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As this periodwas distinguished by many holy men, who devoted
themselves to a life of philosophy, it seems requisite to give some
account of them, for in that time there flourished a very great
abundance of men beloved of God. There was not, it appears, a more
celebrated man in Egypt than John. He had received from God the
power of discerning the future and the most hidden things as clearly as
the ancient prophets, and he had, moreover, the gift of healing those
who suffered with incurable afflictions and diseases. Or was another
eminent man of this period; he had lived in solitude from his earliest
youth, occupying himself continually in singing the praises of God.
He subsisted on herbs and roots, and his drink was water, when he
could find it. In his old age he went, by the command of God, to
Thebaeus, where he presided over several monasteries, nor was he
without part in divine works. By means of prayer alone he expelled
diseases and devils. He knew nothing of letters, nor did he need
books to support his memory; for whatever he received into his mind was
never afterwards forgotten.
Ammon, the leader of the monks called Tabennesiotians, dwelt in the
same region, and was followed by about three thousand disciples. genus
and Theonas likewise presided over monastic orders, and possessed the
gift of foreknowledge and of prophecy. It is said that though Theonas
was versed in all the learning of the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the
Romans, he practiced silence for the space of thirty years. Benus
was never seen to manifest any signs of anger, and never heard to
swear, or to utter a false, a vain, a rash, or a useless word.
Copres, Helles, and Elias also flourished at this period. It is
said that Copres had received from God the power of healing sickness
and divers diseases, and of overcoming demons. Helles had from his
youth upwards been trained in the monastic life, and he wrought many
wonderful works. He could carry fire in his bosom without burning his
clothes. He excited his fellow-monks to the practice of virtue by
representing that with a good conduct, the display of miracles would
follow. Elias, who practiced philosophy near the city of Antinouos,
was at this period about a hundred and ten years of age; before this he
said he had passed seventy years alone in the desert. Notwithstanding
his advanced age, he was unremitting in the practice of fasting and
courageous discipline. Apelles flourished at the same period, and
performed numerous miracles in the Egyptian monasteries, near the city
of Acoris. He at one time worked as a smith, for this was his
trade; and one night the devil undertook to tempt him to incontinence,
by appearing before him in the form of a beautiful woman; Apelles,
however, seized the iron which was heating in the furnace, and burnt
the face of the devil, who screamed like a wild bird and ran away.
Isidore, Scrapion, and Dioscorus, at this period, were among the
most celebrated fathers of the monks. Isidore caused his monastery to
be closed, so that no one could obtain egress or ingress, and supplied
the wants of those within the walls. Serapion lived in the
neighborhood of Arsenoites, and had about a thousand monks under his
guidance. He taught all to earn their provisions by their labors and
to provide for others who were poor. During harvest time they busied
themselves in reaping for pay; they set aside sufficient corn for their
own use, and shared it with the rest of the monks. Dioscorus had not
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 presented themselves as candidates for
participation in the holy mysteries, so that they might purify their
minds and not be without a consciousness of any evil they might have
committed. The presbyter Eulogius was still more scrupulous in the
dispensation of the Divine mysteries. It is said that, when he was
officiating in the priestly office, he could discern 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 of his audience. He excluded from
the altar all who had perpetrated crime or formed evil resolutions, and
publicly convicted them of sin; but, on their purifying themselves by
repentance, he again received them into communion.
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