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Sayings of the Desert Fathers

February 01, 2023

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 and Desert Mothers from approximately the 5th century AD.[3][4]

Sogdian Christian copy of the Text Written in Syriac.

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 and Desert Mothers also received many visitors seeking counseling, typically by asking "Give me a word, abba" or "Speak a word, amma, how can I be saved?" Some of the sayings are responses to those seeking guidance.[6]

Many notable Desert Fathers are mentioned in the collections, including Anthony the Great, Abba Arsenius, Abba Poemen, Abba Macarius of Egypt, and Abba Moses the Black.[7] The sayings also include those of three different ammas, or Desert Mothers, most notably Syncletica of Alexandria.[6] Sayings of the Desert Fathers influenced many notable theologians, including Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine.[8]

History of the text

The Desert Fathers spoke Coptic, a language related to 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 Jesuit Heribert 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 only from fragments published by Hugo Duensing. 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.[12] Some of the Sayings are preserved in Arabic and Georgian translations.[5] Through the Asceticon, some of the Sayings made their way into Sogdian.[13]

Helen Waddell translated a selection of elements from the Vitae patrum into English in the early 20th century.[14] The first complete translation of the "apophthegmata" into English is that of Benedicta Ward (1975).[15]

Examples

  • Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say something to the Archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.'[16]
  • 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.[17]
  • 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?"[18]
  • 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.'[19]

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:[20]

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 Περὶ τοῦ μηδὲν εἰς ἐπίδειξιν ποιεῖν, καὶ πλεονεξίαν ἀποστρέφεσθαι
264–280 That one should always be vigilant Περὶ τοῦ δεῖν πάντοτε νήφειν
281–289 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

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.[21]

Systematic Sayings

The 20 chapters of the Systematic Sayings (Wortley 2012) are:[22]

Chapter Title
Prologue Prologue to The Book of the Elders Called Paradise
1 An Exhortation of Holy Fathers on Advancing toward Perfection
2 Every Effort Should Be Made to Pursue Hesychia
3 Sorrow for Sin [Katanyxis, "Compunction"]
4 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 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 66
Total 1199
Verba Seniorum of Pelagius and John (Latin)
Book Chapter Titles No. of Sayings
Book I Concerning the perfecting of the fathers 23
Book II Concerning quiet 16
Book III Concerning compunction 27
Book IV Concerning continence 70
Book V Concerning fornication 41
Book VI Concerning [the idea] that a monk should possess nothing 22
Book VII Concerning patience, or fortitude 47
Book VIII Concerning [the idea] that nothing should be done for show 24
Book IX Concerning that we should judge no man 12
Book X Concerning discernment 113
Book XI Concerning [the idea] that it is right to live soberly 54
Book XII Concerning [the idea] that we ought to pray unceasingly and soberly 15
Book XIII Concerning [the idea] that it is best to be hospitable and show mercy with cheerfulness 14
Book XIV Concerning obedience 19
Book XV Concerning humility 89
Book XVI Concerning patience 19
Book XVII Concerning charity 25
Book XVIII Concerning foresight or contemplation 36
Book XIX Concerning the holy old men who used to work signs 17
Book XX Concerning the best sayings of various saints 18
Book XXI The 7 chapters that Abba Moses sent to Abba Poemen [and other miscellaneous sayings] 24
Total 725
The Syriac Paradise of the Fathers by Ânân Îshô
Book Chapter Titles No. of Sayings
Book I, Chapter 1 Palladius on flight from men and silent contemplation Sayings 1–62
Book I, Chapter 2 Concerning fasting and abstinence Sayings 63–104
Book I, Chapter 3 Concerning the reading of the scriptures, night vigils, the service of the Psalms, and constant prayer Sayings 105–135
Book I, Chapter 4 Concerning the weeping and mourning for sins Sayings 136–157
Book I, Chapter 5 Concerning voluntary poverty Sayings 158–182
Book I, Chapter 6 Concerning patient endurance Sayings 183–237
Book I, Chapter 7 Concerning obedience to God and man Sayings 238–247
Book I, Chapter 8 Concerning watchfulness in thought, word, and deed Sayings 248–392
Book I, Chapter 9 Concerning love, charity, and hospitality Sayings 393–443
Book I, Chapter 10 Concerning humility Sayings 444–558
Book I, Chapter 11 Concerning fornication Sayings 559–597
Book I, Chapter 12 Concerning the acceptance of repentance Sayings 598–613
Book I, Chapter 13 Concerning the fathers who wrought wonderful works Sayings 614–630
Book I, Chapter 14 Concerning the greatness of the solitary life Sayings 631–635
Book II, Chapters 1–15 Questions and answers on the ascetic rule Sayings 1–539
Book II, Chapters 16–17 Questions and answers by the fathers and monks Sayings 540–576
Book II, Chapter 18 Questions and answers on the vision of the mind Sayings 577–602
Appendix Sayings 603–705
The Armenian Paterica
Book Chapter Titles No. of Sayings
Book I Concerning perfect virtue 46 + 116R
Book II Concerning quiet 28 + 37R
Book III Concerning compunction and tears 50 + 36R
Book IV Concerning abstinence 58 + 63R
Book V Concerning fornication 81 + 47R
Book VI Concerning destitution 20 + 23R
Book VII Concerning strength and forbearance 45 + 49R
Book VIII Concerning doing nothing for show 18 + 15R
Book IX Concerning discernment 27 + 19R
Book X Concerning divine and right judgment 79 + 114R
Book XI Concerning vigilance and sobriety 34 + 51R
Book XII Concerning prayer 11 + 14R
Book XIII Concerning being hospitable and merciful 17 + 19R
Book XIV Concerning obedience 17 + 19R
Book XV Concerning humility 71 + 100R
Book XVI Concerning forgetfulness of injuries 9 + 18R
Book XVII Concerning loving God and neighbor 26 + 35R
Book XVIII Concerning spirit-seeing and wonder-working of the fathers 93 + 39R
Book XIX Concerning the conversation of the fathers 28 + 26R
Total 1598

