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The Blessèd Jerome:
THE LIFE OF PAULUS THE FIRST HERMIT
Translated by Wm. Henry Fremantle, 1893.
Vita Sancti Pauli, PL 23:25
(written in the Syrian desert A.D. 374 or 375 and dedicated to
Paulus of Concordia)
1. It has been a subject of wide-spread and frequent discussion what
monk was the first to give a signal example of the hermit life. For
some going back too far have found a beginning in those holy men
Elias and John, of whom the former seems to have been more than
a monk and the latter to have begun to prophesy before his birth.
Others, and their opinion is that commonly received, maintain that
Antony was the originator of this mode of life, which view is partly
true. Partly I say, for the fact is not so much that he preceded the
rest as that they all derived from him the necessary stimulus. But it
is asserted even at the present day by Amathas and Macarius, two of
Antony's
disciples, the former of whom laid his master in the grave, that a certain
Paul of Thebes was the leader in the movement, though not the first to
bear the name, and this opinion has my approval also. Some as they
think fit circulate stories such as this: "that he was a man living
in an underground cave with flowing hair down to his feet", and invent
many incredible tales which it would be useless to detail. Nor does the
opinion of men who lie without any sense of shame seem worthy of
refutation. So then inasmuch as both Greek and Roman writers have
handed down careful accounts of Antony, I have determined to write a
short history of Paul's early and latter days, more because the
thing has been passed over than from confidence in my own ability.
What his middle life was like, and what snares of Satan he experienced,
no man, it is thought, has yet discovered.
2. During the persecutions of Decius and Valerian [AD 249-260], when
Cornelius
at Rome and Cyprian at Carthage shed their blood in blessed martyrdom,
many churches in Egypt and the Thebaid were laid waste by the fury
of the storm. At that time the Christians would often pray that they
might be smitten with the sword for the name of Christ. But the desire
of the crafty foe was to slay the soul, not the body; and this he did
by searching diligently for slow but deadly tortures. In the words of
Cyprian himself who suffered at his hands: they who wished to die were
not suffered to be slain. We give two illustrations, both as specially
noteworthy and to make the cruelty of the enemy better known.
3. A martyr, steadfast in faith, who stood fast as a conqueror amidst
the racks and burning plates, was ordered by him to be smeared with
honey and to be made to lie under a blazing sun with his hands tied
behind his back, so that he who had already surmounted the heat of
the frying-pan might be vanquished by the stings of flies. Another
who was in the bloom of youth was taken by his command to some delightful
pleasure gardens, and there amid white lilies and blushing roses,
close by a gently murmuring stream, while overhead the soft whisper
of the wind played among the leaves of the trees, was laid upon a
deep luxurious feather-bed, bound with fetters of sweet garlands
to prevent his escape. When all had withdrawn from him a harlot of
great beauty drew near and began with voluptuous embrace to throw
her arms around his neck, and, wicked even to relate! to handle
his person, so that when once the lusts of the flesh were roused,
she might accomplish her licentious purpose. What to do, and whither
to turn, the soldier of Christ knew not. Unconquered by tortures
he was being overcome by pleasure. At last with an inspiration from
heaven he bit off the end of his tongue and spat it in her face as she
kissed him. Thus the sensations of lust were subdued by the intense
pain which followed.
4. While such enormities were being perpetrated in the lower part
of the Thebaid, Paul and his newly married sister were bereaved of
both their parents, he being about sixteen years of age. He was heir
to a rich inheritance, highly skilled in both Greek and Egyptian
learning, gifted with a gentle disposition and a deep love for
God. Amid the thunders of persecution he retired to a house at a
considerable distance and in a more secluded spot. But to what
crimes does not the "accursed thirst for gold" impel the human heart?
His brother-in-law conceived the thought of betraying the youth
whom he was bound to conceal. Neither a wife's tears which so
often prevail, nor the ties of blood, nor the all-seeing eye
of God above him could turn the traitor from his wickedness. "He came,
he was urgent, he acted with cruelty while seeming only to press
the claims of affection."
5. The young man had the tact to understand this, and, conforming
his will to the necessity, fled to the mountain wilds to wait for
the end of the persecution. He began with easy stages, and repeated
halts, to advance into the desert. At length he found a rocky mountain,
at the foot of which, closed by a stone, was a cave of no great size.
