History of the Monks in Egypt preface

Blessed be God, “who wills all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” who also directed our journey to Egypt and showed us great wonders that will profit the memory of those to come. From them not only would a cause of salvation arise for us, but from the account an example of salvation and a most fitting teaching of godliness would also be composed, which, by the trustworthiness of the deeds set out, opens a very wide path to those who wish to travel the road of virtue. Although we are not equal to telling of such great things, and it does not seem fitting that small and slight men should become the authors of vast matters and tell of lofty virtues in humble speech, yet because the love of the brothers who live on the holy Mount of Olives often asks this of us, that we set out the life of the monks of Egypt, the virtues of their soul, their worship and godliness, and the strength of their abstinence, which we saw in them face to face, I will set about it, believing that I must be helped by the prayers of those who command it, seeking not so much praise from my pen as hoping that the telling of these things will build up those who read, while each one, kindled by the examples of their deeds, is invited to shudder at the allurements of the world, to pursue quiet, and to the exercises of godliness.

I saw, then, and truly I saw, the treasure of Christ hidden in human vessels; and having found this treasure I did not wish, as if envious, to hide it, but to bring it out into the open as found for many, and to make it common, certain that the more who are enriched by it, the more will be gained for me. For I shall become richer when the salvation of others has been sought by the trade of my service. At the beginning of our account, then, we pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with us, by whose power all these exercises of godliness are practised among the monks of Egypt.

For we saw among them many fathers living a heavenly life while placed on earth, and some new prophets raised up both by the virtues of the soul and by the office of prophesying, to whom, as a testimony of their merits, the efficacy even of signs and wonders was not lacking; and rightly. For why should those who desire nothing earthly, nothing fleshly, not receive power over heavenly things? Some of them we saw so purged of every thought and suspicion of malice that they did not even remember that any evil was still being done in the world. So great was the tranquillity of soul in them, so deeply had the disposition of goodness grown in them, that it might rightly be said of them: “Great peace have those who love your name, O Lord.”

They dwell scattered through the desert and separated in their cells, but joined by love. They are separated in their dwellings for this reason: that, pursuing divine things in the quiet of silence and in attention of mind, no voice, no meeting, no idle talk may disturb them. Each with his mind intent in his own place, then, they await the coming of Christ as of a good father, or like a soldier ready in camp awaiting the presence of his emperor, or like faithful servants they wait for their master who is coming to give them freedom and gifts alike. All of these, therefore, have no anxiety for food or clothing or anything of the kind. For they know that, as it is written, “the Gentiles think about all these things.” They themselves seek the righteousness and the kingdom of God, and all these things are added to them according to the Saviour’s promise. Indeed, most of them, if perhaps they lack something necessary for the body’s use, turn not to human refuges but to God, and asking of him as of a father, they obtain at once what they asked. For so great is their faith that it could command even mountains to be moved. Hence some of them have checked by their prayers the floods of the river raised up to the ruin of the neighbouring regions, and walking on foot they have crossed the depths of its bed and killed its huge beasts, and they have performed very many, indeed countless signs that were done of old by the apostles and prophets, so that it ought not to be doubted that the world still stands by their merits.

But this is very wonderful: although all the best things are always rare and difficult, yet in them both have come together alike, so that they are both countless in number and incomparable in virtues. For some are in places near cities, others in the countryside, but more, and the most distinguished, scattered through the desert, like a heavenly army drawn up for battle and living in tents, always intent on obedience to the King’s commands, fighting with the weapons of prayer, protected by the shield of faith from the lurking enemy, and winning for themselves the heavenly kingdom. They are adorned with good character, quiet, gentle, tranquil, and bound by the bond of love as by a kind of brotherhood. They carry on a great contest and struggle in rivalry of virtues; for each strives to be found more merciful than another, kinder, humbler, and more patient. If anyone is wiser than the rest, he makes himself so approachable to all and so ordinary that, according to the Lord’s command, he seems to be the least of all and the servant of all.

Since, then, it was given me by God’s gift to see them and to share in their way of life, I will now try to tell of each one what the Lord brings back to memory, so that those who have not seen them in the body, learning their works and gathering their perfect life from the evidence of reading, may be invited to imitate their holy work and seek the palm of perfect wisdom or of patience.