See also

Notes

  1. ^ From the Greek: apo, from; phtheggomai, to cry out; pater, father.
  2. ^ Orthodox Encyclopedia, in Russian, Vol. 3, pp. 140-142.
  3. ^ Gould, Graham (2001). Papers presented at the Thirteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 1999. Studia Patristica. Peeters Publishers. ISBN 978-90-429-0922-9.
  4. ^ W. Bousset. Apophthegmata. Tuebingen, 1923, p. 68.
  5. ^ a b c d e Burton-Christie, Douglas (1993). The Word in the desert: scripture and the quest for holiness in early Christian monasticism. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. pp. 76–86. ISBN 0-19-508333-4.
  6. ^ a b Chryssavgis, John; Ware, Kallistos; Ward, Benedicta (2008). In the Heart of the Desert: Revised Edition: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions). Bloomington, Ind.: World Wisdom. p. 4. ISBN 1-933316-56-X.
  7. ^ "Chryssavgis, pp. 19-29.
  8. ^ Flood, Gavin D. (2004). The ascetic self: subjectivity, memory and tradition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-60401-X.
  9. ^ a b c Harmless, William (2004). Desert Christians: an introduction to the literature of early monasticism. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516222-6.
  10. ^ Barlow, Claude (1969). Fathers of the Church: Iberian Fathers: Martin of Braga/Paschasius of Dumium/Leander of Seville. Washington, D.C: Catholic University of America Press. pp. 113–114. ISBN 0-8132-0062-8.
  11. ^ Barlow, p. 5-6.
  12. ^ Veder, William (2012). The Scete Patericon v1-3. Amsterdam: Pegasus. ISBN 9789061433323.
  13. ^ "Abbā Isaiah". Encyclopaedia Iranica. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  14. ^ Helen Waddell, The desert fathers (translations from the Vitae Patrum), London: Constable & co., 1936.
  15. ^ Benedicta Ward, The sayings of the Desert Fathers : the alphabetical collection, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1975 (revised edition, 1985).
  16. ^ "Sayings of the Desert Fathers - OrthodoxWiki". Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  17. ^ Merton, Thomas (2004-11-16). The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Gift ed.). Shambhala. p. 184. ISBN 1-59030-039-4.
  18. ^ Ward, Benedicta (2003-07-29). The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Revised ed.). Penguin Classics. ISBN 0-14-044731-8.
  19. ^ Benedicta Ward, ed. (1984), The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Rev. ed.), Cistercian Publications, p. 123.
  20. ^ Wortley, John (2013). The anonymous sayings of the Desert Fathers. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-50988-6.
  21. ^ Ward, Benedicta (1984). The sayings of the Desert Fathers: the alphabetical collection. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications. ISBN 0-87907-959-2.
  22. ^ Wortley, John (2012). The Book of the Elders – sayings of the Desert Fathers: the systematic collection. Trappist, KY; Collegeville, MN: Cistercian Publications Liturgical Press. ISBN 978-0-87907-201-8.

