Letters, Volume 1

Letters to John of Beersheba

LETTERS TO JOHN OF BEERSHEBA (1–54) LETTER 1 Response from the Great Old Man to Abba John of Beersheba, who asked to come and live with them in the monastic community [namely, of Seridos]. T IS WRITTEN in the Apostle: “The one who began a good work among you will also bring it to completion by the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”1 And again our Master said to the one who approached him: “None can become my disciple if he does not give up all his possessions,” and his family, “and hate his own life, too.”2 It is possible for God to inform us about the verse: “Behold, what a good and pleasant thing it is for brothers to dwell together in the same place.”3 I pray that you will attain to the measure described in Acts, that “as many as owned properties sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”4 Knowing your godly intention, I said to our beloved son, Seridos, who after God protects us from people5 —and we hope to God that he will also protect you together with us: “Receive our brother John with much love, and do not hesitate at all; for two years ago God revealed to me that he would be coming here, and that many brothers would be gathering around us; however, I kept this revelation until I learned precisely what the Lord was doing . Now, then, that the time is fulfilled, I have also declared it 23 1. Phil 1.6. 2. Cf. Lk 14.33, 26. 3. Ps 132.1 LXX. The Psalm numbering here, as elsewhere in this volume, is that of the Septuagint. 4. Acts 4.34. 5. A reference to Seridos protecting the silence, invisibility, and inaccessibility of Barsanuphius. to you.”6 And since you have reckoned that I should provide you with something that I wear, behold, in the presence of the same brother, I have removed the cowl from my head and sent it with him to you, saying: “Give this to him, and bring me another in its place.” Keep it then until the end of your life. For it will protect you from many evils and trials. Do not give it to anyone else. For it is a blessing of God from my hands. Strive to complete your work and to be released from all obligations, just as we would do; and come settle with us, carefree, dedicating your time to God. And I, Seridos, moreover, tell you something else wonderful. As the Old Man said this, I thought to myself: “How can I remember all these things in order to write them down? Had the Old Man so wanted, I could have brought here some ink and paper, heard his words one by one, and then recorded them.” But he knew what I was thinking, and his face shone like fire, and he said to me: “Go ahead, write; do not be afraid. Even if I tell you ten thousand words, the Spirit of God will not let you write even one letter too much or too little. And not because you so wish, but because it is guiding your hand to record these things in a coherent manner.” LETTER 2 Response from the same Great Old Man to the same person, predicting the various afflictions that would befall him, including his bodily illness, as well as the progress of the soul that would follow all these, and the ensuing blessedness. Tell brother John: “Establish your heart firm as a rock,”7 and I am referring to the intellectual rock, in order to be able to hear what I am going to say. Pay attention then to yourself,8 lest hearing this you become proud in your heart and fall from your spiritual promise. For boasting has ruined many people, even 24 BARSANUPHIUS AND JOHN 6. Barsanuphius is characterized by the gift of foresight. See also Letters 4, 16, and 31. 7. Cf. 1 Sm 2.1. 8. “Pay attention to yourself” (TVSZWIGIWIEYX[D) is a phrase found frequently in the Gaza literature, and especially in the writings of Abba Isaiah. See, for example , Isaiah, Ascetic Discourse 27. those who have attained to a certain measure. Rather, prepare yourself for thanksgiving in all circumstances, having heard the holy Apostle saying: “In every...