g awa y
o r b a ckslidi n g o r stu m bli n g in the p r op e r li fe []4 F o r .

it ha pp e n e d in tho se d ays th at Cha e re mo n the a sc e tic

'

di e d in a sitti n g postu re an d w a s fou n d d e ad o n his

ch ai r holdi n g his wo rk in his ha n d s A n d it h app e n e d .

al s o th at an oth e r b r oth e r whil e diggi n g a w e ll was

s w allow e d up by the we ll ; an d an oth e r o n his w ay
down fr om Sc e te di e d from l ack o f wat e r Th e n agai n .

th e r e was the sto ry o f St e ph e n w ho fe ll i n to di sgra c e ful

,

p r o fl igac y an d o f E uc arp ius an d the sto ry O f H e r o n o f

, ,

Al e x an d ria an d the stor y o f Val e n s o f Pal e sti n e an d

, .
,

the s to r y o f Ptol e m y the Egyptia n who live d in Sc e te .

[5 ] W e a sk e d th e re fo re what w as the re aso n why the

me n who live d th e r e in the d e s e rt w e re som e o f th e m

d e c e ive d in th e i r mi n d an d oth e rs shatte re d by lust So .

this was the an swe r th at th e most e n light e n e d P aphn utius

“
gav e us n am e ly : All thi n gs th at h app e n are divid e d
,

i n to two wha t God approv e s an d what He allows As

,
.

man y thi n gs th e n as h a pp e n in accor d an c e with vi rtu e

fo r the glo ry o f God th e se h app e n with His a ppr ov al
,
.

But as man y o n the co n t ra ry as are fraught with lo ss

, ,

an d dan ge r an d are d ue to e x te rn al c ri se s o r falli n gs

awa y th e s e h ap pe n with God s p e rmissio n [6 ] But the
,
’
.

p e r missio n is give n in a r atio n al m an n e r Fo r it is im .

pos sibl e th a t a man who thi n ks rightly an d liv e s r ightly

s ho uld s uccu m b to s n ar e s o f sh a m e o r the d e c e it o f

d e mo n s Co n se qu e n tly all who se e m to p ursue vir tu e

.
,

with a corrupt pu rpos e the vic e o f me n pl e asin g o r p e r

,
-

v e r s e im agin ation th e s e also mak e fals e st e ps fo r God

, ,

d e s e rts th e m fo r th e ir b e n e fit in ord e r tha t throu gh,

 CHRO N I US AN D PAPHNUTI U S 1 51
th e i r d e se r tio n th e y may p e rc e iv e the diffe re n c e th a t
re s ult s fr om th e i r ch an g e an d corre ct e ith e r th e i r
i n te n tio n o r th e ir co n duct [7] Fo r a t o n e ti m . e the

will sin s wh e n it a ct s with e vil i n t e n t at an oth e r tim e

, ,

al s o th e co n d uct wh e n it a ct s co rruptly o r in th e w ro n g
,

fashion . A n d this i n d e e d O ft e n h app e n s th a t the viciou s ,

man with a co rrupt pu r po s e giv e s alm s to gi rl s in p ur

s uan c e o f an e vil e n d though he do e s an appare n tly
,

good actio n by givin g h e lp to he r who is an o rph an ,

a solit ar y o r an a s c e tic
, But it h appe n s also th at me n
.

give al m s with a right p urpos e to the s ick o r ag e d o r

tho se who hav e lo s t m o n e y but spari n gly an d with a ,

gru mbl e an d the i n t e n tion is r ight but the action is

,

un wo rthy o f th e i n t e n tio n ; fo r it is n e c e ssar y th a t th e

me rci ful man show m e rcy gladly an d g e n e rously 1 .

”

“
[]8 Th e y said al s o thi s : Th e r e ar e good qu aliti e s in

man y soul s in som e a n atu ral good n e s s o f thought in

, ,

oth e r s aptitud e fo r a sc e ticis m But wh e n e v e r s om e .

actio n is n o t do n e o r n a tu ral goodn e ss n o t man i fe st e d fo r

th e s ak e o f th e actual good an d thos e who pos s e s s good
,

q ualiti e s do n o t a sc rib e th e m to God the Giv e r o f all

good thi n g s but to th e ir o w n fre e will n atu ral good n e ss
, ,

an d c apacity th e n such me n are d e s e rt e d an d are

,

i n volv e d e ith e r in di sg rac e ful con duct o r e x p e ri e n c e an d

in sh a m e an d by m e an s o f the co n se que n t hu m ili ation
,

an d sham e g radu ally lo se the p rid e fe lt in th e i r p re t e n d e d

vi rtu e [9 ] Fo r wh e n the man who is pu ffe d up with

.

p rid e plumi n g him se l f o n the n atu ral charm o f his

,
.

discou rs e d o e s n o t asc rib e to God the n atu ral char m o r

,

e v e n the supply o f k n owl e dg e but to his o w n applicatio n ,

o r n atu ra l gi fts God withd raws from him the an ge l o f

,

fo re kn owl e dg e Wh e n this an ge l is r e mov e d th e n ove r

.
,

powe re d by the adv e rsary the man who plum e s hi m s e l f

o n his n at ural char m fa ll s i n to lic e n tiou sn e ss th r ou gh his
1 Ro m . xii . 8 .
1 51 THE LAUSI AC HI ST ORY
pre su mptio n in ord e r th at the wit n e ss o f his se l f co n t rol
, ,
-

b e in g withd rawn the wo r ds spok e n by such me n m ay

,

b e n o lo n g e r wo r thy o f c re dit whil e re ligious me n shu n

the t e achin g which p r oc e e d s from such a mouth as if it
w e re a fou n t ai n co n t ai n i n g l e e ch e s so th at the Sc riptu re ,

is fulfi ll e d But to the si n n e r said God Why do st thou ,

re cou n t my j udgm e n t s an d t ak e s t m y cov e n a n t in thy

m outh ? 1’
[ ]
10 Fo r t ruly th e soul s o f the vicious are

lik e div e rs e fou n tai n s The glutto n ou s a n d wi n e lov e rs

.
.
-

a re lik e muddy fou n t a i n s the cov e tous an d g re e dy lik e

fou n t ai n s with frogs ; oth e rs e n viou s an d h aughty b ut ,

with a n aptitud e fo r k n owl e dg e are lik e fou n t ai n s which ,

ch e ri sh s e rp e n t s in which r e aso n is al w ays flo ati n g but

,

n o o n e lik e s to d raw from th e m b e c a us e o f th e bitt e rn e s s

o f th e ir ch ara ct e r This is why D avid d e m an d e d th re e

.

thin g s in his p ray e r good n e ss an d di sciplin e an d ,

‘

k n owl e dg e 2
. Fo r witho ut good n e s s k n owl e dg e is n o t
’

good [1 1 ] A n d if such a man co rre ct s hims e l f putti n g

.
,

a wa y th e c ause O f his a b a n do n m e n t that is p rid e an d , , ,

r e cov e r s humility a n d r e cogn iz e s his o wn m e asu re not ,

e x altin g him se l f ag ai n s t a n yo n e an d than ki n g G o d , ,

th e n k n owl e dg e att e st e d by p roo f re tu rn s to him Fo r .

spi r itu al wo r d s which do n o t h av e as an e sco r t a s ob e r

a n d di scipli n e d li fe are lik e e ar s o f co rn bl as t e d by th e

w i n d ; th e y h av e the outwar d a pp e ar a n c e ( o f co rn but

)
h av e b e e n robb e d o f t h e ir n ut ritive valu e [1 2 ] Th e re .

fo r e e v e r y fall wh e th e r by the to n gu e o r by p e rc e ptio n

, , ,

o r by a ctio n o r by the whol e body

, t e n d s to p roduc e ,

aba n do n m e n t in p r opo r tio n to the p re s u m ptio n though ,

God sp are s thos e who ar e ab an do n e d Fo r if in the .

,

m id st o f th e i r vic e the Lord will be ar witn e s s to th e i r

,

n at ural g rac e by p rovidi n g th e m with e loqu e n c e arr og an c e

,

t urn s th e m i n to d e mon s p uffe d up with un cl e a n n e ss

, .
”

[ ]
13 A n d tho se me n told us this to o : “
Wh e n yo u
1
PS x li x
. 16 . 2 Ps c x viii
, ( c x ix ) 66 ( LXX) . . .
,
1 54 THE LAU SI AC HI STOR Y

w a s a an don e d b e c a us e o f si n s as J e sus say s : Se e

b ,
‘
,

1
thou are mad e whol e sin n o m o re Jud as w a s
,
.
’

a b an do n e d b e c aus e h e love d mon e y more th an th e

,

wo rd wh e re fo re al s o he h an g e d hi ms e l f Es au al s o w as
,
.

a b an do n e d a n d fe ll i n to di ss olut e co n duct p re fe rri n g the ,

g r o ss n e ss o f e n t rails to his fath e r s bl e ssi n g [1 7 ] So

2 ’
.

th at co n s id e r in g all th e se thin gs P aul sa id co n c e rn i n g

som e : As th e y re fu se d to h av e G o d in th e i r kn owl e dg e ,

God gave th e m up u n to a re pr ob at e mi n d to do thi n g s ,

which are n o t fittin g 3 An d co n c e rn i n g c e rtai n oth e rs

.
’

who s e e m to hav e the k n owl e dg e o f God with a co rrupt

mi n d : Si n c e k n owi n g God th e y glo rifi e d Him n o t as
‘
,

G o d n e ith e r gav e Him th an k s fo r this c au se G o d

, ,

4
So that fr o m th e se
’
gav e th e m up u n to vil e passion s .

i n stan c e s w e kn ow th at it is i m pos sibl e that an y should

fall i n to dissolut e co n duct u n l e ss he has fi rst b e e n
’ ”
ab an do n e d by Go d s Pr ovid e n c e .

C H A P T ER X L V I I I
E LPI D I U S

[] 1 INcav e s o f the
the A mo rit e s r ou n d about
J e richo which th e y e x cavat ed lo n g ago wh e n th e y fl e d
,

5
h
fr om Joshua t e so n o N un f who was ravagin g th e n ,

6
th e ali e n s o n the mou n t a i n o f D ouka s th e re live d a '

c e rtai n E lp id ius a C appadocian aft e r wards c ou n t e d

, ,

wo rthy o f the pr i e sthood H avin g b e e n a m e mb e r o f .

f 7 the C appadocia n cou t ry

h
t e mo n a s t e ry O Timothy n ,

Jn v 14
1 z ’
Iro 1r o v
. . .
p
3
Ro m . 1. 28 .
4
Ro m . l . 21, 26 .