Further reading

  • Williams, Rowan (2004-11-19). Silence and Honey Cakes: The Wisdom of the Desert. Lion Publishing plc. ISBN 0-7459-5170-8.
  • Ward, Benedicta (2003-07-29). The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Revised ed.). Penguin Classics. ISBN 0-14-044731-8.
  • Sourozh, Metropolitan Anthony of; Benedicta Ward (June 1987). The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Revised ed.). Cistercian Publications. ISBN 0-87907-959-2.
  • Merton, Thomas (2004-11-16). The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Gift ed.). Shambhala. ISBN 1-59030-039-4.
  • 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. ISBN 978-0-521-50988-6.
  • 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)
  • Palladius of Galatia (1907). The Paradise or Garden of the Holy Fathers, Volume 2: Sayings of the Desert Fathers . Translated by Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge. Chatto & Windus.
  • 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)

External links

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
  • Desert Fathers apophthegm quotations at OrthodoxWiki
  • A bibliography of the various collections of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers

February 01, 2023
sayings, desert, fathers, latin, apophthegmata, patrum, aegyptiorum, greek, ἀποφθέγματα, τῶν, πατέρων, romanized, apophthégmata, tōn, patérōn, name, given, various, textual, collections, consisting, stories, sayings, attributed, desert, fathers, desert, mother. The Sayings of the Desert Fathers Latin Apophthegmata Patrum Aegyptiorum Greek ἀpof8egmata tῶn paterwn romanized Apophthegmata tōn Paterōn 1 2 is the name given to various textual collections consisting of stories and sayings attributed to the Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers from approximately the 5th century AD 3 4 Sogdian Christian copy of the Text Written in Syriac 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 and Desert Mothers also received many visitors seeking counseling typically by asking Give me a word abba or Speak a word amma how can I be saved Some of the sayings are responses to those seeking guidance 6 Many notable Desert Fathers are mentioned in the collections including Anthony the Great Abba Arsenius Abba Poemen Abba Macarius of Egypt and Abba Moses the Black 7 The sayings also include those of three different ammas or Desert Mothers most notably Syncletica of Alexandria 6 Sayings of the Desert Fathers influenced many notable theologians including Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine 8 Contents 1 History of the text 2 Examples 3 Collections 3 1 Anonymous Sayings 3 2 Alphabetical Sayings 3 3 Systematic Sayings 3 3 1 Versions 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory of the text EditThe Desert Fathers spoke Coptic a language related to 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 Chaine 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 Jesuit Heribert 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 Anan Isho s translation into Classical Syriac from the early 7th century known as the Paradise of the Fathers and a Christian Palestinian Aramaic translation known only from fragments published by Hugo Duensing 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 Paterik survived 12 Some of the Sayings are preserved in Arabic and Georgian translations 5 Through the Asceticon some of the Sayings made their way into Sogdian 13 Helen Waddell translated a selection of elements from the Vitae patrum into English in the early 20th century 14 The first complete translation of the apophthegmata into English is that of Benedicta Ward 1975 15 Examples EditAbba Theophilus the archbishop came to Scetis one day The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo Say something to the Archbishop so that he may be edified The old man said to them If he is not edified by my silence he will not be edified by my speech 16 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 17 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 18 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 19 Collections EditDifferent Sayings collections include the Alphabetic Sayings the Systematic Sayings and the Anonymous Sayings 9 Anonymous Sayings Edit The sections of the Anonymous Sayings Wortley 2013 are 20 Sayings English Greek1 36 37 54 Concerning imperial officials Perὶ tῶn Magistrianῶn55 131 Concerning the holy habit