Apophthegmata Patrum

The Apophthegmata Patrum ( Gerontikon, Alphabetikon ) are a collection of short phrases that are to come from the first Christian monks of Egypt, known as the desert fathers supposedly. Most spells are assigned to monks of the 4th and 5th century, eg Poimen, Macarius or Anthony.

The collection was created at the end of the 5th century at the latest. By writing interviews with the fathers of John Cassian she was already known Benedict (c. 480-547 ). As one of its subtitle indicates, the sayings and the events of the patriarchs according to the ( Greek ) alphabet are ordered.

The Apophthegmata were originally drafted either Coptic or Greek. They were constantly edited, supplemented and translated into other languages. That's why can be found in the translations, other versions and other sayings of the same desert fathers. Because of their uniformity and perfect form is not to be assumed that the low- written sentences literally correspond to what the desert fathers have actually said.

Some of the sayings preserved there resemble the koan, which are short sentences, made ​​by Japanese Zen masters.

Quotes

Typical Apophthegmata:

Once patriarchs came to Altvater Antonios, and among them was the Altvater Joseph. Antonios they wanted to test them presented a word of Scripture and began, ranging from the young to ask what the word meant. Each answer was, according to his ability. The old man said to everyone: "You have not found it yet. " Last of all he said to Joseph Altvater: " What say because you know that this saying mean? " His answer was, "I do not know. " Then said the Altvater Antonios: " Truly, Altvater Joseph has found the way, saying: ., I do not know ' " (17 )

Abbas Poimen again said: " self-will and convenience and to become accustomed to bring the men into destruction. " ( 657 )

From Abbas Abbas, Prior Poimen told that he made a beginning every day. ( 659 )

Poimen Abbas said: " The victory over every plague that is upon thee, is silence. " (611 )

Abbas Poimen again said: "There is a man who seems to be silent, but his heart condemns others. Such talks incessantly in reality. And there is another who speaks of the morning until the evening, and yet he kept silence, that is, he speaks nothing useless. " (601 )

Editions and translations

  • Migne, PG 65, 71-440.
  • CPG 5560-5615.
  • J.-C. Guy: Les Apophtegmes des Pères. Collection systématique, Chapitres I- IX ( = Sources Chrétiennes 387) 1997.
  • Raffaele Caldarelli: Il Paterìk alphabetic - Anonimo traduzione antico - slava, I. Parte alfabetica. Edizione del testo e Slavo dell'originale greco, Università degli Studi della Tuscia 1996. (Edition of Slavic textual tradition and the Greek text of the alphabetic part of the AP, di CPG 5560 )
  • Ethics of the Fathers. Apophthegmata Patrum, translated v. P. Boniface, Graz 1963
  • Benedicta Ward: The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks, Penguin Classics, London / New York, 1984, reprint 2003, ISBN 0-14-044731-8. .
Poemen Benedict of Nursia
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