Abbot John of Lycopolis

This book is about the training of one who renounces this world, so that, making a beginning of true humility and perfect obedience, he may be able to climb the heights of the other virtues as well. So I think it good to set down, simply as samples, as we promised, some of the deeds of the elders by which they excelled in this virtue. I will choose only a few out of many instances, so that any who are eager to aim at still greater heights may not only find in them a spur toward the perfect life, but may also be furnished with a model of what they intend. [a]

So, to make this book as short as possible, we will bring forward and set down two or three out of the whole number of the fathers. First of all comes Abbot John, who lived near Lycon, a town in the Thebaid. For his admirable obedience he was raised even to the grace of prophecy, and he was so celebrated all over the world that his merits made him famous even among the kings of this world. For though, as we said, he lived in the most remote parts of the Thebaid, the emperor Theodosius did not venture to declare war on the most powerful usurpers until he had been encouraged by John’s sayings and answers. Trusting in these as if they had been brought to him from heaven, he won victories over his enemies in battles that seemed hopeless.