THE PARADISE OF
THE HOLY FATHERS:
VOLUMES 1 & 2

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

The Paradise or Garden of the Holy Fathers Being Histories of the Anchorites Recluses Monks Coenobites and Ascetic Fathers of the Deserts of Egypt Between A.D. CCL and A.D.CCCC Circiter

Compiled by Athanasius Archbishop of Alexandria Palladius Bishop of Helenopolis Saint Jerome and Others

Now Translated Out Of The Syriac With Notes & Introduction by Ernest A. Wallis Budge M.A:LITT.D:D.LIT Keeper of the Assyrian & Egyptian Antiquities in the British Museum

PUBLISHED AT LONDON BY CHATTO & WINDUS MCMVII

FROM THE STORY OF THE MONK WHO VISITED SYLVANUS IN SINAI. (Brit. Mus. MS. 14,648, Vol. 10b)

Contents

Title Page: THE PARADISE OF THE HOLY FATHERS: VOLUMES 1 & 2

THE PARADISE OF THE HOLY FATHERS: VOLUMES 1 & 2

The Paradise of the Holy Fathers: Volume 1

Preface

Introduction

Palladius, His Life and Travels

The Asketikon of Pachomius

Christian Monasticism in Egypt

The Lives of the Egyptian Monks and Their Teaching

Palladius as a Historian

The Paradise of the Holy Fathers

The Life of Saint Anthony, by Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria

[The Following Is] by the Holy Writer Mar Athanasius

Concerning His Death

The Paradise of Palladius

The First History

Counsels to Lausus

Here Begin the Histories of the Holy Men by Palladius

Chapter I
the History of Abba Isidore [Bishop of Hermopolis Parva (Damanbur) in Lower Egypt]

Chapter II
the History of Dorotheos of Thebes

Chapter III
the History of the Virgin Potamiaena

Chapter IV
the History of Didymus [Born A.d
309 or 314]

Chapter V
the History of the Maiden Alexandra

Chapter VI
the History of Abba Macarius [The Alexandrian] and a Certain Virgin

Chapter VII
Concerning the Monks Who Lived in Nitria

Chapter VIII
the History of Abba Ammon, [The “Father of Egyptian Monasticism”]

Chapter IX
the History of the Blessed Man Hor

Chapter X
the History of the Blessed Man Pambo [Died a
D
393]

Chapter XI
the History of the Blessed Ammonius

Chapter XII
the History of the Blessed Benjamin

Chapter XIII
the History of Apollonius the Merchant

Chapter XIV
the Histories of the Natural Brethren Paesius and Isaiah

Chapter XV
the History of Macarius, the Child of His Cross

Chapter XVI
the History of the Blessed Natbaniel [Died About 376 a
D.]

Chapter XVII
the History of the Two Exalted and Excellent Men, Macarius the Egyptian, the Disciple of Mar Abba Anthony, and Macarius the Alexandrian

Chapter XVIII
the History of Macarius the Alexandrian, the Glorious

Chapter XIX
of the Blessed Man Paul the Simple, the Disciple of Abba Anthony

Chapter XX
of the Blessed Man Pachomius

Chapter XXI
of the Blessed Man Stephen

Chapter XXII
of Valens the Palestinian

Chapter XXIII
of Hero the Alexandrian [Bishop of Diospolis About a
D
365]

Chapter XXIV
of Ptolemy the Egyptian Who Was in Scete

Chapter XXV
of Abraham the Egyptian

Chapter XXVI
of a Certain Virgin Who Was in Jerusalem

Chapter XXVII
of the Virgin Who Was in Caesarea of Palestine

Chapter XXVIII
of a Certain Woman Who Fell and Repented

Chapter XXIX
of Another Virgin Who Fell and Repented

Chapter XXX
of the Blessed Woman Thais or Thaisis

Chapter XXXI
of the Blessed Man Abba Elijah

Chapter XXXII
of the Blessed Dorotheos

Chapter XXXIII
of the Blessed Pachomius the Great, and of the Sons of His Monastery, and of the Nunneries Which Were in the Thebaid

