Sayings
Apophthegmata
The Proclamations of Crisis and the Victory of the Son of Mary§1
1Sayings concerning the holy Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus. 1. Saint Epiphanius the bishop recounted that during the time of the blessed Athanasius the Great, maidens surrounding the temple of Serapis were crying out, 'Crisis, Crisis!' The Greeks standing before the blessed Athanasius cried out, 'You ill-born man, tell us what the maidens are crying.' Having replied, he said, 'The maidens cry, Crisis, Crisis; and The word 'Crisis' in the Ausonian language means tomorrow.' He added, 'Tomorrow you shall see the glory of God.' Subsequently, the death of King Julian was announced. After this happened, they rushed together crying at the temple of Serapis, saying, 'If you did not want him, why did you take his possessions?' 2. The same recounted that there was a driver among the Alexandrians who was the son of Mary the mother. While riding, this man fell; then, having risen, he passed the one who had cast him down and conquered. The crowd shouted, 'The Son of Mary has fallen and has risen and has conquered!' While this voice was still being spoken, the fame concerning the temple of Serapis spread among the people, that the great Theophilus, having ascended, destroyed the idol of Serapis and has become master of the temple. 3. It was made known to the blessed Epiphanius, the bishop of Cyprus, by the abbot of the monastery he held in Palestine, that 'We have not been negligent of your prayers regarding our rule, but with haste we perform even the third and the sixth and the ninth offices.' The
The
Greek · §1
Apophthegmata Περὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἐπιφανίου ἐπισκόπου Κύπρου. αʹ. ∆ιηγήσατο ὁ ἅγιος Ἐπιφάνιος ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ὅτι ἐπὶ τοῦ μακαρίου Ἀθανασίου τοῦ μεγάλου, κορῶναι περιϊπτάμεναι τὸ τοῦ Σεράπιδος ἱερὸν, ἔκραζον ἀπαύ 65.164 στως, Κρᾶς, Κρᾶς. Καὶ προστάντες ἐπὶ τὸν μακάριον Ἀθανάσιον οἱ Ἕλληνες, ἔκραξαν· Κακόγηρε, εἰπὲ ἡμῖν τί κράζουσιν αἱ κορῶναι. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· Αἱ κορῶναι κράζουσι, Κρᾶς, Κρᾶς· τὸ δὲ Κρᾶς τῇ Αὐσωνίων φωνῇ αὔριόν ἐστι καὶ προσετίθει, ὅτι Αὔριον ὄψεσθε τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἑξῆς ἠγγέλθη ὁ θάνατος τοῦ Ἰουλιανοῦ βασιλέως. Καὶ τούτου γενομένου, συνδραμόντες κατέκραζον τοῦ Σεράπιδος, λέγοντες· Ἐὰν οὐκ ἤθελες αὐτὸν, τί ἐλάμβανες τὰ αὐτοῦ; βʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς διηγήσατο, ὅτι ἦν τις ἡνίοχος κατὰ τὴν Ἀλεξανδρέων, ὃς ἦν μητρὸς Μαρίας υἱός. Οὗτος ἱππικοῦ ἐπιτελουμένου κατέπεσεν· εἶτα ἀναστὰς παρῆλθε τὸν καταβεβληκότα, καὶ ἐνίκησε. Καὶ τὸ πλῆθος ἀνεβόησεν· Ὁ Υἱὸς Μαρίας πέπτωκε καὶ ἐγήγερται καὶ ἐνίκησε. Ταύτης ἔτι τῆς φωνῆς λεγομένης, ἐνέπεσεν ἡ περὶ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ Σεράπιδος φήμη τῷ πλήθει, ὅτι ὁ μέγας Θεόφιλος ἀνελθὼν, τὸ τοῦ Σεράπιδος κατέστρεψεν εἴδωλον, καὶ τοῦ ναοῦ γέγονεν ἐγκρατής. γʹ. Ἐδηλώθη τῷ μακαρίῳ Ἐπιφανίῳ τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ Κύπρου παρὰ τοῦ ἀββᾶ τῆς μονῆς ἧς εἶχεν ἐν Παλαιστίνῃ, ὅτι Εὐχαῖς σου οὐκ ἠμελήσαμεν τοῦ κανόνος ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ σπουδῆς καὶ τὴν τρίτην καὶ τὴν ἕκτην καὶ τὴν ἐννάτην ἐπιτελοῦμεν. Ὁ δὲ
Prayer, Discipline, and Christ's Blessing§2
2Having reproved them, he made it clear to them by saying that they are exposed in their neglect of the other hours of the day, being idle from prayer. For it is necessary for the true monk to hold prayer and psalmody unceasingly within his heart.
