Stories attributed to early Christian hermits and monks
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Latin: Apophthegmata Patrum Aegyptiorum; Greek: ἀποφθέγματα τῶν πατέρων, romanized: Apophthégmata tōn Patérōn[1][2]) is the name given to various textual collections consisting of stories and sayings attributed to the Desert Fathers from approximately the 5th century AD.[3][4]
The collections consist of wisdom stories describing the spiritual practices and experiences of early Christian hermits living in the desert of Egypt. They are typically in the form of a conversation between a younger monk and his spiritual father, or as advice given to visitors. Beginning as an oral tradition in the Coptic language, they were only later written down as Greek text. The stories were extremely popular among early Christian monks, and appeared in various forms and collections.[5]
The original sayings were passed down from monk to monk, though in their current version most simply describe the stories in the form of "Abba X said ..." The early Desert Fathers also received many visitors seeking counseling, typically by asking "Give me a word, abba" or "Speak a word, abba, how can I be saved?" Some of the sayings are responses to those seeking guidance.[6]
The Desert Fathers spoke Coptic, the latest stage of ancient Egyptian. The sayings were originally passed on orally in Coptic, but the original written version was Greek.[9] The earliest written record of the sayings appears to be from the end of the 4th century AD. Two versions from the 5th century, the Collectio Monastica, written in Ethiopic, and the Asceticon of Isaiah of Scetis, written in Greek, show how the oral tradition became the written collections.[5] There are surviving fragments of the Sayings in both the Sahidic and Bohairic dialects of Coptic, but they represent back-translations from Greek. They were collected and published by Marius Chaîne.[5]
The Sayings have been translated in whole or in part several times. Pelagius and John the Deacon made the first translations into Latin. Martin of Braga also translated some of the Sayings into Latin, followed by a more extensive translation by Paschasius of Dumium in approximately 555.[10] That work may contain only one fifth of the original Greek text.[11] In the 17th century, the Dutch JesuitHeribert Rosweyde compiled and translated all the available sources on the Desert Fathers and published them in Latin as the Vitae patrum.
Two translations in Aramaic were made: the Nestorian monk Ânân Îshô's translation into Classical Syriac from the early 7th century, known as the Paradise of the Fathers; and a Christian Palestinian Aramaic translation known from dispersed fragments for the early transmission (6th to 7th century AD)[12] as well as a fragmentary version for the later period (ca. 10th to 11th century AD), originating from or still housed at the Monastery of St Catherine, Mount Sinai[13][14][15] There are also Armenian translations of both the Alphabetical and Systematic collections.[5] In the period 867–872, Methodius of Thessaloniki translated the text into Old Church Slavonic, of which the original was lost in the 14th century, but several dozen copies of the Paterik' (Патерікъ) survived.[16] Some of the Sayings are preserved in Arabic and Georgian translations.[5] Through the Asceticon, some of the Sayings made their way into Sogdian.[17]
Helen Waddell translated a selection of elements from the Vitae patrum into English in the early 20th century.[18] The first complete translation of the alphabetical "apophthegmata" into English is that of Benedicta Ward (1975).[19] English translations of the alphabetical,[20] systematic,[21] and anonymous collections[22] were also later published by John Wortley from 2012 to 2014. The most comprehensive critical edition of the alphabetical "apophthegmata" was published by Tim Vivian in two volumes (2021, 2023).[23][24]
Examples
One time, the blessed Abba Theophilus the archbishop went to Scetis. But the brothers gathered and said to Abba Pambo: 'Tell the Father one word that he may benefit.' The old man told them: 'If he does not always benefit from our silence, then if we speak he will still not benefit.'[25]
Abbot Pastor said: 'If a man has done wrong and does not deny it, but says: "I did wrong," do not rebuke him, because you will break the resolution of his soul. And if you tell him: "Do not be sad, brother," but watch it in the future, you stir him up to change his life.'[26]
A hermit saw someone laughing, and said to him, "We have to render an account of our whole life before heaven and earth, and you can laugh?"[27]
Abba Longinus said to Abba Acacius: 'A woman knows she has conceived when she no longer loses any blood. So it is with the soul, she knows she has conceived the Holy Spirit when the passions stop coming out of her. But as long as one is held back in the passions, how can one dare to believe one is sinless? Give blood and receive the Spirit.'[28]
Collections
Different Sayings collections include the Alphabetic Sayings, the Systematic Sayings, and the Anonymous Sayings.[9]
Anonymous Sayings
The sections of the Anonymous Sayings (Wortley 2013) are:[22]
Sayings
English
Greek
1–36
–
–
37–54
Concerning imperial officials
Περὶ τῶν Μαγιστριανῶν
55–131
Concerning the holy habit of monks
Περὶ τοῦ σχήματος τοῦ ἁγίου τῶν μοναχῶν
132
Concerning anchorites
Περὶ ἀναχωρητῶν
133–143
That we should pursue hêsychia and grief for sin
Ὅτι δεῖ τὴν ἡσυχίαν καὶ τὴν κατάνυξιν μεταδιώκειν
144–215
Concerning temperance
Περὶ ἐγκρατείας
216–253
On discretion
Περὶ διακρίσεως
254–255
That one must be on his guard against judging anybody
Ὅτι φυλάττεσθαι χρὴ τὸ μηδένα κρίνει
256–263
That nothing should be done for ostentation and that avarice should be avoided
On the necessity of being joyfully compassionate and hospitable
Ὅτι χρὴ ἐλεεῖν καὶ φιλοξενεῖν ἐν ἱλαρότητι
290–297
On obedience
Περὶ ὑπακοῆς
298–334
On humble-mindedness
Περὶ ταπεινοφροσύνης
335–343
Concerning forbearance
Περὶ ἀνεξικακίας
344–358
Concerning charity
Περὶ ἀγάπης
359–453
On those who have the gift of second sight
Περὶ διορατικῶν
454–474
Concerning porneia
Περὶ πορνείας
475–518
On not passing judgement
Περὶ τοῦ μὴ κρίνειν
519–765
Concerning grief for sin [katanyxis, compunctio]
Περὶ κατανύξεως
Wortley's Greek text of the Anonymous Sayings is based on the following manuscripts.