Chapter XXXIV
an Apology, and Preface, and Admonition

Chapter XXXV
the Triumphant Deeds and Exploits and Histories of Holy Women of the Virgin of Alexandria Who Hid Athanasius

Chapter XXXVI
of Piamon the Virgin

Chapter XXXVII
of Our Blessed Mother Talida, the Old Woman of Antinoe

Chapter XXXVIII
of the Virgin Taor

Chapter XXXIX
of the Virgin and the Martyr Collutbus

Chapter XL
of the Virgin and of Magistrianus Who Fougbt with Wild Beasts for Her Sake

Chapter XLI
of the Holy Woman Melania the Great

Chapter XLII
of the Blessed Woman Melania the Younger

Chapter XLIII
of the Blessed Woman Olympias

Chapter XLIV
of the Blessed Woman Candida

Chapter XLV
of the Blessed Woman Gelasia

Chapter XLVI
of the Blessed Woman Juliana

Chapter XLVII
of Heronion and His Wife [Bosphoria]

Chapter XLVIII
of the Blessed Woman Magna

Chapter XLIX
of the Monk [Misericors] Who Lived in Ancyra

Chapter L
of John of Lycus, a City of the Thebaid

Chapter Li
of the Blessed Man Possidonius

Chapter LII
of Chronius Who Was from the Village of Phœnix

Chapter LIII
of James the Lame [And of Paphnutius Cepbala]

Chapter LIV
of the Blessed Man Solomon

Chapter LV
of Dorotheos the Priest

Chapter LVI
of Diocles

Chapter LVII
of the Blessed Man Kapiton

Chapter LVIII
of the Monk Who Fell

Chapter LIX
of the Blessed Man Ephraim, the Deacon of the Church of Edessa

Chapter LX
of Innocent the Priest

Chapter LXI
of the Blessed Elpidius

Chapter LXII
of the Blessed Man Eustathius

Chapter LXIII
of the Blessed Man Sisinnius

Chapter LXIV
of the Blessed Gaddai (Gaddanus), the Palestinian

Chapter LXV
of the Blessed Man Elijah

Chapter LXVI
of Sabas, the Layman of Jericho

Chapter LXVII
of the Blessed Man Serapion of the Girdle

Chapter LXVIII
the Triumph of the Blessed Man Eulogius, Who Ministered Unto the Arian, Whose Body Was Destroyed for the Sake of Christ

Here Beginneth the Second Book of the [Histories of] the Fathers [And] Monks Which Were Also Compiled by Palladius

Chapter I
the Triumph of the Biessed Man Mark the Mourner

Chapter II
the History of Mar Paulus (Paule) the Prince of Monks and Anchorite

Chapter III
the Triumph of a Young Man Who Was an Alexandrian

Chapter IV
the Triumph of a Certain Old Man Who Was in Scete

Chapter V
the Triumph of the Disciple of Another Old Man Who Dwelt Alone in a Cell

Chapter VI
the Triumph of the Disciple of an Old Man in the Desert

Chapter VII
the Triumph of Peter, the Disciple of One of the Old Men

Chapter VIII
the Triumph of a Disciple of One of the Old Men

Chapter IX
of Aurelius [Adolius?]

Chapter X
of Abba Moses the Indian, [A Captain] of Thieves

Chapter XI
of Abba Pior

Chapter XII
of Abba Moses the Libyan

Chapter XIII
of a Certain Distinguished Wandering Monk

Chapter XIV
the History of the Blessed Evagrius, the Solitary and Strenuous Monk

Chapter XV
the History of Malchus the Solitary Monk

Chapter XVI
of Two of the Fathers Who Went Naked

Chapter Xvia
of a Certain Old Man Who Went Naked

Chapter XVII
of a Certain Naked Old Man Who Fed with the Beasts

Chapter XVIII
of Another Holy Man

Chapter XIX
of a Certain Solitary Monk Who Used to Feed on Grass by the Jordan

Chapter XX
of a Certain Holy Virgin

Chapter XXI
of the Two Young Men Who Were with Macarius

Chapter XXII
of Abba Bessarion

Chapter XXIII
of the Wonderful Things Which Abba Bessarion Wrought

Chapter XXIV
the History of a Holy Man Who [Possessed] Nine Virtues

Chapter XXV
of the Blessed Woman Maria

Chapter XXVI
the History of a Certain Sage and of the Watching of the Mind

Chapter XXVII
of Two Brothers Who Dwelt in a Persian Monastery

Chapter XXVIII
the History of a Certain Virgin Who Grew Old in the Works of the Fear of God

