ON SAINT HYPATIUS THE PRESBYTER, HEGUMEN OF THE RUFINIAN MONASTERY IN BITHYNIA
ABOUT THE YEAR 452.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Hypatius, Presbyter of the Rufinian monastery in Bithynia (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
§. I. On the founder of his Monastery, Rufinus, whether a saint.
[1] Hypatius, born in Phrygia of noble family; in Thrace, known to no one, beginning the monastic life; had as the chief arena of his virtues Bithynia, & in it the Rufinian monastery, distant from Chalcedon by three miles toward the east. At the place called The Oak, This place was called Δρῦς, that is, The Oak, not only then, when the first Monks were brought there from Egypt, but also afterward, when in the year 403 the conventicle against John Chrysostom was forced there, called "at the Oak." The founder of that monastery, Rufinus, in the Life of the Saint of whom we are about to treat, the monastery founded at no. 14 is called Blessed, & his tomb seems to have been there; & of this is to be understood Sozomen in book 8, chapter 17, where he says: That place (namely The Oak) is a suburb of Chalcedon, which now is called from the name of Rufinus a man of consular rank: in which there is a palace & a great church; by Rufinus the consular, which Rufinus himself built in honor of the Apostles Peter & Paul, & for that reason surnamed it Apostolium. He also placed Monks nearby, who should perform the office of Clerics in the same church.
[2] In the Consular Fasti, in the time of Constantine the Great, who transferred a good part of the Roman Senate to Byzantium, perhaps in the time of Constantine the year of Christ 316 notes Rufinus Proculus, & the year 23, Junius Rufinus. One of these two could have founded all these things, & there placed the Relics of the Apostles, brought from Rome, as is said in the Life at the place cited above: & that from him was born the other name in "Rufinianae," which, when Sozomen wrote, was more celebrated than the old name "at the Oak," perhaps left to that Parish which had long stood there, & received the Bishops gathered against S. Chrysostom. There was afterward also another Rufinus, Prefect of the Pretorium under Arcadius, whose mind Jonas the instructor of Hypatius is said at no. 12 to have bent to conferring large alms upon the rustics, impoverished by the incursions of the Barbarians, & the same can be reckoned with that Prefect of the Pretorium, [rather than of Arcadius, by his Prefect of the Pretorium who was not at all a Saint like that former one,] who, affecting tyranny & plotting the death of the Emperor Arcadius, was surrounded by his army & cut to pieces limb by limb. But it could hardly be that this one was the founder of the Rufinian monastery: since indeed he lacked burial, having deserved such execration among all, that it is not credible that the Author of the Life would call Blessed a man so commonly abominable, however perhaps well-deserving of some Monastery, writing so short a time after his deadly end, as will soon appear, & would make so honorific a mention of his tomb placed there, although empty.
[3] Yet the Lausiac History favors this side, whether it be said to be the work of Palladius, or of Heraclides under the name of Paradise, or of both. This, as it is published by Joannes Meursius in Greek & in Latin in Rosweide, treating of Abbot Ammonius, makes the founder of the Apostolic Confession Rufinus "the Prefect of the Pretoriums at that time," who at its Dedication invited the holy Hermit Ammonius then perhaps brought to Constantinople from Egypt, who however seems to have founded another oratory there, being then still good: by whom, received from holy Baptism, he profited much by his admonitions & conversation, until that one died there, where he also shone with miracles. But it would not be strange that a man, good & pious at the beginning of his prosperity, should be corrupted, fortune puffing him up, which happened to this Rufinus: who also, in respect of the name common to him with the founder of the Apostolic Basilica, could have adorned the same with new buildings, & especially with a Martyrium or Confession of Saints, distinct from the Apostles: for the Lausiac does not call it Ἀποστολεῖον, but simply Μαρτύριον τῶν Ἁγίων, that is, the Confession of those Saints whose Καταθέσια, that is, Deposition, it celebrated there. But of whom, that you would seek in vain; nor yet would you say of the Apostles whose Relics the former Rufinus had placed there, since in one church there were sometimes several Martyria, Oratories, or chapels of different Saints: take the very words of the Lausiac:
[4] This Blessed one (Ammonius), beseeched with many entreaties by Rufinus the Prefect of the Pretoriums at that time, (the great Ammonius having come at that time to Constantinople for the need of the citizens of the desert) being sufficiently entreated, both by the holy Bishops of the various provinces, & those who had come together from the desert itself, at the depositions of the Saints of the Martyrium which he himself had built, in those very depositions the Saint received Rufinus from the holy Baptism from the Bishops, whom he reverenced worthily of his way of life, in all things obeying the holy man Ammonius, who after a little time falls asleep, & is buried in the Martyrium called Rufinianae; whose tomb is said to heal all who are afflicted with chills. & the spiritual son of S. Ammonius from Baptism, Words indeed manifoldly involved, which in a clearer order seem able to be rendered thus in Latin. This blessed & great Ammonius, when he had come to Constantinople for a certain need of the Desert-dwellers, asked with many prayers both by Rufinus, at that time Prefect of the Pretoriums, & by the Bishops & Solitaries, who had come together from various Provinces to the Deposition of the Saints, for whom that one had built a Martyrium, received the same Rufinus from the sacred font, the Bishops commending him. But he, captivated by his way of life, greatly venerated him, obeying that holy man in all things, who, dying a little after, was buried in the aforesaid Martyrium called Rufinianae, whose monument is said to cure all the feverish.
[5] The aforesaid coming of Ammonius to Constantinople seems altogether to look to the times of Theodosius the Great, in the time of Theodosius I, who began to reign in the year 379, when the Catholic cause, vehemently shaken under Constantius, Julian & Valens, began to breathe again, & to be restored, even in Egypt, where the Cultivators of the desert had suffered much from the Arians, whence they had need to have recourse to the new Emperor at Constantinople; at which time, if that same Rufinus held the Prefecture of the Pretorium who under Theodosius's son Arcadius deserved to be slain for affecting tyranny; under whom that same Ammonius, dying there, is honored as a Saint; he, who a little after the Deposition of the aforesaid Relics received burial in Rufinianae, could not be understood to have been other than Abbot Ammonius, nor would our Author be verified when treating of the burial of Rufinus. But if another Rufinus than that one, an aged man & of consular rank, subjected himself to the discipline of Ammonius, perhaps from the year 346 which Rufinus & Eusebius mark as Consuls, this one, baptized in the last years of his life, could have so profited that, dying a little after, he began to work miracles, & so was held the holy founder of the Rufinian Monastery, such as the Life of Hypatius describes. Then too there would be no need to have recourse to the earlier Rufinuses under Constantine the Great, illustrious by a similar title; & the first Rufinian Hermits from Egypt ought the more eagerly to have invited Abbot Ammonius to themselves, the more nearly they could have known him in their own country. unless this can be understood of another Rufinus truly a Saint, But this one ought to have had his own tomb specially in that same oratory; distinct from the tomb of his spiritual son Rufinus in that very place where afterward the tomb of S. Hypatius was erected: for thus in his Life at no. 77 it is read: For his urn (S. Hypatius's) the friend of God Urbicius supplied the expenses. But the next place is held by the great ascetic from the desert, Ammonius. And let these things be said on the occasion of the monastery, sufficiently uncertain as to its first founder. Such too could that be reckoned, that the Lausiac calls Rufinus Ἔπαρχον, Prefect, not τοῦ Πραιτωρίου of the Pretorium, which that last unhappy one was, & is the chief title in the Palace, (the old Franks would have said "Mayor of the household") doing almost everything for or with the Emperor; but τῶν Πραιτωρίων of the Pretoriums; perhaps more correctly to be written Πραιτωριανῶν of the Pretorians, that there be understood the Prefect of the Pretorian cohort, whose office is military, far below the Prefecture of the Pretorium. & only of the Prefect of the Pretorian cohort.
§ II. On the cult of S. Hypatius in Rufinianae, the Acts written by a disciple, & his age.
[6] The monastery, deserted by its first inhabitants after the death of whatever Rufinus (for even the misfortune of the last one could have redounded upon the place adorned by him with new buildings, & as it were transferred into his name, The desolate Monastery Hypatius inhabits with Companions, if not also originally founded by him), the monastery, I say, deserted, others & others attempting to inhabit it, on account of the infestations of ghosts & demons could not persevere there: & when Hypatius came there with two companions, it was so desolate that it scarcely any longer bore the appearance of a monastery. But that Saint gradually restored all things, first undauntedly endured the demons, then expelled them by his prayers; & so, some years being spent there, say ten or twelve, he began to gather more Monks there, over whom, beginning to preside from the fortieth year of his life, the year of Christ 410, he ruled them up to his eightieth year piously & laudably, & also left his own name to the monastery. For it is read named "of Saint Hypatius," from whose name also it is called. in the Life of S. Auxentius, which we printed on the 14th day of February, nos. 36 & 39; & other things commending its celebrity are reported there. For S. Auxentius, summoned to the Council of Chalcedon, was led to Rufinianae near the holy Apostles, into the monastery of the blessed Hypatius: & with great joy received him the Monks who were there with their Superior, a man in every way most excellent, & deemed worthy of the grace of God, as one who was a disciple of Christ.
[7] This man, famous for virtues & miracles, ascribed to the fasti of the Saints by the Greeks, His cult from the ecclesiastical fasti by some on the 17th, but by others on the 29th of June, Baronius also transferred into the Roman Martyrology on the former day, in these words: In Phrygia, S. Hypatius the Confessor. In Phrygia indeed he was born, as I said above; but in Bithynia & Rufinianae he passed the greater part of his life holily, & met death happily. Hence better his arena is noted by the very ancient Ms. Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople, where the memory of the holy man would be more celebrated because of the nearness of the place, & an elogium; speaking thus on the same day, the 17th: Memory of our holy Father Hypatius, who is across the strait in Rufinianae: Memory of our holy Father Hypatius across the strait in Rufinianae. His homeland indeed was Phrygia, his parents God-fearing, in the times of Honorius & Arcadius the Emperors. Sufficiently instructed in letters, & having completed his eighteenth year, leaving all things, he entered upon the solitary life;
& adorned with every virtue, he receives the Ordination of the Presbyter; but how many miracles are wrought through him, it is impossible to write. And having completed his eightieth year, he was blessedly at rest. Which things in almost the same order of words are held in the printed Menaea & in Maximus of Cythera; but in Latin are thus rendered. His homeland indeed was Phrygia; his parents worshippers of God in the times of Honorius & Arcadius the Emperors. He, sufficiently instructed in letters, & having passed beyond the eighteenth year of his age, leaving all things, began the monastic life, & when he was adorned with all virtues, he undertook the dignity of the Priesthood. But how many miracles are wrought through him, can in no way be explained. And after he had completed the eightieth year of his life, he rested with a blessed end.
[8] Another longer Elogium, comprising in a summary his whole life, we will soon give from another Ms. Synaxary, almost more copious than the rest, which we have often alleged & will allege, another more prolix one. found in our College of Dijon in the literary treasury of P. Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius; to which is prefixed also this distich, alluding to the meaning of the name Ὑπάτιος, which in Latin sounds "consular," from Ὕπατος, "Consul": whence also ὑπατεύειν, "to hold the consulate."
Hypatius lies near the sea, Who holds the consulate with the friends of God on high. Hypatius lies near the sea; in the high heaven He holds the consulate with the Lord's friends.
[9] The Acts, which we are the first to give here in Latin & publish in print, from the Greek Ms. codex of the Vatican library, marked 1667, page 289, Acts written by a contemporary & disciple of the Saint, bear there this title: Life of our holy Father Hypatius, who is in Rufinianae. Life of our holy Father Hypatius in Rufinianae. And soon follows the Proem, written to the most devout Deacon Eutychus. Proem, written to the most religious Deacon Eutychus. Whom both the Author of the Proem, nowhere disclosing his own name, calls his beloved, & a most religious & Christ-loving Priest, & compares to Cornelius the Centurion, of whom in the Acts of the Apostles; & praises him from his zeal for reading the deeds of the Saints, found & published by another disciple of the same, & for imitating them. To him that Author inscribes & sends the Life of S. Hypatius, not indeed composed by himself, but found & incidentally corrected. He names the Author of the Life as Callinicus, the disciple of the Saint himself; who, ordered by his Superiors to write down his deeds & gather them into one volume, did this diligently, but in a humble & rather harsh style, from the rougher dialect of the Syrians (of which nation he was); & having ended his life in the Rufinian monastery, he left his work there to the Abbot, who presided in that place third after S. Hypatius. With him the anonymous Author of the Proem, perhaps making a journey there, found the same work, not so much by chance, as he says, as by divine disposition, not long after. But since he too had well known Hypatius, & had seen him & heard him speaking; [containing only things seen by them or heard from the mouth of the Saint or his disciples.] he grieves that Callinicus did not include all his deeds; yet he presumes nothing to add to or take from this text; indeed not even to change anything, except by smoothing the rougher dialect & pronunciation of the Syrians, where it occurs; the change chiefly of two vowels into others more usual to Greek speakers. Meanwhile he testifies, that the deeds of S. Hypatius which he himself had been often asked by many to write down, & which now he brings forward from another's composition; were all either seen by himself, or heard from the mouth of the Saint himself, or of his disciples.
[10] The same Author of the Acts of S. Hypatius establishes this chronotaxis, that in the eighteenth year of his age he came into Thrace, no. 5; [The Saint's death followed by an earthquake & devastation of Thrace inflicted by the Huns,] in the fortieth he undertook the governance of the Rufinian monastery, no. 18; in the eightieth finally he made the end of living, no. 76: but concerning this last year he speaks thus at no. 78: Not yet had thirty days passed (namely from the death undergone on the 17th of June) when in those places there was such great hail that the now ripening vine was crushed to the roots… After another five months there were great earthquakes, which also lasted long; & the barbarian people of the Huns, which is in Thrace, so prevailed, that it occupied more than a hundred cities, & it was little short but that Constantinople itself was endangered, & many deserted it in flight. You have here two marks of the year of death, which, although they seem able to render the Chronology most certain, yet render it more involved, in that both concur in the Authors soon to be cited in two different years, namely the year of Christ 447 & 450 beginning: so that it leaves uncertain in which of the two years, the preceding June, the Saint died, in which of them he really died. they do not agree with the year 442, For discussing this, note that here it is not a question of that devastation which was made by the Huns in the year 442, with Bdela or Bleda & Attila the brothers as Leaders, which led Baronius into error, so that he referred to this year the later & much graver slaughters made by Attila alone. Of that incursion Marcellinus Comes makes mention in the Chronicle written about the year 534: With Eudoxius & Dioscorus as Consuls (that is in the year 442) Bleda & Attila the brothers, but with 447 or 450: & Kings of many nations, depopulated Illyricum & Thrace. But there is no mention here of earthquakes; but for the year 447 the same Marcellinus has the following: With Ardaburius & Callepius as Consuls, by a huge earthquake in various places very many walls of the August city, constructed in a still recent rebuilding, fell with fifty-two towers… nonetheless with very many cities collapsed. A huge war, & greater than the former, inflicted on our men by King Attila, swept away almost all Europe, the cities & forts being destroyed & invaded… King Attila came hostile as far as Thermopolis. Arnegisclus, master of the soldiery in riparian Dacia, beside the river Utus, by King Attila, fighting manfully, very many of the enemy being slain, was killed. Indeed of Arnegisclus slain in Thrace under the same Consuls makes mention the Alexandrian Chronicle, called by Cange the Paschal, & of the earthquake it writes thus: in that very same year such great earthquakes occurred, that, because these lasted long, the walls fell & no one dared to remain at home.
