The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, The Alphabetical Collection, Translated, with a foreword by Benedicta Ward, SLG, Preface by Metropolitan Anthony (Kalamazoo, Cistercian Publications, 1975) The monks we hear in this book are the first exemplars of what would become monastic life. They are also the model for innumerable parodies of `wise old men on the mountain', most familiar from the recurring character in the Ziggy© cartoons in our daily and Sunday comic sections. The original motivation for these hermits, living primarily in the semi-desert climates of Egypt and Syria, was to escape the intermittent persecutions of Christians by Rome and the local populations, up to the Emperor Constantine's proclamation of religious tolerance throughout the empire in 313 CE. In this book, we discover several things which run against the modern stereotype. There were at least three different types of 'solitary monks' in the Egyptian desert. The most famous prototype of the hermit life in lower Egypt was St. Anthony the Great, a Copt (in antiquity, a word meaning Egyptian. In modern usage, and Egyptian Christian) and an unlettered layman. He began his hermit life about 269 CE, and had many disciples and imitators. The second style of desert monk was the cenobite, the same term St. Benedict uses to describe followers of his rule. These lived in a less remote part of Egypt, where groups of monks gathered around a spiritual father and performed communal work and prayer. The leader of this group, and the monk generally credited with founding coenobitic monasticism was St. Pachomius, who lived ca. 290-347 CE. The early style had no formal rule and no spiritual father. It may have been similar to 1960s counter-cultural communities. Both rebelled against established values and `persecution'. The latter died out, while the former blossomed into the 318 Roman Catholic orders, plus numerous Eastern Orthodox monastic orders. The third style of desert monk was the ascetic, who lived together with an `abba' or father, of whom the other monks were disciples. These communities centered around the area of Nitria and Scetis, west of the Nile delta, and about 50 and 100 miles south of Alexandria respectively. This was the most literate, Greek-influenced group, from which most of these sayings come. One surprise is that there are so many of these desert monks. Apparently, these monks were not quite as taciturn as we may have believed. Another surprise is the level of cooperation between monks and the level of `cottage industry' products they produced, which seemed to be their primary source of income. Their primary raw material was flax, the plant source of both linen fibers and seeds from which linseed oil is extracted. The most common product appears to be flax fiber rope which, based on my old Boy Scout experience with hemp cord, can be woven into a rope by a single person using a device no more complicated than a simple whirligig. The technology for extracting oil from olives is already 2000 years old at this point, but I see nothing regarding the extraction of linseed oil from flax seeds. Another surprise was the number of monks from this tradition, including some of the greatest figures in the early church, who became bishops and major writers, such as Basil the Great (330--379 CE) and Cassian (360--435 CE), both authors of major works on organized monasticism which predate St. Benedict's rule. The fact that virtually all the monks quoted herein are given the title of `abba' (the origin of the title `abbot') suggests that there were many, many more monks, who did live this life in silence. While these monks nominally lived in the `desert', it appears they were never too far away from oases or a fairly substantial lake which a modern map puts near the monastic center of Scetis. They were also never too far from a town, where they could go to sell their wares and beg for alms. The need to do this last act shows how the organized, self-sufficient community which evolved into schools and hospitals, was a major improvement in the moral stature of the monastic life. There are over 130 named monks in this book from whom we have sayings. The majority appear to have distinctively Greek names such as Achilles, Helladius, Zeno, and Apollo. Many others have names of Hebrew origin such as Abraham, Daniel, John, Joseph, and Isaac. Aside from all the historical background the book provides on the origins and nature of monasticism, we are surprised at how mundane are so many of the quotes. Few have an `ah ha' quality of the saying printed on the cover. If not simply ordinary, they are simple elaborations on passages from the documents in the New Testament. For example, the first quote attributed to Cassian, upon his visiting an old Egyptian monk, asks why the old man does not keep to the rule of fasting. The old man essentially cites Jesus' comment from Mark 2:19-20, indicating that he is receiving Christ in Cassian, by serving him with all diligence, only to resume fasting when the guest leaves. If a lay person is to find anything distinctive teachings in this book, it is advice on living simply, and the fact that such a life does not exclude a large range of `simple pleasures' such as conversation and table fellowship. Compared to the `new monasticism', one has to admire the old monks' lack of self promotion and excessive zeal. They may have needed monetary charity, but they had no interest in trying to talk you into something. The editors of this volume have done a wonderful job in introducing the material and making it accessible to the average reader. The five stars are based on the introduction, indexes, glossary, chronology, and bibliography. The sayings themselves reveal how important the original scriptures are in comparison to those who wish to interpret them.

