COPTIC LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
translated by frederic krueger

On Abraham of Farshut (1)

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I.1 [... it was said by]1 men who are trustworthy regarding the truth, "As we have heard, so also we have seen."2 2 But lest we expand the tale excessively, let us turn to the subject at hand (of) which (to tell) is enjoined upon us, and let us begin (the tale of) his life from his youth. 3 Indeed, the perfumed-tongued Paul instructs us to do this when he says, "Remember your (pl.) great ones, they who spoke the word of God to you (pl.). As you behold the exaltation of their way of life, imitate their faith."3 4 Even if we have not been able to accomplish any of their virtues due to our carelessness and sloth, let us (at least) assume for ourselves the likeness of the widow, she who contributed two small copper coins to the treasury, (for) her did the Lord praise more than everything (else) that was contributed.4 Or (let us be) like those who brought goat hair on the occasion of the building of the tabernacle, in accordance with their poverty.5 ​5 This is also what we are like, on account of our poverty and our ignorance, as we lay the tale before you (pl.), with God as our provider and helper.

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II. 1 So then, our saintly father, prophet, and archimandrite Apa Abraham, he belonged to the district of Diospolis, being an inhabitant of a village called Tbercôt,6 and being the son of magnates among the public figures of that village. I myself am one from among his kin. 2 It came to pass after he was born and growing up that he increased greatly in good favor before God and men, as it is written about the prophet Samuel.7 3 Then it came to pass, when he had grown up and completed twelve years, that his parents sent him to school with a diligent and (God-)fearing teacher who instructed him in the study of the scriptures inspired by God, as it is written about the lawgiver Moses, "He was instructed in all Egyptian wisdom."8 4 I myself was also in that same school with him, (studying) under that same teacher with him, and we studied in that same school together. But I, for my part, due to my unworthiness and sloth, I could not fully comprehend this education, 5 but he on the other hand, due to his purity and the brilliance of his soul, fully completed the education. Then it came to pass, when he had completed the education, that he advanced in wisdom and age, as it is written in the Gospel according to Luke.9

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III.1 Then it came to pass, when he had completed twelve years, that God desired to turn him away from the land that is full of cares and covered with acacia trees and thorns, (and) towards the spiritual land that is soft and that the Lord visits always. I speak of the life of philosophy, (that is, the life) of monasticism. 2 Then, when God decided to transplant him to that land of the living, like we said earlier, God visited his mother and father in the same year, and he was left alone with a sister of his. 3 Then, when he had completed the year (of mourning), he said to her, “Behold, our parents have laid down to rest, and we have become orphans. Perhaps you (f.) will listen to me and we will present our bodies to God in holy condition and take on ourselves the light yoke of our Savior, as it is written in Jeremiah the Prophet, "It is good for the man if he takes up the yoke from his youth." But she did not want to follow him. 10 4 And when he saw that she did not agree with him, he left all property behind and made his way, without a second thought, to the Monastery of Apa Pachom.11 5 And the one who was its abbot at that time was himself a wonder in his way of life, filled with the fragrance of the virtues, and his name was Pshintbahse.12 So this one (Abraham), of whom to tell the tale is currently enjoined upon us, approached him (Pshintbahse) and beseeched him that he might make him a monk with him. And when he saw that his heart was strong, he accepted him into the flock (army?)13 of Christ, and (so) he served14 under the Immortal King. 6 Then, when he had entered, he studied (the works of) St. Apa Pachom, St. Apa Horsiesios, and Apa Theodore. And when he saw and pondered the way of life of those ascetic brethren, he was envious with a divine envy, as Paul said, "I envy you (pl.) with a divine envy."15 Henceforth he committed himself to hard ascetic practices and manifold ascetic disciplines, but these God only knows, as it is written, "The things revealed are the hidden things of the heart,"16 and also, "God knows the hidden things."17

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IV.1 Then the Topos18 was prospering, and the grape vine was growing to bring forth daily blossoms, which are the chosen ascetes who sprouted from it. 2 But when the Devil, the hater of (all) that is good, saw the great discipline that prevailed in the monasteries, and the faith that was firm all over the world, he could not bear it. He (the Devil) bore ill will and sought for an opportunity to raise up a storm against the church of the Lord. 3 Then it came to pass, when St. Apa Pshintbahse had completed his lifespan in good old age, he laid down to rest in blessedness, and he was buried in honor together with his fathers19 who had come before him. Then there was installed in his place one whose name was Apa Abraham,20 who was also a wonder in his (way of) life, and who was (so) strong in his virtues that it is impossible to (accurately) describe his lifestyle.

