13. Paisius, the brother of Abba Pimen, maintained relations with a certain [man who lived] outside his cell[82]. Abba Pimen did not want this, and [once] got up, came to Abba Ammon and said to him: "Paisius, my brother, maintains relations with a certain [man], and I cannot find peace." Abba Ammon answered him: "Pimen, you are in the prime of life. Go, sit in your cell and put it on your heart that you have been lying in the grave for a year."[83]

14. Abba Pimen reports the words of Abba Ammon: "A certain man carries an axe with him all the time, but he does not find a tree [that he could] cut down. And another, experienced in this business, quickly cuts down a tree with a few blows." He says that the "axe" is the faculty of discrimination[84].

15. Abba Pimen also relates the following saying of Abba Ammon: "A man has spent a hundred years in a cell, but has not learned how to sit in a cell"[85].

II. The Epistles of St. Ammon

Message One. Our Holy and God-bearing Father Abba Ammon on Silence

1. You, my most beloved brethren, know that from the time of the transgression [of the commandment] the soul cannot know God as it ought to be, unless it withdraws from men and from all amusements[86]. Then she sees the battle of those who fight against her, and if she from time to time emerges victorious from this battle, then the Spirit of God dwells in her, and every torment [her] is turned [by Him] into joy and rejoicing[87]. During battles, the soul is attacked by sorrows, despondency and many other burdens of all kinds, but it is not afraid, for they cannot overcome it, which completes its life path in silence.

2. For this reason, the Holy Fathers also withdrew into the wilderness, as, for example, Elijah the Tishbite, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Fathers[88]. Do not think that the righteous attained righteousness [in the vanity of the world] by dwelling among men. No, but, having previously struggled in much silence, they acquired the Divine power that dwelt in them, and [then] God sent them, [already] having acquired virtues, into the midst of people for the edification of men and the healing of their diseases. For [these righteous men] were physicians of souls and could heal human ailments[89]. Because of such a need, they were separated from silence and sent to people. However, [God] sent them [only] when their own illnesses had been healed. For it is impossible that God should send a feeble soul into the midst of men for their edification. And those who come [now from the wilderness], not yet having attained perfection, come according to their own will, and not according to God's will[90]. Of such God says: "Not their sendings, but they flow" (Jeremiah 23:21)[91]. Therefore, they can neither guard themselves, nor are they able to edify another soul.

3. And [the righteous], sent by God, do not want to part with silence, knowing that it is through it that the Divine powers are acquired[92]. Only in order not to disobey the Creator, they come [from the wilderness] for the edification of men.

4. Behold, I have acquainted you with the meaning of silence and [said] that God approves of it. And since you have known the advantage of silence, you should strive for it.

5. Однако большинство монахов не достигают его, оставаясь вместе с людьми, а поэтому они не в силах победить все желания свои[93]; они не хотят утруждать себя для того, чтобы избежать развлечения, [исходящего] от человеков, но вовлекают друг друга в [это] развлечение, а поэтому не познают сладости Божией и не удостаиваются того, чтобы сила Божия вселилась в них и даровала им небесное качество. И [действительно], сила Божия не вселяется в них, ибо развлекаются они вещами мира сего, вращаются в страстях души, мнениях человеческих и желаниях ветхого человека.

6. Итак, с того времени[94] Бог удостоверил нас относительно будущего, а поэтому укрепитесь в своем делании. Ибо отказавшиеся от безмолвия не могут ни своих желаний победить, ни одолеть воюющего с ними врага. Вследствие этого сила Божия не вселяется в них, поскольку не обитает она в тех, кто рабски служит страстям[95]. Но вы победите страсти, и сила Божия сама по себе придет к вам.

Будьте здравы в Духе Святом. Аминь.

Послание второе. Его же о возделывании благодати

1. Возлюбленным братиям во Христе желаю здравствовать!