“The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection” is a beautifully organized portal into early Christian spirituality. Each entry is succinct, vividly translated, and arranged for quick reference, making the profound teachings of the desert monks accessible to modern readers. The alphabetical layout lets you dip in whenever you need guidance on humility, prayer, or solitude. Thought‑provoking, inspiring, and perfectly sized for daily reflection—an essential addition to any spiritual library.

This book is a treasure trove of insight and knowledge for someone wanting to deepen their connection to Christ. Reading the words of the desert fathers is like a portal to a time before the church was fully established. Their humbleness, their wisdom, and their devotion to the word of God is incredible. They're like aunts and uncles in Christ who we can look back to and find new ways to mentally approach our faith. Ways we can humble ourselves. Ways that we can cut the world out of our existence.

I'm a big admirer of the Desert Fathers. Their stories and examples are a great inspiration for me in terms of practicing a little more ascetic self-denial in my own life, to the extent that I'm able (being married and a father). I first read this book 25 years or so ago and I have to say I was a bit disappointed in it. That's because I approached it with the wrong mindset. I was expecting the world of the Desert Fathers to be full of arcane and exotic spiritual teachings a la Zen or the Tibetan Book of the Dead. It's not. It's just straightforward Christian spirituality, applied literally by these men out in the Egyptian desert. There are no fancy insights or anything like that, just men of great discipline denying themselves for their Lord and speaking to Him in the silence of the desert. Great book.

Very insightful and very easy to read. I can't help but admire how far these guys went in search of understanding the divine. Part of me wants to do the same, to just leave all the noise and stress of other people behind. It just goes to show how varied worship can be. Some people are made for preaching to crowds, others are just as well communing with God in solitude and desperation. Reading this has made me see a few things differently in regards to my spirituality and has given me much inspiration. Despite how vastly different my lifestyle is compared to these monks, I find myself relating to much of what they said and did.

This book is unlike the usual spiritual reading you might encounter from the early Church Fathers. Some of the monks quoted in this are today famous saints. And some are very obscure monks. The text is not presented as anything on a par with the New Testament, but simply provide the views of a variety of different monks who all had their own unique take on things. These are short little accounts of events that the monks encountered, or they are things said or thought by various monks. Many things are very thought provoking. Some things just seem weird. Some are even life changing if approached with an open mind. This may be especially useful for Christians who are interested in building a prayer life using the methods of the early Church fathers. The observations here about integrating work, prayer, and scripture all into a rigorous daily routine of self denial and spiritual growth. People who are simply interested in the history of late antiquity will probably find the anecdotes interesting as well.

This book is very well laid out and a great read. Whether you read it cover to cover or are searching for a specific thing, it does the job. It is arranged alphabetically, with a very useful glossary in the back which is very comprehensive. If you want to read the sayings of the desert fathers, I would like recommend this copy.

perfect introduction to the stories and sayings of early Christian desert hermits, monks and saints and it is filling in a lot of gaps in my understanding as I've been studying ancient Christianity as objectively as a possible, as a Muslim, but the traditions clearly have a great amount in common and i now have books on both Islamic mysticism (Sufism) and also Christian mysticism and I read the hagiography of both side by side and each increase me in understanding of each other. absolutely love it.

LOVE this book! I can not recommend it enough. Especially if you want to be inspired to become a faithful follower of Christ!

The sayings of the Desert Fathers is an amazing spiritual read, it talks about all the Desert Fathers, their monastic life, their struggles; their visions of our Lord Jesus Christ, and about prayer and struggles, one of the desert fathers says; “Abba Nilus; “prayer is the seed of gentleness and the absence of wrath.” ☦️

The book was delivered immediately and very good shape. The content of the book is absolutely amazing! One of the best Christian books I have ever read and continue to read as it is not the type of book you read once and then put aside but more of the type where you feel compelled to open every once in a while and find answers to practical issues happening in your life. Totally recommend it!

The Desert Fathers were students of the Apostolic Fathers who themselves had been students of the twelve apostles, the twelve principal students or disciples of Jesus Christ. The desert fathers were often householders within the increasingly decadent metropolises of the eastern Roman empire who - exasperated and alienated from the degraded culture that was emerging - decided to abandon their lives within those cities and retire to the Egyptian desert in order to devote themselves to spiritual work and seclude themselves from the worldly corruption that would eventually bring about the end of the Roman empire. These sayings seem to speak in an uncanny way to events that are transpiring in our own time. You will be amazed in reading this book to discover how little the world has changed in the intervening time.

Excelente para vivência e crescimento da espiritualidade. SUPER RECOMENDO!!!