He removed the stone (so eager are men to learn what is hidden), made
eager search, and saw within a large hall, open to the sky, but
shaded by the wide-spread branches of an ancient palm. The tree,
however, did not conceal a fountain of transparent clearness, the
waters whereof no sooner gushed forth than the stream was swallowed
up in a small opening of the same ground which gave it birth. There
were besides in the mountain, which was full of cavities, many habitable
places, in which were seen, now rough with rust, anvils and hammers for
stamping money. The place, Egyptian writers relate, was a secret mint at
the time of Antony's union with Cleopatra.
6. Accordingly, regarding his abode as a gift from God, he fell in love
with
it, and there in prayer and solitude spent all the rest of his life.
The palm afforded him food and clothing. And, that no one may deem this
impossible, I call to witness Jesus and His holy angels that I have seen
and still see in that part of the desert which lies between Syria and the
Saracens. country, monks of whom one was shut up for thirty years and
lived on barley bread and muddy water, while another in an old cistern
(called in the country dialect of Syria "Gubba") kept himself alive on
five dried figs a day. What I relate then is so strange that it will
appear incredible to those who do not believe the words that "all things
are possible to him that believeth."
7. But to return to the point at which I digressed. The blessed Paul
had already lived on earth the life of heaven for a hundred and thirteen
years,
and Antony at the age of ninety was dwelling in another place of solitude
(as he himself was wont to declare), when the thought occurred to the
latter,
that no monk more perfect than himself had settled in the desert. However,
in the stillness of the night it was revealed to him that there was
farther in the desert a much better man than he, and that he ought to go
and visit him. So then at break of day the venerable old man, supporting
and guiding his weak limbs with a staff, started to go: but what direction
to choose he knew not. Scorching noontide came, with a broiling sun
overhead, but still he did not suffer himself to be turned from the
journey he had begun. Said he, "I believe in my God: some time or other
He will shew me the fellow-servant whom He promised me." He said no more.
All at once he beholds a creature of mingled shape, half horse half man,
called by the poets Hippocentaur. At the sight of this he arms himself
by making on his forehead the sign of salvation, and then exclaims,
"Holloa! Where in these parts is a servant of God living?" The monster
after
gnashing out some kind of outlandish utterance, in words broken rather
than
spoken through his bristling lips, at length finds a friendly mode of
communication, and extending his right hand points out the way desired.
Then with swift flight he crosses the spreading plain and vanishes from
the sight of his wondering companion. But whether the devil took this
shape to terrify him, or whether it be that the desert which is known
to abound in monstrous animals engenders that kind of creature also, we
cannot decide.
8. Antony was amazed, and thinking over what he had seen went on his way.
Before long in a small rocky valley shut in on all sides he sees a
mannikin with hooked snout, horned forehead, and extremities like goats.
feet.
When he saw this, Antony like a good soldier seized the shield of faith
and the helmet of hope: the creature none the less began to offer to him
the
fruit of the palm-trees to support him on his journey and as it were
pledges
of peace. Antony perceiving this stopped and asked who he was. The answer
he received from him was this: "I am a mortal being and one of those
inhabitants of the desert whom the Gentiles deluded by various forms
of error worship under the names of Fauns, Satyrs, and Incubi. I am sent
to represent my tribe. We pray you in our behalf to entreat the favour
of your Lord and ours, who, we have learnt, came once to save the world,
and 'whose sound has gone forth into all the earth'."
As he uttered such words as these, the aged traveller's cheeks streamed
with tears, the marks of his deep feeling, which he shed in the fulness
of his joy. He rejoiced over the Glory of Christ and the destruction of
Satan, and marvelling all the while that he could understand the Satyr's
language, and striking the ground with his staff, he said, "Woe to thee,
Alexandria, who instead of God worshippest monsters! Woe to thee,
harlot city, into which have flowed together the demons of the whole
world! What will you say now? Beasts speak of Christ, and you instead
of God worship monsters." He had not finished speaking when, as if
on wings, the wild creature fled away. Let no one scruple to believe this
incident; its truth is supported by what took place when Constantine
was on the throne, a matter of which the whole world was witness.
For a man of that kind was brought alive to Alexandria and shewn as
a wonderful sight to the people. Afterwards his lifeless body, to
prevent its decay through the summer heat, was preserved in salt and
brought to Antioch that the Emperor might see it.
9. To pursue my proposed story. Antony traversed the region on which
he had entered, seeing only the traces of wild beasts, and the wide
waste of the desert. What to do, whither to wend his way, he knew not.