[11] And these things indeed that one at the beginning of the calamities under Attila alone: but at the end of the same, with Valentinian VII & Albinus as Consuls, the aforesaid Chronicle begins the matter as it were from the egg & puts under one view the deeds of two or three years in these words: in the former Attila broke in with continued victories up to the latter, With Theodosius & Valentinian the Augusti reigning, Attila moved an expedition against Rome & Constantinople… with an infinite multitude of forces… It then describes the ferocity of the insolent barbarian commanding both Emperors at Rome & Constantinople to prepare a Palace for him; & Valentinian's preparations to resist, Alaric the Goth being roused against Attila; who received him at the Danube in that battle in which Alaric himself fell with much slaughter of his men: but what Theodosius did we shall soon see: then passing to the earthquake, the Chronicle says, In this same year Constantinople received a great ruin from an earthquake in the month of Audynaeus on the 26th day, in which the walls of Constantinople fell on the 19th of January: by night, from the so-called Troadensian Porticoes, up to the bronze Tetrapylon, lasting long enough that no one dared to remain at home but all fled outside the city. Joannes Baptista Ricciolus our man in his reformed Chronology, book 1, chapter 20, demonstrates that the Macedonian Audynaeus begins from the 24th of December, of which therefore the 26th day concurs with the 19th of January, whence going back through seven months & two days one comes to the 17th of June: on which, because the Greeks honor Hypatius, on it too it is probable he died: but the earthquakes could have begun one month earlier than the aforesaid ruin at Constantinople occurred, & so the life of Hypatius, counting only six months, be reconciled with the Chronicle. By the same reasoning as this, Theophanes puts the whole second invasion of the Huns under one view, at the last year of Theodosius, which was that of Christ 450, writing thus: While… the Roman fleet awaits in Sicily, about to cross soon into Africa, the coming of the Legates of Gizerich the King of the Vandals in Africa, & the Emperor's commands; Attila the son of Omnudius, born in Scythia, a man otherwise brave & proud, his elder brother Bdela being lost, alone seizes the principate of the Scythians, whom they call Huns, & runs into Thrace; whereupon Theodosius, greatly moved, makes peace with Gizerich & recalls the fleet from Sicily. Then he sends Aspar, to this Theophanes refers all things together: Areobindus, & Argalisclus against Attila, who had overthrown Ratiaria, Naissus, Philippopolis & Arcadiopolis, & Constantia & very many other towns & with innumerable captives, even Roman Generals, was gathering immense plunder. Elated by such great victories, & having subjected to his servitude both seas, namely the Pontic, & that which extends to Callipolis up to Sestos (that is the Euxine Pontus & the Hellespont), all & the fortified places, except Adrianople & Heraclea, he advances up to the fort of Athyra. Theodosius therefore is compelled to decree an embassy to Attila: & promises him six thousand pounds of gold, for making a withdrawal from the Roman territories; & moreover grants that he will pay an annual tribute of a thousand pounds, if he keeps peace. Then, the Roman forces being withdrawn from the war against Attila, a little after Theodosius died on the twentieth of the month of June, in the third Indiction. All the same things Paulus Diaconus transferred into his Miscellaneous History, & from this Card. Baronius into his Annals, except the death of Theodosius: but because Theophanes, after the manner of the Greeks who subtract eight years from the Christian era, had noted the year 442, which by the Latins is numbered 450, they made that slaughter precede the death of the Emperor by eight years.
[11] It pleased me to produce all these things so distinctly that the Reader may understand how it is not easy to discern between the two years 46 & 49 of the fifth century, in which of them S. Hypatius died: nor does either the agreement of the month in which the walls of Constantinople fell, or the Life, sufficiently determine us to assume the latter, while it seems to note rather the advance, [yet it pleases more that the saint died in the year 446, before the entry of Attila into Thrace:] than the entry of the Huns, especially since it is silent about the shameful peace to which the Emperor was compelled, the Generals being lost with the army: wherefore I incline more toward the former year, by holding which Hypatius would have been born in the year 366, & in the 86th year of the same century come into Thrace to Jonas; who, having obtained license to lay aside the military belt, had begun to live as a Solitary, as is said at no. 6. But here a great difficulty is raised by Jonas himself, while here he is said to have obtained from the Emperor Arcadius license to dismiss the military service, & to transfer himself to the service of God at that very time at which Hypatius had already come into Thrace.
For Arcadius, having died in the 31st year of his age, the year of Christ 408, on the 1st of May; & so born in the year 379, was in the fourth year of his age, when he was taken by his father Theodosius into the partnership of the empire in the year 383, Baronius agreeing as to the year of his death & of the empire shared by his father; yet twice hallucinating, when he says he was born in 377 & called Augustus in the 8th year of his age. Meanwhile neither at eight years nor at four did Arcadius then have that age which the manner indicates in which Jonas is said to have sought his discharge; & all things seem to be referred to Theodosius the father, & so that the Author, not accurate enough in things long past, confused persons & times.
[12] No lighter, but a far graver parachronism the same Author would have incurred at no. 18 treating of S. Isaacius, who came to Constantinople in the last year of the Emperor Valens, Made Abbot while S. Isaacius was still alive the year of Christ 375, if the Chronotaxis were true, according to which he in his Life, published on our 30th day of May, had died as is read at no. 18: With Theodosius governing the Empire, & his son Arcadius declared Caesar, with Merobaudes for the second time & Saturninus as Consuls, that is in the year of Christ 383, & so 24 years earlier than the things were done which he is narrated to have done with S. Hypatius in the year 407 or 409. I noted indeed on the Life of S. Isaacius in May that it was written within the times in which Justinian the elder & Leo the philosopher held the empire, that is one, another, or even a third century after the death of the Saint: yet it did not come into my mind to suspect that the marks of time so distinctly noted were gratuitously invented at the will of the Writer or interpolator & indeed with such enormity. Now to believe this compels not only the Life of holy Hypatius which we are treating, but also the Life of S. Dalmatius, of him who succeeded S. Isaacius in the governance of the monasteries, most worthy of all faith, & described in good part from the Acts of the Council of Ephesus, scarcely before the year 425 having died. to be given on the 3rd day of August. For in this it is narrated at length how the same Dalmatius S. Atticus the Patriarch of Constantinople consecrated Abbot in place of the deceased, & not long after met death. But Atticus met this in 428, & so S. Isaacius would have lived at Constantinople nearly fifty years, having arrived there in the vigor of his age, say of 40, 50, or 60 years: but Dalmatius himself, whom the Acts of the Synod of the year 431 testify did not for 48 years set his foot outside the monastery, in which he had enclosed himself a man already of mature age, as one who had a wife & children in the world, reached an age equal to his master, having died two years after the Synod was held: & so, established from this head, remains the Life of S. Hypatius, & corrected the place cited above in May.
§. III. Epitome of the Acts from the Ms. Synaxary of the College of Dijon of the Society of Jesus.
[13] This Saint, born in Phrygia, was beaten by his father when he was eighteen years of age; & fleeing from it, he crossed into Thrace; & going to a cenobium & becoming a monk, he became venerable from his virtues: for he never partook of wine; & being assailed with fornication, he spent eight days not touching at all any food or drink. The Superior, learning this, gave him with his own hand a cup of wine & a morsel, after Compline, the Brothers being present. Wherefore at once being freed from the conflict, he gave thanks to the Lord & to his teacher. And after sufficient years, entering the city, by the counsel of his spiritual father, to help one fallen into temptations, he helped his fleshly father, & having assisted him sent him away to his own home.
[14] And he himself, united with two certain Brothers, & crossing at Chalcedon, came to the monastery of Rufinus, which was uninhabited & unshapely, or rather wild & frightful. For this Rufinus, coming from Rome, & having built a glorious monastery, & having settled Egyptian Monks in it, glorified God; but when he had died, & been buried in that monastery, & the Monks had departed to their own country, the cenobium remained uninhabited; wherefore also thorns & thistles springing up made the dwelling unshapely & ugly; but also evil spirits, having entered & dwelt there, made the dwelling frightful & impassable to all.
[15] Finding this, the Saint drove out the demons by prayer, & cleansing the unshapeliness with those who were with him, brought it back to its ancient beauty; & sitting with them, the one wrought hair garments, the other sowed vegetables in the garden. And after some time, crossing over into Thrace, he went away into his monastery. But the Brothers in Rufinianae, coming & seeking Hypatius as Hegumen, took him. From then the holy man showed great contests, & many emulating renounced there, & in a little time became Monks advancing according to God.
[16] And the divine Hypatius, having received a gift from God, wrought many healings, healed the demoniacs, cured the blind, the lame, the withered, the dropsical, & made not a few women suffering with a flux of blood, & barren ones, bear children, & made many whose fountains of milk had dried up to give milk, & often, the occasion calling, multiplied water & grain & some other edibles, & every disease in men & cattle was driven away by his prayer. And his food was pulse & vegetables & a little bread about the deep ninth hour; but toward old age a little wine too. Having become eighty, his head & beard whitened like snow, & he was venerable both in action & in contemplation. And shepherding his flock for forty years, & honoring the priesthood, & defending his disciples, he too departed to the Lord, glorifying God.
[13] This Saint, born in Phrygia, was beaten by his father when in the eighteenth year of his age: wherefore fleeing from his homeland he crossed into Thrace, & went into a monastery, where, living alone, he became venerable by his virtues: for he never tasted wine, & being assailed by the spirit of fornication, he spent eight whole days, eating or drinking nothing at all. When the Superior had understood this, with his own hand he handed him, after Compline, the Brothers being present, a cup of wine with a morsel: by which, immediately freed from that conflict, he gave thanks to God & to his master. But after many years, entering the city by the will of his spiritual Father, to bring help to one fallen into temptations, he brought it to his fleshly father; & cooperating with him sent him home.
[14] And he himself, joining himself to two certain Brothers, crossed at Chalcedon & betook himself to the monastery of Rufinus, utterly desolate & unshapely, or rather I would say wild & horrid. For that Rufinus, having come here from Rome, when he had built an illustrious monastery, & settled Egyptian Monks in it, glorified God as long as he lived. But he having died, & been buried there, when the Monks had returned to their own province, the place remained uninhabited; whence thistles & thorns springing up there rendered it unshapely & utterly unpleasant: indeed also demons having entered there & dwelling there made it inaccessible & horrible to all.
[15] Finding that monastery such, the Saint expelled the demons indeed by prayer, but the unshapely squalor, cleansing the place with his companions, he changed into its ancient splendor. They sat therefore there with him, & one wove hair garments, the other sowed the garden with vegetables. After some time then, sailing back into Thrace, the Saint returned to his monastery: but Brothers coming from Rufinianae & seeking Hypatius as Hegumen, took him away: who thereafter endured many contests: & when many, emulating him, renounced the world there, in a short time they became Monks, & according to God advanced excellently.
[16] And the divine Hypatius himself obtained this grace from God, that he conferred health on many, & cast out demons from many; cured the blind, the lame, the withered; gave fecundity to not a few women suffering with a flux of blood & by no means able to conceive offspring; made very many also, whose fountains of milk had dried up, abound with the same. He also multiplied often water & grain & other edibles, whatever, as the reason of the time required: nor was there any kind of evil in men or animals to which he did not give an end. But his food was legumes & lettuces with a little bread, at nearly the past ninth hour, but in old age also a little wine. And when he was now eighty years old, & had grown white as snow in beard & hair, he appeared more venerable in action & contemplation: & having spent forty years in the pastoral care of his flock, & in them also honoring the order of the Presbyterate by his way of life, & intent on protecting his disciples, at last he too migrated to the Lord, & glorified God at his departure.
THE LIFE, BY THE AUTHOR CALLINICUS THE DISCIPLE
Polished by another under the third Abbot of the place.
Hypatius, Presbyter of the Rufinian monastery in Bithynia (S.)
FROM THE VATICAN MS., BY CALLINICUS
PROEM
Written to the most devout Deacon Eutychus.
[1] Blessed be God, who teaches man knowledge, & reveals to little ones unexpectedly the things which the wise did not grasp. Knowing your eagerness, beloved Eutychus, & the zeal which you have concerning the meetings with the Saints, whether face to face or through writings, & in such desires you are eager to nourish the inner man. Having found also the life of our most holy Father Hypatius written down, & set forth in narrative by one of his disciples, named Callinicus, I hastened to make known to you this writing, which is so desirable. Being conscious indeed that many of the things of his life & of his holy deeds are omitted, of those which I have heard from the blessed Abba himself. And also having beheld with my own eyes deeds of his worthy of mention, I have not found them inserted in the writing; nevertheless I do not so grieve at the things left out, as I rejoice at the things found, which themselves too are no small wealth to those who love to hear & love Christ. Having composed them therefore as in a book, I have sent them to your Charity. But I found them by a certain chance, or rather by the dispensation of Christ who dispenses all things, passing, through the monastery in Rufinianae, with the third Superior from that most blessed one of that dwelling, to whom that one, the disciple of the holy old man according to the grace given to him, departing to the Lord, had left them, having made the composition of them, as is subjoined.
[2] Having changed it, & corrected whatever, according to the dialect of the Syrians, & the roughness belonging to them, seemed to be changed from the usual sound, that is, the change of the letter Η into Ε, or of Ω into Ο,
or the reverse, or some such small things, bringing neither to me danger of the change, nor to the composer, from the idiom of the tongue in which they were left, bringing condemnation among the readers. But to disturb anything more of the things composed, either by addition or by subtraction, I judged rash; considering more lovely & sweeter to the readers the very original writings of the religious monk who begot them, & composed them in simplicity, with their faults & solecisms. But if my corrections should seem to worldly wisdom little apt or insipid, be you of strong spirit & pray for us, most religious & Christ-loving Priest, by that desire of your piety, which God put in you as worthy. For from your works we have been persuaded that Christ made you a new Cornelius. And on account of your faith, most religious & genuine brothers in Christ, that, loving Christ, & carried by spiritual longing, & moved from God, together with the servant of Christ very often troubling me, you have asked my poor self, or rather your longing has urged me to enjoy a spiritual table & to be filled with the greatest profit; that, to the glory of God, & the honor of the Saints, who fought the good fight, & were well-pleasing to God according to their power, I might signify also to your reverence the way of life of our holy Father Hypatius. For with the grace of Christ cooperating through your prayers, I believe in my God, that Christ will grant me to make known the solitary & venerable life of holy Hypatius; both whatever marvels of God done through him I have beheld; & whatever I have heard from his disciples who were before me; & whatever he himself related, glorifying God, & giving thanks to him, with what gifts God deems worthy those who love him, according to what is written: I will declare all your marvels.