of monks Perὶ toῦ sxhmatos toῦ ἁgioy tῶn monaxῶn132 Concerning anchorites Perὶ ἀnaxwrhtῶn133 143 That we should pursue hesychia and grief for sin Ὅti deῖ tὴn ἡsyxian kaὶ tὴn katany3in metadiwkein144 215 Concerning temperance Perὶ ἐgkrateias216 253 On discretion Perὶ diakrisews254 255 That one must be on his guard against judging anybody Ὅti fylattes8ai xrὴ tὸ mhdena krinei256 263 That nothing should be done for ostentation and that avarice should be avoided Perὶ toῦ mhdὲn eἰs ἐpidei3in poieῖn kaὶ pleone3ian ἀpostrefes8ai264 280 That one should always be vigilant Perὶ toῦ deῖn pantote nhfein281 289 On the necessity of being joyfully compassionate and hospitable Ὅti xrὴ ἐleeῖn kaὶ filo3eneῖn ἐn ἱlarothti290 297 On obedience Perὶ ὑpakoῆs298 334 On humble mindedness Perὶ tapeinofrosynhs335 343 Concerning forbearance Perὶ ἀne3ikakias344 358 Concerning charity Perὶ ἀgaphs359 453 On those who have the gift of second sight Perὶ dioratikῶn454 474 Concerning porneia Perὶ porneias475 518 On not passing judgement Perὶ toῦ mὴ krinein519 765 Concerning grief for sin katanyxis compunctio Perὶ katany3ewsAlphabetical Sayings Edit 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 21 Anthony the Great Arsenius Agathon Ammonas Achilles Ammoes Amoun of Nitria Anoub Abraham of Scetes Ares Alonius Apphy Apollo the Shepherd Andrew Aio Ammonathas Basil the Great Bessarion of Egypt Benjamin Biare Gregory the Theologian Gelasius of Nilopolis Gerontius of Petra Daniel Dioscorus Doulas Epiphanius of Salamis Bishop of Cyprus Ephrem the Syrian Eucharistus the Secular Eulogius the Priest Euprepius of Egypt Helladius Evagrius Ponticus Eudaemon Zeno of Gaza Zachariah the Recluse Isaiah of Gaza Elias the Hermit Heraclides Theodore of Pherme Theodore of Enaton Theodore of Scetis Theodore of Eleutheropolis Theonas Theophilus the Archbishop Theodora of Alexandria John the Dwarf John the Cenobite Isidore the Priest Isidore of Pelusium Isaac of the Cells Joseph of Panephysis James Hierax John the Eunuch John of the Cells John of the Thebaid John the Persian John the Theban John disciple of Abba Paul Isaac the Theban Joseph of Thebes Hilarion Ischyrion Cassian Cronius of Nitria Carion the Egyptian Copres Cyrus Lucius Lot Longinus Macarius the Great Moses the Black Matoes Mark disciple of Abba Silvanus Milesius Motius Megethius Mius of Belos Mark the Egyptian Macarius of Alexandria Nilus Nisterus Nisterus the Cenobite Nicon Netras Nicetas Xoius Xanthias Olympius Orsisius Poemen called the Shepherd Pambo Pistus Pior Pityrion Pistamon Peter the Pionite Paphnutius the Ascetic Paul Paul the Barber Paul the Great Paul the Simple Peter of Dios an Abba of Rome most likely Arsenius Rufus Romanus Sisoes the Great Silvanus Simon Sopatrus Sarmatas Serapion of Thmuis Serinus Spyridon Saius Sarah of the Desert Syncletica Tithoes Timothy Hyperechius Wikidata Phocas Felix Philagrius Phortas Chomas Chaeremon Psenthaisius Or Systematic Sayings Edit The 20 chapters of the Systematic Sayings Wortley 2012 are 22 Chapter TitlePrologue Prologue to The Book of the Elders Called Paradise1 An Exhortation of Holy Fathers on Advancing toward Perfection2 Every Effort Should Be Made to Pursue Hesychia3 Sorrow for Sin Katanyxis Compunction 4 Self Control Egkrateia Should Be Achieved Not Only in the Case of Food but Also in Other Movements of the Soul5 Various Narratives for Security in the Wars Arising against Us from Porneia6 Poverty Aktemosyne and That It Is Necessary to Guard against Covetousness7 Various Narratives Preparing Us for Patience and Courage8 One Should Do Nothing for Show9 One Should Guard against Judging Anybody10 Discretion Diakrisis 11 One Should Ever Be on Watch12 One Should Pray without Ceasing13 One Must Joyfully Practice Hospitality and Show Compassion14 Obedience15 Humility16 Forbearance Anexikakia 17 Love Agape 18 Those Who Have Second Sight Dioratikoi 19 Wonder Working Elders20 Virtuous LivingVersions Edit There are four major versions of the Systematic Collection in Greek Latin Syriac and Armenian The contents of each are 9 The Greek Systematic Collection Book Chapter Titles No of SayingsBook I Exhortation of the holy fathers concerning progress toward perfection 37Book II Concerning peace hesychia to be pursued with all eagerness 35Book III Concerning compunction 56Book IV Concerning temperance in food and concerning the mastery of all 104Book V Various stories to keep on guard against assaults of luxury 54Book VI