Another day had now passed. One thing alone was left him, his confident
belief that he could not be forsaken by Christ. The darkness of the
second night he wore away in prayer. While it was still twilight,
he saw not far away a she-wolf gasping with parching thirst and creeping
to the foot of the mountain. He followed it with his eyes; and after the
beast had disappeared in a cave he drew near and began to look within.
His curiosity profited nothing: the darkness hindered vision. But, as
the Scripture saith, "perfect love casteth out fear". With halting step
and bated breath he entered, carefully feeling his way; he advanced
little by little and repeatedly listened for the sound. At length
through the fearful midnight darkness a light appeared in the distance.
In his eager haste he struck his foot against a stone and roused
the echoes; whereupon the blessed Paul closed the open door and made
it fast with a bar. Then Antony sank to the ground at the entrance
and until the sixth hour or later craved admission, saying, "Who I am,
whence, and why I have come, you know. I know I am not worthy to
look upon you: yet unless I see you I will not go away. You welcome
beasts:
why not a man? I asked and I have found: I knock that it may be
opened to me. But if I do not succeed, I will die here on your
threshold. You will surely bury me when I am dead."
Such was his constant cry: unmoved he stood.
To whom the hero thus brief answer made:
[Æneid ii, 650 & vi, 672]
"Prayers like these do not mean threats; there is no trickery in
tears. Are you surprised at my not welcoming you when you have
come here to die?" Thus with smiles Paul gave him access, and,
the door being opened, they threw themselves into each other's
arms, greeted one another by name, and joined in thanksgiving to God.
10. After the sacred kiss Paul sat down and thus began to address
Antony. "Behold the man whom you have sought with so much toil,
his limbs decayed with age, his gray hairs unkempt. You see
before you a man who ere long will be dust. But love endures
all things. Tell me therefore, I pray you, how fares the human
race? Are new homes springing up in the ancient cities? What
government directs the world? Are there still some remaining for
the demons to carry away by their delusions?" Thus conversing
they noticed with wonder a raven which had settled on the bough of
a tree, and was then flying gently down till it came and laid a whole
loaf of bread before them [III Reigns (I Kings) 17: 1-6].
They were astonished, and when it had gone,
"See," said Paul, "the Lord truly loving, truly merciful, has sent us a
meal. For the last sixty years I have always received half a loaf: but
at your coming Christ has doubled his soldier's rations."
11. Accordingly, having returned thanks to the Lord, they sat down
together on the brink of the glassy spring. At this point a dispute
arose as to who should break the bread, and nearly the whole day
until eventide was spent in the discussion. Paul urged in support
of his view the rites of hospitality, Antony pleaded age. At
length it was arranged that each should seize the loaf on the
side nearest to himself, pull towards him, and keep for his own the
part left in his hands. Then on hands and knees they drank a little
water from the spring, and offering to God the sacrifice of praise
passed the night in vigil. At the return of day the blessed Paul
thus spoke to Antony: "I knew long since, brother, that you were
dwelling in those parts: long ago God promised you to me for a
fellow-servant; but the time of my falling asleep now draws nigh;
I have always longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ; my
course is finished, and there remains for me a crown of righteousness.
Therefore you have been sent by the Lord to lay my poor body in the
ground, yea to return earth to earth."
12. On hearing this Antony with tears and groans began
to pray that he would not desert him, but would take him for a
companion on that journey. His friend replied: "You ought not to
seek your own, but another man's good. It is expedient for you
to lay aside the burden of the flesh and to follow the Lamb; but
it is expedient for the rest of the brethren to be trained by
your example. Wherefore be so good as to go and fetch the cloak
Bishop Athanasius gave you, to wrap my poor body in." The blessed
Paul asked this favour not because he cared much whether his
corpse when it decayed were clothed or naked (why should he indeed,
when he had so long worn a garment of palm-leaves stitched together?);
but that he might soften his friend's regrets at
his decease. Antony was astonished to find Paul had heard of Athanasius
and his cloak; and, seeing as it were Christ Himself in him,
he mentally worshipped God without venturing to add a single
word; then silently weeping he once more kissed his eyes and
hands, and set out on his return to the monastery which was
afterwards seized by the Saracens. His steps lagged behind his
will. Yet, exhausted as he was with fasting and broken by age, his
courage proved victorious over his years.