[3] These things I was eager to make known through letters to your devotion to God, that both we & all who love Christ, reading them & being profited, may glorify God, & honor the Saints, & emulating in good things may be eager to imitate them, that we may be found their co-heirs in eternal life, when the just are about to shine like the sun, according to what is written; of whom therefore, considering the outcome of their conduct, imitate their faith. For he was compelled also to admonish for profit, the need arising, his own disciples, & to these he said always: Little children, if I were a smith or a carpenter, would you not imitate me, that you might learn the craft? & now become as I am, & you too, learn the fear of the Lord, & how God is well-pleased. Likewise also to the monks coming from outside, & to the friends meeting him, & to the zealous; for very many there are also in the world, fervent in spirit, & seeking in thirst where to find a faithful man having grace to turn souls to the fear of God, according to him who says: Let those who fear you turn to me, & those who know your testimonies. For to find a faithful man is a work. These therefore coming into his monastery, & compelling him to teaching, considering that for this God had called him, that he might also profit & save souls, constraining himself he said: That if you seek anything from me, you will find these things in the divinely-inspired scripture; but I, according to my littleness, whatever the Lord may furnish for the perfecting of your souls & my profit, these things to you, as God both in words & deeds has bestowed on us, I the unworthy will teach, or rather the Lord will teach through my humility; for what have we, which we have not received from God? For just as he admonished us, earnestly weeping, he himself said he was profited, rejoicing in the supply of the divine word. For as soon as he began to speak, the grace so breathed upon him, that the one hearing the word was at once pricked in heart, & did not think he was admonished by a man, but by the Lord. For the Lord spoke through him; for God spoke in his Holy one, according to what is written, That he might give grace to those who hear; concerning which teaching I will narrate later; for the time calls us to begin from above, & from the beginning to make the narration of his most beautiful life, & of his virtuous conduct.
PROEM
Written to the Most Religious Deacon Eutychus.
[1] Blessed be God, who teaches man knowledge, & reveals to little ones unexpectedly the things which the wise have not attained. Since I have known the inclination of your mind to the study with which you are wont to be carried, my Eutychus, to knowing the deeds of the Saints, that, whether you behold them with your eyes face to face, or absent read them written, To Eutychus is inscribed the life of S. Hypatius, you may diligently nourish the inner man with such delights. And since I have found the Life of our most holy Father Hypatius, described & historically set forth by a certain disciple of his, whose name was Callinicus; I wished at once to make you a partaker of so desirable a writing. I know indeed that many things pertaining to his life, & holily done, which I heard from the blessed Abbot himself; indeed also others, which I myself perceived with my own eyes, works most worthy of relating, are not inserted in this history: collected by Callinicus his disciple, nevertheless I do not so grieve that certain things are there omitted, as I rejoice that some have been found: which themselves too are no small treasure for those desiring to say holy things & to please Christ. Having composed those things therefore in the manner of a book, I have submitted them to your Charity; found by me by a certain chance, or rather by the provident disposition of God rightly ordering all things, when, making a journey, I passed through the monastery which is in Rufinianae, found in Rufinianae; with him who is the third from the most blessed man presiding there as Hegumen; to whom that disciple of the holy old man, according to the grace of God given to him, had left them, migrating from this life to the Lord; who had collected the same, as he was ordered, into a volume.
[2] This author I changed & corrected in those things which sounded of the dialect of the Syrians & the roughness ingrained in them; here set forth in his simple Style, judging that such things should be converted into the common pronunciation, by changing the letter η into ε, & ω into ο, or the contrary; or by making some such things brief, which neither bring to me, on account of the change, danger of reprehension; nor to the author, from the property of his own language in which he wrote, breed contempt among the readers: but to move anything more in that composition from its place, whether by adding or by taking away, I judged rash; considering that the very original writings of the religious author, composed in a simple style, with their faults & solecisms, will be dearer & more pleasing to the readers. But if our corrections should seem little apt or insipid to worldly wisdom; be you of strong spirit & pray for us, most religious & Christ-loving Priest, by that desire of your piety, which God deservedly put in you. For from your works we have known that Christ the Lord made you another Cornelius. desired by many, And you, most religious & true brothers in Christ, by your faith pray for me; you, who love Christ, & are incited by spiritual desire, & are moved by God; you, together with that servant of Christ, often interpellating me, have asked my humility (or rather, I would say, your desire has roused me to recline at the spiritual table & to be sated with the greatest goods) you have asked me, I say, that, to the glory of God & the honor of the Saints, who fought the beautiful fight & with all their strength strove to render to God a pleasing service, I should write down for your religious Piety the manner of living & acting of our holy Father Hypatius. & truthful. I trust therefore that it will come to pass, that, the grace of Christ cooperating through your prayers, God may confer on me the faculty of explaining to you the monastic & venerable life of S. Hypatius, relating both the marvels which I myself saw, done through him by God; & those which I heard from his disciples who preceded me; & also those which the Saint himself, glorifying God & giving thanks to him, was solicitous to narrate, teaching at once with what & how great gifts God deems worthy those who love him, according to that: I will declare all your marvels. Psalm 9:2
[3] These are the things which I wished to indicate in writing to your Devotion; that both we & all Christians reading these things usefully may glorify God, honor the Saints, How his disciples & applying ourselves to virtue, may diligently strive to imitate them; that we may be found co-heirs of the same in eternal life, when the just shall shine like the sun, as it is written; of whom therefore, beholding the outcome of their conduct, imitate the faith. Matt. 13:43. For it behooved him, when use required, also to spur on his disciples to virtue; to whom he repeatedly said: Little children, if I were a sculptor or a smith, surely you would imitate me, that you might learn the craft. Heb. 13:7. Now therefore as I am, may you too be. Learn the fear of the Lord & how you may please God. He suggested similar things to the monks coming from abroad, & to the friends made to meet him, & to those zealous for virtues. For very many there are even in the world, & others loving their own progress fervent in spirit & ardently seeking a faithful man, who, endowed with divine grace, may turn souls to the fear of God, according to him who says: Ps. 118:79. Let those who fear you turn to me, & those who have known your testimonies: for to find such a faithful man is difficult. They therefore frequenting the monastery of the holy man, & in a way compelling him to teach them; when he understood that for this he had been called by God, that he should also care for the salvation of souls; at last thus impelled, he said: What you ask of me, you will find in the sacred Letters. But I, as my weakness bears, whatever for the perfection of your souls & my profit the Lord shall furnish me; the Saint excited to virtue. & however much he himself shall deign to instruct me by his words & examples, I unworthy will teach you; or rather the Lord will teach you those things through the mouth of our humility: for what have we which we have not received from God? Just as he himself, bathed in tears, taught us, so he said it must be done, exulting in the administration of the divine word. For as soon as he had begun to speak, the divine grace inspired such things in him, that the hearers were at once pricked in heart; thinking that the words salutary to them were spoken not by a man, but by God. For God spoke through him: for God indeed spoke in his Holy one, as we read written, that he might give grace to the hearers. Ps. 59:8. But of his doctrines there will be a place to speak later; now the time calls us, that we go back higher & from the beginning commemorate the most beautiful life of the man & his deeds full of virtues.
NOTES BY D. P.
a Hence
it is probable that the Writer of this Proem & the polisher of the Life was not the Disciple of the Saint himself; & that a good part of the Proem itself, in which he seems to speak of the Saint as most well known to himself, was written by the first Author Callinicus; but as superior from the monastery of Jonas in Thrace, as is noted below at no. 12.
CHAPTER I.
Hypatius passes from his homeland into Thrace; practices the monastic life; cures the sick.
[4] For he was born from Phrygia; but by nature the homeland is a lover of education in the teaching of letters. And his parents were noble & fearing God; & his father, being a Scholastic, instructed him sufficiently in letters. And conducting himself with fear, & subject to his parents, he was taught by them the discipline & admonition of the Lord; & he was naturally from childhood sanctified, well brought up in the fear of God; & he had compunction & longing, & watched for the time when, slipping away, he might go either to a Church, or to a monastery wherever he might find devout men; for there was not then in Phrygia, except rarely, one or another, & if a Church were found anywhere, the Clerics, as in the country, were rather sluggish; whence even up to now, being well catechized, hearing the things about him, & marveling what a man came from their country; all have become almost Christians; & some too have emulated him in good. But neither in the splendid city of Constantine were there then monasteries except only that of the great Isaacius, whom the holy Dalmatius succeeded. One day, therefore, his father having beaten him, having his purpose, he withdrew from his parents, & having come two or three stages, as he related, he arrived at a Church, & heard the holy gospel saying that the Lord said: Whoever has left father or mother, or brothers, or sisters, or wife, or children, or fields for my sake shall receive a hundredfold, & shall inherit eternal life; for he had left, together with his parents, also a little sister. Hearing this then in the Gospel divinely, & his purpose having come the more to advancement, finding some traveling toward Thrace, he traveled with them.
[5] And when they had come into Thrace, & had not reached a dwelling, they lodged on the mountain on which they were overtaken; & in one part the mountain was dense with trees, & the place was frightful from the demons lodging there, who came to tempt them, & said to one another: We can do nothing to them, for there is a child with them, who has received power against us. And this they heard while sleeping, & being startled & awakened, they heard the noises in the trees of the fleeing demons. And the child of God too was knowing the things that were happening; for he was eighteen years old. And when day came, they asked him whether he knew anything of the things that had happened. And he denying it, they gave thanks to the Lord, marveling what a Christian child they had from God as a fellow traveler; & seeing him very downcast, & living in devotion, they entrusted him to a certain householder; for he himself was ashamed to go alone; & that man, taking him, gave him to pasture sheep. And let us not be surprised, for this was foreshown to him by God, that he was about to shepherd also the rational sheep of Christ; & we are not ignorant that the holy Moses too, & Jacob, & David pastured sheep. As therefore he pastured the sheep, he raised his voice singing, as happens among shepherds. And a Church being near, the Presbyter, hearing his voice, having urged him, took him from the householder, having promised to teach him psalms, & to make him sing in the Church; & if he wished, to give him to the monks. And he, having his longing in this, gave himself. As therefore he sang in the Church, they marveled at his knowledge, & how he learned the psalms [not] laboriously. But he would not partake of wine; & the Clerics drinking much wine at their dinners, he saw the one reeling, the other wantoning from good cheer, as in the country, & the worldly not profited, & he was much disgusted.
[6] And he being grieved, & beseeching God that he might be deemed worthy to dwell with devout men, as he prayed, God arranged a certain soldier at Constantinople, Jonas by name, an Armenian by race, grafted by God to renounce. Which Jonas, having very often entreated the Tribune of the regiment, & not being discharged, one of the days taking a small load on his shoulders, & fire in his hand, the most pious king Arcadius coming forth, approaching said to him: Until now I have served your majesty, but now I wish to serve Christ, command me to be discharged; but if not, you have power in these things to burn your servant. For I cannot do anything else. And the king, seeing his pious intent, immediately ordered him to be discharged; & at once he went out of the city, & going out, he fixed a hut for himself on the mountain, not very far in length from the Church in which the servant of God was. And remaining in the tent, he lived on herbs. And the surrounding villagers, learning it, going up, built him a cell, & made for him a small place for his singing, & praying, & fasting, & practicing all the virtue of the monk, for he was experienced in this, having learned it from his own homeland; for the Armenians are exceedingly devoted to God.
[7] One & one began to attach themselves to him for serving God. Hearing therefore about him, the God-loving Hypatius too, at once having taken leave of the Presbyter & the rest, went away to him saying: I too wish to serve God. And at once he received him. And those who released him were much grieved on account of his devotion, & because beyond all he stayed at the Church. And he was twenty years old when he came to the servant of God Jonas; & others therefore attaching themselves to them, they began to beautify, & a garden & land for sowing, & to build up a monastery, so that eighty brothers were gathered, & it became a great fort. For because the Huns were neighboring, & easily plundered the places, forts were built. The holy teacher Jonas presided over all. And Hypatius so applied himself to asceticism, that he surpassed all, almost even the Hegumen, in fasting & vigil & psalmody, & prayer, & obedience, & quiet, & humility, & poverty, & every virtue, so that all were profited by him, & God was glorified, & the Hegumen loved him & rejoiced in his way of life.
[8] For fasting & praying so much, he practiced quiet, so that all desired to hear him speaking, & to entreat him to admonish them for profit. But he excused himself saying: Even in the world I was a servant, but now I have come that I may be deemed worthy to become your servant also. Whence he fell at the feet of the Hegumen saying: Command me wholly to serve the afflicted, for this he said he had done, that I have chosen this commandment, having heard in the holy Gospel the Lord saying to those on the right: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you; for I was hungry, & you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, & you gave me drink; I was a stranger, & you took me in; naked, & you clothed me; sick, & you visited me; in prison, & you came to me. And they saying, Lord, when did we see you thus, & did these things? he answered: Amen, amen I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of these least of my brothers, you did it to me.
[9] Being commanded by the Hegumen, he showed such eagerness, that even going off at a distance, on pretext of inspecting the land of the sowing, & finding sick villagers, & cast out on the road being poor (as he related to us; for he himself related to us the things of holy Jonas) taking these up & carrying them on his shoulders, he laid them down at the gate, & entering said to the Abba: Some have brought a sick man to the gate, & leaving him have departed; & being commanded, he brought him in. And whether he had a wound, or some sickness, fomenting him he cared for him as is fitting, & having made a bed, he gave him rest, & nourished him with suitable foods. And if there was need for the sick man to be anointed, having announced it to the Abba, for he was a presbyter, he had him anointed by him with blessed oil, & in a few days he sent him away healed, God cooperating with him, as it is written, with everyone who works good God cooperates. And we have heard this too from the brothers there, that if anyone had recently fallen into a fever, Hypatius going, as if feeling him, & visiting him, with his hand secretly made the precious cross; but with his mind earnestly prayed, saying to the brother: Rise, you have nothing wrong, go down to your service. And these things he said with faith, so that the sick man, immediately lightened, was restored to the better; & if anyone, eagerly hearing him, rose, God granting it, he remained healthy, having nothing wrong.