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V.1 And at that time did the Devil set the storm into motion, and he raised up a disturbance against the Church of the Lord by the rise of an emperor whose name was Justinian, whose heart was corrupt and whose mind was led astray, mad as he was made by the madness of the heretics. Then, as soon as he sat upon the throne, he turned his mind to the blasphemies of Arius, Nestorius, and the Tome of Leo21 the impious. 2 He then wrote a letter to all the land of Egypt, (addressed) to the bishops of each place, and the abbots of the monasteries, (commanding) that they should come before him at the imperial capital. 3 He (also) wrote to St. Apa Abraham, who was abbot of Pbow at that time, (commanding) that he should come to the imperial court and appear before him. 4 Then, as soon he saw the letter of the emperor, he took with him four more brothers—oh had he not taken them with him!—, and he rose and came before the emperor at the imperial court. 5 When they were announced to the emperor, he ordered them to be brought before him and he said to the one who was the abbot, “I have summoned thy holiness in a matter of great urgency, that thou mayest agree to our faith and celebrate the Eucharist with us; then shall I bestow unto thee glory and great honor in mine empire." 6 But the Saint would not be swayed by the glory that must perish, instead he chose for himself the glory everlasting.

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VI.1 [...], for they were men free of this very thing. And this we know from their letters that they wrote to each other, in which they honored each other as one called the other "my father" and the other called the first "my brother and my fellow worker towards the Kingdom of the Heavens." 2 But lest we expand the tale excessively, let us turn to his departure from him.

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VII.1 And when he had received the papyrus documents, he departed from him in peace. Then he walked with two brothers who were accompanying him until he came to the mountain22 of his village. 2 They went up [that] mountain and founded [for themselves] the little dwelling-[place23 and there] they dwelt together while the Lord was with them, according to that which is written in the Gospel, "Where there are two or three gathered in my name, there I am in their midst."24 And the word of Ecclesiastes (too) was fulfilled for them, "The rope that has three plies will not quickly break."25 And they lived in difficult and very hard ascetic practices, but these God only knows. 3 Then it came to pass after [some] days that there came [to him] seven more [monks ...] they begged him to let them stay with him, and he received them gladly because he was a great philanthropist. And so they lived together in the gladness of the Holy Spirit, being of a single mind in (pursuit of) the Lord’s cause, but they were restricted in their way of life on account of how small their dwelling-place was. 4 Then it came to pass one day that they said to their father, “Will you please (lit.: perhaps) go out to the foot of the mountain and found for us a dwelling-place in that place?” 5 And at once, like a good father who loves his children, he rose quickly, without hesitating at all, and went out to the mountain. First of all he dug a little well and a field for the few vegetables for the brethren and whoever came by, and they built a dwelling-place that was large, and he worked with the brethren, while the Lord helped him, as it is written in the Apostle, "We know that [...]"26

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VIII.1 [...] she was saved, for always is God glorified by the counsel of his saints.