13. At last wearied and panting for breath he completed his journey
and reached his little dwelling. Here he was met by two disciples
who had begun to wait upon him in his advanced age. Said they,
"Where have you stayed so long, father?" He replied, "Woe to me
a sinner! I do not deserve the name of monk. I have seen Elias,
I have seen John in the desert, and I have really seen Paul in
Paradise." He then closed his lips, beat upon his breast, and
brought out the cloak from his cell. When his disciples asked him
to explain the matter somewhat more fully he said, "There is a time
to keep silence, and a time to speak." [Eccl. 3:7]
14. He then went out, and without taking so much as a morsel of
food returned the same way he came, longing for him alone, thirsting
to see him, having eyes and thought for none but him. For he was
afraid, and the event proved his anticipations correct, that
in his absence his friend might yield up his spirit to Christ.
And now another day had dawned and a three hours. journey still
remained, when he saw Paul in robes of snowy white ascending
on high among the bands of angels, and the choirs of prophets
and apostles. Immediately he fell on his face, and threw the
coarse sand upon his head, weeping and wailing as he cried, "Why
do you cast me from you, Paul? Why go without one farewell? Have
you made yourself known so late only to depart so soon?"
15. The blessed Antony used afterwards to relate that
he traversed the rest of the distance at such speed that he
flew along like a bird; and not without reason: for on entering
the cave he saw the lifeless body in a kneeling attitude,
with head erect and hands uplifted. The first thing he did,
supposing him to be alive, was to pray by his side. But
when he did not hear the sighs which usually come from one in prayer,
he fell to kisses and tears, and he then understood that
even the dead body of the saint with duteous gestures was
praying to God unto whom all things live.
16. Then having wrapped up the body and carried it forth, all
the while chanting hymns and psalms according to the Christian
tradition, Antony began to lament that he had no implement for
digging the ground. So in a surging sea of thought and pondering
many plans he said: "If I return to the monastery, there is a
four days. journey: if I stay here I shall do no good. I will
die then, as is fitting, beside Thy warrior, O Christ, and will
quickly breathe my last breath. While he turned these things
over in his mind, behold, two lions from the recesses of the
desert with manes flying on their necks came rushing along.
At first he was horrified at the sight, but again turning his
thoughts to God, he waited without alarm, as though they were
doves that he saw. They came straight to the corpse of the blessed
old man and there stopped, fawned upon it and lay down at its
feet, roaring aloud as if to make it known that they were
mourning in the only way possible to them. Then they began to paw
the ground close by, and vie with one another in excavating the
sand, until they dug out a place just large enough to hold a man.
And immediately, as if demanding a reward for their work, pricking
up their ears while they lowered their heads, they came to Antony
and began to lick his hands and feet. He perceived that they were
begging a blessing from him, and at once with an outburst of
praise to Christ that even dumb animals felt His divinity,
he said, "Lord, without whose command not a leaf drops from
the tree, not a sparrow falls to the ground, grant them what
thou knowest to be best." Then he waved his hand and bade
them depart. When they were gone he bent his aged shoulders
beneath the burden of the saint's body, laid it in the grave,
covered it with the excavated soil, and raised over it the
customary mound. Another day dawned, and then, that the
affectionate heir might not be without something belonging
to the intestate dead, he took for himself the tunic which
after the manner of wicker-work the saint had woven out of
palm-leaves. And so returning to the monastery he unfolded
everything in order to his disciples, and on the feast-days
of Easter and Pentecost he always wore Paul's tunic.
17. I may be permitted at the end of this little treatise
to ask those who do not know the extent of their possessions,
who adorn their homes with marble, who string house to house
and field to field, what did this old man in his nakedness ever
lack? Your drinking vessels are of precious stones; he satisfied
his thirst with the hollow of his hand. Your tunics are of wrought
gold; he had not the raiment of the meanest of your slaves. But
on the other hand, poor though he was, Paradise is open to him;
you with all your gold will be received into Gehenna. He though
naked yet kept the robe of Christ; you, clad in your
silks, have lost the vesture of Christ. Paul lies covered
with worthless dust, but will rise again to glory; over you
are raised costly tombs, but both you and your wealth are
doomed to the burning. Have a care, I pray you, at least have
a care for the riches you love. Why are even the grave-clothes
of your dead made of gold? Why does not your vaunting cease
even amid mourning and tears? Cannot the carcases of rich
men decay except in silk?
18. I beseech you, reader, whoever you may be, to remember Jerome
the sinner. He, if God would give him his choice, would much
sooner take Paul's tunic with his merits, than the purple
of kings with their punishment.
++++++++++++++++++++++
The St.
Pachomius
Orthodox Library, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, 2006.
Have mercy, O Lord, upon Thy servants
the translator William and the bishop Basil.
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THE END, AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
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