What are apothegms, and who wrote them?
Derived from the ancient Greek word “apophtegma” (saying, precept), apothegms are words in the form of brief dialogues or short stories intended to enlighten the human soul and mind in order to foster their spiritual growth. They are often short sayings that are easy to remember and rich in meaning. They were spoken by masters among the Desert Fathers—monks and hermits of the desert in the 4th and 5th centuries.
The tradition was that a disciple who had just arrived to study under a master would listen attentively to him in order to absorb the authentic teaching and to attune himself to the silence that the master had experienced in the desert for many years. In this way, the young disciple learned to free himself from selfishness and to discern spirits. These are the sayings known as “apothegms.”
These sayings were gradually compiled and recorded in written collections during the 5th century. Most of the apothegms are anonymous, but some are attributed to Anthony the Great, John Cassian, Athanasius of Alexandria, Gregory of Nazianzus, Paul of Thebes, and Evagrius Ponticus. They were organized in the collections by theme or by author. These writings differ markedly from those of the Church Fathers, who left behind much more extensive works.
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Examples of apothegms
“Life or death comes from our neighbor. For if we win over our brother, we win over God; but if we cause our brother to stumble, we sin against Christ.” (Anthony the Great)
A father said to a brother, “How are you?” The other replied, “I’m wasting my days, Father.” And the elder said, “Even if I waste a day, I give thanks.” (Father Sisoes)
A brother came to Father Poemen and said to him, “Abba, I have many thoughts, and they are putting me in danger.” The elder led him outside and said, “Inflate your chest and lock the winds inside it.” He replied, “I cannot do that.” Then the elder said to him, “If you cannot do that, neither can you prevent the thoughts from coming; but it is up to you to resist them.”
Father Anthony said, “As for me, I no longer fear God, but I love Him, for love drives out fear.”
Someone asked Father Anthony, “What must I do to please God?” The elder replied: “Observe what I am about to prescribe for you: wherever you go, always keep God before your eyes; in your actions, seek the approval of the Holy Scriptures; and wherever you dwell, do not move from there easily. Observe these three things, and you will be saved.”
Father Evagrius recounts: “A monk replied to the messenger who came to announce his father’s death: ‘Cease your blasphemy; my Father is immortal.’”
Abbot Sisoes said: “Count yourself as nothing, cast your will behind you, remain free from worries, and you will find rest.”
Abbot Evagrius said: “Tear the many attachments from your heart, so that your mind may not be agitated and disturb your life of Hesychia” (Hesychia means inner peace).
Saint Syncletica said: “Many of those who were on the mountain perished, for their actions were those of the world. It is better to live among many and lead a solitary life in spirit than to be alone and live in your heart with the crowd.”
Abbot Macarius said: “If you become angry while rebuking someone, you are indulging your own passion. You must not lose yourself in order to save your neighbor.”
It is said that our mother Sarah was violently attacked for thirteen years by the demon of impurity, and never in her prayers did she ask to be delivered from this struggle. She would say only: “Lord, give me strength!”
It is also told of her: one day, that same demon of impurity attacked her more fiercely than ever, and suggested to her thoughts of the vanities of this world. But she, no less devoted to the fear of God and her ascetic resolutions, began to climb up to the terrace to pray. Then the demon of impurity made himself visible and said to her, “You have defeated me, Sarah!” “No, I haven’t defeated you—it is Christ my Lord.”
The brothers asked Abba Agathon, “Of all good deeds, which one requires the most effort? ” He replied, “Forgive me, but I believe it is prayer. Yes, every time you want to pray, your enemies want to stop you from doing so. Indeed, they know this: to halt your journey toward God, there is only one way—to turn you away from prayer! When you start doing something good—anything at all—if you persevere courageously, you will find rest. But when it comes to prayer, you must fight your enemies to the death.”
Abba Agathon said: “If I could find a leper to whom I could give my body in exchange for his, I would be happy, for that is perfect charity.”
It is said of Abba Arsenius that throughout his life, as he sat doing his manual labor, he wore a cloth over himself because of the tears that flowed from his eyes. Abba Poemen, upon learning of his death, said weeping,“Blessed are you, Abba Arsenius, for having wept over yourself in this world! For whoever does not weep over himself here on earth will weep eternally. Thus, whether here on earth, of one’s own free will, or there in torment, it is impossible not to weep.”
Abba Arsenius said, “If we seek God, He will reveal Himself to us; and if we hold on to Him, He will remain near us.”
Abba Evagrius said: “When an enemy thought arises in your heart, do not try to pray in any particular way, but sharpen the sword of tears.”
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