Anecdotes of Discipline and Faith
At midday, passing by the holy father Macarius while burning with thirst, they asked for water to drink; but he said: be satisfied with the shade; for many now traveling or sailing are lacking this.
Then, while I was speaking words to him concerning training in self-control: take courage, he says, child, in all my actions I have received neither a portion of bread, nor of water, nor of sleep; for I ate my bread by weight, I drank water by measure, and leaning myself against the walls, I snatched away a small part of sleep.
Death of the father was announced to one of the monks; but to the one who announced it, he says, stop blaspheming; for my father is immortal.
One of the brothers desired that one of the elders, having passed by the house, would command the mother and sisters to eat him; but he, with a woman, said, you shall not eat.
One of the brothers had only the gospel, and having sold this, he gave it for food to those who were hungry, declaring a word worthy of remembrance: for I, he says, have sold the very word that says to me: sell your possessions and give to the poor (Luke 12:33).
Greek
Παρέβαλον κατ' αὐτὴν τὴν σταθερὰν μεσημβρίαν τῷ ἁγίῳ πατρὶ Μακαρίῳ καὶ λίαν ὑπὸ τῆς δίψης φλεγόμενος ᾔτουν ὕδωρ πιεῖν· ὁ δέ φησιν· ἀρκέσθητι τῇ σκιᾷ· πολλοὶ γὰρ νῦν ὁδοιποροῦντες ἢ πλέοντες καὶ ταύτης ἐστέρηνται. Εἶτα λόγους μου πρὸς αὐτὸν περὶ ἐγκρατείας γυμνάζοντος· θάρσει, φησίν, ὦ τέκνον, ἐν ὅλοις ἔτεσιν εἴκοσι οὔτε ἄρτου, οὔτε ὕδατος, οὔτε ὕπνου κόρον εἴληφα· τὸν μὲν γὰρ ἄρτον μου ἤσθιον σταθμῷ, τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ ἔπινον μέτρῳ, τοῖς τοίχοις δὲ ἐμαυτὸν παρακλίνων μικρόν τι τοῦ ὕπνου μέρος ἀφήρπαζον. 95 Ἐμηνύθη τινὶ τῶν μοναχῶν θάνατος τοῦ πατρός· ὁ δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀπαγγείλαντα, παῦσαι, φησί, βλασφημῶν· ὁ γὰρ ἐμὸς πατὴρ ἀθάνατός ἐστιν. 96 Ἐπύθετό τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἑνὸς τῶν γερόντων εἰ κελεύοι τῇ μητρὶ καὶ ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς συμφαγεῖν αὐτὸν παραβαλόντα τῷ οἴκῳ· ὁ δέ, μετὰ γυναικός, εἶπεν, οὐ βρώσῃ. 97 Ἐκέκτητό τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν εὐαγγέλιον μόνον, καὶ τοῦτο πωλήσας ἔδωκεν εἰς τροφὴν τοῖς πεινῶσιν, ἄξιον μνήμης ἐπιφθεγξάμενος ῥῆμα· αὐτὸν γάρ, φησί, τὸν λόγον πεπώληκα τὸν λέγοντά μοι· πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς.
About this text
Discover the spiritual practices and struggles of ancient monks in Evagrius Ponticus' guide to monastic life and inner warfare.
Original English Translation of Evagrius Ponticus’s Practicus — new OET from PG 40 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 40 (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.