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IX.1 Come then, and we shall tell you (pl.) of another miracle which God worked through this saint. 2 Then, after the woman had been healed, she went to [her house]. From then on she continued to proclaim the mighty deeds of the Saint, as it is written in the Psalms, "They shall tell of thy miracles and they shall speak of the power of the fear of thee."27 3 Then, when a man in that village, who suffered (so) from dropsy that his whole body was deformed, heard the woman telling of the healing that had happened to her through the saint, he beseeched his folks to lift him up and take him to the mountain and to the saint. 4 Then they [lifted the man] onto a litter and brought him to him. They beseeched the brother at the gate to announce (them) to the saint. 5 Then, when the brother went inside, he reported, “There is a man at the gate who suffers from dropsy, and he is completely disfigured. He begged me, saying, 'Be so kind and carry my request in to the great man.'" And he answered, saying, “We will not be allowed to have leisure for ourselves from now on." 6 [He commanded?] the brother who was assigned to the small chapel to bring him some water from the basin of the sanctuary. He took it, went out to him, prayed over him, and had him drink some of the water, saying, “According to your faith may it happen to you.” 7 Certain most pious and God-loving brethren of his monastery have testified to us, saying, "When we went to him one time [to] visit him, <he told us about the dropsical man>28 that the instant that the water went down into his belly, he vomited up poisons that were as green as a herb, and his whole body was relieved of the illness and became like that of a [...]"

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X.1 ​​Then it came to pass, after he had begun building, like we said earlier, and the building was (already quite) high, God decided to grant him rest from his labor. 2 So it came to pass on day 1 of the month Epêp29, (so) they say, in the middle of the night that (as) he was standing and praying as was his wont, he looked and beheld our holy fathers of the Community, namely Apa Pachom, Apa Petronios, and Apa Shenoute of the Mountain of Atripe. They held him him, raised him up, greeted him, 3 and they said to him, "Peace unto thee, thou who hast built onto the foundation that we have laid! Prepare thyself that thou mayest come with us, for God hath seen thy grapevine, how it hath grown, and thine olive tree, how it hath sprouted branches. For this He hath decided to grant thee rest and (thus) did He send us to thee that we may inform thee of thy departure from the body, 4 and that it is not thou who shalt complete the building, but Theophilos who shall succeed thee. Six more months hast thou still left in this world. 5 Command thy sons to keep the commandments and the laws which we have received from the Lord and which we have given to everyone who desires to live in piety. And let Theophilos lead well the flock that is entrusted to him." And when they had said these things, he stopped seeing them. 6 Then, when morning had come, he called John and spoke to him, saying, "I think my time has drawn nigh that I should go the way of all my fathers. Call Theophilos and come ye that I might tell ye everything." 7 And when they had come, he said to them, "The two of you see me in my going in and my going forth,30 and have I have not exerted myself with all my might to teaching31 you (pl.) and all the brethren the commandments and the ordinances of our fathers, and God’s entire plan? Therefore take care of yourselves and all the flock over which Christ has appointed you (pl.) ruler, both men and women, for the Lord shall ask you about32 their souls, 8 for (as for) me, the time of my dissolution has drawn near, and I think that I have six more months left in this world, as I have been taught by the Lord. 9 Then, when he had said these things to them, they answered weeping, "Shall God deprive us of your sight in this heavy hour?" And he said, "That which has happened [...]" He too succumbed to sickness at that [time, and] yet [he] did not [give up] on his ascetic practices (even) while he was sick, but he added on them daily and was greatly afflicted, and he continued to be sick like that.

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XI.1 [He] began to speak to them and to tell them [of] the commandments and the laws of the Lord, and he said to them, "Listen to me that I might tell you (pl.) what will happen to you (pl.) as soon as you abandon the commandments and the laws of the Lord, which our fathers have imposed on us that they become a testimony against you (pl.) on Judgment Day, and that I shall be innocent of all your blood. 2 That is why I testify to you (pl.) this day by heaven and earth that if you (pl.) turn away from them, so shall the Lord turn away from you (pl.), and you (pl.) shall be lacking and wanting everything, both food and clothing. And even if the whole world were flourishing, you (pl.) would languish in need because of the fact that you (pl.) abandoned the laws of the Lord which our holy fathers Apa Pachom and Apa Shenoute have given to us. 3 And if, on the other hand, you (pl.) are steadfast in (adhering to) them, and observe them and enact them, the Lord God shall bless you (pl.) and you (pl.) shall flourish in everything that you own, both food and clothing. And even if the whole world were in affliction and deprivation, you (pl.) would enjoy33 prosperity and blessing." 4 Then, when he had said these things to them, he dismissed them, and they went to their houses grieved over the words which they had heard from him, and very saddened that they were going to be deprived of a father like that.