Concerning poverty and the necessity of keeping oneself from avarice 28Book VII Various stories training us to patience and courage 62Book VIII That nothing be done for show 32Book IX To be on watch to not judge anyone 26Book X Concerning discernment 194Book XI Concerning the necessity of constant vigilance 127Book XII Concerning unceasing prayer 28Book XIII Concerning hospitality and almsgiving done with joy 19Book XIV Concerning obedience 32Book XV Concerning humility 136Book XVI Concerning long suffering 30Book XVII Concerning charity 35Book XVIII Concerning great visionaries 53Book XIX Concerning those who work miracles 21Book XX Concerning virtuous behavior 24Book XXI Sayings of those who endure in asceticism showing their eminent virtue 66Total 1199Verba Seniorum of Pelagius and John Latin Book Chapter Titles No of SayingsBook I Concerning the perfecting of the fathers 23Book II Concerning quiet 16Book III Concerning compunction 27Book IV Concerning continence 70Book V Concerning fornication 41Book VI Concerning the idea that a monk should possess nothing 22Book VII Concerning patience or fortitude 47Book VIII Concerning the idea that nothing should be done for show 24Book IX Concerning that we should judge no man 12Book X Concerning discernment 113Book XI Concerning the idea that it is right to live soberly 54Book XII Concerning the idea that we ought to pray unceasingly and soberly 15Book XIII Concerning the idea that it is best to be hospitable and show mercy with cheerfulness 14Book XIV Concerning obedience 19Book XV Concerning humility 89Book XVI Concerning patience 19Book XVII Concerning charity 25Book XVIII Concerning foresight or contemplation 36Book XIX Concerning the holy old men who used to work signs 17Book XX Concerning the best sayings of various saints 18Book XXI The 7 chapters that Abba Moses sent to Abba Poemen and other miscellaneous sayings 24Total 725The Syriac Paradise of the Fathers by Anan Isho Book Chapter Titles No of SayingsBook I Chapter 1 Palladius on flight from men and silent contemplation Sayings 1 62Book I Chapter 2 Concerning fasting and abstinence Sayings 63 104Book I Chapter 3 Concerning the reading of the scriptures night vigils the service of the Psalms and constant prayer Sayings 105 135Book I Chapter 4 Concerning the weeping and mourning for sins Sayings 136 157Book I Chapter 5 Concerning voluntary poverty Sayings 158 182Book I Chapter 6 Concerning patient endurance Sayings 183 237Book I Chapter 7 Concerning obedience to God and man Sayings 238 247Book I Chapter 8 Concerning watchfulness in thought word and deed Sayings 248 392Book I Chapter 9 Concerning love charity and hospitality Sayings 393 443Book I Chapter 10 Concerning humility Sayings 444 558Book I Chapter 11 Concerning fornication Sayings 559 597Book I Chapter 12 Concerning the acceptance of repentance Sayings 598 613Book I Chapter 13 Concerning the fathers who wrought wonderful works Sayings 614 630Book I Chapter 14 Concerning the greatness of the solitary life Sayings 631 635Book II Chapters 1 15 Questions and answers on the ascetic rule Sayings 1 539Book II Chapters 16 17 Questions and answers by the fathers and monks Sayings 540 576Book II Chapter 18 Questions and answers on the vision of the mind Sayings 577 602Appendix Sayings 603 705The Armenian Paterica Book Chapter Titles No of SayingsBook I Concerning perfect virtue 46 116RBook II Concerning quiet 28 37RBook III Concerning compunction and tears 50 36RBook IV Concerning abstinence 58 63RBook V Concerning fornication 81 47RBook VI Concerning destitution 20 23RBook VII Concerning strength and forbearance 45 49RBook VIII Concerning doing nothing for show 18 15RBook IX Concerning discernment 27 19RBook X Concerning divine and right judgment 79 114RBook XI Concerning vigilance and sobriety 34 51RBook XII Concerning prayer 11 14RBook XIII Concerning being hospitable and merciful 17 19RBook XIV Concerning obedience 17 19RBook XV Concerning humility 71 100RBook XVI Concerning forgetfulness of injuries 9 18RBook XVII Concerning loving God and neighbor 26 35RBook XVIII Concerning spirit seeing and wonder working of the fathers 93 39RBook XIX Concerning the conversation of the fathers 28 26RTotal 1598See also EditAsceticon Ethiopic Collectio Monastica Ethics of the Fathers Gospel of Thomas Kōan Lausiac History Vitae Patrum Wisdom literatureNotes Edit 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 ISBN 978 90 429 0922 9 