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.

• ContentsPreface by Tim Vivian    xvForeword by Rick Kennedy    xxiAbbreviations    xxviiA Thematic Introduction    xxxvThe Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and MothersChapter 8: Th / Thȇta / θ    3Concerning Abba Theodore of Pherme    3Concerning Abba Theodore of the Enaton    15Concerning Abba Theodore of Scetis    16Concerning Abba Theodore of Eleutheropolis    16Concerning Abba Theodotus    17Concerning Abba Theonas    18Concerning Archbishop Theophilus    18Concerning Amma Theodora    23Chapter 9: I / Iȏta / I    31Concerning Abba John the Little    31Concerning John the Cenobite    57Concerning Abba Isidore (of Scetis)    57Concerning Abba Isidore of Pelusium    62 Concerning Abba Isaac, the Priest of the Cells    64Concerning Abba Joseph of Panephysis    68Concerning Abba James (Jacob)    73Concerning Abba Hierax    75Concerning Abba John the Eunuch    75Concerning Abba John of the Cells    77Concerning Abba Isidore the Priest    78Concerning Abba John the Persian    80Concerning Abba John of Thebes    83Concerning Abba John the Disciple of Abba Paul    83Concerning Abba Isaac of Thebes    84Concerning Abba Joseph of Thebes    86Concerning Abba Hilarion    87Concerning Abba Ischyrion    87Chapter 10: K / Káppa / K    89Concerning Abba Cassian    89Concerning Abba Cronius    95Concerning Abba Carion    99Concerning Abba Kopri    102Concerning Abba Cyrus of Alexandria    103Chapter 11: L / Lámbda / Λ    105Concerning Abba Lucius    105Concerning Abba Lot    106Concerning Abba Longinus    108Chapter 12: M / Mȗ / M    113Concerning Abba Macarius of Egypt    113Concerning Abba Moses    144 Concerning Abba Matoës    155Concerning Abba Mark, the Disciple of Abba Silvanus    161Concerning Abba Milesius    164Concerning Abba Motios    167Concerning Abba Megethius    169Concerning Abba Mios    171Concerning Abba Mark the Egyptian    173Concerning Abba Macarius of Alexandria    175Chapter 13: N / Nȗ / N    177Concerning Abba Neilos    177Concerning Abba Nestheros (the Great)    179Concerning Abba Nestheros the Cenobite    182Concerning Abba Nikon    183Concerning Abba Natera    185Concerning Abba Nicetas    186Chapter 14: X / Xȋ / Ξ    189Concerning Abba Xoïos     189Concerning Abba Xanthias    191Chapter 15: O / ho mikrón / O    193Concerning Abba Olympius    193Concerning Abba Horsisius    195Chapter 16: P / Peȋ / Π    203Concerning Abba Poemen    203Appendix: Sayings of Abba Poemen    266Concerning Abba Pambo   271Concerning Abba Pistos    276 Concerning Abba Pior    278Concerning Abba Pityrion    280Concerning Abba Pistamon    280Concerning Abba Peter the Pionite    281Concerning Abba Paphnutius    283Concerning Abba Paul    287Concerning Abba Paul the Barber    288Concerning Abba Paul the Great    288Concerning Blessed Paul the Sincere    289Concerning Abba Peter of Dios    294Chapter 17: R / Rȏ / P    295Concerning the Abba from Rome    295Concerning Abba Rufus    299Concerning Abba Romanus    301Chapter 18: S / Sígma (Sȋgma) / Σ    303Concerning Abba Sisoës    303Concerning Abba Silvanus    320Concerning Abba Simon    324Concerning Abba Sopatros    325Concerning Abba Sarmatas    326Concerning Abba Serapion    327Concerning Abba Serinos    330Concerning Abba Spyridon    330Concerning Abba Saïo    332Concerning Amma Sarah    333Concerning Amma Syncletica    336  Chapter 19: T / Taȗ / T    357Concerning Abba Tithoës    357Concerning Abba Timothy    359Chapter 20: U / Upsilón / Y     361Concerning Abba Hyperechius    361Chapter 21: Ph / Phȋ / Φ    365Concerning Abba Phocas    365Concerning Abba Felix    368Concerning Abba Philagrios    368Concerning Abba Phortas    369Chapter 22: Ch / Xȋ / X    371Concerning Abba Chomai    371Concerning Abba Cheremon    371Chapter 23: Ps / Psȋ / Ψ    373Concerning Abba Psenthaḯsios    373Chapter 24: Ō / Ōméga / Ω    375Concerning Abba Ṓr    375Glossary    381Dramatis Personae    475Selected Bibliography    491Scripture Index    505General Index    521

"Speaking to us over a distance of some 1700 years, Tim Vivian continues to bring to life the profound but truly human stories and personalities of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. With his fresh translation and extensive footnotes and commentary, this volume, like the first, provides nourishment for the mind and spirit and transports us to an exciting new place that is strangely compelling! 'For those who are capable of understanding these words and keeping them, there is joy and great profit' (Barsanuphius of Gaza)."Lisa Agaiby, St. Athanasius College, University of Divinity