[4] sprung of noble family from Phrygia, Hypatius was sprung from Phrygia, which homeland by its nature delights in good letters, & rejoices to be imbued with them: he had noble parents fearing God; for since his father was a Scholastic, a he well instructed him in letters, who conducting himself reverently, & obedient to his parents, learned from them the discipline & knowledge of the Lord. For he was excellently nourished in the fear of God, & from his birth & tender years as it were sanctified. He excelled in contrition of heart & pious desire of serving God. Hence he watched for the opportunity of time, in which he might secretly betake himself either to a church or to some monastery, where then there were scarcely any Monks, that he might there converse with
religious men. For not yet at that time was such a one found in Phrygia, except very rarely one or another: & if anywhere a church was found, its Clerics, as is wont to happen in the country, were of slower wit. Whence even now, although sufficiently instructed, when they hear the deeds of Hypatius, they marvel that such a man came forth from their region; where now almost all profess the Christian religion, some even emulate the Saint's virtue. But neither in beautiful Constantinople were there then monasteries except one of the great Isaacius, whom S. Dalmatius succeeded. as also at Constantinople; One day therefore, when he had been beaten by his father; what he had long held in mind, he set out abroad secretly from his parents; & when he had advanced a journey of two or three stages, he entered, as he himself related, a church, & heard read from the sacrosanct Gospel this oracle of the Lord: He who shall leave father or mother, or brothers or sisters, these he seeks in Thrace, having left his parents at the divine admonition, or wife or children or fields for my sake, shall receive a hundredfold & shall possess eternal life. Matt. 19:29. Which heard (for he had left with his parents also a little sister) & inspired by God understanding that the time had come to carry out his purpose of embracing a more perfect life; & having found some making a journey into Thrace, he joined himself to them as a companion.
[5] And when these, having entered Thrace, had found no lodging; they passed the night on the mountain to which they then came. And one part of the mountain was a dense grove, terrible from the infestation of demons staying there; At eighteen years he is feared by the demons; who also approached the sleepers, to tempt them, & said among themselves: We can do nothing to harm these, for there is with them a youth, to whom power against us has been given by God. Which when those men had perceived, terrified, having shaken off sleep, they heard the noise of the demons fleeing among the trees; as also did the youth Hypatius himself, then eighteen years old. And when day arose, asked by them whether he had known the things that had happened; he denied it: but they gave thanks to God, marveling, he pastures sheep, what a Christian youth he had joined to himself as a companion of the way; & considering his utmost modesty & life conspicuous for religion, they commended him (for he was ashamed to go alone) to a certain householder, who receiving him, ordered him to pasture sheep. Nor ought we to marvel at this, for by this very thing God wished to foreshow that he would one day be a shepherd of the rational sheep of Christ: for neither are we ignorant that the holy men too, Moses, Jacob & David, pastured sheep. he learns to sing psalms in church, Hypatius meanwhile, while he pastured the sheep, modulated a song, as is wont among shepherds, with raised voice. Which the presbyter of the church, which was near, hearing, tried to lead him away from that householder whom we mentioned, a promise being interposed, that he would teach him psalms, & make him cantor of his church; & also, if he so wished, place him in a monastery. And the youth, who had nothing else in his wishes, committed himself to the one asking; & by singing profited so much, he abstains from wine. that all marveled at his skill, & how he had learned the psalms so easily. Meanwhile he abstained from wine: & noting the Clerics drinking much at dinner, some indeed declining from the way of virtue, others giving themselves to pleasures (as countrymen are wont) & bringing no profit to the seculars; whence too he was ashamed.
[6] Meanwhile with tears he prayed God to give him the grace of dwelling with religious men: & God arranged a certain soldier in the city of Constantinople, Jonas by name, an Armenian by race, spurring him to bid farewell to the military service & the world. He, when he had several times demanded his discharge from the Tribune of the Numerus, b & yet had not obtained it; God rouses an Armenian soldier, Jonas by name, one day, a bundle of wood placed on his shoulders, carrying fire in his hand, presented himself to the most august Emperor Arcadius c coming forth in public, & thus addresses him: Hitherto I have served your Majesty; but henceforth I will serve Christ the Lord: command therefore that I be dismissed. But if not, behold the wood & the fire, with which it is permitted, burn me your servant. For I cannot do anything else. The Emperor, seeing the soldier's intent & the so pious purpose of his mind, ordered him at once to be discharged. And he, immediately going out of the city, to serve himself; built himself a hut on the mountain, not very far from the church where the servant of God Hypatius dwelt; sustaining his life there on herbs. When the rustics dwelling around had learned this, they ascended there, & built the man a cell, & added a small place, where he could sing, pray, fast, & exercise whatever monastic virtues; of which he had already laid the apprenticeship in his own homeland. For the Armenians are among the few devoted to piety & divine service.
[7] In this place one & another began to join the new Solitary for serving God; to whom Hypatius, now twenty years old, joins himself, & Hypatius too, having heard the man's fame, betook himself thither, having said farewell to the Presbyter & the other companions there; I wish, he said, I too to serve God; & soon he was admitted, those from whom he had departed grieving much, both because he lived most religiously, & because beyond the rest he persevered in the church. And he was, when he came to the servant of God Jonas, twenty years old. After him came also several others; & a monastery being raised & fortified against the Huns, & they began to cultivate a garden, & sow fields, & build a monastery; & eighty Brothers were gathered, & a great fort was made (for because the Huns had settled in the neighborhood, by whom it was easy to plunder those places, forts had to be raised) & the holy master Jonas presided over all. But Hypatius so strenuously applied himself to ascetic works, he becomes a model of every kind of virtue; that he excelled all, & almost even the Hegumen & his master himself, in fasts, vigils, psalmodies, prayers, obedience, silence, humility, poverty, & every kind of virtue; so that all took no small profit from his company, & glorified God on that account; but the Hegumen singularly loved the strenuous ascetic, & delighted much in his conversation.
[8] For Hypatius had such care of silence amid fasting & praying, that all indeed desired to hear him speaking, & asked that by his discourse he would spur them to virtue, as a suppliant he asks to be employed in the service of the sick, but he, escaping such things, said: As in the world I was a servant, so now I came here, that I may merit to be your servant also. Then falling at the feet of the Hegumen, he added: Command that I may spend myself wholly in the service of the sick: for this rule, he said, I chose, hearing the Lord in the Gospel saying to those standing on the right: Come, blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you. Matt. 25:34. For I was hungry, & you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, & you gave me freely; I was a stranger, & you took me in; naked, & you clothed me; sick, & you visited me; I was in prison, & you came to me. And they saying, Lord, when did we see you thus, & did such things? he answered; Amen, amen I say to you, inasmuch as you did to one of these my least brothers, you did to me.
[9] And when the Hegumen had committed that office to the one asking, he immediately showed such alacrity, that even going off afar, which he obtains, & fulfills with marvelous dexterity, as if to inspect the fields & the sowing, he would seek & find sick rustics, & sometimes lying on the road, because they were poor (as he himself, among narrating to us the deeds of Jonas, related of himself) whom, placed on his shoulders, he carried, & laid down at the gate of the monastery: then entering he said to the Abbot: Some have brought a sick man here to the gate, & there, departing, laid him down: then by the Abbot's order he carried him into the house, curing the sick by their being timely fortified with holy oil, & if he had any wound, or other infirmity, he cleansed & cured him solicitously as is fitting; & also made up a bed, & laid the sick man on the bedding, & nourished him with suitable foods. But if necessity f advised that he ought to be anointed with holy oil, he reminded the Abbot, who was a Presbyter; & took care that the unction be performed by him; & it often happened that he sent the man away healthy in a few days, God himself cooperating, as it is written; with everyone working good God cooperates. We have heard also from the Brothers dwelling there, that if anyone had recently fallen into a fever, Hypatius came to him, as if to visit, & touching him with his hand, secretly imprinted the sign of the cross, but with his mind prayed fervently to God, & often heals by his word. saying to the sick Brother: Rise, you have nothing wrong: & betake yourself to your service. And these things he pronounced with such faith, that immediately the sick man was better, & restored to health. But whoever, those things heard, immediately rose, by God granting health remained healthy, no trace of the evil left.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER II.
Hypatius conquers temptations by fasting, helps his father, comes to Chalcedon & Rufinianae a conqueror of the demons.
[10] Doing these things therefore for the brothers & all, he himself reclining on a mat, so practiced self-control, that often he took even the five days. And very often being troubled by the demon, as a younger man, of the foul pleasure that troubles the young, & that, unless having renounced, he should contend in self-control, beseeching God continually, that he himself coming might fight those warring against him, enduring with faith. And working out these things, self-control, endurance, love, humility, let him not despair of himself on account of that war; but believe that even if not today I was redeemed, tomorrow I will be redeemed; even if not in the five years, in the ten years; only let him not, yielding, flee the stadium, but resisting endure; for he who endures to the end, this one shall be saved. Only when it comes upon him
the war, having signed himself, let him at once turn to praying; & God, seeing his contest, sends his grace, & frees his soul. But if there be also delay, though we much seek him, let us not, standing off, give in, but let us endure; for God knows what is profitable for us, according to him who says: If you believe to see the good things of the Lord, wait for the Lord. But if anyone refuses this, to pass his life without renouncing, having come to the perfect age, let him marry lawfully, living chastely with the fear of the Lord, for this too is acceptable to God; thus protecting ourselves beforehand, that Satan may not tempt us; for each has his own gift from God, the one thus, the other thus.
[11] One day therefore Hypatius, very much warred upon by this war, in the heats drank nothing for fifty days. And his belly being hardened, his lips too were split by dryness. Whom the brothers, seeing, declared to the Archimandrite. And he, keeping silence, after the night prayers, having mixed a cup of wine with a morsel, before all calls him, Hypatius. And he answered, Bless. He says to him: Come into the midst, & receiving drink this blessing, for he did not partake of wine at all; & he, carried by filial feeling, & knowing that obedience works life, receiving with faith drank, becoming more able to bear the war.
[12] And he related that the barbarians too, very often coming upon Thrace, surrounded our fort; & God always shielding his servants, when they prayed, drove them away. For they had a certain loophole, whence hurling a stone, they made one wounded, so that the rest, learning it, & shaking their whips, for the sake of a signal, mounted their horses, & withdrew. And when there was a cessation, the villagers, plundered, having nothing left, ran to the monastery, seeking the things for their need. And the lord Jonas, entering the Great City, said to the Illustrious with boldness, The poor plundered in Thrace are hungry, & trouble me; send them provisions. And those, hearing him as from a father, Rufinus & the rest of the great men, as many as wished for God's sake, loading ships with grain & pulse, sent them to him, that he might give to them. For as soon as he entered the city, all the rich deemed him worthy, that, having made a prayer in their house, he might bless them. For he was so great a zealot, that he rebuked all the illustrious to their face. If he found that they wronged anyone, even unto death he stood for the wronged one, & at the same time admonished them, saying that the tears of the wronged become judgments of the wrongdoers. And those who were profited so honored him, as truly a servant of God; & at the same time marveled, that being unlettered & a private man, he received such grace from the Lord.
[13] And hearing these things, the father of Hypatius, a lawsuit for a matter having arisen against him, coming into the city from his own country, at once runs up into Thrace, & having sought the fort, whose name was Almyrissus, & having found it, sought his own son; for he was an old man & very respected. And the monks, learning it, said, Did not Hypatius call himself a servant? And all rejoiced with the Abba, that for God's sake he did this, & for humility. And hearing that his father had come, he did not wish to be made known to him; but much constrained, he met him, & having greeted him prayed together, & learned from him the falling-asleep of his mother. And knowing that there was need in the matter to help his father, & that afterward the brothers, beyond the liturgy, also took care of farming; their Abba having grown old, & on account of old age tarrying in the city, having entreated the Archimandrite, he comes with his father into the city; & having stayed with him in the suburb of a certain Eleutherus, & having helped him in the matter for God's sake, having catechized him he sent him forth to his own country; & departing he himself too was at rest in peace.
[14] And a certain ascetic known to Hypatius attached himself, by name Timothy; & this one too was so devout & zealous for virtue, that for this reason he clung to Hypatius because of his being a servant of God. And there was added to these another monk by name Moschion, & there came to be a trinity of brothers, servants of God. As therefore they stayed in the suburb, Hypatius says to them: I am accustomed to dwell on the mountain, not in a city. And they too answered: Where you are, we too. Having therefore crossed at Chalcedon, he traveled toward the east, seeking a mountain, or a cave; & having come three miles he finds an apostolium, & a monastery near it, which the blessed Rufinus had built, having taken relics from Rome of the holy apostles Peter & Paul, which, having built the martyrium, he gloriously deposited, in which also the tomb of Rufinus lies nearby; & having founded the monastery, he settled Egyptian monks. So when Rufinus had died, the Egyptians leaving it, returned to their own homeland; & the monastery thereafter remained desert, so that it did not appear that it was a monastery, but indeed demons having entered to dwell in it. Many therefore attempting to dwell, on account of the demon, & the mud of winter, having no supply of provisions, were not able to remain; for the place too was solitary.
[15] And Hypatius having come, & learning that a terrible demon dwelt there, boiling up with the faith of Christ, having made the sign, & having prayed entered, & became a neighbor of the Chief & holy Apostles, by whose intercessions may we too be pitied. And the two brothers of his, hearing it, came to him, & with one mind held firmly to the asceticism; for Hypatius & Timothy contended, who should fast more, or keep vigil, or pray, or be humble, or pity the poor; for they had from their own hands their support, the one working hair garments, the other the garden. And there was a courtyard, having cells around, & an oratory-house, very neglected; & in them they found a small cell, & were able to remain, & to be at quiet working. But as often as they wished to pray in the oratory, or to sing, they saw as it were a fiery ball running around in the whole dwelling with a noise coming upon them; but they being steadfast persevered in prayer. For the dwelling was great & desert, so as to be filled with snow in winter. One of the days therefore, the things for life failing, the two go off into the city, that, giving the works of their hands, they may be provided for; but a certain woman, rich & very Christian, having prayed to the Apostles, heard, passing by, that there was a monk in the monastery; & leaving the boys outside, alone she enters, testing the ascetic; for she was a Deaconess most ascetic; & falling before him, she said, Christian, bless me, & receive me with you that I may stay. And he, angered, with a cry says: Get behind me, Satan; have you come here to drive us away? we have not yet been here many days; have these things & stay as you wish; & he went out at a run. Then she, having nodded to the boys, restrained him saying, I tested you whether you are truly a monk; go to your cell, & pray for me. And learning that they were three in number, immediately she sent the things sufficient for life abundantly enough for them.