[22]: 7
MS Paris Coislin 126, (10th-11th centuries), contains 676 sayings
MS Sinai St. Catherine 448 (1004 AD), contains 765 sayings
MS Vatic. Graec. 1599 (10th century), contains 765 sayings
Alphabetical Sayings
The Alphabetical Sayings (Ward 1984) list the sayings of 131 Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers. Although some of the Desert Fathers quoted in the collection are well known, other names are obscure and difficult to identify.[29]
Self-Control [Egkrateia] Should Be Achieved Not Only in the Case of Food but Also in Other Movements of the Soul
5
Various Narratives for Security in the Wars Arising against Us from Porneia
6
Poverty [Aktemosyne] and That It Is Necessary to Guard against Covetousness
7
Various Narratives Preparing Us for Patience and Courage
8
One Should Do Nothing for Show
9
One Should Guard against Judging Anybody
10
Discretion [Diakrisis]
11
One Should Ever Be on Watch
12
One Should Pray without Ceasing
13
One Must Joyfully Practice Hospitality and Show Compassion
14
Obedience
15
Humility
16
Forbearance [Anexikakia]
17
Love [Agape]
18
Those Who Have Second Sight [Dioratikoi]
19
Wonder-Working Elders
20
Virtuous Living
Versions
There are four major versions of the Systematic Collection, in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Armenian. The earliest Greek manuscript of the Systematic Sayings is MS Athos Lavra B 37 (copied in 970 AD).[21]: xx The contents of each are:[9]
The Greek Systematic Collection
Book
Chapter Titles
No. of Sayings
Book I
Exhortation of the holy fathers concerning progress toward perfection
37
Book II
Concerning peace (hesychia) to be pursued with all eagerness
35
Book III
Concerning compunction
56
Book IV
Concerning temperance in food and concerning the mastery of all
104
Book V
Various stories to keep on guard against assaults of luxury
54
Book VI
Concerning poverty and the necessity of keeping oneself from avarice
28
Book VII
Various stories training us to patience and courage
62
Book VIII
That nothing be done for show
32
Book IX
To be on watch to not judge anyone
26
Book X
Concerning discernment
194
Book XI
Concerning the necessity of constant vigilance
127
Book XII
Concerning unceasing prayer
28
Book XIII
Concerning hospitality and almsgiving done with joy
19
Book XIV
Concerning obedience
32
Book XV
Concerning humility
136
Book XVI
Concerning long-suffering
30
Book XVII
Concerning charity
35
Book XVIII
Concerning great visionaries
53
Book XIX
Concerning those who work miracles
21
Book XX
Concerning virtuous behavior
24
Book XXI
Sayings of those who endure in asceticism, showing their eminent virtue
^From the Greek: apo, from; phtheggomai, to cry out; pater, father.
^Orthodox Encyclopedia, in Russian, Vol. 3, pp. 140-142.
^Gould, Graham (2001). Papers presented at the Thirteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 1999. Studia Patristica. Peeters Publishers. ISBN978-90-429-0922-9.
^W. Bousset. Apophthegmata. Tuebingen, 1923, p. 68.
^ abcHarmless, William (2004). Desert Christians: an introduction to the literature of early monasticism. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-516222-6.
^Müller-Kessler, Christa (2022). "Piecing together Christian Palestinian Aramaic Texts
under
Georgian Manuscripts: (St Petersburg, NLR, Syr. 16; Sinai, Georg. NF 19, 71; Oslo, Martin Schøyen, MS 35, 37; Princeton, Garrett MS 24; Göttingen, Syr. 17, 19, 23, 25)", Digital Kartvelology 1, 41–44 https://adh.ge/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/M_ller-Kessler-DiKa-V1.pdf.
