The Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

Tim Vivian is professor emeritus of religious studies at California State University Bakersfield and a retired priest in the Episcopal Church. In 2018, he received an honorary doctorate of divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP, Episcopal) for his scholarship and work for social justice. He has published numerous books, articles, and book reviews on early Christian monasticism, including, with Cistercian Publications, The Life of Antony, Words to Live By, The Holy Workshop of Virtue, and BecomingFire.

Contents

Preface by Tim Vivian    xv
Foreword by Rick Kennedy    xxi
Abbreviations    xxvii
A Thematic Introduction    xxxv

The Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

Chapter 8: Th / Thȇta / θ    3
   Concerning Abba Theodore of Pherme    3
   Concerning Abba Theodore of the Enaton    15
   Concerning Abba Theodore of Scetis    16
   Concerning Abba Theodore of Eleutheropolis    16
   Concerning Abba Theodotus    17
   Concerning Abba Theonas    18
   Concerning Archbishop Theophilus    18
   Concerning Amma Theodora    23

Chapter 9: I / Iȏta / I    31
   Concerning Abba John the Little    31
   Concerning John the Cenobite    57
   Concerning Abba Isidore (of Scetis)    57
   Concerning Abba Isidore of Pelusium    62 
   Concerning Abba Isaac, the Priest of the Cells    64
   Concerning Abba Joseph of Panephysis    68
   Concerning Abba James (Jacob)    73
   Concerning Abba Hierax    75
   Concerning Abba John the Eunuch    75
   Concerning Abba John of the Cells    77
   Concerning Abba Isidore the Priest    78
   Concerning Abba John the Persian    80
   Concerning Abba John of Thebes    83
   Concerning Abba John the Disciple of Abba Paul    83
   Concerning Abba Isaac of Thebes    84
   Concerning Abba Joseph of Thebes    86
   Concerning Abba Hilarion    87
   Concerning Abba Ischyrion    87

Chapter 10: K / Káppa / K    89
   Concerning Abba Cassian    89
   Concerning Abba Cronius    95
   Concerning Abba Carion    99
   Concerning Abba Kopri    102
   Concerning Abba Cyrus of Alexandria    103

Chapter 11: L / Lámbda / Λ    105
   Concerning Abba Lucius    105
   Concerning Abba Lot    106
   Concerning Abba Longinus    108

Chapter 12: M / Mȗ / M    113
   Concerning Abba Macarius of Egypt    113
   Concerning Abba Moses    144 
   Concerning Abba Matoës    155
   Concerning Abba Mark, the Disciple of Abba Silvanus    161
   Concerning Abba Milesius    164
   Concerning Abba Motios    167
   Concerning Abba Megethius    169
   Concerning Abba Mios    171
   Concerning Abba Mark the Egyptian    173
   Concerning Abba Macarius of Alexandria    175

Chapter 13: N / Nȗ / N    177
   Concerning Abba Neilos    177
   Concerning Abba Nestheros (the Great)    179
   Concerning Abba Nestheros the Cenobite    182
   Concerning Abba Nikon    183
   Concerning Abba Natera    185
   Concerning Abba Nicetas    186

Chapter 14: X / Xȋ / Ξ    189
   Concerning Abba Xoïos     189
   Concerning Abba Xanthias    191
Chapter 15: O / ho mikrón / O    193
   Concerning Abba Olympius    193
   Concerning Abba Horsisius    195

Chapter 16: P / Peȋ / Π    203
   Concerning Abba Poemen    203
   Appendix: Sayings of Abba Poemen    266
   Concerning Abba Pambo   271
   Concerning Abba Pistos    276 
   Concerning Abba Pior    278
   Concerning Abba Pityrion    280
   Concerning Abba Pistamon    280
   Concerning Abba Peter the Pionite    281
   Concerning Abba Paphnutius    283
   Concerning Abba Paul    287
   Concerning Abba Paul the Barber    288
   Concerning Abba Paul the Great    288
   Concerning Blessed Paul the Sincere    289
   Concerning Abba Peter of Dios    294

Chapter 17: R / Rȏ / P    295
   Concerning the Abba from Rome    295
   Concerning Abba Rufus    299
   Concerning Abba Romanus    301

Chapter 18: S / Sígma (Sȋgma) / Σ    303
   Concerning Abba Sisoës    303
   Concerning Abba Silvanus    320
   Concerning Abba Simon    324
   Concerning Abba Sopatros    325
   Concerning Abba Sarmatas    326
   Concerning Abba Serapion    327
   Concerning Abba Serinos    330
   Concerning Abba Spyridon    330
   Concerning Abba Saïo    332
   Concerning Amma Sarah    333
   Concerning Amma Syncletica    336
 
Chapter 19: T / Taȗ / T    357
   Concerning Abba Tithoës    357
   Concerning Abba Timothy    359

Chapter 20: U / Upsilón / Y     361
   Concerning Abba Hyperechius    361

Chapter 21: Ph / Phȋ / Φ    365
   Concerning Abba Phocas    365
   Concerning Abba Felix    368
   Concerning Abba Philagrios    368
   Concerning Abba Phortas    369

Chapter 22: Ch / Xȋ / X    371
   Concerning Abba Chomai    371
   Concerning Abba Cheremon    371

Chapter 23: Ps / Psȋ / Ψ    373
   Concerning Abba Psenthaḯsios    373

Chapter 24: Ō / Ōméga / Ω    375
   Concerning Abba Ṓr    375

Glossary    381
Dramatis Personae    475
Selected Bibliography    491
Scripture Index    505
General Index    521