[10] While the Saint acted in this way with his Brothers & all others; He conquers the temptation of lust by fasting, he himself lying on a mat, led so temperate a life, that often he abstained from food for five days. And several times, since he was younger, he would have succumbed, by the temptation of the demon of abominable lust, wont to lie in wait for the young, to his cunning; had he not, soberly & temperately abstaining from all things, fought continually, with great trust invoking God, omitting nothing of his usual works on account of its long duration, that he himself coming to aid might assail those assailing him. And so working, he remitted nothing of his temperance, patience, love & humility on account of those assaults; firmly trusting that it would be, that if not today, at least tomorrow, if not within five years, at least within ten years he would be freed; provided that he did not flee from the stadium yielding to the enemy, but resisted bravely & perseveringly endured. For he who shall persevere to the end, this one shall be saved. When therefore the war came on, he only signed himself with the cross, & fled to prayer: but God, seeing the contest of his soldier, supplied him grace & rescued his soul thence. But if God should delay to succor his soldiers, let us who much seek him, but trusting more in God, not withdraw, turning our backs, but bravely endure: for God knows what is expedient for us, according to him who says: If you believe to see the good things of the Lord, wait for the Lord. But if anyone is unwilling to follow this manner of life & to renounce the world; when he comes to mature age, let him lawfully join a wife to himself, & honestly order his life in the fear of the Lord. For that too is acceptable with God: & so it will come to pass that we are safe from the temptations of Satan. For each has his own gift from God; one thus, another thus.
[11] At one time therefore, vehemently assailed by that enemy, he abstains from all drink for 40 days, the heat being fierce, for fifty days he abstained from all drink: whence hardness of the belly followed, & his lips were split for dryness. Which the Brothers, seeing, brought the matter to the Archimandrite. And he, having said nothing, after the night prayers, mixed a cup of wine with a morsel; & before all calls Hypatius. then drinking from obedience, he comes out stronger against temptations. And he, answering, said, Bless. And the Archimandrite: Come here into the midst, take & drink this blessing. And he, although otherwise he did not taste wine at all, obeying the paternal voice, as well knowing that obedience works life, takes the cup confidently, & drank it, & so came out more able to bear the labors in that war.
[12] He related also that the barbarians, wont to invade Thrace, had not rarely besieged our fort: a but that God always fought for his servants, The Huns, the monastery besieged in vain, plunder around, who invoked him, & drove off the enemy. For the wall of the fort had a hole, through which they threw stones, by which one of the enemy being wounded, the rest, learning it, shaking their whips, gave the signal of retreat & mounting their horses returned whence they had come. But quiet being restored to the monastery, the rustics were continually present, despoiled of their goods by the same barbarians; & having nothing left, sought the things necessary
for sustaining life. Wherefore Domnus Jonas went to Constantinople, & confidently said to the chief men of the city: The poor in Thrace are hungry, despoiled of their goods; carrying off the goods of the rustics; & they bring trouble to me; you therefore supply them, whence they may be able to live. And these, having heard such things as from their own father, Rufinus b & the rest of the Magnates, who wished to confer something there for God's sake, sent to him ships loaded with grain & legumes, that he might distribute to the needy. For as soon as he had entered the city, he was looked up to by all & asked everywhere by the rich, that, entering their houses, whose want Jonas relieves through the Magnates of Constantinople, he would fortify them with his prayers, & the inhabitants with his blessing. Amid these things so great was the man's zeal, that he did not fear to rebuke any Magnates to their face; but if he had learned that an injury had been inflicted on anyone by them, he took up the cause of that one to be defended, nor was he deterred from it by the fear of death set before him; meanwhile reminding them of their duty, & repeating that the tears of those who are afflicted unjustly become the judgment of those who do the injury. where he is held in the highest veneration. And those who had experienced his help, venerated him, as a true servant of God; & at the same time marveled, that a man rude in letters & a private man, had obtained such grace from God.
[13] When the father of Hypatius had heard such things, who, on account of a lawsuit, Hypatius is met by his father, brought against him concerning the family property, had come from his homeland into the city; immediately proceeded thence into Thrace, seeking the fort, whose name was Almyrissus; & it being found, inquired there after his son, now an old man & easily letting himself be led. When the monks had learned this, they began to ask among themselves, Did not Hypatius call himself a servant? And all rejoiced much, as also the Abbot, understanding now that this had been said by him out of love of God & humility. And Hypatius, hearing that his father had come, at first was unwilling to be made known to him: but then, compelled by several reasons, met him, & embraced him, & a prayer being poured out together by both to God, learned that his mother had now met her last day: learned also that help must be brought to his father in the present necessity of affairs. Wherefore, because the next day the Brothers, besides the liturgy, had also to give attention to agriculture, whom in a certain business he helps at Constantinople; & the Abbot on account of advancing old age dwelt in the city; license being asked & obtained from the Archimandrite, d he betook himself thither with his father, & stayed with him in the suburb of a certain Eleutherus, e & out of love of God brought him help in his affairs: then indeed, instructed with salutary teachings, sent him back to his region, where he himself too ended his life in peace.
[14] Here a certain famous ascetic, by name Timothy, zealous for the religious life & virtues, & thence with two companions crosses to Chalcedon: joined himself to Hypatius, for no other cause than that he was a true servant of God. There joined himself likewise to them another Monk, whose name was Moschion: & there was made a threefold number of Brothers serving God. And when they were staying in the aforesaid suburb, Hypatius said to his companions: & the monastery of Rufinus, I am accustomed to dwell on mountains, not in cities: & they answering; Where you wish, we too will be: he crossed to Chalcedon, f & making his journey toward the east, sought for himself a mountain or some cave; & having advanced three miles found a church with a monastery adjoined nearby, which the blessed Rufinus had built, when he had received the Relics of the holy Apostles Peter & Paul, brought from Rome, which there, a martyrium being built, he honorifically deposited, near to which his own tomb stands. But he had granted the monastery to be inhabited by Egyptian monks; who, Rufinus being dead, deserting it returned to their homeland; & the place thereafter remained so desolate, that it scarcely any longer bore the appearance of a monastery: empty of inhabitants on account of the infestation of demons indeed even demons lording it there had succeeded as inhabitants in place of the monks. Many meanwhile had attempted to dwell there; but because the demons infested everything & the rigors g of winter did not permit a parish to be gathered there, they could not remain there; to say nothing of the place being exceedingly damp. h
[15] Having advanced thither therefore, Hypatius, & being informed that a terrible demon dwelt there, fortified himself with the sign of the cross, fortified with the sign of the cross he enters & inhabits, & kindled with the ardor of the Christian faith, & intent on prayers, entered the place; & became a neighbor of the holy Princes of the Apostles (by whose intercessions may we too hope to obtain mercy): & when the two other Brothers understood this, they too came to the same place; & with unanimous consent persevered in the exercises of piety; Hypatius & Timothy contending between themselves, which should excel the other in fasts, vigils, prayers, humility, & mercy toward the poor. Furthermore they prepared for themselves the necessary supports of life by the labor of their own hands; one by making hair-shirts, another by weaving baskets, the third by cultivating the garden. And there was in the monastery a courtyard surrounded by cells & an oratory, much dilapidated: the demon casting various terrors, yet among them they found one small habitable cell, where, quietly laboring, they could remain. But as often as they entered the oratory to pray or sing psalms, they beheld as it were a fiery whelp, i running around through the whole dwelling with a noise, & invading them as they prayed; who, therefore not moved from the place, persevered in prayer. But since the building was large, as I said, accessible to anyone, & so badly built that in winter time it was even filled with snows; & the two comrades of Hypatius had once gone to the city, for the little goods which they had made, to procure the necessities of life that were lacking; it happened that a certain very rich & well-Christian woman (who perhaps in the church of the Apostles, being at leisure for prayer, heard that a monk had come there to dwell) entered the monastery, the boys whom she had with her being ordered to stay outside it; & a woman testing his probity. that she might make a test of the new inhabitant & his virtue; for she was a Deaconess & that most practiced. And entering she fell at the feet of the Ascetic, saying: Christian man, bless me & receive me, that I may stay here with you. But he, indignant, exclaims; Get behind me, Satan: have you come here to drive us out, inhabitants of a few days? Have these things to yourself, & inhabit, as you please. Which said, he fled thence at a run. Then she, a signal given to her servants, that they should hold the fleeing one, said to him: I made a test, whether you were a true monk. Now go to your cell, & pray for me: & when she had learned that three dwelt there together, she immediately sent as much as would suffice them abundantly for sustenance.
NOTES BY D. P.
This migration can be conceived to have been made about the year 404, when already nine years had passed even from the death of Rufinus the Prefect of the Pretorium, whom in the preliminary commentary we allowed to be believed, if not the first founder of the Rufinian monastery, at least the favorer & benefactor.
CHAPTER III.
Fleeing from Rufinianae he is divinely sent back to the same, heals the sick, becomes superior & is visited by holy men.
[16] As therefore they genuinely served the Lord in love, the hater of good, not enduring it, moving many devices against them, & not being able to drive them away, neither by fear, nor by the manner of another device; for being steadfast they endured, & there were added to them those renouncing the world; at last he contrived, & they were provoked against one another, Hypatius & Timothy. And Hypatius, being prudent, yielded to him, though the place was his. But that one, being rather unseasonable & spiritual, neither himself wished to hold & administer, nor allowed Hypatius to administer. And in time, afflicted, having yielded to him, Hypatius gives him the place, & having found a brother from his first monastery, departs with him into Thrace; & as they were going out, there lay outside a paralytic, who had been paralyzed by a demon, & sought a command from them. Whom Hypatius, seeing, moved with compassion asked: What is it with you? And learning that he had been paralyzed by a demon, says to the one with him: Let us take him up, & let us both bring him into the Church. And Hypatius, taking oil of the lamp, & having prayed, anointed him, & immediately the Lord strengthened him, & becoming whole, he followed them. The locals therefore, learning what had happened, pursued after them, & touching their hems, entreated that they would visit others also. But they answered, We too ourselves are sinful men; but the Lord healed this one.
[17] Traveling therefore, they came to the monastery, & the brothers hearing the things that had happened, & the Archimandrite, & seeing the man who had been healed, glorified God, & said, that before he departed from here, we knew that God gave him a grace of healings. And he who had been healed renounced, & having served the Lord, was perfected. And Hypatius entreated the elder monk the lord Jonas, that he would give him a cell to be at quiet. But Timothy
with the other brothers, almost weeping, sought Hypatius; & learning that the servant of God Jonas had come into the city, they persisted weeping before him, that he would make the lord Hypatius come to them from Thrace. And in the meantime the Abba Jonas, falling ill, & being gravely sick, sees in the night someone saying to him: Unless Hypatius comes, you will not be well; & he quickly indicates to the brothers, that they should send for him. And the brothers, learning what was revealed to the Abba, & that he was sought, having gathered, entreat him to depart; & he being unwilling, having constrained him they send him with another brother also. As therefore he traveled, in a certain place they made the prayer of the third Hour. As they prayed, they heard a voice from the air saying: Hypatius, go to Rufinianae, for I have set you for a light of the nations unto the end of the earth. Being afraid therefore, they fell on their face beseeching God for a long time; rising therefore, Hypatius began to murmur as if excusing himself; & the one with him, being trembling, says to him: What do you say, man, do you make us to be swallowed up?
[18] When therefore they came to the lord Jonas, & saw him being gravely sick, & scarcely able even to speak, Hypatius, touching him, & having made a prayer, gave him food, & immediately he became lighter, for he had not tasted for days; & having become stronger, after days he entreated the abba Hypatius to come to the brothers in Rufinianae, having also called Timothy, & exhorted them saying, Be not amazed; among the holy Apostles too there was a provocation; & they too, falling before one another, made peace; & they accepted thereafter to have Hypatius as father, & he led them according to the command of the Lord, who spoke to him from the air; & he was then forty years old. And then monasteries were being constructed in different places while the blessed Isaacius was living, & leading them to emulation, whence both in the city itself & outside, near & at a sufficient distance, continuous monasteries came to be, in which the brothers dwelling, fifty & a hundred, glorify God. The blessed Isaacius therefore continued visiting them as his own children; among whom also, coming continually to Hypatius, he admonished saying: Glory to God who gave servants of God to dwell in the labors of Rufinus; & now hear me, child, I declare to you that God may glorify you, whether you have little or much, let not a stranger pass by grieved on your account, but open your door to a stranger. And having prayed together, & been blessed by him, Hypatius departed, & wherever he knew of those lacking, if he did not have himself the things for life, he told the wealthy & Christians, & they sent. For with all he was honored, & they heard him as a father.
[19] Likewise also the great John, then being Bishop, much cared for & loved the servants of God, the one truly in deeds a Bishop, the lamp of the Church, the precious stone of the crown of faith, the one doing nothing unworthy of God, & worthily having received the throne & grace from God, as his manner also showed; for being exiled to a certain place away from the notable dwellings, having prayed he was perfected; after many years therefore his remains, with also other holy martyrs, the most pious king Theodosius recalled with much glory. And caring for the things for life, crying out to the devout he said, That you have to give an account for hiding yourselves, & not putting your lamp on the lampstand, refusing ordinations, & making that others be ordained, whom we do not know; for one of the monks, being ordained, & not wishing the hand of the Bishop to be laid upon him, bit his own finger.
[20] Hypatius therefore, having come to Rufinianae with Timothy, so increased the love toward one another, that many seeing it emulated & renounced life, & in a little time were gathered in part & there came to be with them thirty monks. And as they persevered in psalmody & prayer & hospitality, the Lord drove the demon also from the dwelling, & granted Hypatius a grace of healings. And Hypatius being compassionate toward all, was loved by all; for with the suffering he suffered, & took up the afflicted, saying: It is written, "to the bound as bound with them, to the ill-treated as also being themselves in the body," to weep with those who weep, & to rejoice with those who rejoice; among whom a certain chamberlain, by name Urbicius, being very Christian, & learning about the holy Hypatius, became very friendly with him, & having found someone oppressed by his own brother, who was rich; for the one having bewitched the other brother had made him out of his mind, & having shut him up in a certain place, tried to murder him. Learning this then, the good Urbicius, & having torn him away, brought him to the holy Hypatius, & entrusted him.
[21] But some of his servants, suspecting, say to the Chamberlain, that if he die in the monastery, the monastery has to take his property. Being persuaded therefore by these words, he comes to the monastery, & rushing enters like a lion seeking again to take the man & send him to his own place. And the man, being deranged in mind, was very sick in body; & his name was Aetius. Hypatius therefore prayed for him that he might be well, & being unable to taste food, fed him with his own hands, & served him.