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XII.1 As for the saint, he continued in sickness and carried himself with strength. Then, when the Lord’s birthday drew near, he desired to make the Eucharistic offering34 on that day, because it would be his last. And Theophilos and John held him, because his body had given up (all) strength due to the prolonged sickness, and he made the Eucharistic offering on that day. 2 Then, when he had completed the Eucharistic service35 and dismissed the community, he went into the infirmary. He laid his feet on the couch and never again did he put them down until the day of his death, for the illness weighed very heavily on him. 3 Then it came to pass, on the sixth day of Tôbe36 in the third hour of the day, he called, "John, call the brethren to me!" 4 Once more he began to speak to them in the teaching of the Lord and His commandments, and he said to them, "Pay attention, brethren, and guard your (pl.) hearts, lest the Enemy sow within you (pl.) those evil weeds which are hatred of one another; hostility; wroth and anger; envy and strife; plotting; slander; indulgence; derision; love of our own leisure; and all the other evils of which our holy fathers wrote that we might remove them from among us. 5 For indeed, one of the saints talked about how it is (possible) that those whose bodies have dried up through ascesis, their mouths gone putrid with hunger and thirst, (nevertheless) have God as their enemy, and (how) they have not benefited at all because of the hatred that is in their heart towards their neighbor.37 6 Therefore, O brethren, purify your hearts of all these aforementioned evils, that the Lord might be with you (pl.) just as he has been with all our fathers, and that He might rescue you (pl.) from every trap of the Adversary, the Devil, and that he may save you into his Kingdom that is in Heaven." 7 Then, when he had said these things, he dismissed them and did not speak to them (again) at all until the twenty-third day of the month of Tôbe.38

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XIII.1 Then it came to pass on that day at the midday hour that he called again, "John, call Theophilos to me, and all the brethren!" Again they came to him with tears pouring down their cheeks. 2 Again he began to speak to them in the fear of the Lord, and he said to them, "Behold, this is the third time that I proclaim to you the commandments and the laws of the Lord. And therefore the Lord is my witness that I am innocent of your (pl.) blood. Nevertheless I testify to you (pl.) and I adjure you (pl.) by God not to let these evil weeds sprout within you (pl.), which we have previously named and which we shall name again now: Arrogance, which is the abomination of God; hardness of heart; disobedience; boastfulness; love of money; idle speech; blaspheming; lying; impurity and licentiousness; dissolution of any commandment. 3 I testify to you (pl.) that if you (pl.) grow in these things and these things grow in you destructively, you shall be destroyed and you shall languish greatly in need and distress, 4 but if you (pl.) observe all the commandments and the laws of the Lord, you (pl.) shall enjoy flourishing and overflow in everything (you need).

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XVI.1 Then, when he had said these things, [... "... the Father of?]39 2 Christ our Lord, to whom all praise is owed, to you and Himself, and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever, amen." Then, when he had finished the “amen,” they all answered, “amen.” Afterwards, he entrusted them to the Lord, saying, "Behold [...]" 3 [...] it to them three times, "Tend well the sheep that are entrusted to you (pl.)."40 4 Then when he had said these things, the brethren all bade him farewell in a final farewell, received his blessing, and went to their houses. 5 And Theophilos and John were sitting beside him, and he was speaking and singing psalms in his heart to the Lord. Then, in the midnight hour, he opened his mouth, saying, "Lord, my God, may You give me the means to worship in Your presence." [...]

