Holy Men of Egypt

This period was marked by many holy men who gave themselves to a life of philosophy, so it seems right to give some account of them; for at that time there flourished a great abundance of men loved by God. There was, it seems, no more celebrated man in Egypt than John. He had received from God the power to see the future and the most hidden things as clearly as the prophets of old, and he also had the gift of healing those who suffered from incurable afflictions and diseases. Or was another eminent man of this period. He had lived in solitude from his earliest youth, always busy singing the praises of God. He lived on herbs and roots, and drank water when he could find it. In his old age he went, by the command of God, to the Thebaid, where he presided over several monasteries, and he too had his share in the works of God. By prayer alone he drove out diseases and demons. He knew nothing of letters, and he needed no books to support his memory; for whatever he once took into his mind he never forgot afterward. [a]

Ammon, the leader of the monks called Tabennesians, lived in the same region and had about three thousand disciples. Benus and Theonas also presided over communities of monks, and had the gift of foreknowledge and of prophecy. It is said that although Theonas was versed in all the learning of the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, he kept silence for thirty years. Benus was never seen to show any sign of anger, and was never heard to swear an oath or to speak a false, empty, rash, or useless word. [d]

Copres, Helles, and Elias also flourished at this time. It is said that Copres had received from God the power of healing sickness and all kinds of diseases, and of overcoming demons. Helles had been trained in the monastic life from his youth, and he worked many wonders. He could carry fire in the fold of his garment without burning his clothes. He stirred up his fellow monks to practice virtue by pointing out that miracles would follow a good life. Elias, who practiced philosophy near the city of Antinoopolis, was at this time about a hundred and ten years old, and he said he had already spent seventy years alone in the desert. In spite of his great age he never let up in fasting and in his courageous discipline. [e]

Apelles flourished in the same period and worked many miracles in the Egyptian monasteries near the city of Acoris. He had once worked as a smith, for that was his trade. One night the devil set out to tempt him to unchastity by appearing before him in the form of a beautiful woman. But Apelles seized the iron that was heating in the furnace and burned the devil’s face, and the devil shrieked like a wild bird and ran away.

Isidore, Serapion, and Dioscorus were at this time among the most celebrated fathers of the monks. Isidore had his monastery shut up, so that no one could go out or come in, and he supplied the needs of those within the walls. Serapion lived in the district of Arsinoe and had about a thousand monks under his guidance. He taught them all to earn their food by their own labor and to provide for others who were poor. At harvest time they kept busy reaping for wages; they set aside enough grain for their own use, and shared it with the rest of the monks. Dioscorus had no more than a hundred disciples. He was a presbyter, and applied himself with great exactness to the duties of his priesthood. He examined and carefully questioned those who came forward to take part in the holy mysteries, so that they might purify their minds and not remain unaware of any evil they might have committed. The presbyter Eulogius was still more scrupulous in giving out the divine mysteries. It is said that when he was serving in his priestly office he could see what was in the minds of those who came to him, so that he could clearly detect sin and the secret thoughts of each one present. He shut out from the altar all who had committed a crime or formed evil intentions, and convicted them of their sin in public; but when they had purified themselves by repentance, he received them into communion again. [f]