Category Archives: Desert Fathers

The Monk and the Emperor

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Administrator

Another story on humility by abba Poemen: BEGIN 19.  (A longer version of V.xv.66) The blessed senior monk Poemen told the brothers the following account of a monk who lived in Constantinople in the time of the Emperor Theodosius. “He … Continue reading →

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Abba Poemen and the Judge

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Administrator

“‘If the nobility are going to start coming to see me and pay me, respect,’ he thought to himself, ‘all sorts of other people will also want to come, and that will mean that the hidden quality of my life will be destroyed, and by the workings of the malignant devil I shall lose the grace of humility that with so much labour I have striven to cultivate, with the help of the Lord, from my youth up. Continue reading →

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A Rule to Please God

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Administrator

V.i.1. When abba Antony was asked, “What rule should I keep in order to please God?”  the old man replied, “Follow this rule which I give you. Wherever you go, keep God continually before your eyes and apply the yardstick … Continue reading →

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Guarding the Walls

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Administrator

Paphnutius the disciple of St. Macarius of Alexandria told us: “One day, when I was suffering from accidie, I went to him and said: ” Father, what shall I do ? Since my thoughts afflict me saying, ‘You are making … Continue reading →

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God for your sake humbled Himself

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Administrator

God, for your  sake humbled Himself,  and you will not be  humbled for your own sake?! The Lord  Himself who is the Way  and is God, after He  came not on His own  behalf but for  you so that  He … Continue reading →

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Abba Anthony

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Administrator

Abba Antonios said: “The time is coming when people will be seized by manias and will behave like madmen. And if they see anyone acting reasonably, they will rise up against him saying: ‘You are insane.’ And they will have … Continue reading →

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The Aim of the Incarnation

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Administrator

The Aim of the Incarnation “I would wish to speak about a more subtle and profound topic to the best of my ability. Wherefore, listen attentively to me. The infinite,  inaccessible and uncreated God has assumed a body, and  on … Continue reading →

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Abba Macarius of Egypt

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Administrator

A story from: The Ancient Fathers of the Desert: Introduction and Commentary, Translated by V. Rev. Chrysostomos “When I was a child,” the Holy Makarios once said, “I grazed cattle along with other children. One day they went to steal … Continue reading →

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