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​XV.1 [...] He is yesterday, and He is also today, and He is also forever. Therefore, those fearful of Him who do justice, them shall His mercy befall. 2 For we can see right now how the just shine bright like the sun by the deeds of might and miracle which God works through them in their lives and after their honorable deaths, as it is written, "The death of the Lord’s saints is honored in his presence."41 Therefore, while their bodies have indeed died and are buried like all bodies that have died, they do, nevertheless, not remain as (mere) corpses, but they work miracles (greater) than the living (ever could), seeing how the body of the blessed Elisha did indeed remain in the tomb as a corpse, it nevertheless raised the dead.42 3 And in the same way did God, through our holy father, prophet, and archimandrite Apa Abraham, after the Lord had visited him and he departed from the body, work healings and miracles at the place where he was buried. Now then! We shall tell some (of these) to the glory of God and His saint.

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XVI.1 It came to pass after the Lord had visited him, like we said earlier, that43 plenty of wonders and miracles have happened through him (since), this being one among them: 2 A man named Elijah from Jouboure, which belongs to the district of Antinoou, was a very rich (imperial) guardian44 who suffered from gout. (When) he heard of the deeds of might and miracle which God worked through the holy old man, he boarded a ship and came south to the monastery. 3 Seated on a beast and stiff from the disease he was carried inside by a gate-keeper,45 and at once he imposed himself on him. He asked us for something that had belonged to our father Apa Abraham, that he might put it on his feet. 4 So we had his holy sandal46 brought to him. Then, when he had received it, he put it on his feet full of faith, and immediately he stood up [...]

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XVII.1 [...] a great tower that they could dwell in should trouble arise, so that not a soul among them would perish. Afterwards, he went (back) to his house, glorfying God for the grace that had befallen him.

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XVIII.1 Then it further came to pass one year that a year of famine came by the Lord’s command, (and) people were lacking bread, as we have heard. 2 There was a man in our household who had a bin for bread. He made a cross [of bread and placed] it [at the bottom of the bin, and when he had]47 filled it, he smeared it48 and sealed it shut. He said to his wife, "I will go to the monastery to eat, and you (f.) can go to the monastery of the nuns to eat, and so we shall preserve these loaves of bread that we have until abundance comes back, lest we die!" They agreed on this matter together in iniquity, as they confessed in the end. 3 It came to pass that the bin ran out of that which they ate every day, until they went to [the monastery.]49 Then it came to pass one day (that when) he came in order to eat, he stretched out his hand to the platter and he found one of the arms of the cross and recognized it. And the same thing (happened) also (to) his wife. He doubted in his heart, "Perhaps this is the cross which I have placed at the bottom of my bin.” 4 (When) he rose the next day, he went down to the village and called for his wife in the women’s cenobium, saying, "Come, let us go to our house and let us (...)50 it out! [You see], I left because [when I was eating] in the evening, I found a small piece of bread that looks just like the cross that we made and placed at the bottom of the bin." And she said, “Verily, the same thing has happened to me too!“ 5 Then, when they had gone to their house, they found the bin just as it had been. [Then], when they opened it, they found the other half of the cross at the bottom of the bin, as well as a basket’s worth of loaves. 6 And at once they came out and proclaimed [the miracles of Saint] Apa Abra[ham], (by which) the word of the Proverbialist was fulfilled for them, "The deceitful shall not benefit at all,"51 and also in the Genesis of Moses, "Thou shalt eat thy bread in the sweat of thy face."52 That is why until this day nobody belonging to our […] can be persuaded53 to eat bread of the monastery in vain.

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XIX.1 And it is furthermore said about our holy father and prophet Apa Abraham the Archi[mandrite …] 2 A man who was a sailor came to the monastery to celebrate the Eucharist,54 and he learned of the many deeds of might and miracle which God worked through Saint Apa Abraham. 3 Then, when he had celebrated the Eucharist, he took a bit of sand and a little water from the monastery full of faith and brought these out to the ship. 4 "Then it came to pass," said he, "when I had taken them out, I handed them to a little boy, that he might sprinkle (?)55 the boat with them. But indeed, there was [a demonic] power in that little boy, and as soon as he received that blessing of the Saint onto his hands, the power inside him was disturbed. It threw him onto the boat and cried out the name of St. Apa Abraham, saying, "Thou hast tormented me greatly, I will come out of him and never return to <him>56 again!" And at once the little boy was cured from the scourge that was upon him until [the day of his death,57 5 and during all these things] which the demon's power did to [him], the water and sand never poured forth from his hand, for he was holding on to them58 and rubbing himself with them until he was relieved. 6 After these events, they took the (bag of) sand and bound it to the mast of the ship, and the water they sprinkled (?)59 onto the ship, and after they had surrendered to the (...)60 of the ship, the sailors marveled at the mighty deeds of the Saint and they [...] through them [...] they will work (?)61 [...]