5
Luco t ap tly quote s the in scrip tion o f the C an aan i te re fuge e s in
Afr ica re co rd e d by P r ocopi us :
,
“
We are the y w ho fl e d b e fo re '

Jo shua the r obb e r the so n o f N un , .

C f 1 M ac e x vi 1 5
. Sim o n an d his s o n s go dow n t o J e ric ho
. . .

an d a r e r e c e iv e d i n to the li ttl e stro n g hold th at is call e d D o k

“
.
”

To b e i d e n ti fie d wi th the cho re pi scop us o f Bas E pp 24 .

, .

an d 29 1,
 E LPI DI US 1 55

bi shop a v e ry a bl e man he cam e an d s e ttl e d in o n e o f

, ,

the c a v e s He sho w e d such se l f di sciplin e in his asc e ti

.
-

c ism as to p ut all oth e rs in the sh a d e [] 2 F o r d ur i n g .

his tw e n ty fi ve y e ar s li fe th e r e he u se d to tak e food o n ly

’
-

o n Su n d a y a n d Satu rd a y a n d wo uld sp e n d the n ights

s t an di n g up an d s i n gi n g p salm s With him ( re ign i n g) .
,

1
lik e a littl e ki n g in the m id st O f his b e e s liv e d the ,

multitud e o f the b re th re n an d I to o liv e d with him

2
, ,

an d th us he m ad e the mou n t a i n a v e r it abl e city An d .

o n e could se e th e re di ffe r e n t m od e s o f li fe O n ce a .

s co r pio n s t un g thi s E lp id ius as h e san g p sal ms by n ight

an d w e to o w e r e s i n gi n g with h im He t rod it u n d e rfoot .

,

n o r did he e v e n mov e fr om his s t an di n g po sitio n d e s pi s ,

in g the p ai n c au se d by the sco rpio n []3 O n e d ay as .

,

a b r oth e r w a s holdi n g a vi n e cutti n g h e took it a s h e sa t -

a t th e d e clivity o f the mou n t ai n an d dug a hol e fo r it as

if pl an ti n g it though it was n o t th e s e as on
,
I t g re w big .

an d b e cam e a vi n e l arg e e n ough to giv e sh ad e to th e

chur ch I n his comp an y also a c e rt ai n Ae n e sius re ach e d

.

p e rfe ctio n a wo r thy ma n an d so did E ustathius his

‘

, ‘
,

b r oth e r To such a h e ight o f impas sivity did he a ttain

.

in d ryi n g up his body th at the sun sho n e th r ough his

bo n e s [4 ] The sto r y is told by h is z e alous di scipl e s
.

th at he n e v e r tu rn e d ( to gaze ) toward s the w e st b e caus e

the mou n t ai n wi th its h e ight do m i n at e d the doo r o f the
c av e . N o f did he e v e r Se e th e sun a ft e r the si x th hou r ,

h avi n g p asse d ove rh e a d an d n o w d e sc e n di n g towar ds th e

we st o r e v e n the s tars that ris e in the w e st fo r twe n ty
, ,

fi ve y e a rs From the tim e he e n te re d th e cave h e did

.

n o t d e sc e n d from th e mou n tai n u n til h e w as bu r i e d .

C f B a sil s se rm o n D e I ud icio D e i 2 1 411 in wh ich h e c o n

1 ’
.
, ,

trasts th e Chur ch di stra c te d by its divi s io n s wi th a s w ar m o f b e e s h e

o n c e s w “ followin g the i r o w n ki n g in good o r d e r
a The G r e e k s .
!

g e e rally m i stook the se x o f the que e n b e e tho ugh as Sir W M

n , , . .

Ramsa y poi n ts o ut ( H s ti n g s D B V 1 1 6 a th e b e e w hic h

, . . .

sy mboliz e s th e godd e ss o f the E ph e si n c ul t is cl e ly fe mi i n e a ar n .

1
Re adin g 7 b 0 559 which is n e ce ssitate d b y the se n se
1 1 05 , ,
 1 56 THE LAUSI AC H I STORY

C HAPTE R X L I X
SI S I NN I U S

[1 ] T H I S E lp id ius had a discipl e by n a m e Sisin n iu s , ,

o f se rvil e o rigin but a fre e man as re g ar d s the fa ith a

, ,

C appa docian by rac e Fo r o n e mu st poi n t out th e s e

.

thi n gs fo r the glor y o f Ch rist Who e n n obl e s us an d l e ads

,

us to the t ru e n obility A ft e r dwe lli n g with E lpid ius six

.

o r s e ve n y e ars fi n ally he shut him se l f up in a tomb an d

co n tin u e d fo r th re e y e ars in a to mb p rayi n g co n stan tly , ,

sittin g d own n e ith e r by n ight n o r d ay n e ith e r lyi n g down ,

n o r w alki n g out .He w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f a gi ft ( o f

pow e r) ov e r d e mo n s [2 ] But h avi n g re tu rn e d to his
.

n a tiv e cou n t r y he w as cou n t e d wo r thy O f the p ri e s thood ,

an d coll e ct e d a commu n ity o f me n an d wom e n By his .

g ra ve man n e r o f li fe he d rov e out wh at e v e r m asc ulin e

l ust s th e r e w e re in hims e lf an d b y s e l f dis cipli n e he
,
-

cu rb e d the fe mi n i n e e l e m e n t in the wom e n so th at the ,

wo rd s o f Scriptu re w e r e fulfill e d : I n Chr i st J e sus th e re

is e ith e r mal e o e l
n n r f m a e
1
.
”
Th e n al s o he is ho spitabl e ,

a lthough without poss e ssio n s s o as to sh a m e t he r ich m e n

,

w ho a r e n o t g e n e rou s ]

CH A PT ER L
2
G A DD A N A S

IK N E W an O ld P al e sti n ian n a m e d G ad d an as who liv e d ,

I n th e op e n a ir in th e r e gio n r ou n d the Jo r d an So m e .

J e ws o n c e se t abo ut him in a fa n atic outbu rst in the ,

re gio n r ou n d the D e a d Se a a n d cam e a g ai n s t him with

,

s wo r d d raw n .An d thi s i n cid e n t occu rre d Wh e n a .

man li ft e d up his swo rd an d wish e d to use it agai n st

G ad d a n as the h a n d O f him w h o had d raw n it w as
,

1 G al iii 28 . 1 C f, So z V I
. . .
34 .
1 58 THE LAU SI AC HI STOR Y

h av e b e e n o rdai n e d a pri e st by Ch r ist this n ight acc e pt ,

m e a s a c e l e b ran t The fath e rs r e m ov e d him from the

.
”

d e s e rt an d le d him to a l e ss asc e tic an d c al me r li fe an d ,

cu re d him o f his p re sumption b ri n gi n g thi s ma n w ho ,

ha d b e e n d e lud e d by the d e mo n to a k n owl e dg e O f his

o w n w e ak n e s s .

CHA PTE R LI V

W T HE E L D E R ME L A N I A

[] I T H O U G H I h a v e told a bov e
1
in a sup e rfici al w ay
o f the wo n d e r ful a n d s a i n tly M e l an i a n e v e r th e l e ss I will ,

n o w w e av e i n to m y n arrative at thi s poi n t wh a t r e ma i n s

to b e said Wh at sto re s o f good s she us e d up in h e r

.

divi n e ze al a s it w e re bu rn i n g th e m in a fi re is n o t fo r
, ,

me to dw e ll o n but fo r tho se who dw e ll in P e rsi a Fo r n o

, .

o n e e scap e d he r b e n e vol e n c e n e ith e r East n o r W e st n o r

,

N or th n o r So uth [2 ] Fo r thi rty s e v e n y e ars she had b e e n

.
-

givi n g hospitality an d at he r o wn co sts had succou re d both

,

ch urch e s a n d m o n ast e ri e s an d st ran ge rs an d p ri s o n e r s ,

he r fa m ily an d he r so n hi m s e l f an d h e r s t e war d s p ro
vid in g the m o n e y She p e r s e v e re d so lo n g in the p ractic e
.

o f hospit ality th a t s he po s s e s se d n o t e v e n a sp an o f l an d .

She w as n o t d r aw n ( fr om he r pu rpos e ) by d e si re fo r
he r so n n o r did y e arn i n g aft e r he r o n ly so n 2 se p ara t e
,
q

he r from lov e tow ards Ch r ist [3 ] But th an ks to he r

.

p raye r s the yo un g man attai n e d a high stan dar d o f e d u

ation an d a good ch aract e r an d a n ill ust rio us m arriage ,

an d p ar ticip at e d in the ho n ou r s o f th e wo rld ; h e had

al so two child re n A lo n g whil e aft e r h e ar i n g ho w he r

.
,

g ran ddaught e r was situ at e d that she w as marrie d an d was

,

p ropo sin g to r e n ou n c e the wo rld afraid l e st th e y should b e

,

in j u re d by bad t e achin g o r h e re sy o r e vil livi n g though an ,

1
C h X LV I
. .

2
I n poi n t o f fa c t M e l an i a had t w o o the r so n s
.
 THE ELD ER MELANI A 1 59

old woman o f si x ty y e ars sh e flu n g h e rse lf i n to a ship an d

,

1
s a ili n g fr om C ae sare a r e a ch e d Rom e in tw e n ty d a y s [4] .

A n d h avi n g m e t th e re th at m o s t bl e s s e d an d wo rthy man

Ap ro n ian us a pagan she i n st r uct e d him an d m a d e him
, ,

a Ch r i s ti an p e rsuadi n g him to b e co n ti n e n t a s re gard s

,

his wi fe M e l an ia s n i e c e n am e d Avit a An d h avi n g also

,
’
.

st r e n gth e n e d the will O f he r o w n g ran dd aught e r M e lan i a ,

with he r hu sb an d Pin ian us an d i n st ruct e d he r d aught e r ,

in law Albi n a wi fe o f he r so n a n d h avi n g i n d uc e d all

-

, ,

th e se to se ll th e i r good s she le d th e m o ut from Rom e ,

an d b r ought th e m i n to th e holy an d c al m h ar bou r o f the

( )
2
r e ligio us li fe . n h f
An d in so doi g s e ought with b e a st s
in the sh ap e o f all the se n ato rs an d th e i r wiv e s who t r i e d
to pr e v e n t he r in vi e w o f ( s i mil ar) r e n un ci atio n o f the
“

wo rld o n the part o f the oth e r ( se n a torial ) hous e s But .

