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]
Many notable Desert Fathers are mentioned in the collections, including Anthony the Great, Abba Arsenius, Abba Poemen, Abba Macarius of Egypt, Abba Pachomius the Great, Abba Amoun the Hermit and Abba Moses the Black.[7] The sayings also include those of three different ammas, most notably Syncletica of Alexandria.[6] Sayings of the Desert Fathers influenced many notable theologians, including Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine.[8]
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 AsceticonofIsaiah 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 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]
Different Sayings collections include the Alphabetic Sayings, the Systematic Sayings, and the Anonymous Sayings.[9]
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 | 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 |
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]
The 20 chapters of the Systematic Sayings (Wortley 2012) are:[21]
| 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 |
There are four major versions of the Systematic Collection, in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Armenian. The contents of each are:[9]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
