Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers)

The ones who were from Scetis extended their fast all week.

I spent a few days beside them observing them, and I saw him, namely Apa Hatre, perform a great wonder.

He stood sadly, not having any apology to offer her.

…The ones who began to sail…

And he [Macarius] created a large bundle of palms and he soaked it.

and I will see if he is obedient.”

He knew, that is, the old man, that it’s to do the commandment of God that he wants

But after the widow left, I said to him, “My father and elder, Did you give grain to the widow?”

We have the ones within which are ready against the attack of the enemy.

He said: “It’s been eight years.”

He said to him, that is Abba Ammona: “None of these three will benefit you.

The third is charity, that which takes them up to God boldly.”

When it was the Sabbath, the Egyptians sat to eat with the Elders.

that one loves you and glorifies you,

Even if illness possesses our whole body, yet health according to the inner man increases even more.

But the old man after seeing (this) said to me:

And after they heard, that is the elders, they were amazed and they said: “The thoughts that are wicked truly have always separated us from God.”

And behold, on the first day he took from the garden some vegetables to eat and gave them to him.

But he said, “No.”

It happened one day [that] the brother came in and he saw that the bread had diminished.

He made his way to his father

According to the economy of God, the lover of man…it happened that he recovered from the illness, after He saw…in his…

Let the whole oikoumene know that a cellar fell in Scetis because of a cup of wine.'

The old man said to him: “Truly it’s been seventy years since I became a monk,

“Is this the anchorite to whom you bear witness?

and wanting to gain him

And they sat and talked about what is profitable to the soul.

Someone brought a small fish to them and he, namely Apa Hatre, wanted to relieve Apa Or.

I have never been able to be humble. Because of this, I do not have power over you.'

“Do you want to go to the village?”

“Why did you fill water?”

But his brother took them and gave them to the elders

They meet with a favorable wind

I haven’t found repose for a single day

while the other one hates you and slanders you.

From the evening hour onward, they wove, and the plaits went down from the cave through the window.

and he said,

I said to him, “If you were giving it to her in charity, why did you assess the measure and make the widow ashamed?”

he took it (and) he drank it.

The brother said,

The Egyptians ate hastily.

Look at what he did.”

He was holding the knife while cutting up the fish, and he, namely Apa Or, called him, 'Hatre, Hatre.'

From this inquiry happening…through God, he confined himself.

A poor brother came.

But you sit in your cell and eat a little daily and leave yourself the word of the tax-collector in your heart at all times

The elder said, “Give him some bread.”

Afterwards, he sat down, reflecting upon his health and crying over the neglectful things he had done earlier.

and you will be able to be saved.””

And Apa Hatre left the knife in the middle of the fish. He did not cut up the rest.

Then her parents said,

One of the Elders grabbed his hand, saying 'Eat mindfully like monks!'

I said:

In the morning, the blessed Abba Antony went in and saw the great quantity of Abba Macarius’s palms.

But the head of the bandits, he repented saying:

“I will do what you command.”

and you, you want to find repose in this eight years?”

and they spread out their sail.

If they come to you, will you receive them with this thought as the same?'

and asked them to pray for him, and he received a blessing and returned to his house.

“Send my brother and me

His being was pricked such that a multitude exhorted him to rest himself a little lest he should be overcome by so much crying.

“Forgive me, lest I become thirsty there.”

He said, 'No.

Later, the opposing wind meets them,

But one of the Egyptians pushed his hand away, saying, 'Leave me, Apa! Because I died!

“We will not release him

He ran to him.

But he said, “There isn't any, Father.”

After this, again he brought some vegetables to cook and three loaves of bread.

and we will go to that place.”

“forgive me my father for I have made you suffer”.

He was amazed and he kissed Macarius’s hands, saying, “Great power comes from these hands.”

The brother was afraid to go to the village because of scandal

The elder said to him, “Go in and look.”

But I will wrestle with my heart

until he gives a guarantee for himself

And yet in order not to disobey his father,

But he did not wish to console himself, saying, “If I have not been able to bear the reproach of my mother, how will I be able to bear the shame on the Day of Judgment in the presence of Christ and all his angels?”

The old man said to me:

And the father gave them permission.

but the sailors don't empty out the cargo because of the multitude of winds that come against them.

He said to him, that is the old man:

And I marveled at his great obedience.

For a week I did not eat hot food!'

Again, [the brother] took them …

The brother went in and he found a bread storeroom filled with it.

just as …

[that he will] support her.”

“I trust in God that he will do you charity for this cup of wine in this life and the one that’s coming”.

Rather, they rest a little

“God here (of this place) is also God there.”