“
she said to th e m : Littl e child re n it w as writt e n 4 0 0 ,

3
y e ars ago I t is the la st hou r
,
Why do yo u love .

’
to li n g e r in li fe s van iti e s ? P e rcha n c e the day s o f an ti
ch rist will su r p ri se you an d yo u will c e a se to e n j oy ,

[6 ] An d
”
you r we alth an d you r an c e s t ral p rop e rty .

h avi n g libe ra t e d all th e se sh e le d th e m to the mo n astic

li fe An d a ft e r in structi n g the you n g e r so n o f P ub lic o la
.

s h e b rought him to Sicily an d h avi n g sold all he r r e ,

m ai n i n g goods an d re c e iv e d th e i r valu e she c a m e to ,

J e rus al e m . Th e n h avi n g go t rid o f he r poss e s sio n s

, ,

withi n fo rty d ays she fe ll a sl e e p in a good O ld age an d

‘

p ro fou n d m e e kn e ss l e avi n g b e hi n d both a mon ast e ry in

,

J e rusal e m an d an e n dow m e n t fo r it .

[7] But wh e n all th e s e p e rso n s had l e ft Rom e th e re

fe ll o n Rom e a hu rrica n e o f b arb ari an s which w as ,

o rda i n e d lo n g ago in p roph e cie s an d it did n o t spare ,

e v e n the b ro n z e statu e s in the Fo rum but sacki n g th e m ,

1
Butl e r d ate s th i s r e turn to Ro me in 39 8 M e l an i a l an de d . at

Na pl e s a n d w e n t fi rst to se e P auli n us a t N ol a ( P a uli n us E p , .

1 Co r x v 3 2 ; I g R m 1 St Jo hn ii 1 8
2 2
. n
. o 5 . . . . . .
1 60 TH E LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

all with b arb ar ic fre n zy d e liv e re d th e m to d e st ruction so ,

th at Rom e which had b e e n b e autifie d by lo vmg han d s

,
1

fo r 1 2 0 0 y e ars b e ca m e a rui n 2
Th e n tho se who h ad
, .

b e e n i n st ructe d ( by M e la n ia) a n d thos e w ho had oppos e d

he r i n st r uctio n glo rifi e d G o d Who had p e r su ad e d the ,

u n b e li e v e rs by a r e v e r sal o f fo r t un e in th at wh e n all the , ,

oth e r famili e s had b e e n m ad e pri s on e r s th e se on e s o n ly ,

w e re p re s e rv e d havi n g b e e n mad e by M e lan i a s ze al

,
’

b urn t O ffe ri n g s to the Lo rd

-
.

CHAPTE R Lv

S I LV A N I A ( ME L A N I A 3
) co n tin ue d

[1 ] I T so h app e n e d th at w e trav ell e d tog e th e r fro m

d
(

A e li a 5 to Egypt e sco r tin g the bl e sse d Silvan ia the ,

vi rgin s i st e r in law o f Rufi n us the e x p r e fe ct A m o n g

,
— - -
.

th e p arty th e re w as J o vm us a l s o with us th e n a d e aco n , .

,

but n o w bi shop o f th e chu rch o f Ascalo n a d e vout an d ,

l e arn e d man We c a m e i n to an i n t e n s e h e a t a n d wh e n
.
,

w e re a ch e d P e lusium it ch an c e d th a t J o vin us took a ,

6
b asin an d gav e his h an ds an d fe e t a t ho r ough wash in
ic e cold w at e r a n d a ft e r washi n g flu n g a rug o n the
!

1
mk t o xa An OGT
d av .

2
Th e ck o f R o me by Al ar ic I n 4 1 0 Cf G ibbon C h XXX I
sa . .
, . .

The e di fi c e s o f R o me th o ug h the d amage h as b e e n muc h e xagge r

,

a te d re c e iv e d s o me i n j ur y fr o m th e viol e n c e o f th e G o th s
,

So m e t ruth m a y po ss ibly b e co n c e al e d in his ( z e O r o s i us d e vo ut

’
. .

a sse rti o n th at the w ra th o f He av e n suppli e d th e i m p e rfe ction s o f

,

h o st il e r ag e an d tha t th e p r o ud Fo r um o f R o m e d e co rate d wi th
, ,

th e s ta tue s o f so man y god s a n d he ro e s w a s l e v e ll e d in the d us t by ,

the str ok e o f ligh tn i n g P all a din s e vid e n c e is co n te mpo ra r y a n d

.
” ’

d e se r ve s re sp e ct .

3
Turn e r poi n ts o ut tha t thI s I S a con ti n ua tion o f C h LI V ; .

B utl e r a g re e s .

4
I e P a ll a di n s an d M e l an i a
. . .

5
J e rusal e m w as c all e d Ae li a C apitoli n a by Had r i an in 1 36 A D . .

afte r the supp re ss io n o f th e J e wi sh r e b e llio n .

6
yufi C f M k vii 3
1rv'
,
. .P roba bly th e on ly a ll us io n in p atr i stic
. . .

li te ratur e ( Turn e r) .
1 62 THE LAU SI AC H I STOR Y

A b lavius the ex b r id e fo r a fe w d ay s o f
-
p re fe ct ,
an d
N e b rid ius th e , o f th e city b ut th e wi fe o f n o
e x p re fe ct
-

'
,

man Fo r s he is said to h av e di e d a vi rgi n but the

.
,

s pou se o f th e Wo r d o f T r uth
[]2 S h e di sp e rs e d all .

he r good s a n d gav e to the poo r She e n gag e d in n o .

m e an co mb at s fo r t ruth s sak e i n st ruct e d m an y wo m e n

’
, ,

a dd r e sse d p r ie st s re v e re n tly an d ho n ou re d bishop s ; ,

’
sh e w a s a ccou n t e d w o r thy t o b e a co n fe sso r fo r t ruth s

sa k e The i n h a bit an ts o f Co n st a n ti n opl e re cko n he r

.

li fe a m o n g the co n fe s so r s fo r she di e d th us a n d w e n t ,
’
a w ay to the Lo rd in th e midst o f he r s t ruggl e s fo r God s

ho n o un

HAP TE R LV I I
C AN D I DA

[] I A TT E N D I N G to h e r p r e c e pt s an d i m it a ti n g he r

lik e a m i rr o r the bl e s se d C an did a d aught e r o f T raj an

, ,

t he g e n e ra l liv e d a wo r thy li fe an d a tt ai n e d t o the

,

h e ight o f san ctity pa yi n g ho n o urs both to ch urch e s

,

an d bi shop s H avi n g i n st ruct e d he r o w n d aught e r fo r

.

t he co n ditio n o f vi rgi n ity s he b ro ught h e r to Ch r i s t as

a gi ft o f he r o w n body a ft e r w ard s followi n g he r o w n
,

d a ught e r in t e mp e ra n c e a n d ch a stity an d the d istrib u

tio n o f he r good s [2 ] I k n e w he r l abou r all n ight
.

lo n g with h e r h an d s a t the mill to s ubd ue he r b o dy ;

“
a n d sh e u se d to say : F a sti n g is i n su ffici e n t ; I give it
an ally in th e shap e o f toil so m e w atchi n g th a t I m ay ,

d e st r oy the i n sol e n c e o f E sau 1 She a bst ai n e d ab so .

”

lute ly fro m an ythi n g with blood a n d li fe in it but 2

,

t aki n g fi sh a n d v e g e ta bl e s with o il o n fe ast d ay s at ,

oth e r ti me s she co n ti n u e d to co n te n t h e rs e l f with a

mi x tu re o f sou r wi n e an d d ry bre ad .

1
C f He b x ii 1 6
. . . .

2
I s t hi s o n e o f th e rar e t a c e s in th e l a te r C hu c h o f the i n fl ue n c e
r r

o f the co m p r o m i se o f A c ts x v 20 ? .
 THE MON K S O F AN TIN OE 1 63

[] n
3 I e mu a
l tio n o f he r e x a mpl e the m o st v e n e ra bl e
lady G e la s ia a t r ibun e s da ught e r walk e d in the pa th
,
’
,

o f r e ligio n h avi n g put o n the yok e o f vi rgin ity He r

, .

1
virtu e is re n o wn e d in th a t the s un n e v e r w e n t down
o n h e r i rr it a tio n ag ai n s t man s e rvan t o r m a id se rva n t o r- -

an y o n e e l se .

CHAPTE R L V I I I
T HE M O N K S or A N TI N o E

[1 ] H A V I N G
2
p e n t fo ur y e ars at A n tin o e in the
s

Th e b aid in s o lo n g a ti me I a cq ui re d k n owl e dge al s o

,

o f the loc al mon a st e ri e s Fo r som e 1 2 0 0 me n ar e

.

s e ttl e d r ou n d th e city who liv e by th e i r h an ds an d

,

ar e e x t r e me ly asc e tic R e cko n e d am o n g th e se th e r e

.

a re al s o an cho r it e s w ho h av e sh ut th e mse lv e s up in the

c av e s o f the r ock s O n e o f th e s e is a c e rt ai n Solo m on

.
,

a man o f v e r y mild di sp o s itio n an d re s t rai n e d a n d

po sse ssi n g the gi ft o f e n d ura n c e He u se d to say th a t .

he ha d b e e n fi fty y e ar s in the cav e He p rovid e d fo r .

hi mse l f by the work o f his h an d s an d had l e arn e d by

h e ar t all the holy Sc riptu re s .