Chapter XXIX
of Stephana, a Man Who Fell Into Filthy Wantonness

Chapter XXX
of Eucarpus

Chapter XXXI
of a Certain Famous Deacon Who Dwelt in a Coenobium in Egypt

Chapter XXXII
of a Certain Excellent Bishop Who Fell Into Fornication, and the People Having Walked Upon Him He Was Forgiven

Chapter XXXIII
of a Certain Brother Who Was a Neighbour of Abba Poemen

Chapter XXXIV
of a Certain Brother Who Denied [Christ] Because of the Daughter of a Heathen Priest

Chapter XXXV
of a Certain Oid Man in Scete

Chapter XXXVI
of the Harlot Whom Serapion Converted

Chapter XXXVII
of the Harlot Whom a Subdeacon Drove Out of the Church

Chapter XXXVIII
of Abba Apollo Who Was in Scete

Chapter XXXIX
of Cosmas Who Was in Mount Sinai

Chapter XL
of Abba Macarius Who Was Accused of Committing Fornication

Chapter XLI
of a Certain Old Man Who in His Simplicity Said That Melchisedek Was the Son of God

Chapter XLII
of Abba Macarius the Egyptian, the Disciple of Mar Anthony

Chapter XLIII
of Abba Mark the Less, the Disciple of Abba Sylvanus

Chapter XLIV
of Abba Paule the Simple, the Disciple of Mar Anthony

The Rule of Pachomius at Tabenna

Chapter I
by the Might of Our Lord Jesus Christ We Begin to Write the “Asketikon,” That Is to Say, the History of the Monks of Tabenna, Who Were, Followers of Abba Pachomius

Chapter II
of Sylvanus the Actor

Chapter III
of a Certain Sinner Who Died

Chapter IV
of the Funeral of a Certain Holy Man Who Died

Chapter V
of the Things Which Abba Pachomius Beard Said in the Air by the Devils as He Was Journeying in the Desert to His Monastery

Chapter VI
of the Things Which Abba Pachomius Did When He Arrived at His Monastery

Chapter VII
of the Revelation Which Abba Pachomius Received from God Concerning Certain Heretics Who Happened to Visit Him

Chapter VIII
of the Revelation Which He Received About the Settlement of the Brethren

Chapter IX
Another Revelation on This Matter Which [Brought] Consolation

Chapter X
of the Words of Doctrine Which Abba Pachomius Spake to the Brethren When They Were Gathered Together

Chapter XI
of How, Not Even in the Time of Famine, Was Abba Pachomius Induced to Take Wheat for Nothing for the Use of His Monastery

Chapter XII
of How When the Work of the Brethren Was Sold Rabba Was Unwilling Even That They Should Accept the Full Price of the Same

Chapter XIII
of a Certain Ascetic Brother Who Was in the Monastery, and Who Desired a Crown of Martyrdom Unseasonably

Chapter XIV
of the Phantom Which They Saw by Night When They Were Going Through the Monastery

Chapter XV
of the Gift of Tongues Which Pachomius Received

Chapter IV
of a Certain Holy Man Whose Name Was Yawnan (I.e
Jonab), Who Was the (Gardener of One of the Monasteries, and of the Wonderful Thing Which Rabba Pachomius Wrought in His Monastery

Chapter XVI
of How Abba Pachomius Would Not Keep Beautiful Buildings

Chapter XVII
of How When on a Certain Occasion the Heretics Came to Him He Did Not Yield to Them, and of How He Let Them Receive an Experience of Him by the Sign Which They Asked at His Hand

Chapter XVIII
of the Question Which a Certain Brother Brought to Him, and Its Answer