The holy Epiphanius once sent word to Abba Hilarion, entreating him and saying, 'Come, let us see ourselves before we depart from the body.' When he arrived, they rejoiced together. While they were eating, a bird was brought. The bishop took it and gave it to Abba Hilarion. The old man said to him, 'Forgive me, for since I received the habit, I have not eaten a sacrificial animal.' The bishop replied to him, 'But I, since I received the habit, have not permitted anyone to sleep holding resentment against me, nor did I sleep holding resentment against anyone.' The old man said to him, 'Forgive me, for your way of life is greater than mine.'
He the same used to say that the image of Christ, Melchizedek, who blessed Abraham, the root of the Jews; how much more is the truth, Christ, who blesses and sanctifies all those who believe in him.
He the same used to say: The Canaanite woman cries out and is heard; and the woman of the blood-stream is silent and is called blessed; but the Pharisee shouts and is condemned; the tax collector does not even open his...
Greek · §2
καταγνοὺς αὐτῶν, ἐδήλωσεν αὐτοῖς λέγων, ὅτι Φανεροί ἐστε ἀμελοῦντες τὰς ἄλλας ὥρας τῆς ἡμέρας ἀργοῦντες ἀπὸ τῆς εὐχῆς. ∆εῖ γὰρ τὸν ἀληθινὸν μοναχὸν ἀδιαλείπτως ἔχειν τὴν εὐχὴν καὶ τὴν ψαλμῳδίαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ. δʹ. Ἔπεμψέ ποτε ὁ ἅγιος Ἐπιφάνιος πρὸς τὸν ἀββᾶν Ἱλαρίωνα, παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν, καὶ λέγων· ∆εῦρο, ἴδωμεν ἑαυτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ ἐξελθεῖν ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος· καὶ παραγενομένου αὐτοῦ, ἐχάρησαν μετ' ἀλλήλων. Ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἠνέχθη πετεινόν. Καὶ λαβὼν ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ἔδωκε τῷ ἀββᾷ Ἱλαρίωνι. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ὅτι ἐξ οὗ ἔλαβον τὸ σχῆμα, οὐκ ἔφαγον θῦμα. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος· Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐξ οὗ ἔλαβον τὸ σχῆμα, οὐκ ἀφῆκά τινα κοιμηθῆναι ἔχοντα κατ' ἐμοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐγὼ ἐκοιμήθην ἔχων κατὰ τινός. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ γέρων· Συγχώρησόν μοι, ὅτι ἡ σὴ πολιτεία μείζων ἐστὶ τῆς ἐμῆς. εʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι ἡ εἰκὼν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελχισεδὲκ, τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν Ἰουδαίων εὐλόγησε τὸν Ἀβραάμ· πολλῷ πλέον αὐτὴ ἡ ἀλήθεια ὁ Χριστὸς, εὐλογεῖ καὶ ἁγιάζει πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας εἰς αὐτόν. ς ʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν· Ἡ Χαναναία βοᾷ καὶ ἀκούεται· καὶ ἡ αἱμόῤῥους σιωπᾷ καὶ μακαρίζεται· ὁ δὲ Φαρισαῖος κράζει καὶ κατακρίνεται· ὁ τελώνης οὐδὲ ἀνοίγει τὸ
The Discipline of Prayer and Scripture§3
3The same said that the prophet David prayed at unseasonable times; he was rising at midnight, calling at dawn, standing at dawn, building at morning, and entreating at evening and noon. For this reason he said: Seven times in the day have you found me.
He said again that the acquisition of books is necessary for those Christians who possess them. For the very sight of books works us to be more sluggish toward sin, and is instead turned toward righteousness.
He said again that the reading of the Scriptures is a great security against sinning. He said again that ignorance of the Scriptures is a great cliff and a deep pit. He said again that not knowing any of the divine laws is a great betrayal of salvation.
The same said that the sins of the righteous are about the lips, but the sins of the impious are from the whole body. Therefore David sings: O Lord, keep watch over my mouth, and a door of restraint about my lips; and: I said, I will guard my ways, so that I may not sin in my tongue.
He was asked again: Why then are the legal commandments ten, but the...