[2 ] I n an othe r cav e liv e d D o r o the us a p ri e st He , .

w a s e x t ra o r di n ar ily goo d an d h avi n g him se l f live d an

,

i rre p ro ach abl e li fe w as cou n t e d wo rthy o f the pri e s t

hood a n d mi n i st e re d to th e b re th re n in the c av e s To
, .

him M e l an ia the you n g e r g ran d d aught e r o f th e g re a t

,
-

M e l an i a co n c e rn i n g whom I shall sp e a k l at e r 3 o n c e
, ,

se n t 5 0 0 pi e c e s o f m o n e y b e se e chi n g him to s pe n d
,

th e m o n t he b re th re n th e re But he took th re e o n ly .

an d s e n t the r e st to D iocl e s the an chor it e a m o st ,

l e arn e d man sayin g : B r oth e r D iocl e s is wi se r th an I

,
“
,

an d c an a dmi n ist e r th e m without doi n g har m k n owi n g ,

2 Fr om
E ph iv 2 6 406 o n w ard s
1
. . . .

3
C h LXI . .
1 64 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y

tho se w ho should rightly b e h e lp e d Fo r mys e l f I a m .

,
”
co n t e n t w ith th e se .

[ 3 ] Thi s D iocl e s b e g an in the fi r st i n s t an c e with the

grammar co urse b ut aft e rward s g ave him se l f to philo

,

S ophy . How e v e r in co urs e o f tim e g rac e d re w him o n

, ,

an d in the tw e n ty e ighth y e ar o f his li fe he g av e up th e

-

cycl e o f studi e s
1
a n d g a v e hi m s e l f up 2
to Ch ri st an d he
had sp e n t thi r ty five y e ar s in the c av e s
-
3
He told us .

“
thi s I n t e llig e n c e which is se p arat e d fr om the thought
o f G o d b e com e s e ith e r a d e mo n o r a b rut e b e a st Bu t .

s i n c e w e w e re cu r iou s to k n ow his man n e r o f s p e aki n g

“
he e x pl ai n e d thu s : I n t e llig e n c e se p arat e d fro m the
thought o f G o d i n e vit ab ly fall s i n to co n c upi sc e n c e o r
an ge r . An d h e s a id con cupi sc e n c e w as b e a st —lik e an d
a n g e r d e mo n i ac al [4 ] But wh e n I obj e ct e d ” Ho w c an
.

hum an in t e llig e n c e b e co n tin u ally with G o d ? thi s sam e

“
man said : Wh e n e v e r the s o ul is e n g ag e d in a thought
o r a ctio n th at is piou s a n d godly th e n it is with G o d
”
, .

Th e re li ve d n e ar him a c e rt ai n C apiton w ho had b e e n ,

a robb e r He had co m pl e t e d fi fty y e ars in the c ave s

.

fo ur m il e s fr o m the city o f A n tin o e an d d id n o t co me ,

down fr o m his c av e n o t e v e n as far a s the r iv e r Nil e

, ,

s ayi n g th a t h e w a s n o t ye t a bl e to m e e t c r owd s b e c ause

the Adv e r sa ry a t th at i n st an t wo uld oppo se him .

[5 ] W ith th e se w e saw al s o a n oth e r an cho r it e hi mse l f

\ ,

e i n g m ock e d
als o
( livi )
n g in a c a v e in s imil ar fa shio n B .

in d re am s by th e fre n zy o f vai n glo ry h e m ock e d in his ,

tu rn t h o se th at d e c e ive d th e mse lv e s “
fe e din g th e ,

1 ”
wi n d s A n d he po s se sse d bodily co n ti n e n c e th an k s to
‘
.

his age a n d h is lo n g ti me ( in the d e se rt ) an d p e rh ap s ,

1
Cf XXI 3
. . .
2
d we E
a To — o w er d fia r o .

3
Fr o m h e r e to th e end o f c tio n [3] the G r e e k give n in the
se

tex tua l n o te to B utl e r s ’

te x t is tr a n sl a te d in a cco r d an c e wi th
,

B utl r s l a te r j udg m e t
e
’
n .

P r ov i x 1 2 . .
1 66 THE LAUSI AC HI ST OR Y

most s t e d fast would al most hav e b e e n d e c e iv e d by he r

.

b e a uty if sh e ha d n o t had h e r ch astity as an e x c e e di n gly

,

st ro n g s e n tin e l an d by he r mod e sty had b e e n co mp e llin g

,

the u n r e st ra i n e d e ye to re v e re n c e an d fe ar .

C HAPTER L X
C O LLYTHU S

[] I A N OT HE R vi rgi n w as a n e ighbou r o f mi n e but I ,

did n o t se e he r fac e fo r she n e ve r cam e out so th e y say

, , ,

fro m the d ay she r e n ou n c e d the wo rld But h avi n g .

co mpl e t e d s ix ty y e ars o f a sc e tici s m in co m pan y with he r

o w n m oth e r —sup e rio r
) at last she w as about to d e part
,

fr om thi s li fe An d the ma r ty r o f the pl ac e stood ov e r

.

he r Co llythus wa s his n a m e an d sai d to he r :

— “
To
-

d ay you are goi n g to t ra v e l to the M ast e r an d se e all the

sai n t s .Co me th e n an d b re ak fast with us in the ch ap e l 1
.
”

So she got up a t twilight an d d re sse d an d took in he r

b a sk e t b re ad an d oliv e s a n d sh re d d e d h e r b s a ft e r all ,

tho se y e ars goin g o ut an d she we n t to the ch ap e l an d

,

p raye d .
[]
2 A n d h avi n g m ark e d th a t mom e n t o f the

whol e d ay wh e n n o o n e was i n sid e she took he r s e a t ,

“
an d c all e d o n the marty r sayi n g : Bl e s s my food holy
, ,

Co llythus an d accomp an y me with thy p ray e rs o n the

, ,

”
j ou rn e y Th e n havi n g e at e n an d p ray e d a gai n she we n t
.

hom e about su n s e t A n d h avi n g give n he r moth e r

.

sup e rio r) a w ritin g o f Cl e m e n t a utho r o f the S tr o ma te z s

'

, ,

2 “
o n the p r oph e t Amos she s a id : Give it to the e x il e d
,

bi shop an d say to him P ray fo r me fo r I am goi n g o n

3
, ,
”
a jou rn e y A n d she di e d th a t v e r y n ight with n o fe v e r
.
,

n o r pai n in the h e a d but havi n g d e ck e d h e r s e l f fo r the

,

fun e ral .

1
, p p
u é a '
r
2
ro v. N o t me n tio n e d e l se w he re .

3
Pallad ius the a uth o r ,
.
 MELAN I A THE YO UNGER 1 67

CHAPTER LXI
ME L A N I A T HE Y OU N G E R 1

[]
1 S (
I NC E I p r omis e d abov e to t e ll about th e g ran d )

d aught e r o f M e l an ia I a m co n st ra in e d to p ay the d e bt
, ,

fo r it is n o t just th a t m e n should di sdai n he r youth ful n e s s

in re sp e ct o f the fl e sh an d l e av e o n o n e sid e with n o
pillar to comm e mo ra t e it such g re a t vir tu e virtu e which , ,

fra n kly far su rp a s s e s th a t o f o ld an d z e alous wom e n

,
.

He r p are n ts by usi n g co mp ul sion mad e he r marry a

man o f the high e st ran k in Rom e He r con sci e n ce wa s
.

always b e i n g prick e d by the t al e s she h e ar d about he r

g ran d moth e r an d ( a t l as t) she w as so goad e d tha t she
,

fe lt u n a bl e to p e rfo r m he r marri ag e duty []

2 F o r tw o .
,

m al e child re n h avi n g b e e n bo rn to he r an d both h avi n g

die d she c a m e to h av e such g re a t h at re d o f m arri ag e a s
,

to say to he r hu sb an d Pin ian us so n o f Se v e rus th e e x

,

p re fe ct : I f yo u choo se to p racti se a sc e tici sm with me

“

a cco r di n g to th e fashio n o f chastity the n I re cog n i se ,

o u a s m a st e r an d lo r d o f my li fe But if thi s app e ar s

y .

g rie vous to yo u b e i n g still a you n g m an t ak e all my b e

, ,

lo n gin gs an d se t my body fre e that I may fulfil my d e sire

,

toward G o d an d b e co me h e i r o f the z e al o f m y gran d

moth e r who se n am e I also b e ar [3 ] Fo r if G o d had
,
.

wi sh e d us to h av e childre n He would n o t h av e t ake n

,

a wa y my child re n u n ti m e ly
”
A ft e r th e y had s truggl e d
.

un d e r the yok e a lo n g whil e at l as t God had pity o n the

,

you n g man an d pl an t e d in him a z e al fo r re n u n ciatio n ,

so th a t the wo r d o f Sc riptu re wa s fulfill e d in th e i r ca se

Ho w k n owe st thou O woman th at thou sh alt s av e thy
, ,
”
hu sb an d ? 2 SO h avi n g b e e n marri e d at thi rt e e n an d
h avin g liv e d with he r hu sba n d s e ve n y e ars in the ,

Se e B u tl e r s n ote s , I I 2 3 1 —3 , M e l an i a, ill ustra tio n s

’
1
. on an d his
fr o m th e V ita M e la n ia? f u n .

I Co r vii I 6
2
. . .
1 68 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

twe n ti e th y e ar she re n ou n c e d the world An d fi rst she .

gav e he r s ilk d re sse s to the alt ar s this the holy Olympi a s

ha s a l s o do n e []4 . Th e n she c ut up h e r oth e r silk s an d

m ad e th e m in to di ffe re n t chu rch o rn a m e n ts An d .

h avi n g e n t rust e d h e r s ilv e r an d gol d to a c e rtai n P aul ,

a p ri e s t a mo n k o f D alm ati a sh e s e n t th e m ac r oss the

, ,

se a to the E a st ,
pi e c e s o f mo n e y to Egypt
an d the Th e b aid , pi e c e s to A n tioch an d its
n e ighbou rhood , to Pal e sti n e ,
to the
chu rch e s in the isl an ds a n d the plac e s o f e x il e whil e ,

she h e r s e l f dist ribut e d to the chu r ch e s in the W e s t in

the sa m e w ay [5] . All thi s a n d f ou r ti me s a s much she

“
sn atch e d if God will a llo w the e x p re ssio n
,
o ut o f the ,

1
mouth o f the lio n Al ar ic by he r faith An d she fre e d .