W Bousset Apophthegmata Tuebingen 1923 p 68 a b c d e Burton Christie Douglas 1993 The Word in the desert scripture and the quest for holiness in early Christian monasticism Oxford Oxfordshire Oxford University Press pp 76 86 ISBN 0 19 508333 4 a b Chryssavgis John Ware Kallistos Ward Benedicta 2008 In the Heart of the Desert Revised Edition The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers Treasures of the World s Religions Bloomington Ind World Wisdom p 4 ISBN 1 933316 56 X Chryssavgis pp 19 29 Flood Gavin D 2004 The ascetic self subjectivity memory and tradition Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 60401 X a b c Harmless William 2004 Desert Christians an introduction to the literature of early monasticism Oxford New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 516222 6 Barlow Claude 1969 Fathers of the Church Iberian Fathers Martin of Braga Paschasius of Dumium Leander of Seville Washington D C Catholic University of America Press pp 113 114 ISBN 0 8132 0062 8 Barlow p 5 6 Veder William 2012 The Scete Patericon v1 3 Amsterdam Pegasus ISBN 9789061433323 Abba Isaiah Encyclopaedia Iranica 2021 05 17 Retrieved 2021 11 12 Helen Waddell The desert fathers translations from the Vitae Patrum London Constable amp co 1936 Benedicta Ward The sayings of the Desert Fathers the alphabetical collection Kalamazoo Michigan Cistercian Publications 1975 revised edition 1985 Sayings of the Desert Fathers OrthodoxWiki Retrieved 2008 11 19 Merton Thomas 2004 11 16 The Wisdom of the Desert Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century Gift ed Shambhala p 184 ISBN 1 59030 039 4 Ward Benedicta 2003 07 29 The Desert Fathers Sayings of the Early Christian Monks Revised ed Penguin Classics ISBN 0 14 044731 8 Benedicta Ward ed 1984 The Sayings of the Desert Fathers The Alphabetical Collection Rev ed Cistercian Publications p 123 Wortley John 2013 The anonymous sayings of the Desert Fathers New York Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 50988 6 Ward Benedicta 1984 The sayings of the Desert Fathers the alphabetical collection Kalamazoo MI Cistercian Publications ISBN 0 87907 959 2 Wortley John 2012 The Book of the Elders sayings of the Desert Fathers the systematic collection Trappist KY Collegeville MN Cistercian Publications Liturgical Press ISBN 978 0 87907 201 8 Further reading EditWilliams Rowan 2004 11 19 Silence and Honey Cakes The Wisdom of the Desert Lion Publishing plc ISBN 0 7459 5170 8 Ward Benedicta 2003 07 29 The Desert Fathers Sayings of the Early Christian Monks Revised ed Penguin Classics ISBN 0 14 044731 8 Sourozh Metropolitan Anthony of Benedicta Ward June 1987 The Sayings of the Desert Fathers Revised ed Cistercian Publications ISBN 0 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 ISBN 1 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 ISBN 978 0 521 50988 6 Nomura Yushi Desert Wisdom Sayings from the Desert Fathers Maryknoll N Y Orbis Books 2001 Regnault Lucien Les chemins de Dieu au desert collection systematique des Apophtegmes des Peres Solesmes Editions de Solesmes 1992 complete French translation of the Greek Systematic Collection Dion J and G Oury Les Sentences des Peres du Desert recueil de Pelage et Jean Solesmes Abbaye Saint Pierre 1966 complete French translation of the Latin Systematic Collection Verba Seniorum of Pelagius and John Chaine M ed Le manuscrit de la version copte en dialect sahidique des Apophthegmata Patrum Bibliotheque d etudes coptes 6 Cairo Institut Francais d Archeologie Orientale 1960 Sahidic Coptic text Regnault Lucien Les Sentences des Peres du Desert troisieme recueil et tables Sable 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 Palladius of Galatia 1907 The Paradise or Garden of the Holy Fathers Volume 2 Sayings of the Desert Fathers Translated by Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge Chatto amp Windus Leloir Louis ed Paterica armeniaca a P P Mechitaristis edita 1855 nunc latine reddita CSCO 353 361 371 379 Louvain Secretariat du Corpus SCO 1974 1976 Armenian text External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Sayings of the Desert Fathers Desert Fathers apophthegm quotations at OrthodoxWiki A bibliography of the various collections of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sayings of the Desert Fathers amp oldid 1128322357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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