[22] As therefore Urbicius came, seeking to take him, & send him to his own home, Hypatius said to him: God made me the bodyguard of the man, & I cannot give him to you, since he is also sick, & lest perhaps he die on the way; allow him therefore to become well, God granting it, & after these things take him; but if you fear on account of his substance, I make in writing that I will take nothing from it; but this man I will not betray to you; but if you are of good courage to enter & tear him away, tear him away. And that one, as if forbidden, departed with grief; & Hypatius cared for the man, praying & anointing him with blessed oil, & giving him rest, made him come to himself, God granting him health. And having lived a time in the monastery, he glorified God, giving thanks to Hypatius; & after these things, a sufficient time having passed, he was at rest, & immediately Hypatius indicated it to the Chamberlain, & the Chamberlain having asked, received his substance; whence Urbicius, giving thanks, came embracing as a father the servant of God, & offering a contribution, was not received, & thereafter asked, at least to beautify the monastery, & taking craftsmen, the brothers also laboring together, beautified the house of God, building the oratory, & other cells, so that there might be glory of God, & that more brothers might be able to dwell in it.
[16] Henceforth, as they diligently served the Lord in mutual charity; the hater of virtue, the devil, did not bear it, attacking them with various & evil arts; nor yet could he drive them from the place either by fear, or by any other contrivance. A dissension arising, he returns into Thrace; For by their endurance they conquered all things, & were increased also by the number of others bidding farewell to the world. Nevertheless at last by his machinations Hypatius & Timothy began to dissent between themselves. And Hypatius indeed, as he was prudent & moderate, yielded that office to the other, although it rather suited himself: but Timothy, more importunate, & of a more fervent spirit, neither wished himself to accept the care & governance of the rest, nor to permit it to Hypatius. Wherefore Hypatius, long & much afflicted, departing thence, left the place to Timothy; & having found a certain Brother of his first monastery, went off with him into Thrace: & as they were going out together, they beheld lying outside a paralytic man, vexed by a demon; who asked of them a command. a And Hypatius, gazing at him & touched with compassion, asked what was lacking to him: & informed of what it was, & that, as we just said, he was a paralytic; he said to his companion: restoring on the way health to a paralytic with the oil of the lamp: Let us lift up the poor wretch & both carry him into the church. And it being brought in, a prayer being first made, Hypatius anointed him with oil taken from the lamp: & immediately the paralytic, strengthened by God's working & restored to health, followed his benefactors. Which the inhabitants of that region, beholding, themselves too followed them departing, & touched the hems of their garments, asking that they would also visit other sick ones. But they answered that they too were men subject to sins: but that the Lord had conferred health on that sick man.
[17] Having pursued therefore their journey, they came to the monastery. And the Brothers there & the Archimandrite, hearing the things that had happened, & seeing the man who had been cured; glorified God, saying; that before Hypatius departed, they had known the grace of healings to have been given him from God. And he who had been cured, bidding the world farewell, ended his life in the service of the Lord. And Hypatius asked the excellent old man Domnus Jonas, that he would grant him a little cell, where he might live the ascetic life. he is soon recalled by his companions, But then Timothy & some of his Brothers, all but wailing, sought Hypatius: & when they had learned that the servant of God Jonas had come into the city, they pressed upon him, with weeping praying, that he would order Hypatius to return to them from Thrace. But meanwhile Abbot Jonas began to be sick, & the disease growing worse, he saw by night someone repeating to him: Unless Hypatius comes here, you will not recover health, & immediately revealing the matter to his Brothers; he commanded that Hypatius be sent to him. And they, informed of what had been revealed to their Abbot, & that Hypatius was sought, came together & besought him to go thither; & having tergiversated, he is divinely ordered to return. & him denying that he would go, they compelled by force & sent him with another Brother. As these therefore made their journey, & in a certain place prayed the third Hour, there came down from the air a voice of this kind: Hypatius, go to Rufinianae; for I have set you for a light of the nations unto the end of the earth. Struck by this voice, they fell prone on their faces, & for a long time prayed to God: but rising they began, Hypatius indeed as if murmuring to deprecate the commands; but his companion trembling, to say; What do you say, O man; can you wish us to be ruined?
[18] Amid these things they came to Domnus Jonas & perceived that he was dangerously sick, & now could scarcely speak any longer; when Hypatius touched him, &, a prayer being made, refreshed him with food. The Abbot Jonas being first healed; For he had long tasted nothing.
tasted. But behold, suddenly the sick man began to be better, & his strength recovered, after some days he asked Hypatius to revisit the Brothers in Rufinianae, & having also summoned Timothy he exhorted both to concord, saying; that nothing new had befallen them: that even among the holy Apostles there had been some contention. And they at once, suppliant, the one falling at the knees of the other, restored peace; & thereafter all took Hypatius to themselves as Father; He is appointed Superior at forty years of age; who also bore their care diligently according to the command of the Lord, spoken from the air, being then forty years old: & at the same time the monasteries, having no commerce among themselves, the blessed Isaacius still surviving, & rousing them to emulation, were gathered into one. Whence it came to pass that both in the city itself, & outside, & near, & far thence, the monasteries became as it were continuous, in which fifty, indeed even a hundred Brothers, dwelling together, praised God. The blessed Isaacius, visiting these, perfected them as his sons; & frequently coming also to Hypatius, & he is visited & instructed by S. Isaacius, thus exhorted him: Glory be to God, who made his servants dwell in the labors, built by the work of Rufinus. But now hear me, son: I open to you this secret, that God may glorify you. Whether your means be scanty at home, or ample; let no stranger pass by you sorrowful, but open your house to all. Thus admonished, a prayer poured out with him & a blessing received, Hypatius departed; & wherever he found the needy, if he himself did not have what to give; he admonished the rich & Christians, who soon sent the necessities. For he was in veneration with all, & was observed as a father.
[19] Just as also that great John, b who was then Bishop, solicitously cared for & loved the servants of God. He, I say, John who in his very works showed himself a Bishop: he, the lamp of the Church; exercising works of mercy after the example of S. John Chrysostom. he, the precious stone of the crown of faith; he, who did nothing not worthy of God, & who, having obtained from God for his merits the throne & grace, proved himself a Bishop by his morals. For he, an exile in a certain place, expelled from the famous monasteries, amid praying closed his last day. Whose & other holy Martyrs' sacred relics, after many years, the most pious Emperor Theodosius c ordered to be brought back to Constantinople with the highest honor. He therefore, caring for the necessities of life for the Monks, was wont to say to the more religious among them: An account must be given by you to God, because you hide yourselves, & do not put your lamp upon the candlestick; deprecating to be ordained yourselves, & striving that others be ordained, whom we do not know. For it had happened that a certain one of the monks, while he was being ordained, & did not wish a hand to be laid on him by the Bishop, bit off his own finger. d
[20] Hypatius therefore, returned with Timothy to Rufinianae, so advanced there the monastic life & mutual charity, that many, He increases the number of Monks, seeing such things, were kindled with desire of imitating & deserted the world, & in a short time thirty monks were gathered there with them; persevering together in psalmody, in prayer, in hospitality: & the Lord expelled thence the demons, whom we mentioned; & gave the grace of healings to Hypatius: who, as he had compassion on all, so was loved by all. & he frees the monastery from a demon: For with the suffering he himself suffered, & received the afflicted paternally, saying: It is written, "to the bound as bound together, & to the laboring as also dwelling ourselves in the body." To the Hebrews 13:3. "To weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice." To the Romans 12:15. Of the number of such was a certain Chamberlain, by name Urbicius, a good Christian; who, having gained acquaintance with Hypatius, was much attached to him; & learning that a certain man was oppressed by his very rich brother (for the one held the other, driven into madness by magic deceptions, shut up in a certain place & was preparing to kill him) brought him, rescued from his power, to the holy Hypatius & commended him to him.
[21] he undertakes the care of the madman in his own house; But some of the servants of the Chamberlain, ill-suspecting, said to him that it would be, that if that man exchanged life for death in that place, the monastery would claim his property for itself: & believing this the Chamberlain returns to the monastery, & entering there with a lion-like rush, demands that the madman whom he had brought be returned to him, wishing to send him back to his homeland. But meanwhile that man, infirm in mind (the man's name was Aetius) was likewise much infirm in body: & Hypatius prayed God for him, that he might recover health; indeed even with his own hands, the food which he could not take by himself, cut into pieces, he put into his mouth & supplied the wretch with necessities.
[22] When therefore Urbicius the Chamberlain came, & wished to send the sick man back to his own home, as has been said, Hypatius said: & refuses to return him before he is healed, God has committed this man to my keeping; & I cannot grant him to you; since he is too sick, & it is to be feared, lest perhaps he die on the way. Allow him to recover his health by God's favor; & then lead him where you wish. But if perhaps you fear for his property; come, I give you a written bond, that I will take nothing whatever from it: but this man I will not hand over to you: but if you decide to enter & drag him hence; drag him. But that one, as if forbidden to attempt anything further, departed sorrowful; & Hypatius proceeded to cure his sick man, commending him by prayers to God, anointing him with blessed oil, refreshing him with food; & so brought it about, that, God granting, the wretch recovered the use of reason & health of body; who also, opportunely instructed in the monastery, praised God, gave thanks to Hypatius & after some time rested in the Lord: which Hypatius immediately ordered to be announced to the Chamberlain; who coming asked for & received the goods of the dead man, wishing to admit no compensation. & giving thanks to God's servant Hypatius, embraced him, as his father; offered him also a reward, which he did not accept; & at last asked, that it might be permitted him to restore his monastery: & bringing workmen, the Brothers also laboring together, he rebuilt the church, the oratory, & the other cells, to the glory of God & the dwelling of more monks.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER IV.
He is enclosed in a cell; knows hidden things; is beneficent, even to his assailants; he is increased in the number of monks, to whose profit he attends.
[23] And the Christ-loving Hypatius made for himself a very modest cell, into which he enclosed himself during Lent, the door being smeared with mud, & there being a small window in the door, through it he took bread every other day, & through it conversing, he profited those present, & at the holy Pascha coming forth he appeared from his face like an Angel of God filled with divine grace. Immediately therefore he went to the holy apostles, for he had been ordained presbyter in the holy apostolium by the blessed Philotheus the bishop who ordained him by force. And as he ministered at the divine offering he so groaned crying out to God, that the hearers were pricked with tears; & fear & knowledge came upon all, as he went forth to the holy apostles, & he corrected all both in deed & in word, whom also the Clerics revered as a father.
[24] For often, when he was enclosed, many mysteries were revealed to him, which he did not wish to tell. And from this we knew that if any of the brothers was afflicted by thoughts or distressed by another affliction, sending for him, & admonishing, he profited his soul; among whom about a certain brother who had recently fallen away he says: seeing that so-and-so eats without a blessing, whom a brother watching found doing this; & being corrected by the admonition of the holy man he corrected himself, saying that he had done this in ignorance; for he had seen him surrounded by a serpent from feet to neck wholly, & the mouth of the brother bent over. And often at the holy Pascha, coming out of the cell, he was found to have heaped up in the cell the morsels given to him; for he partook of a little, & kept the rest.
[25] And again the domestic of the man Urbicius, by name Alcimus, having been bewitched, became half-withered, & coming with Urbicius, entreated Hypatius to obtain a healing. As the servant of God therefore prayed, & anointed him with oil, in a few days the Lord healed him; & in the meantime he beholds in his cell the hater of good in a bright form & saying to him: Hypatius, why have you taken the man from me, for it is now a time since he was delivered to me. And Hypatius said to him: The Lord rebuke you, devil, & your evil machinations. How long do you war against the race of men, turning about in the smoke & filth, cast down from such glory? how long do you not repent of your evils? That one answered: Does God receive me into my first place, if I repent, O Hypatius? And he to him: No good to you, devil; for it is not enough for you that God be entreated through the Saints to receive you as one of the repenting sinners. That one answered: I have such great power in the world, & do you tell me to be as one sinner? You speak well, Hypatius; & having said this, the Saint praying, he became invisible. And the Chamberlain with the domestic glorified God, & giving thanks embraced the servant of God. The Chamberlain therefore, having become Provost, built for his soul a hero-shrine, the most pious Emperor also contributing, into which the remains of the brothers who are perfected are deposited; having succeeded
Hypatius in the cell again attended to himself.
[26] And the blessed Jonas too came to visit Hypatius, & having prayed together blessed him saying: I have come to see you, genuine child; for I am about to travel the way of the fathers; (though I had you, after God, as a right hand, & having left me, you made yourself a monastery;) & having said this he departed to the monastery, & in peace was at rest. And Hypatius related, that when he was in Thrace, a brother having struck him, made blood in his mouth; & the ninth hour having come, struck by his conscience, the one who had struck him did not receive the blessing; & at the eating the Abba sought that brother, & learning the matter, called him & says to Hypatius: Make peace. And Hypatius answered, a little while ago my mouth was filled with blood, & now coming I will kiss him; & these things he said to us, teaching that even if it happen that someone be angry with his brother, immediately he ought to be reconciled; just as also the Lord taught us in the Gospel.
[27] And when he came to live as a monk in this place he said: That having found a potsherd, & having made hot water in it, I dipped my morsel; so much was I in want. And another time a stranger having come, & we having one loaf, I went off elsewhere to a meeting, that the loaf might suffice the two brothers with me & the stranger, & having gone there too, I found them that they had eaten, & they asked me saying: Have you eaten, Abba Hypatius? & I answered them yes. And again when I came to the monastery, the brothers said to me: Lord, have you eaten? I answered them too yes; & learning that God had sent other loaves, then I confessed to them, & I ate. And one of the days the loaves failing us, at midday sitting in the porch, I dozed off being very grieved, & I see a certain glorious old man, having come, & kicking me in the side, & saying to me: Hypatius, were you grieved that you have no loaves? rise, do not grieve, for from today bread shall not fail at your table, neither yours, nor of those after you. And he persuaded us saying: Thus, children, from then very often I wished, if I had anything, to give to the poor, that I might see whether it would fail, & it never failed because of the one who provides, so that the scripture might be fulfilled which says: But those who seek the Lord shall not be diminished of any good. And they themselves working, had bread from their own labors & provided to others also; & if anything bore fruit, with eagerness it was distributed to the poor, so that the scripture might be fulfilled which says: These hands sufficed both me, & those with me. So that in a few years there were gathered & came to be with him fifty brothers, whom in part Hypatius, & catechizing many others, made his disciples; & despising the world, they became monks.
[28] Among whom a certain one by name Aquila renounced at the beginning with five children, & his freedwoman, & made his wife dwell at a distance in a cell to be a nun. And one of the children called Benjamin served the Lord very well; for the Abba Hypatius falling ill, & being now gravely sick, the child Benjamin standing by, with pain of soul groaned & says: Lord, for the sake of the poor take me instead of the Abba. So within three days the child fell sick, & after these three days was at rest in the Lord. Likewise also Aquila, having conducted himself well, was perfected in a good old age.