^Brock, Sebastian P. (1995). Catalogue of Syriac Fragments (New Finds) in the Library of the Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, Athens: Mount Sinai Foundation, 89, 309.
^Desreumaux, Alain apud Philothée du Sinaï (2008). Nouveaux manuscrits syriaques du Sinaï, Athens: Mount Sinai Foundation, 540–548.
^Desreumaux, Alain (2010). "Les manuscrits araméens christo-palestiniens du nouveau fonds du monastère de Sainte-Catherine du Sinaï,” Comptes rendus des scéances l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres 154:3, 1325, fig. 6.
^Helen Waddell, The desert fathers (translations from the Vitae Patrum), London: Constable & co., 1936.
^Benedicta Ward, The sayings of the Desert Fathers : the alphabetical collection, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1975 (revised edition, 1985).
^ abcWortley, John (2012). The Book of the Elders – sayings of the Desert Fathers: the systematic collection. Trappist, KY; Collegeville, MN: Cistercian Publications Liturgical Press. ISBN978-0-87907-201-8.
^ abcWortley, John (2013). The anonymous sayings of the Desert Fathers. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-50988-6.
^Vivian, Tim, ed. (2021). The sayings and stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers: A–H (Ȇta). Vol. 1. Collegeville, Minnesota: Cistercian Publications. ISBN978-0-87907-109-7.
^Vivian, Tim, ed. (2021). The sayings and stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers: Th–Ō (Thêta–Ōméga). Vol. 2. Collegeville, Minnesota: Cistercian Publications. ISBN978-0-87907-292-6.
^Anonymous. Krawiec, Rebecca; Marquis, Christine Luckritz; Schroeder, Caroline T.; Zeldes, Amir; Davidson, Elizabeth (eds.). "Apophthegmata Patrum Sahidic 114". Coptic Scriptorium. Translated by Zeldes, Amir. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
^Merton, Thomas (2004-11-16). The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Gift ed.). Shambhala. p. 184. ISBN1-59030-039-4.
^Ward, Benedicta (2003-07-29). The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Revised ed.). Penguin Classics. ISBN0-14-044731-8.
^Benedicta Ward, ed. (1984), The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Rev. ed.), Cistercian Publications, p. 123.
^Ward, Benedicta (1984). The sayings of the Desert Fathers: the alphabetical collection. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications. ISBN0-87907-959-2.
Further reading
Williams, Rowan (2004-11-19). Silence and Honey Cakes: The Wisdom of the Desert. Lion Publishing plc. ISBN0-7459-5170-8.
Ward, Benedicta (2003-07-29). The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Revised ed.). Penguin Classics. ISBN0-14-044731-8. (Systematic collection)
Sourozh, Metropolitan Anthony of; Benedicta Ward (June 1987). The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Revised ed.). Cistercian Publications. ISBN0-87907-959-2.
Merton, Thomas (2004-11-16). The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Gift ed.). Shambhala. ISBN1-59030-039-4.
Wortley, John, ed. (2013). The Anonymous Sayings of the Desert Fathers: A Select Edition and Complete English Translation (in Greek and English). Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-50988-6.
Vivian, Tim, ed. (2021). The sayings and stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers: A–H (Ȇta). Vol. 1. Collegeville, Minnesota: Cistercian Publications. ISBN978-0-87907-109-7.
Vivian, Tim, ed. (2023). The sayings and stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers: Th–Ō (Thêta–Ōméga). Vol. 2. Collegeville, Minnesota: Cistercian Publications. ISBN978-0-87907-292-6.
Nomura, Yushi. Desert Wisdom: Sayings from the Desert Fathers. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2001.
Regnault, Lucien. Les chemins de Dieu au désert: collection systematique des Apophtegmes des Pères. Solesmes: Éditions de Solesmes, 1992. (complete French translation of the Greek Systematic Collection)
Dion, J. and G. Oury. Les Sentences des Pères du Désert: recueil de Pélage et Jean. Solesmes: Abbaye Saint-Pierre, 1966. (complete French translation of the Latin Systematic Collection (Verba Seniorum of Pelagius and John))
Chaîne M. (ed). Le manuscrit de la version copte en dialect sahidique des "Apophthegmata Patrum". Bibliothèque d'études coptes 6. Cairo: Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1960. (Sahidic Coptic text)
Regnault, Lucien. Les Sentences des Pères du Désert: troisième recueil et tables. Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Solesmes, 1976. (French translation of the Bohairic Coptic version in p. 139–194, and of the Armenian version in p. 253–275)
Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Sayings and Stories of the Christian Fathers of Egypt: The Syrian Version of the "Apophthegmata Patrum" (2 vol.). Reprint of 1934 ed. London: Kegan Paul Limited, 2002. (English translation of the Syriac Collection)
Leloir, Louis (ed). Paterica armeniaca a P. P. Mechitaristis edita (1855) nunc latine reddita. CSCO 353, 361, 371, 379. Louvain: Secrétariat du Corpus SCO, 1974–1976. (Armenian text)
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