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XX.1 [...] where he had gone to, for ​God will shelter him with the prayers of St. Apa Abraham, for he is without sin. Many were the tears and laments which the parents of the little boy made. 2 Then, when they had risen in the morning, they beseeched God and St. Apa Abraham about their boy, and the father of the little boy arose, took some bread, and walked north to the mountain until he reached [...] 3 St. Apa Abraham and [...]

XXI.1 [...] the miracles of the one, the Saint whom we celebrate this day, our holy father Apa Abraham. 2 You (pl.) know, O my dear ones, that this just one is great (even) among the saints, and a perfect chosen one among the monks like our forefathers of old, namely Apa Pachom, Apa Shenoute, Apa Petronios, and Apa Horsiesios, the Fathers of the World, for were he not a chosen one like them, they would not dare visit him from the worthiness (i.e., place of honor) from which each (of them) has come. 3 To this saint then did our fathers, whom we have already mentioned and named, leave their laws, and he built on them like a good son who obeys his parents. 4 Now then, brothers, it is indeed fitting that we should also tell you this additional miracle which happened through this saint. It is not worth cutting (?)62 (just) so we can bring the discourse to a close!

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XXII.1 Then it came to pass after these events (that) there was a field to the south of the monastery which was called “the New Land” and which was worked by a peasant whose name was Pachom. He was the husbandman of that field while Apa Dioskoros the priest was landlord63 over him and Asklepios his brother. 2 Satan entered into that husbandman whom we have already [named], and he went into the field and picked the best lemons from it so that they numbered twenty-five. He put them away as long as he had not yet found the right opportunity. Then, when he found the right opportunity, he saddled his she-ass and loaded them onto it in the night, when the people were asleep. He drove the she-ass, planning to go to Tmoushons, for he was an inhabitant of that village, like we said earlier.64 3 God, with the prayers of our father Apa Abraham, led his mind astray, and he did now know where he was going, until the (morning) light began to spread, because he had been blind. He found himself in the field of camels and realized that it was St. Apa Abraham who had arrested him. 4 He returned to the monastery and confessed to us the sin that he had committed, and he repented,65 swearing, "I shall never attempt to do this thing, namely stealing, until the day of my death!" And he went (back) to his house glorifying God for the deeds of might and miracle of His Saint Apa Abraham which He had manifested for him.

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XXIII.1 Great and mighty deeds did he work while (still) in the body, and also after his death, and his mighty deeds are at work (even) until now. Let us be satisfied at this point, O my dear ones, for no tongue of flesh will (ever) be able to (accurately) describe the glory and the might which God bestowed upon [our] father Apa Abraham. So it is this Saint whom we celebrate this day. 2 A great sign worthy of remembrance happened through this saint on the day of his commemoration in the monastery, and with our (own) eyes have we seen that miracle which was (truly) incredible, for the entire holy altar burst open and poured forth tears from the pillars of marble that held up the holy table, so that the water that came forth from the weeping pillars flowed upon the (floor) slabs like a flood, foreboding the destruction that was to come over us and that would be as great as the destruction66 that happened in all the land of Egypt and the Ethiopians.67 3 My holy father Apa Abraham, whom we celebrate this day on Earth, and whose ^citizenship^ is in the heavens with his predecessors,68 and especially with his beloved Christ, 4 to the glory of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy, life-giving, and consubstantial Spirit, now and for all time, unto all ages of the ages, amen.