Prayer, Discipline, and Christ's Blessing
Having 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
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
About this text
A collection of wise and mysterious sayings from a 4th-century bishop, offering insight into early Christian life and beliefs.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.