Greek · §3
στόμα καὶ ἀκούεται. ζʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι ∆αβὶδ ὁ προφήτης, ἐν ἀωρίᾳ ηὔχετο, μεσονύκτιον ἐξηγείρετο, πρὸ τοῦ ὄρθρου παρεκάλει, ὄρθρου παρίστατο, πρωΐας ἐδέετο, ἑσπέρας καὶ μεσημβρίας ἱκέτευε, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγεν· Ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ᾔνεσά σε. ηʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι ἀναγκαία τῶν Χριστιανῶν βιβλίων ἡ κτῆσις τοῖς ἔχουσι. Καὶ αὐτὴ γὰρ καθ' ἑαυτὴν τῶν βιβλίων ἡ ὄψις, ὀκνηροτέρους ἡμᾶς πρὸς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεται, καὶ πρὸς δικαιοσύνην μᾶλλον διανίστασθαι προτρέπεται. θʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μεγάλη ἀσφάλεια πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν, τῶν Γραφῶν ἡ ἀνάγνωσις. ιʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μέγας κρημνὸς καὶ βαθὺ βάραθρον, τῶν Γραφῶν ἡ ἄγνοια. ιαʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μεγάλη προδοσία σωτηρίας, τὸ μηδένα τῶν θείων νόμων εἰδέναι. ιβʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι τὰ τῶν δικαίων ἁμαρτήματα περὶ τὰ χείλη ἐστὶ, τὰ δὲ τῶν ἀσεβῶν, ἐξ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος. Ὅθεν ψάλλει ∆αβίδ· Θοῦ, Κύριε, φυλακὴν τῷ στόματί μου, καὶ θύραν περιοχῆς περὶ τὰ χείλη μου· Καί· Εἶπα, Φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν με ἐν γλώσσῃ μου. ιγʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἠρωτήθη, ∆ιατί δέκα μέν εἰσιν αἱ νομικαὶ ἐντολαὶ, ἐννέα δὲ οἱ
Divine Justice and the Economy of Mercy§4
4Beatitudes? And he said: the Decalogue is an equal number to the Egyptian lashes; and the numbering of the beatitudes is an icon of the triple Trinity.
The same man was asked if a single righteous person is enough to slander God, and he said: Yes, for he himself said: Search for one doing judgment and righteousness, and I will be gracious to all the people. 15. The same said that God grants the principal to sinners who repent, just as to the harlot and the tax collector; but to the righteous, he demands both principal and interest. And this is what he was saying to the apostles: If your righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
He also said this: that God sells righteousness very little to those striving to buy it; a small morsel of bread, a cheap garment, a cold cup, one obol. 16. And he added this: that a man, borrowing from another through poverty or a need for prosperity, confesses grace when he repays, but he repays secretly out of shame. But the Lord God does the opposite: lending secretly before angels and archangels and the righteous, he repays.
Greek · §4
μακαρισμοί; καὶ ἔφη· Ἰσάριθμος τῶν Αἰγυπτιακῶν μαστίγων ὁ ∆εκάλογος· τριπλῆς δὲ Τριάδος εἰκὼν, ἡ τῶν μακαρισμῶν ἀρίθμησις. ιδʹ. Ἠρωτήθη ὁ αὐτὸς, εἰ ἀρκεῖ εἷς δίκαιος δυσωπῆσαι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἔφη· Ναὶ, αὐτὸς γὰρ εἶπεν· Ἐρευνήσατε ἕνα ποιοῦντα κρῖμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἵλεως ἔσομαι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ. ιεʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς μὲν ἁμαρτωλοῖς καὶ τὸ κεφάλαιον παραχωρεῖ μετανοοῦσιν, ὡς τῇ πόρνῃ καὶ τῷ τελώνῃ· τοὺς δὲ δικαίους ἀπαι 65.168 τεῖ καὶ τόκους. Καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ὃ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ἡ δικαιοσύνη ὑμῶν, πλέον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. ις ʹ. Ἔλεγε δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὀλίγον πάνυ τὰς δικαιοσύνας ὁ Θεὸς πωλεῖ τοῖς ἀγοράζειν σπουδάζουσι· μικροῦ κλάσματος ἄρτου, εὐτελοῦς ἱματίου, ψυχροῦ ποτηρίου, ἑνὸς ὀβολοῦ. ιζʹ. Προσετίθει δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι παρ' ἀνθρώπῳ δανειζόμενος ἄνθρωπος διὰ πενίαν, ἢ χρείαν εὐπορίας, καὶ ἀποδιδοὺς χάριτας μὲν ὁμολογεῖ, κρύφα δὲ ἀποδίδωσιν αἰσχυνόμενος. Ὁ δὲ δεσπότης Θεὸς τὸ ἀνάπαλιν· κρυφῆ δανειζόμενος ἐνώπιον ἀγγέλων καὶ ἀρχαγγέλων καὶ δικαίων ἀποδίδωσιν.