[29] And water flowing in the conduit near the dwelling, the brothers had their need from it; but some cast unclean filth into the water, whether by ignorance, or by the suggestion of the demon, they know; nevertheless the brothers from this were put in sickness, & were much afflicted, because those doing this persisted. And the Saint, grieving as a father for his own children, fasting & praying, entreated the Lord Christ, that he would give them water, or stop the plotters. And after the third day he sees three men in bright clothing saying to one another: Where shall we show the Abba, that, making the digging, he may find water for the brothers, so that one of them took Hypatius by the hand, & led him to the place, & said to him: Having dug here, on the morrow Hypatius taking all the brothers, & having gone to the place shown to him, & having prayed at length, together with all the brothers, & having dug, found incomparable & clean water & very sweet. And the place was near the oratory-house, so that the one drawing from the well to the kitchen was hastened.
[30] And again the produce of the grain was eaten by worms, which the brothers took grievously. And Hypatius, knowing that it was now about to be lost, & there was nothing to do, having filled sacks says: Let us distribute it in the streets to the poor, that Satan may not eat it; so when he went off & gave to the poor; the Lord multiplied the produce of itself without human supply, & the worm appeared no longer in it, but it was very clean.
[31] At another time, four servants of Monaxius, the ex-consul, having withdrawn, came to the monastery wishing to renounce; & having received them he made them monks. And Monaxius with much eagerness, having sent post-horses, sought them, because one of them was his kinsman, & he was much attached to him, who, having become a most approved ascetic, was also deemed worthy of the presbyterate. And Monaxius, having seized one of them by name Paul, having tortured him cast him into chains, & delivered him to a soldier having made him shut in. And in the middle of the night an Angel of God having come, & loosed his bonds, & opened the doors, & having released him said, go & be saved; who being released, & knowing where the others were, came himself too to the monastery, for Monaxius did not yet know the monastery. And knowing it after these things, & learning the servants to be there, he sends to the Saint saying, send me the servants; & he says to those present: Going say to him thus, I do not take them from God & give them to you; but if you dare to take them, come yourself, & take them; for they have taken refuge with God. And that one, hearing & being at a loss in the word, having sent presbyters, entreated him saying: Come that I may behold you, because I have a longing to see you. And having sent very often, being constrained he went; but others were rebuking Hypatius saying: Do not go, lest casting you into prison, he demand the men of you. Monaxius therefore having met him, & having become very glad, swore saying, that this night I beheld you making a prayer in my house; so when he began to demand the children, saying many things, as one educated, & three times Prefect, I wish, he says, that you send my servants. And Hypatius as if astonished says to him: If you mind the things of men, fittingly they are your servants; but if you do not mind the things of men, but the things of God, they are not your servants, but fellow-servants; if therefore you hinder them from the common Master God what will he do to you? will he not kindle his wrath against you? And that one marveling at the man, & astonished at his answer, entreated him saying: Abba make a prayer, & bless my house & children, & depart in peace, & pray for me, for I will no longer dare to say, that they should not serve God. Having prayed therefore, & blessed him, he departed to his monastery.
[23] After these things Hypatius, dear to Christ, built for himself a very venerable little cell, He encloses himself in a little cell, & in it he enclosed himself during the forty days of the sacred fast, leaving only in the door, which he smeared with mud, a little window through which he received bread on alternate days, & to those standing outside brought help by his conversation. And at the holy Pascha coming forth thence, he reproduced in his face an Angel of God, full of divine grace: & immediately betook himself to the church of the holy Apostles, where he had been initiated a Presbyter, by the blessed Philotheus a the Bishop, all but compelled. He there, making at the altar, in the sacred oblation cried out to God with such groans, he devoutly celebrates Mass, that the hearers were pricked with profuse tears. And when he proceeded to the said church, all were struck with fear & instructed with salutary doctrine, he then teaching both by works & by words; wherefore also he was in veneration with the Clerics, as a father.
[24] Often, while he hid in his cell, many secrets were revealed to him, which he was unwilling to manifest: but this we knew from this, that if any of the Brothers was assailed by depraved thoughts, he knows the secrets of others, or gravely afflicted by another kind of temptation, he summoned him; & by his instruction brought help to his soul. Of this kind was that which he narrated of a certain Brother who had died a little before: namely that he saw him eating outside the time of blessing, whom another Brother, observing him doing these things, found: but this one, corrected by the salutary admonition of the Saint, amended his fault, alleging that he had done it in ignorance. For Hypatius had seen the whole man, from the sole of the feet up to the neck, surrounded by a serpent, whose mouth was inserted into his mouth. Often too when he came forth from his cell at the paschal time, it was observed that he had heaped up pieces of food, which had been given to him there. For tasting very little of them, he set aside the rest.
[25] At another time a certain domestic of the aforesaid Urbicius, by name Alcimus, miserably afflicted, he rescues a man from the power of the demon, had one side withered; & coming with his Lord, asked Hypatius to cure his evil: & the servant of God praying, & anointing him with oil, in a few days recovered from the Lord the health he had asked. But in the meantime, Hypatius sees in his cell the demon in splendid attire, saying to him: Hypatius, why do you snatch from me that man? for he has long been mine. And Hypatius: The Lord rebuke you, O devil; therefore being indignant, & make your sorceries vain. How long will you wage war with the human race, turned to the reek & filth, after you were cast from the heavenly glory? How long will you not repent of your crimes? But that one: Will God receive me into my first place, if I repent, Hypatius? And Hypatius again: By no means, devil:
Could you bear that God be asked through his saints, to receive you, as one of the sinners doing penance? To this the devil: & unwilling to be numbered among sinners. I have such great dominion in the world; & would you have me be one of the sinners? You speak prettily, Hypatius. And these things said, the holy man turning himself to prayer, the devil soon vanished, & the Chamberlain Urbicius with his domestic gave glory to God; & thanks together being given to him, they embraced his servant. And the same Chamberlain, afterward made Provost, built there for the salvation of his soul, the most pious Emperor also contributing the expenses, a monument, where the bodies of the Brothers who have ended their life are deposited. And again, having returned into the cell, Hypatius was at leisure for himself.
[26] The blessed Jonas too came to visit Hypatius, & a prayer being made together, he is blessed by Abbot Jonas, soon to die. blessed him, saying: I have come here to see you, my son; for shortly I am about to enter the way of the Fathers: but you, although according to God you were a right hand to me, leaving me, you yourself established a monastery for yourself. And having said these things, he departed to the monastery, & rested in peace. Hypatius also related, that when he was still living in Thrace, a certain Brother had so struck him, that his mouth was filled with blood. And when the ninth Hour had come, the striker, conscious of his crime, did not receive the blessing: c but the Abbot, noticing among the eating that he was missing; & informed of what the matter was; called this Brother, & said to Hypatius: Be reconciled to your Brother. And Hypatius: He indeed a little before filled my mouth with blood, yet I will kiss him. And these things he narrated, to teach us, that peace, if perhaps it happen between Brothers that one is angry with another, must immediately be restored. Just as also the Lord teaches us in the Gospel.
[27] But when he began to dwell in this place, he said he was so destitute of all things, that in a potsherd found by chance he had to warm water for himself, to dip his morsel in it. But at another time, a guest coming to us, when we had only one loaf, Most poor, he hands bread to the brothers, fasting himself I went off, he said, somewhere to a lodging, that that loaf might suffice for the two Brothers who dwelt with me, & the guest. And coming there, I found them eating; & to those asking whether I too had eaten, I answered, Yes. And when I had returned thence to the monastery, the Brothers likewise asked whether I had eaten; & I likewise replied, Yes: but soon learning that God had sent other loaves, I confessed what the matter was, & ate. Once too, bread failing us at midday, I sat in the vestibule of the house, & sorrowful groaned; when behold I see a glorious old man come to me, & striking my side said: Hypatius, are you sad, because bread fails you? & he receives a promise from God, Rise, wipe away your grief; for after this neither at your table, nor at that of your posterity, shall bread fail. And that this was no vain prophecy, he himself, to persuade us, said: Truly, my sons, thenceforth I often ordered, if I had anything, to be given to the poor; that I might observe whether bread would fail: & it never failed, through him who provided, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: Those seeking the Lord shall not be diminished of any good. Psalm 33:11. And the Brothers themselves procured bread for themselves by the labor of their hands, & from it gave to others also. bread thenceforth not about to fail the monastery. But if anyone had acquired anything more, he immediately distributed it to the poor; & another Scripture was fulfilled: That to the things which were needful to me & to those who are with me, these hands have ministered: & there were gathered with him in a few years fifty Brothers: whom Hypatius, teaching them one by one & many others the elements of religion, made his disciples, & thence they, the world despised, became monks. Acts 20:34
[28] Among these in the first place a certain one by name Aquila deserted the world with five sons, & one freedwoman d & this one indeed, separated at some interval, they made to dwell in a little cell. The number of Monks being increased, And one of the boys, Benjamin by name, profited greatly in the Lord: for when Abbot Hypatius had fallen into sickness & was now in graver state, the boy Benjamin standing by him groaned with grief, & said: Lord, for the Brothers & the poor take me instead of the Abbot. one boy offers himself to death for the sick Abbot. And so within three days the boy too fell sick & these being passed fell asleep in the Lord. Likewise also Aquila, having conducted himself laudably, died in a good old age.
[29] There was beside the monastery a cistern into which waters flowed together for the use of the Brothers: but certain ones, filth being thrown into the water (whether by inadvertence or by suggestion of the Demon they themselves know) caused the Brothers drinking from it to become sick, Himself, for the polluted cistern, & to be much afflicted; because they did not cease from the mischief. But the Saint, grieving as a Father for the sake of his children, gave himself to fasts & prayer, asking the Lord to provide them water & to make the authors of the trouble cease from the injury. But after three days he saw three men, clothed in splendid garb, who said to one another: Where shall we show the Abbot a place, that by digging he may find water for his Brothers? Then one of them, seizing Hypatius by the hand, led him to the place, & said to him: Dig here, & you will find water. So the next day, Hypatius, taking all the Brothers, led them to the place shown to him, he digs a well shown from heaven. & praying at length together with them, dug, & found most pure & most sweet water. And the place was near the oratory; so that the water drawn thence was conveniently led into the kitchen.
[30] At another time it happened that the produce of grain was gnawed by worms, with great trouble of the Brothers. he multiplies the grain cleansed of worms. Which Hypatius considering, & seeing it would be utterly lost, & not knowing what to do, ordered the sacks to be filled, saying; Let us distribute it publicly in the streets, that the poor rather than the demons may eat it. And when this had been done by them, the grain was multiplied without the help of human aid, nor did worms appear in it any longer; but it was very pure wheat.
[31] One day four servants of a certain Monaxius, f a man of consular rank, came asking to be received to the habit, renouncing the world; whom Hypatius, receiving, made Monks. the servants of Monaxius the ex-consul. But Monaxius, post-horses being sent after them, had them sought out with all diligence, because one of them was his kinsman, & he was much attached to him: but he, become an excellent Ascetic, was also worthy of the Priesthood. But one of them, by name Paul, caught on the road, Monaxius, having beaten him soundly, cast into chains, & delivered to a certain soldier to be kept. But an Angel of the Lord, coming at midnight, loosed the chains, opened the doors, & said: Go & be saved. So loosed & knowing whither his companions had betaken themselves, he too came to the Monastery. Where this was, Monaxius did not know; but afterward informed of it & that the boys were there, he sent to the Saint, who should say: he himself resisting in vain, Send me the boys. But Hypatius answered those who had come; Going announce to him; I will not take them from God to give to you: but if you dare to take them by force, come yourself & take them: for they have taken refuge with God. He, hearing this & doubtful of mind, sending Presbyters asked him to deign to come to him, because he much desired to see him; who at last, thus often interpellated, went to him: but others advised him not to go, lest perhaps, sent to prison, he be compelled to render the men. Nonetheless, he coming, Monaxius rejoiced vehemently, affirming with an oath that this night he had seen him praying in his house. [he receives them to the habit, & defends them lest they be drawn back to the world.] And when he had begun to demand the boys, saying many things (as a man eloquent, & who had been three times Prefect of the city) I wish, he said, you to send back to me my servants. To which Hypatius, dismayed: If you mind only human things, it is consequent that they are your servants; but if not human things, but divine; they are your fellow-servants. But if you claim them for yourself from the common Lord; what will become of you? will he not be kindled into wrath against you? He, moreover, marveling at the man, & terrified by his answer, asked him saying; Abba, I pray, bless my house & sons, & depart in peace, about to pray to God for me: for I would not dare to urge further that they not serve God. Having therefore prayed well for him, he withdrew to his monastery.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER V.
S. Hypatius's mercy toward the afflicted, the deceptions of Demons dissolved through him.
[32] And he so loved the poor, that he became to orphans as a father, & instead of a husband a husband to their mother. For it is not possible to say how many naked ones he clothed, or how many hungry the Lord nourished through him; for from his face it appeared that he was a lover of the poor; for the grace of God shone in him according to what is written: A man's almsgiving is a seal to him. So that the scripture was fulfilled which says: Blessed is he who understands concerning the poor & needy, in the evil day the Lord shall deliver him, the Lord preserve him, & give him life, & make him blessed on the earth. For neither did a poor man ever depart empty from the monastery. It is not possible to tell how many having wounds God healed through him; for many, whom the physicians had given up as not able to obtain healing because of their being poor, & to whom another could not draw near because of the stench, he himself with
his own hands washing off the gore cared for them, using no physician, or plaster, or anything else; for neither was he skilled; but with boiled lentils, & salt, he made a poultice, praying, & making the seal of Christ, & in a few days, God granting the grace, he sent them away healed, glorifying him. And to those healed he charged not to give thanks to him, but to God, & to glorify him who works wonders with his servants. How many about to be blinded by white films the Lord healed through him! Of whom one entering not seeing says to Hypatius: Seal me, servant of God, & spit into my eyes, that I may see again…
[33] And the being persuaded. Neither let us dread its phantoms, having the Lord helping us; for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, & of love, & of self-control. These things therefore at all times he taught us his disciples; & we hearing these things from him, & seeing the marvels of God done through him, that through the laying on of his hands the Lord healed many from various diseases, marveling, glorified him who gives such grace to those who serve him, & taking eagerness, we knew that this is what God spoke to him through the voice borne to him through the air, "I have set you for a light of the nations unto the end of the earth"; because even while he lived his life became to many an occasion to take refuge in the light of salvation, & having renounced the world, to become monks. And after his departing to God his admonition will be a profit to many, & will lead them to the light of the Lord. For the light of the Lord is to fear the Lord; for everyone who hears the commandments of the Lord, & the admonitions of the holy Fathers, & keeps his footstep in the light of the Lord; for he who does the commandments of God, & keeps them, & humbles himself, has been founded upon the rock; & the rock is Christ, for indeed the holy Fathers teach us nothing outside the commandments of God.