8 0 0 0 sl av e s who wish e d fre e do m fo r the re st did no t ,

wi sh it but p re fe rre d to b e slav e s to h e r b r oth e r ; an d

,

she allow e d him to tak e th e m all fo r th r e e pi e c e s o f

mo n e y But havi n g sold he r pos se s sio n s in the Sp ai n s

.
,

Aquit an i a Tarrago n ia an d the G aul s she re s e rv e d fo r

, ,

h e rse l f o n ly thos e in Sicily an d C a mp an ia an d A fric a

an d app rop ri at e d th e i r i n com e fo r the suppo r t o f m o n as

te rie s .
[]
6 S uch w as h e r wi se co n duct with re ga rd to

the bu r d e n o f rich e s An d he r a sc e tici s m w as a s follows

. .

She a te e v e ry oth e r d ay to b e gi n with a ft e r a fi ve d ay s

’
-

i n t e rval— a n d as sig n e d to h e rse l f a part in the daily work

o f he r o wn slave w o me n whom al so sh e mad e he r fe llo w
,

asc e tic s .

She ha d with he r also he r moth e r Albi n a w ho liv e d ,

a simil ar asc e tic li fe a n d di st ribut e d he r r ich e s fo r he r

part pr ivat e ly N o w t he s e l adi e s a re dwe llin g o n th e ir
.

p rop e r ti e s n o w in Sicily an d n o w in C amp an i a with

, ,

2
fi fte e n e un uchs an d si x ty vi gi r n s f
both e e an d sl ave
r ,
3
.

1 2
Tim iv 1 7 . . .

2 A pp
are n tly to b e i n t e r p r e te d li te ra lly b ut p e rha p s me tap ho r i
c lly in a ll us ion to M t x i x 1 2
a . . .

3
T he y w e r e r e ally at B e th l e h e m whe n P all adi n s w r o te .
1
76 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
y e ar s old an d e x c e ptio n ally lov e ly she was to b e shu n n e d
, ,

b e caus e O f he r b e auty l e st she should mak e an y o n e

,

an obj e ct o f bl ame th r ough suspicio n So wh e n it .

h app e n e d th at the Ari an s con spi re d again st the bl e s se d

A th an a sius bishop o f Al e x an d ri a by m e a n s o f Eus e bius
, ,

the p re fe ct Wh e n Co n st an tiu s w as Emp e r o r an d th e y

, ,

w e re c alum n iou sly accusin g him o f u n lawful d e e d s he ,

avoid e d b e i n g j udg e d by a co rrupt t ribu n al an d t ruste d

no one n e ith e r r e l atio n n o r fr i e n d

,
n o r cl e r ic n o r an y ,

n the p re fe ct s m e n e n t e re d sudd e n ly
[] But wh ’
one . 2 e

i n to the e piscopal re sid e n c e an d sought him he fle d at ,

hi 1
mid n ight to this vi gi we i g o ly
r n a r n ,
n s tu ic a d clo ak
n n .

But she w as disco n c e rt e d at the a ffai r an d fright e n e d .

“
SO he s a id to he r : Si n c e I am sought by the A ri a n s
an d am u njustly a ccus e d I re solv e d to fl e e l e st I should
, ,

b e ar a fal se re put atio n an d i n volv e in sin tho se who wi sh

to pun i sh me [3 ] B ut G o d re ve al e d t o me to n ight
.
-

’
With n o o n e can s t thou b e s av e d e x c e pt with thi s lady .

So with g re a t j o y she c ast asid e all h e s it a tio n a n d ga v e

h e rse l f wholly to the Lo rd ; an d She hid tha t mo st holy
man fo r s ix y e ars as lon g a s Co n sta n tiu s live d both
2
, ,

washi n g his fe e t h e rs e l f an d mi n ist e rin g to his bo dily

re qui re m e n ts a n d a rran gi n g fo r all his n e e d s bo rr owi n g ,

book s an d b ri n gi n g th e m to him an d n o man in all ,

Al e xan d ria du ri n g the six y e ar s k n e w wh e re the ble sse d

Athan asius was livi n g [4 ] N o w wh e n the d e ath b f.

Co n s ta n tiu s w as an n ou n c e d an d cam e to his e ar s he ,

d re ss e d hims e l f fi ttin gly an d was fou n d o n c e more by

n ight in th e chu rch an d all w ere as to n ish e d an d look e d

o n him as a d e a d man com e to li fe N o w his d e fe n c e .

“
to his n e ar fri e n ds w as as follows : Thi s is why I did
n o t t a ke r e fug e with you th a t yo u might the b e tt e r
,

Se e n o te o n XXXV I I 6
1 '
B pf t v B pp ) t o v . . .

2
Se e ar t A th n a s ius fo r the hi sto y o f the ti me
.
“
a ,
”
r .

A th n as ius m ay ha ve hid fo r a li ttl e wh il e in a i rgi n s h o use b ut

a V
’
,

the s to ry a s i t sta n d s is un hi sto r ic a l .

 J U L I ANA 1 71

swe ar ( ign o ran c e o f my wh e re about s ) an d al so b e c aus e ,

o f the s e arch But I fl e d to o n e whom n o o n e could

.

s u s p e ct b e caus e sh e w as b e auti ful an d you n g

,
b e ari n g ,

two th in gs I n mi n d he r salvation — fo r I did h e lp he r

,

an d my re puta tio n
”
.

C HAPTER L X I V
J UL I A N A

[]1 A G A I N th e re w as a c e rt ai n Juli an a a vi rgi n o f ,

Cae sare a in Cappadocia said to b e v e ry l e arn e d an d ,

mo st faith ful Wh e n O rig e n the w rit e r fl e d fro m the

.

upri sin g o f th e pagan s sh e re c e i ve d him an d s uppo r t e d ,

him fo r two y e ar s at h e r o w n cost an d wa it e d o n him .

I fo un d thi s w ritt e n in a v e r y old book o f v e rse s in ,

which had b e e n w ritt e n by O rig e n s h an d : [2 ] fI fou n d ’ ‘

thi s book at the hou se o f Julia n a the vi rgi n at Cae sare a ,

wh e n I w as hidd e n by h e r She u se d to say th a t she .

had re c e iv e d it from Symmachus him se l f the J e wi sh ,

” 1
i n t e rp r e t e r .

I h av e i n s e rt e d the vi rtuou s a cts o f th e s e wo me n a s

par t o f my plan th a t w e may k n ow th at it is possibl e to
,

g ai n e x c e ll e n ce in m an y way s if w e d e si re , .

C HA PTER L XV
H I PP O L Y T U S
n oth e r v e r y o ld book I n sc ri b e d with the n a m e
[] 1 a IN
o f Hippolytu s a di scip e ol f t e apostl e s
h ,
2
I fou n d thi s ,

1
E us . HE
. t e ll s the sto ry in si m il ar wo rd s Se e S w te
. VI . 17 . e ,

I n tr to the O T in Gr e e k pp 49 5 0 Sy mma c hus liv e d towa rd s

. . .
, .
, .

the e n d o f the se co n d c e n tur y The book p r ob ably wo uld b e the

.

Bibl e a rran g e d in o tx lin e s o r v e rse s

,
r o z, .

2
N o th i n g is k n ow n o f thi s sto ry fro m o the r s o ur c e s H ippoly tus .

w as n o t o f co ur e v
, pfp 63 i
s , ov 7 V tt
1 72 THE LAUSI AC H I STOR Y

s tor y Th e re live d in the city o f Co ri n th a high bo rn

.
-

a n d mo s t b e auti ful vi rgi n w h o w a s p ra ctisi n g asc e tici s m

with a V i e w to ( a vo w o f) vi rgi n ity As the ti m e fo r it .

a pp ro a ch e d th e y d e n ou n c e d h e r to th e p ag a n w ho w as
,

th e m agist ra t e th e n a t the tim e O f the p e rs e c uto r s th at

, ,

is as o n e who bl asph e me d both the ti me s an d the

,

e m p e r o r s an d spok e ill O f the idol s At the sa m e ti me .

al s o thos e who t ra ffic in such thi n g s w e r e p rai si n g he r

b e a uty [2 ] So the magi st ra t e b e i n g e r otic r e c e ive d

.
, ,

th e d e n u n ci atio n gl adly lik e a ho r s e p ricki n g up his

,

e ar s .A n d wh e n a ft e r se tti n g e v e ry d e vic e i n to op e ra tio n

he fa il e d to p e rsu ad e the wom an th e n fu r iou s with he r , , ,

he did n o t h an d he r ov e r to pu n i shm e n t o r to rtu re but ,

p u t h e r in a b r oth e l a n d co mman d e d the m an w ho k e pt

th e wom e n :
“
Tak e he r an d pay me th re e pi e c e s O f
,
”
mo n e y a d ay as he r hi re But he to e arn the re qui sit e
.
,

s um i n t e n d e d to h an d he r ov e r to all com e r s
, So wh e n .

tho se who hu n t wo m e n in thi s w ay lik e so man y h awk s

k n e w o f it th e y vi sit e d thi s p e rditio n —shop an d p ayi n g ,

the t ar i ff t a lk e d to h e r th e l an g uag e o f s e ductio n [3 ] But .

“
sh e b e s ought th e m with e n t re a ti e s s ayi n g : I h ave a ,

so re which is o ffe n siv e a n d I fe ar that yo u will h at e m e

,

give me a fe w d ay s an d you will ge t the ch an c e o f h avi n g

me fo r n othi n g ”
So she b e sought God with p e tition s
.

in tho se days Wh e re fo re al s o God b e holdi n g he r cha s tity

.

i n spire d a c e rtain youn g man in the e mploy o f the

magis te r o ffi ru c io m 1
fa i r in ch ara ct e r an d app e aran c e
, ,

with a burn i n g z e al fo r m artyr dom An d h avi n g go n e .

O ff with all outwar d a pp e aran c e o f lu st he c a m e l at e at

n ight to th e k e e p e r o f the wom e n an d g av e him fi ve

coi n s an d said to him : Allow me to sp e n d this n ight

“

o h e w e n t in to the p riv a t e ch a mb e r
[]
”
with he r .
4 S
“
G e t up s ave you rse l f
”
an d s aid to h e r : A n d he
, .

mad e he r t ak e o ff he r cloth e s an d put his o wn o n he r ,

1
Ve a l/ fo ra y ,ua yw 'r p t a w ii
'
1 74 THE LAUSI AC HI STOR Y

on the mo s t frug al fa re ,
p racti s i n g a godly sob ri e ty -

livin g fo r the mo st par t o n th e i r farm s an d avoidi n g

citi e s l e st h aply th r ou g h the pl e asure s o f the city th e y
,

should b e com e i n volve d in s om e O f the city l i fe an d fa ll

fr om th e i r pu rpos e .

