Category Archives: Desert Fathers

The monk who hid the money

A certain brother in Nitria died …. He had been miserly rather than greedy, and forgetful of the thirty pieces of silver which betrayed the Lord Jesus. Continue reading

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Anthony meets Didymus the blind

“Are you not sad that you lack eyes?” He shamefacedly made no answer, until Antony had asked him three times,…. It is much better to see with the spirit than with ordinary eyes Continue reading

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How to Pray

“You don’t need a lot of words,” he said. “We should just lift up our hands to heaven … Continue reading

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Philosophers Vs. Monks

some philosophers once wanted to put the monks to the test. They saw a monk passing by who was very well dressed and they called to him, “Hey, you, come here.” Continue reading

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What is harmony between practice and prayer?

If a man’s deed are not in harmony with his prayer, he labours in vain. The brother said, ‘What is this harmony between practice and prayer? Continue reading

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On fire with the love of God

A fly will not go near a pot when it is on the fire, but once it has cooled the fly will alight on it Continue reading

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Many kinds of fasting

There is one kind of fasting which is from habit, and another from desire, and another from compulsion… Continue reading

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True Purity

Humility of soul helps more than everything else, however, and without it no one can overcome unchastity or any other sin. Continue reading

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Withdrawal from the world

All who have willingly left the things of the world, have certainly done so either for the sake of the future Kingdom, or …. Continue reading

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Like a pilot

A monk should consider the purpose of each text in Scripture…. Like a pilot steering a boat through the waves, …. guided by grace. Keeping his attention fixed within himself…. Continue reading

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