|
AFTER only a few days we made our way once more with great alacrity,
drawn by the desire for further instruction, to the coenobium of Abbot
Paul, where though a greater number than two hundred of the brethren dwell
there, yet, in honour of the festival which was then being held, an
enormous collection of monks from other coenobia had come there as well:
for the anniversary of the death of a former Abbot who had presided over
the same monastery was being solemnly kept. And we have mentioned this
assembly for this reason that we may briefly treat of the patience of a
certain brother, which was remarkable for immovable gentleness on his part
in the presence of all this congregation. For though the object of this
work has regard to another person; viz., that we may produce the utterances
of Abbot John who left the desert and submitted himself to that
coenobium with the utmost goodness and humility, yet we think it not at all
absurd to relate without any unnecessary verbiage, what we think is most
instructive to those who are eager for goodness. And so when the whole body
of the monks was seated in separate parties of twelve, in the large open
court, when one Of the brethren had been rather slow in fetching and
bringing in a dish, the aforesaid Abbot Paul, who was busily hurrying about
among the troops of brethren who were serving, saw it and struck him such a
blow before them all on his open palm that the sound of the hand which was
struck actually reached the ears of those whose backs were turned nd who
were sitting some way off. But the youth of remarkable patience received it
with such calmness of mind that not only did he let no word fall from his
mouth or give the slightest sign of murmuring by the silent movements of
his lips, but actually did not change colour in the slightest degree or
(lose) the modest and peaceful look about his mouth. And this fact struck
with astonishment not merely us, who had lately come from a monastery of
Syria and had not learnt the blessing of this patience by such clear
examples, but all those as well who were not without experience of such
earnestness, so that by it a great lesson was taught even to those who were
well advanced, because even if this paternal correction had not disturbed
his patience, neither did the presence of so great a number bring the
slightest sign of colour to his cheeks.
|
|