C HAPTER L XV I I
MA GN A
[1 ] this city o f A n cy ra man y oth e r vi rgi n s s o me
IN ,

2 0 0 0 o r m o re a re e mi n e n t as wom e n both o f co n ti n e n c e
,

a n d disti n ctio n A m o n g th e m M a g n a t ak e s a p romi n e n t

.

pl ac e in r e ligion a m o s t v e n e r abl e wo man ; I do n o t

,

k n o w wh at to c all he r vi rgi n o r widow Fo r h avi n g

,
.

b e e n fo rcibly li n k e d with a hu sb an d by he r moth e r s he ,

wh e e dl e d him a n d p ut h im o ff so p e opl e say a n d th us

, ,

re ma i n e d i n viol at e
[]
2 Wh e n. h e di e d a littl e l a t e r

she g av e h e r s e l f wholly to G o d a tt e n di n g in a s e r io us
,

s pi rit to he r o w n ho us e s livi n g a mo st a sc e tic a n d c o n

,

tin e n t li fe h avi n g h e r co n v e rsa tio n s uch th a

,
t the v e ry
bi shop s r e v e re d he r fo r the e x c e ll e n c e o f he r r e ligio n .

Whil e she p r ovid e d fo r the n e e ds p ri mary a n d se co n d ary

, ,

o f ho spital s th e poor an d bi s hop s o n to ur she c e ase d

, ,

n o t to wo rk in s e c r e t with he r o w n h a n d s an d by m e a n s

o f he r m o s t fa ith ful s e rva n t s an d a t n ight s she did no t

,
.

l e a v e the chu rch .

C HAPTER L XV I I I
T HE CO M PA SS I O N A T E M O N K
n the city w e fou n d a m o n k who p re
[]
1 L I K E W I S E i
fe rre d n o t to b e o r d ai n e d to the p ri e sthood b ut had ,

b e e n le d to the li fe a ft e r a sho rt p e riod o f militar y

s e rvic e .He is sp e n din g his tw e n ti e th ye ar in asc e ticis m ,
 THE N UN WHO FELL 1 75

in t he followi n g fa shio n . He live s with

bi shop o f th e

the city an d is so h um an e an d m e rci ful that h e go e s

,

his r ou n d s e v e n at n ight s an d has pity o n tho se who

,

are in n e e d []
2 . H e n e gl e cts n e ith e r p r i s o n n o r ho s

pital poo r n o r r ich but s uccou rs all givin g s o me advic e

, , ,

a bo ut compas sio n if without co m p a ssio n ; l e a di n g oth e r s

,

o n ward ; re co n cilin g s om e an d p r ovidin g oth e rs with

th e i r bodily n e e d s an d clothi n g A n d wh a t g e n e rally
.

ha pp e n s in all g re at citi e s is fou n d al s o in this o n e ; fo r

in the po rch o f the ch urch a m ultitud e o f s ick p e opl e
l a id o n couch e s b e g th e i r d a ily food som e b e i n g m arri e d, ,

oth e rs u n m arri e d [3 ] .W e ll it h a pp e n e d o n e d ay th a t
,

the wi fe o f a c e r t ai n man w as co n fi n e d in the po rch at ,

m id n ight in wi n t e r ti m e SO he h e ard he r c r yi n g o ut in
-
.

h e r p ai n a n d a b an do n i n g his cu stom ar y p ray e rs w e n t

,

o ut an d b e h e ld he r ; fi n din g n o o n e h e took th e pl a c e

o f a m idwi fe hi m se l f n o t di s d a i n in g the u n pl e a san tn e s s

,

o f s uch occ as io n s co mpas sio n havi n g m a d e him n o t

,

se n s itiv e []
4
. H is cloth e s in app e a r an c e ar e n o t wo r th

a n obol an d h is food r un s a good ra c e with his cloth e s

, .

He c an n ot e n du re to l e an ov e r a writi n g t abl e t sin c e -

co m pass io n d rive s him fr o m h is studi e s I f an y o f the .

b re th re n give s him a book h e imm e diate ly s e l ls it , ,

an sw e ri n g t h us to tho se w h o s co ff at him :
“
Ho w c an
I p e r su ad e my M as t e r th at I h av e l e arn e d His art un le ss
I s e l l Him Hims e l f 1
in o rd e r to p ra cti se the art
p e rfe ctly ?

CHAPTER L X I X
THE NUN W HO FELL

[]1 A C E R T A I N vi rgi n a sc e tic livi n g with two oth e r s

p racti se d a sc e tici sm fo r n i n e Or te n y e ars Se duc e d by .

a m i n st re l she fe ll an d con c e ive d a n d bo re a child .

1
I e the go pel book tha t te ll s o f C h i s t
. . s -
r .
1 76 THE LAUSI AC HI STORY
Havi n g com e to hat e h e r s e du c e r i n t e n s e ly she w as
co n sci e n c e s mitt e n to th e d e pth s o f he r soul an d re ach e d
-

such a d e g re e o f r e p e n t an c e th at she compl e t e ly lo st

h e art an d t ri e d to starv e h e rs e l f to d e ath [2 ] An d in
he r p raye r s sh e b e sought God sayi n g : 0 g re a t G o d
, ,

Who h e are st the e vil s o f e v e r y c re atu re an d d e si re st ,

n e ith e r the d e a th n o r d e s t r uctio n o f tho se w ho s tumbl e ,

if Thou w ishe st me to b e sav e d sho w me in thi s Thy ,

marve l s an d t ak e a way the fruit o f my sin which I hav e

,

bor n e l e st I e mploy a n o o se o r fli n g mys e l f ov e r a

, ,

1
pre cipic e P ra yi n g in th e se t e r ms she w as h e ar d fo r
.
”
,

he r child di e d n o t lo n g a ft e r []
3 S o fr o m th a t d ay
.

s he n e v e r ag ai n me t th e man w ho had le d he r c a ptiv e ,

but givi n g h e r se l f to the se ve r e s t fasti n g fo r thi r ty y e ar s

she se rv e d the sick an d m aim e d She impo rtu n e d God .

s o th a t it w as re v e al e d to o n e o f th e holy p r i e st s
, SO
an d —so ha s pl e ase d m e m o re in he r p e n it e n c e th an in

he r vi rgi n ity I w rit e thi s l e st w e sho uld d e spi se tho se

.

w ho g e n ui n e ly r e p e n t .

C H A P T E R L XX
A R EA D E R U N J U ST L Y A CC U SE D

[] 1 A V I RG I N o n c e fe ll t he d aught e r o f a c e rt ai n
,

p ri e s t in Cae sare a o f P al e s tin e an d w as t aught by he r ,

s e d uc e r to a cc use a c e rt ai n re ad e r in that city A n d .

wh e n she wa s n o w with child b e i n g c ro ss—e xa mi n e d by

,

he r fa th e r she d e n ou n c e d the re ad e r The p ri e st c o n .

fi d e n tly re fe rre d the m att e r to the bi shop an d the ,

bi shop c all e d his cl e rgy toge th e r an d had the re ad e r

s ummo n e d The case was i n ve stig at e d The re ad e r
. .

was qu e stio n e d by the bi shop b ut would n o t co n fe ss .

Fo r ho w could th at b e told which had n o t h app e n e d ?

1
4) éua wr l w I do n o t un d e rstan d th si wo rd .
1 78 THE LAU SI AC HI STOR Y

who a ccu se d yo u fal se ly may b e d e live re d [5] But .

h e g av e th e m n o a n swe r n o r op e n e d his doo r but from ,

the d ay h e e n t e re d his hous e h e ha d b e e n p r ayi n g to

God The fath e r w e n t aw ay aga i n to the bi shop ;
.

pray e rs w e re s aid in the chu r ch an d n o t e v e n th e n did ,

she b r in g fo rth Th e n the bi shop ar os e an d we n t to

.

th e re ad e r an d k n ocki n g a t th e doo r w e n t in to him

said to him :
“
an d E usta thius a r i se loo se wh at yo u
, ,

h av e fast e n e d An d i m m e dia t e ly the re a d e r k n e lt dow n

.

with the bi shop an d the woma n b r ought fo r th .

N o w his pl e adi n g an d the p e r si st e n cy o f his p ray e r

w e re st ron g e n ough both to re ve al the fal se accu satio n
an d to ch asti se the fa l se a ccu se r ; th a t w e m ay l e arn
to p e r s e v e r e in p ray e rs an d to k n ow th e i r powe r .

C H A PTE R L XX I
T HE B R OT HE R W HO 15 W I T H T HE W RI TE R l

[] 1 An d wh e n I h av e said a fe w wo r ds about
no w,
th e b roth e r who has b e e n with m e fr om youth u n til this
d ay I will e n d my t al e
,
I k n ow th a t fo r a lo n g tim e
.

h e h as n o t e a t e n from d e si re n o r f a st e d from d e si re I .

co n sid e r th at he has co n q u e r e d d e si re o f rich e s th e ,

g re at e st p ar t o f vai n glo ry He is s atisfi e d with wh at

. .

h e has he do e s n o t d e ck hi ms e l f o ut with cloth e s wh e n

, ,

d e spi se d he giv e s th an k s he r u n s ri sks fo r his clo se

,

fri e n ds he has e n gag e d in co n t e st s with d e mo n s a

,

tho usan d ti me s an d mo re ; so th at o n e d ay a d e mon

t ri e d to mak e an agr e e m e n t with him an d said Agre e
to sin j ust o n c e an d what e v e r woma n you m e n tio n to
,

m e in the wo rld I will b r i n g her to you [ ] An d

2 .

again o n an oth e r occasion aft e r bu ffe ti n g him fo r fou r

,

t e e n n ight s as he told me an d d raggi n g him by the fe e t

, ,

1
A tra n s p are n t d e vice by which Pall adi n s sp e ak s a bout hi mse l f .
THE BROTHER W H O IS W I TH THE WR I TER 1 79
“
in the ight he co n ve r se d with him audibly
n C e a se :

wo rshippi n g Ch ri st an d I will n o t com e n e ar yo u But .

he a n s we re d an d sa id : “
Thi s is why I wo rship Him
a n d will glor i fy Him i n fi n it e ly an d ado re Him b e c a u se ,

yo u a re utt e rly di st a st e ful t o m e w h e n I a m th us e n

g ag e d He has vi sit e d 1 0 6 citi e s a n d stay e d in m o st
.
”

o f th e m but by God s m e r cy h e h as ha d n othi n g to do

’

with a wo man n o t e v e n in a d re a m e x c e pt fo r thi s

, ,

Co n t e st [3]. I k n ow th a t h e r e c e iv e d fr om a n a n ge l

on th re e Occ asio n s the food he n e e d e d O n e d ay .