Chapter XIX
of How Unclean and Contemptible in the Sight of Rabba Was the Man Who Toiled with the Labour of His Hands for the Sake of Vainglory

Chapter XX
of a Certain Monk Who Belonged to the Monastery

Further Remarks by the Writer Palladius

The Histories of the Monks Who Lived in the Desert of Egypt, Which Were Compiled by Saint Hieronymus

Chapter I
the Apology, and the Reason for [Writing] the Book, [Which Are Addressed] to Those Who Required [Them] from Him

Chapter II
the Triumphs of Mar John the Recluse, the Prophet of the Thebaid Who Lived in Lycus

Chapter III
the Triumphs of the Holy Man Abba Hor

Chapter IV
the Triumphs of Abba Ammon

Chapter V
the Triumphs of Abba Abban [Benus]

Chapter VI
the History of the Lives and Acts of the Brethren Who Were in the City of Oxyrhyncus

Chapter VII
the Triumphs of Abba Theon

Chapter VIII
the Triumphs of Abba Elijah

Chapter IX
the Triumph of the Blessed Apollo [And Ammon]

Chapter X
the Triumphs of Abba Apellen

Chapter XI
the Triumphs of Another Apollo, and of John, the Dweller in the Desert

Chapter XII
the Triumphs of Abba Paphnutius, the Spiritual Merchant

Chapter XIII
the Triumphs of the Blessed Eulogius

Chapter XIV
the Triumph of Isidore

Chapter XV
the Triumph of Dioscurus

Chapter XVI
the Triumphs of Abba Copres and of the Blessed Petarpemotis

Chapter XVII
the Triumphs of Abba Hor, and Isaiah, and Paul, and Nopi, the Confessors

Chapter XVIII
the Triumph of Evagrius

Chapter XIX
the Triumph of Abba Pithyrion

Chapter XX
the Triumphs of the Blessed Fathers

Chapter XXI
the Triumphs of the Monks Who Were in Nitria

Chapter XXII
the Triumph of Ammon the First

Chapter XXIII
the Triumph of Another Ammon Who Was in Nitria

Chapter XXIV
the Triumph of Didymus

Chapter XXV
the Triumph of Chronius

Chapter XXVI
the Triumph of Three Brethren

Chapter XXVII
the Triumph of Philemon

Chapter XXVIII
the Triumph of John

Chapter XXIX
the Triumph of Serapion

Chapter XXX
the Triumphs of Apollo the Less, the Reader and Martyr

The Paradise of the Holy Fathers: Volume 2

Book the First

Chapter I
of Flight from Men, and of Silent Contemplation, and of Dwelling Continually in the Cell, [A Work] Which Was Composed by Bishop Palladius for the Prefect Lausus

Chapter II
of Fasting and Abstinence and of Other [Similar] Labours

Chapter III
of the Reading of the Scriptures, and of Watching by Night, and of the Service of the Psalms, and of Constant Prayers

Chapter IV
of How It Is Meet for Us to Weep for Our Sins and to Mourn for Them Always

Chapter V
of Voluntary Poverty

Chapter VI
of Pattent Endurance

Chapter VII
of Obedience Towards God, and Towards Our Fathers and Brethren

Chapter VIII
of Scrupulous Watchfulness in Our Thoughts and Words Anb Deeds

Chapter IX
of Love, and Charity, and of the Welcoming of Strangers

Chapter X
of Humility and of Bow a Man Should Think Lightly of Himself, and Should Esteem Himself the Interior of Every Man

Chapter XI
of Fornication

Chapter XII
of the Acceptance of Repentance, and of How It Is Right for Us to Repent in Truth

Chapter XIII
of [The Fathers Who] Wrought Wonderful Works

Chapter XIV
of the Greatness of the Sublime Rule of the Solitary Life

Book the Second

Questions and Answers on the Rule of Life of the Holy Men Which They Taught Before the Multitude and in Their Cells on Every Kind of Spiritual Excellence

Questions by the Pupils and the Answers [To the Same] by the Holy Fathers and Monks

Questions and Answers on the Vision of the Mind

Appendix

Copyright ©1999-2026 Wildfire Fellowship, Inc all rights reserved