,

b e i n g in the i n n e r d e se r t an d h avi n g n o t e v e n a c ru mb ,

he fo un d th re e lo av e s in his sh e e p s ki n s till wa r m .

An oth e r ti me he fou n d win e an d lo av e s Ye t an oth e r

'

ti me I l e arn e d that som e o n e s aid thi s to him “

Yo u
ar e fai n ti n g ; go th e n an d r e c e iv e fro m th e se m e n food

SO he w e n t to the man to whom thi s ma n

”
an d o il .

“
h ad se n t him an d said :
”
Are yo u so an d so ? An d - -

he said : “
Ye s ; som e o n e has o rd e re d you to re c e iv e
‘

thir ty bush e l s o f corn an d twe lve pi n ts o f o il On

”

“ 1 ”
b e h al f o f such a o n e I will glo r y who e v e r he w as , .

I h av e k n ow n him o ft e n w e e p ov e r me n di s t re ss e d by
di re pove rty an d he gav e th e m all tha t he ha d e x c e pt
,

his fl e sh I h av e k n own him al so we e p ove r o n e w ho

.

had fall e n i n to sin an d by his t e ars h e le d the fall e n,

o n e to r e p e n ta n c e He o n c e assu re d me o n o ath : I
.
“

p ray e d God that I m ight i n cit e n o man e sp e cially th e ,

r ich an d wick e d to giv e me an ythi n g fo r my n e e ds

, .

[5 ] But fo r m e
it is e n ough to have b e e n cou n t e d
wo rthy o f me n tion i n g all th e se thi n gs which I h ave
co mmitt e d to w ritin g Fo r it w as n o t without G o d that .

yo ur tho ught was s ti rre d up to e n joi n the w ritin g o f thi s

book an d the co m mittal to writi n g o f the liv e s o f th e se
1
2 Co r . x ii .
5, th e p a ssag e which has gge ste d
su th s i li te r a y r

d e vice .
 T H E LAUSI AC H I ST ORY

s ai n t s But yo u at l e ast most faith ful s e rvan t o f God

.
, ,

re a di n g th e m with pl e a su re an d a cc e pti n g th e i r liv e s an d

toil s an d so gre a t e n d uran c e as a fitti n g d e m o n st ratio n

o f th e r e su rre ctio n follow th e m e ag e rly n ou ri sh e d with
, ,

good hop e s e e in g the d ays in fro n t o f yo u to b e sho rt e r

,

th an thos e b e hi n d [6] P ray fo r me k e e pi n g you rse l f

.
,

such as I k n e w yo u from the co n s ula t e o f T ati an un til

this day an d such as I fou n d yo u wh e n you had b e e n
chos e n to b e pre fe ct o f the most re ligious b e dch a mb e r .

Fo r a man whom such hon ou r accompan i e d b y r ich e s

an d such pow e r hav e n o t mad e i n c apabl e o f the fe ar o f

God such a o n e r e po se s o n th at Ch rist Who w as told

,
“
by th e d e vil : All th e s e thin gs will I giv e Th e e if Thou
wilt fall down an d worship me 1
.
”

1
Mt . iv .
9 .
1 82 I N D I CE S

J e r icho 1 54 1 5 7, , P e r si a , 1 58
J e r usal e m 1 6 9 3 f , , .
, 1 08 , 1 43 , Phe rme , 9 0
1 46 , 1 48 P h il ad e lp hia, 22
Jo rd an ,
1 56 f . Phoe n ice , 1 49
P ilg r i mag e s ,
I 5, 4 1 , 1 46 , 1 4 8
La z ar us to mb o f 1 4 5
, , P isp ir, 9 1
Le n t 7 7 80 f 1 43
, , . , P o e me n io n , 1 25
Libya 40 6 2 , , P o n tus , 1 3 3
Libya n d e se r t 80 , P o r phy r i te s, 1 1 8, 1 2 5
Lyc o , 1 20
Lycopoli s ,
1 20 Re d Se a, 9 1 , 1 00
Lycus 6 1 ,
R e lic s, 1 4 5
R o me , pa ss am
'

M an ic hae an s, 44, 1 30 R o sar y, 2 4 , 9 0

M a re o tis ( M a r i a ) , Lak e , 5 7 , 1 0 3
M ar maric a , 1 0 3 Sa in ts, i n voca tio n o f, 2 4 , 1 6 6
M ar ty r cha p e l s , 6 5 , 1 46 , 1 6 6 Sa ra p is, “ m on k s o f, 2 3
M a ure ta n i a , 5 7 Sa tur d a y , 5 8 , 6 8 , 9 0 , 1 2 1 , 1 5 5
M az ic ae , 5 7 Sc e te , 2 3 , 8 0, 88 f , 1 0 1 , 1 0 6 , .

M e mp hi s, 1 2 5 1 49
M e sopo t a m i a , 40 S icily, 1 5 8 , 1 6 87
M o n a stici s m, a pology fo r, 2 6 f . S i n a i , M o un t, 70
o r igi n o f, 21 S oli tud e s , th e , 4 8
Spa in , 6 7, 1 6 8
N a pl e s 1 5 8 , Sp arta, 1 3 0
N a tron W ady 5 7 , , S y e n e , 1 6 , 40
N ic io p o lis 1 2 5 , Sy ri a , 411 .

N il e 6 1 8 7 1 1 1 f
, , ,
.
, 1 64
N itria , p a ss im Tab e n n isi, 23, 4 0 , 5 9 , 7 7, 8 2 ,
1 12 f .

O il , holy , 24 , 66, 8 0 , 8 4 Ta rrago n a 1 6 8 ,

O liv e s, M o un t o f, 1 6 , 1 4 3 f . T e e tota li sm 1 7 4 3 f , , .

O r di n atio n , 6 4 f . T e x tual p r obl e ms 1 7 f , .

O r ig e n i s m, 1 7 The a d e lphia ,
22

O xyrhyn cus, 1 36 T he b a id , 1 6, 40 , 7 2 , 8 2 , 9 5 , I 1 2,

P ab an 8 2 1 1 5, , T he ssalo n ic a , 80
P a l e st i n e 1 5 2 4 , , , 40 , 1 2 4 , 1 47 f.
, Tis me n ae , 1 12
1 68
P an opoli s, 1 09 Vows ,
m o n a stic , 4 3
P e lusium , 1 60
P e r se c utio n s , 2 1, 50 f . W a te r , holy , 2 4, 74
 I N D I CE S 1 83

II

P E R SO N S M E N T I O N E D IN THE LAUSI A C H I S T O R Y

( SC RI PTU RE characte rs ar e n o t i n cl ud e d A n umb e r in bra ck e ts .

d e n o te s that the p e rson will b e fo un d in the D ictio n ary of C hr is

tia n B io gr aphy T hus “ E li as ( 3
. me an s tha t thi s m a n is th e
th irty fifth a mo n g the p e rso n s o f th at n am e m e n tion e d in the
-

D ictio n a ry ( 1 ) d e n o te s that th e p e rso n is the first o r o n ly o n e

.

me n tio n e d The id e n t ific ation s w he n doubtful a re mark e d wi th a

.
, ,

q ue ry ) .

A b lav ius 1 62 Cha e re m o n 1 50

A b ra mius, 1 57 f. C hr o n ius, 1 49 f .

A d e lp hius 1 47 Ch ry so s to m S e e Jo hn
.

141 C l e m e n t o f Al e x a n d r i a ( I ) , 1 66
A d o lius, 1 43 Co llyth us ( I , Co lluthus ) , 1 66
A e n e sius, 1 5 5 Co n s ta n ti us the e m p e r o r
Al ar ic 1 68
A lb a n ius, 1 0 6 , 1 50 C o n s tan ti us the p re fe c t
, 169
Albi n a ( I ), 1 59 , 1 68 Cr o n ius ( 2 , Chro n ius ) , 5 7 ,
Al e x an d ra , 5 3 f .
91 f .
, 96
Alypius, 1 2 2
Amatas , 9 1 D e me tr ius 48
Amma Ta li s S e e Ta li s
. D idy mus ( I ) , 5 1 f , 6 5 .

A mmo n ius the Ta ll o r Paro te s D iocl e s , 1 6 3

( I ) , 6 2 f , 6 4 f , 1 0 3 , 1 47 f
. . . D iog e n e s , 4 3
A m oun ( 1 , Amm o n ) , 5 9 f . D io n ysi us, 1 2 5
A n ton y so , 5 2 . 5 9 . 6 1 . 6 4. D io sc o rus the Tall 6 2 , 66 ,
9 1 . 9 3 f , 9 7 f , 1 0 3 . 1 49
. . I 47
A ph tho n ius , 1 1 5 D o mn in us, 1 3 1
Apollo n i us 67 D o ro the us o f A n tin o e , 1 6 3
A p ro n ian us, 1 4 2 , 1 59 D o ro the us o f A thrib é I 10
Arsisius ( I , A rse sius) , 5 7 , 59 , D o ro the us, a The b a n as c e t ic , 48 f .

I 47 D rac o n tius 62
A se ll a, 1 4 2
A sio n , 5 7 E li as o f Athrib é 1 09 f .

A tha n asi us 4 8 , 5 2 , 6 1 , 1 70 E lias o f P a l e st in e 1 57

A vi ta, 1 42 , 1 5 9 E lp id ius 1 54 f .

E ph ra i m Syr us 1 39 f .

Bas ia n illa, 1 4 1 E uc arp ius, 1 5 0

B as il o f C ae sare a (I ) , 1 33 , 1 46 , E uge n i us, 1 2 1
16 1 E ulo gius , 9 2 f .

B e n j ami n 66 E un o m ia, 1 4 2
Bo spo ria, 1 73 E use bi us the T all 62
E us e bius th e p re fe c t, 1 70
Can did a, 1 6 2 E ustathius th e re a d e r 1 78
Ca n d id ian us 1 42 E ustathius o f J e r icho , 1 5 5
C a pi t o n ( 8 , Ca pi t o ), 1 64 E us to c hium ( I ) , 1 4 1
1 84 I NDI CES

E uthym ius the T a l l 62 M ax imia n us 50

E v ag r ius 65 f , . 1 0 3, M a x i mus 121

1 2 1 f , 1 32 f , 1 50
. . M e lan i a th e E ld e r ( I ) , 5 3 , 6 1 f , .

8 5 , 1 3 5, 1 4 7, 1 5 8 f : 1 6 1 : 1 6 3 ’

G a d d a n as 1 5 6 f , . M e l a n i a the Yo un g e r 1 59 ,
G e laS I a ( 1 ) , 1 6 3 1 63, 1 67 f
.

G re go ry N az ian z e n M ose s th e Liby an , 1 38 f .

16 1 M o se s th e r obb e r , 86 f .

He r o n 1 0 6 f
, .
, 1 50 N a than a e l ( I ) 70 f
He syc h as 1 4 1
.
,

, N e b r id ius ( I ) 1 6 2
Hie rax 9 6
,

, N e c ta r ius 133
Hippoly tus 171

Ho s ia ( I ,
U si a ) , 141
O ly m pi a s 16 1 f , 168 .

Or ( I , Ho r ) , 6 1
I n n oc e n t 1 44 f
O r ig e n th e s te w ard , 6 2 f
.

I sa i a s , 6 7 f
.

O r ig e n th e w r i te r ( I ) , 6 5 ,
.

I s ido r e th e h o s pi tall e r o f A l e x
a n d ri a 47 f O xype re n tius , 1 26
.

I sido r e o f He r mo p oli s 1 47
I s i d o re o f Sc e te , 8 8 f .

I sido re ( id e n t i ty un c e rta i n ) , 6 2 P a cho m ius ( I ) 5 9 8 1 , ,

f, 1 12 f
.

P ach o n ( 1 Pa c ho )
, ,
10 1 f
.

J a cob the Lame 1 49 Pa e s ius , 6 7 , 6 9

J e r o me 1 2 6 1 4 1 , ,
P a mbo ( I ) , 6 2 f , 6 8 f , . . 1 47
Joh n Chry s os to m 1 2 4, 1 42 , Pa mm a c h ius 167
1 69 Pa p hn ut i us 5 , 85 , 1 47 f
.

Joh n o f Lycopoli s 1 20 f . P a ph n uti us K e ph alas 5,

John di scipl e o f M ac a r ius 74
, , 49
I

J o v in us , 1 60 P a ph n utius, di scipl e of M a ca
J ulia n o f E d e s sa 1 42 r i us 8 5 ,

J ulia n th e E m p e r o r 5 2, P aul o f D al ma ti a 1 68
1 46 P a ul o f Phe rm e 90 f .

J ulian a ( I ) , 1 71 P a ul the Si mpl e 96 f .

P aul so n o f I n n oc e n t 1 44
, ,

Laus us 36 f .
, 42 P a ul a 1 26
P auli n us 1 48
M ac arius o f A l e xan d r i a P e te r an E gyp tian 1 2 6
, ,

7 3. 77 f . 1 04 f . Philo ro mus , 1 4 5 f .

M a c ar ius o f E gyp t ( 1 7, al m o st
“
P h o t i n a, 1 4 2
i n distin g uishabl e fro m the Pia mo un ( I , Pia mo n ) , 1 1 1 f .

a bove ) , 73 f . Pie r ius 6 5, 1 6 1

M acarius, a n e x vica r -
1 69 Pin ia n us 1 5 9 , 1 6 7, 1 69
M ac ar ius th e h o spi tall e r P ior ( I ), 6 4 , 1 3 8 f .

55 f . Pisimius, 1 4 7
M ac ar ius O f Pisp ir 9 1, 93 f . Pite ro um ( 1 , Pitiro um ) , 1 1 8 f .

M a ca rius the Yo un g e r 69 f . P l a to 43 ,

M ag n a , 1 7 4 Po e m e n ia , 1 24
M ar ce lli n us 1 47 P o s idon ius ( I ) 1 2 5 f , .

Mar c us 85 Po tam iae n a ( I ) , 50 f .

1 86 I N D I CE S

S t M a tt . xvu .
7 1 St .
Jn . 11 . 18
x viii 2 4 . v . 21 .

x ix 1 2 .

x ix 24 . A e ta S P e rpe tua e
. 1 36
xx i 3 2 . A than asi us, Vit A n t . . 12
91
St M a r k ii 1 8 .
n 49 : 50 9I
VII . 3 60 5 9, 6 1
x ii 4 2 .
91 91 .

St Luk e i 3 .

ii 3 .
Bas il , de I n d ie io D e i,
v 30 .
2 14 E
v 31 .
Bas il , E p . 24
ix 1 2 .

ix 23 .
29 1

mm . 15
Cassi an , Co ll I 21 1 20
x iv 5
. .

.
V 12 165
x iv 2 7
.

.
XI V 4 55
x viii 2 2
.

.
XX I V 26 1 20
x viii 43
.

I nst I
.
1 13
xx i 2
.

.
IV 1 15
Jo hn v 14
.

St
IV 2 3—2 6
. .
1 20
A c ts x v 2 0
.

C hr ys o s to m , Ho rn in
Ro m i 2 1 2 6
.

28
.
, , M a tt viii
x ii 8
. .

1 C l e me n t, 3 8
.

x iv 2 3 .
C l e me n t of A l e x an d r i a ,
1 Co r iii 1 8 .
P aed I I I 5 27
vi 9
. .

C yp r ia n , d e Hab Vi rg 1 9 27
.

vii 9
.

vii 1 6
D id ae he 6
.

vii 2 9 .

ix 2 5
E use b ius, Co mm in P s
.

x v 32 .

l xxx iii
. .

2 Co r x ii 5
.
4
D e mo n E va n g
. .

x ii 7 . .

30
.

I 9
Gal 1
.

IO
. .

i 18 Hist E e cl V I 5
. . .
50
V I 17
.

171
iii 2 8 .

V I 42
.

21
v 22 .

v1 . 14
E ph iv 2 6 . .
G e n n ad ius , d e vir illus t 7 . .

P hil i 2 3 . .

2 T he ss iii 8 aa n 11 1 30
Nyssa XL
. .

1 Tim i 9 . .
G re go ry of , in .

vi 2 0 .
M a rt .

2 Tim iv 1 7 . .

He b x i 32 . . His to ria M o n a e ho r n rn ,

x ii I 6 .
p rol . 10 86
I St Pe t v 1.
3 . .
Histo ria M o n acho r um , I . 1 20
 I N D I CE S 1 87

P AG E P AG E
His to ria M o n ach o r u m ,
So z o me n , His t E col I . . 12 21
XV I I . 1- 1 4 59
His to r ia M o n a cho r um, I I I 14 .

XX I I I 5 71 7 3 1 7 7 . 9 3 .
His to r ia M o n ao ho r u m, 1 1 2 , 1 42
XXV I I I 51
His to ria M o n ao ho r n m ,
I I I 16 . 1 39
XX I X . V 6 . 1 69
His to r ia M o n a c ho r u m, V I 29 .

XXX . 66 , 6 9 , 8 5 , 8 6, 9 0,
1 0 1 , 1 0 3, 1 3 8
I g n ati us, ad P o lyo 5 . 20 V I 30 .

Ro m 5 . 1 59
V I 34 . 1 56
J e ro m e , d e vir illus t
. . 1 09 51 V I I 19 .
72
E p 24 . I 31 V
III 2 .
47
Vita P a uli 21 V I I I 12 .

P a ulin us o f N o la, E p
’

29
Sulpitius Se ve r us, D ial
.

I 4 7. I S9 III 8.

Rufin us, A po l I I . . 26 147

Te r tulli an d e Co r
, . I 3
Soc ra te s, His t E col I V . . . d e I d ol .

23 5 9 , 64 , 1 3 2 : 1 37 The o d o r e t , Hist
. . E co l .

S oc ra te s, Hi s t E co l I V 2 5 . .
51 I I I 24
.

V . 22 72 The o d o re t , His t
. . E ccl .

VI .
9 46 IV 26.

IV

M OD E R N W R I TE R S
Bard e n he w e r, 1 33 Ha n n ay ,
20
Bli ss 5 9
, H e rb e r t , G e o rg e , 1 17
B udge 34 4 1 6 8
. . . . 96
Butl e r pas s im
, J ack so n , 43

G ab rol , 33 K in g sl e y , 2 9
C l ark e : 2 0: 33, 4 3 : 5 3 : 1 17 K ro tte n thale r, 33 , 1 28

D uche sn e , 2 0 , 33, 4 7, 5 7 , 5 8 La d e uz e ,3 3, 1 1 2- 1 1 7
d u D ue , 1 8 Le c le r c q , 3 3
Lightfoo t, 6 7
G ibbo n , 1 2 1 , 1 60 Luco t, viii 3 2 , 34, , 62,
.
53 1 1 1,
G urn e y, 5 9 129
1 88 I N D I CE S

M i tte l s -
W ilck e n , 2 2, 75, 1 1 1, S chur e r, 78
1 22 S co tt M on c r i e ff, 1 8
-
,

M a cl e an 7 2 , S e the , 2 3
M o r in , 2 8 S op h ocl e s , 8 4 , 1 1 9
Sw e te , 1 7 1
Ne wm an ,
29

T e n n ys o n 27
Pag e t 43 Tille m o n t
,

1 8 , 1 49
.

Pre usc he n , 1 8, 1 9 , 2 3
,

T urn e r . 3 2 . 34 . 49 . 5 3 . 7 8 . m ,

1 30 , 1 3 3 , 1 36 , 1 6 0
R a msay 1 55 ,

R e id , 3 8 1 4 1 1 6 9
, ,

R e i tz e n ste i n , 2 3 2 5 5 6 9 6,
, , , 1 19, W e i n ga rte n , 17

R obi n so n , 5 3
Ro s w e yd , 1 7—1 9 Z Ock le r , 33 , 1 33

PRI N TE D I N G RE A T B RI TA I N BY R I C HA RD C L AY SON S, L I M I TE D,
BRUN SWI CK ST , STA M FORD . A
ST. , S E . 1 , A N D BUN G Y, S UFFOL K .
.