[34] And the diet of holy Hypatius was pulse & vegetable & a little bread, but toward his old age he partook of wine; & he ate always at the deep ninth hour, & often made postponements. And in Lent he ate every other day, enclosing himself, & singing & praying the matins, third, sixth, ninth, the lamp-lighting, the first-sleep offices, the midnight offices, according to him who says: Seven times a day I praised you for the judgments of your righteousness; he did therefore the day-and-night singing seven times a hundred psalms & a hundred prayers. This way of life therefore he left to his disciples up to his death; never even in old age slackening from the diet which he always held; for remaining always healthy he had his body firm; & he had his face so blooming, as if partaking of costly foods; for truly the Saints partake of splendid foods, enjoying the divine & spiritual table in the inner man.
[35] And there was continual compunction in him as he prayed; & he so wept & cried out to God, that we were held by fear, weeping. And he said to us always: The monk has this foundation of advancement, to renounce his own wills, & to fulfill the obedience of the spiritual Father, & to cast all care & hope upon God, that he may care about us; for the Lord does not overlook those who hope in him. For behold you have come to my humility, having left the world for God's sake, & your own parents, & you have laid upon me the burden of your conduct; what therefore I tell you, this you ought to do, for I too am eager to say what is pleasing to God. You therefore will hear me, that we both may please God, & that I may be deemed worthy with you in that day to say: Behold I & the children whom you, O God, gave me. Teaching us these things therefore, he wrote other charges on paper, & delivered them, that through these we might please the Lord. And to the friends coming into the monastery he said the things needful, that they prefer nothing to the fear of God, & flee from injustices, & be eager continually for the Churches, & according to power do almsgivings; being admonished these things therefore, they greeted him, & departed profited.
[36] Once another secular man having come to him & having a terrible sore; for his thigh was wholly rotten; he cared for him praying for him, & no profit came to the man. Then the holy Hypatius says to him, have you done any evil? And he answered, that before I came to the monastery, a certain woman, taking a knife, said incantations over the sore. When therefore he confessed, the holy Hypatius related to us saying, that I saw in that very night the woman sitting outside the gate, & the devil at a little distance from her, sitting in a canopy in royal form, & having a throng of many demons. And the Brothers went out pursuing the woman, & the demons wrestled against the Brothers; but when I came up, the devil says to his own servants: Give place; you can do nothing to him; & immediately the Lord made all invisible, & the man became healthy in a few days. Another again they brought to him having his head swollen as one would see a swelling of three heads made into one, & having sores in it; & this man was a servant of the racing-stable, as some say a groom. Having prayed therefore & washed with his own hands he cared for him; & in sufficient days the affliction advancing, Hypatius marveling said to the man: Confess, have you offended God? for unless there were some cause, God would not be at a loss for our labors. And he confessing nothing, the servant of God sees in the night five demons saying to him: Why do you wish to take the man from us? do not labor; for he was delivered to us for his iniquity. And the Saint saying, What iniquity? those said, That having a wife, he committed adultery with another's, & having committed adultery he swore on the Gospel, & having sworn came forward & communicated in the morning. The Saint said these things to the man, That you did these things. And he answered that it was so; then he says to him: In return for which you did not confess when asked, behold yet three days, & you die; for if you had announced & repented, we too would have entreated God, that pardoning he might heal you. And of the rest he despaired, & in three days died. For the soul that sins, it shall die.
[37] At another time again certain monks at three miles had a little church, & there went to them a meddlesome man on pretext of renouncing; & he had also a child with him; & he waited afflicting the Brothers, & the Hegumen on certain pretexts. And the Hegumen was called Eumathius, a wonderful man & filled with the love of God; he sends therefore to Hypatius, entreating him to come to him, because he was much afflicted. And going, as soon as he saw, he immediately knew what kind of man he was; & it happened that the child stumbled there, & that one beating the child made him bloodied. And Hypatius taking the rod with which he beat the child, struck him, saying: Have you come here to do murders? And that one, angered, threatened him saying: Within one week I must be avenged on you. Hypatius therefore went to his own monastery, & after five days sees four demons in the form of camels, but they had necks & heads of dragons. And the Angel of God who was present with him took him up higher, & the demons stretching out their necks so as to seize him, were not able, because he went up higher. At last the Angel shows him that man in the form of a servant having anointed his beard, sitting under a bed saying, This one sent them. And Hypatius says to the demons: I say to you demons, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, what he sent you to do to me, go off, do that to him. And immediately those turned back to the one who sent them; & he at once being convicted began to devour his tongue, & his hands without sparing. The Brothers therefore came again to Hypatius saying, That he terribly gnaws himself, & calls on your name; deign therefore to come & pray for him. And it happened that he was enclosed, for the holy Lent had come on, & he answered them: Leave him to be chastised a little, that he may know the fear of God; give him rest therefore until the holy Pascha. The fast therefore being completed, at the holy Pascha, the holy Hypatius went, & finds him in terrible state, & says to him: Is God unjust, who brings the wrath? I speak after the manner of men; God forbid; you have known that God shields his servants. And immediately he made a prayer for him, anointing him with oil, & having made the seal of Christ, immediately the Lord healed him from the evil one; but he could not stand because of the great ill-treatment; Hypatius therefore says to the Abba Eumathius: Within a few days he is to become well, & immediately release him. And the Brothers, delivered from that affliction, gave thanks to God.
[38] Another again, a Reader of the holy Apostles near the monastery, married, & having received the half of the dowry, sought the other half from the parents of the girl, but the girl did not bear children. And the parents were angry with the girl, both before the marriage, & learning that she did not bear, not only did they not allot the dowry, but neither did they wish to make peace with their daughter. And both came to Hypatius, & the girl asked to make peace with her parents; & Hypatius said: Make peace with your daughter. They were unwilling saying: That if she die, we must take also what we gave for a dowry, since they have made no child. A time therefore having passed, & those not wishing to make peace with their daughter, at last Hypatius called the girl before all, & having set her in the midst said: To you
I say in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you will conceive & bear a son, & you will call his name Personas after the name of his grandfather. And conceiving she bore, & called his name Personas, God having made the word of his servant; for he will do the will of those who fear him, & will hear their supplication. And they, according to the law, both paid the debt, & made peace, & glorified God for what had happened.
[39] Another, once, a villager, by name Zeno, they brought to the servant of God, terribly afflicted by a demon, so that he did not know where he was, & he raved & attacked all; & his village was six miles from the monastery. And his freedwoman, weeping, fell before the Saint; & Hypatius said to all, that the Lord said to the blind man, Do you believe that I can do this? If therefore the Lord requires the faith of the one approaching, how much more we sinful men? If therefore you believe in my God, whom I serve from my youth, that he grants you the healing through my entreaty, & that he bestows the cure; if therefore those who present have no faith, the one interceding cannot easily be heard; since the faith of the one approaching the prayer cooperates; if therefore the faith of that one cooperates with the prayer, God hears the one praying, & bestows the healings; for let no one think that apart from the grace of God a man can heal anyone, as the Lord said: Heal the sick, cast out demons, freely you received, freely give; it is clear that the worthy receive from God the grace of healings, & it, working in them, bestows the healings. These things he admonished those coming to him for healing, that they might glorify God, who saves those who glorify him, & heals every disease through the intercession of his Saints. When therefore he received Zeno, he secured his hands, having clothed him with a sack not having sleeves, so that he was girt, & his hands secured within; & the sack was very strong. Those terribly demoniac, attacking to strike some, he clothed with the sack, & they did not attack anyone, but were tamed, remaining in fasting & prayer; for God healed them through the intercession of the Saint; thus then Zeno raving said to the servant of God, What have you with me, man? why do you take mine? I gather them, & you scatter them wickedly? what have you with me? why do you plunder mine? what to you & to mine? Hearing these things the Brothers smiled rejoicing together, & hymning God, & became eager genuinely to serve God, seeing the marvels which God did through those who fear him. In a few days therefore he healed him, & having gone to his house, immediately he walked in the disorders of life, & the unclean spirit returned again to him; & they bring him again to the monastery, & he made himself worse than at first, not taking food. And the Saint coming fed him with his own hand, & he scarcely received it; remaining therefore a time, & being healed, again he was assailed, & they brought him after a long time. This therefore for four bringings, at last the Lord healed him, & he gave thanks to the holy Hypatius, glorifying God, for thereafter he remained healthy. And the Saint was very patient of evil, & had compassion on those having afflictions, & said: This is the one beaten by the robbers, the demons, & become half-dead, concerning whom the gospel speaks; let us do this mercy for God's sake; for the Lord coming redeemed Adam through baptism, in which are baptized those who believe in him.
[32] He so loved the poor, that to orphans he was as a Father, Merciful toward the poor & to their Mothers as a husband: but it can scarcely be said how many naked ones he clothed, & how many hungry the Lord fed through him; for from his very face it appeared that he was a lover of the poor: for the grace of God shone in him, as it is written, A man's almsgiving is a seal to him: & so the scripture was fulfilled which says: Blessed is he who understands concerning the needy & poor; in the evil day the Lord shall deliver him: preserve him & give him life & make him blessed on the earth. Eccl. 17, 18; Psalm 40:2. For neither did a poor man ever depart empty from his monastery. It also cannot be said how many wounded God cured through him: for many whom the physicians had dismissed because of their poverty, & whom others feared to approach because of the stench, wiping off the gore with his own hands, he healed, using no plaster or medicine, of which he was ignorant; & the wounded but either with cooked lentil or salt applied, with prayer & the sign of the Lord's Cross: whom, by the grace of God concurring, within a few days he sent away healed, praising God. But to these so cured he himself charged, that they give thanks not to him, but to God, & those with failing sight: & glorify him who did wonders through his servants. To how many, with the eye covered by a film, about to be blinded, did the Lord preserve sight through him? Of whom one, seeing nothing at all, said to Hypatius: Sign me, Servant of God, & spit into my eyes that I may see… here some things are lacking.
[33] Let us not dread Diabolical Phantasms, having the Lord as helper: for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of fortitude, he miraculously cures very many of them; of love, & of prudence. These things therefore he always taught us his disciples, who, hearing such things from him & seeing the marvels of God, & how by the laying on of his hands the Lord cured very many of various diseases, with admiration glorified him, who conferred such grace on his servants: & made thereby more eager we recognized that this was, what the Lord had said to him, through the voice made to him from heaven; I have set you for a light of the nations unto the end of the earth. But his life too was for many a cause that they took refuge to the light of salvation, & the world deserted, became Monks. And after he migrated to the Lord, his doctrine was useful to many, & led them to the Divine light: for the light of the Lord is to fear him: by word & example he converts many. for whoever hears the commandments of God, & the doctrine of the holy Fathers; & directs his steps in that light; & who, observing the precepts of God, humbles himself, will be founded upon the rock, which is Christ: for neither do the holy Fathers teach us anything other than the observance of the precepts.
[34] The food of S. Hypatius was legumes, he lives sparingly, & vegetables with a little bread; but in old age he took a little wine: & he ate when the Ninth hour was now completed: but often he passed over it. But in Lent, he was refreshed only every other day, enclosing himself, & singing Matins, Terce, Sext, None, the Lucernarium, & the Offices which are wont to be performed at the first sleep, & at midnight, he fasts strictly; according to what is written: Seven times a day I gave praise to you for the judgments of your justice. Psalm 118:164. And so within the space of one day & a night he discharged a hundred Psalms & as many prayers. And holding this manner of living until death, he left the same to his disciples, not even in extreme old age dismissing the form of life which he had assumed: he frequently sings psalms, but enjoying robust health, he had his face tinged with so lively a color, his body nonetheless vigorous. as if he were fed with many & sumptuous dishes: for truly the Saints use a splendid food, when the inner man is fed with spiritual & divine food.
[35] To him as he prayed compunction was frequently present, & with so strong a wailing & cry he struck the ears of God, a man of great compunction that he struck horror into us as we wept. And he said to us that the Monk has this foundation of his progress; to renounce his own will, & to have toward his spiritual Father a perfect obedience, & to cast all his anxiety upon God; since he has care for us: for the Lord will not despise those who hope in him. Behold you have come to my humility, leaving the world & your parents for God's sake, & you have laid on me the burden of your discipline. What therefore I tell you, you ought to do it: for I am eager to teach what I know to be more pleasing to God. You therefore hear me, that we both may please God, & I may be worthy who may say of you in that day: he instructs his own to perfect obedience, Behold I & the children whom you, O God, gave me. And teaching these things by words, he also put down in writing other precepts on paper, & delivered them that we might please God through them. And to the friends frequently coming to him in the monastery he advised fitting things, to prefer nothing to the fear of God, & seculars to the fear of God. to flee injustice, to frequent the churches diligently, & according to means to do almsgiving. So as he urged, they bade him farewell, & departed with fruit.
[36] When a certain worldly man had come to him bearing a sore by which the whole thigh had rotted, he undertook his care, praying over him, who nonetheless got no profit from it: wherefore Hypatius asked him whether he had committed any evil. And he answered, before I came to the monastery a certain woman, a knife taken, uttered some incantations over the sore: which when he had confessed, the Saint told us, He cures the ulcerous thigh, the demons being put to flight. that he had seen by night the woman sitting outside the vestibule; & not far from her a demon, on a throne, in royal attire, with many demons standing around. And the Brothers went out to pursue the woman, whom the demons resisted, until, I coming up, the devil said to his ministers; Give place, you can do nothing to harm him: & immediately the Lord made all disappear: & the man was healed within a few days. At another time another was brought with so swollen a head that it seemed to equal the swelling of three heads fused into one; & it was full of sores: & he was a minister of the public post, of those whom they call grooms. Praying & with his own hands cleansing his head, he began to cure him; & when through many days he made no progress, the evil even growing worse, Hypatius, marveling, said to him; Confess whether you have committed anything against God? for unless some cause underlay it, God would not despise our labor. And when he moreover confessed nothing, the holy man saw by night five demons, He dismisses the impenitent adulterer uncured, thus addressing him; Why do you strive to snatch from us that man? do not labor: for to us
he was delivered on account of his iniquity: and when the Saint asked of what kind, they answered, that having a wife, he committed adultery with another's wife, & having committed adultery he swore upon the Holy Gospels, & so remained with her until morning. The Saint therefore said to the man; These & these things you have done: & he confessed that the matter was so. Then Hypatius said, since being questioned you denied, behold within three days you will die; but if penitent you had confessed, we would have asked the Lord, that, your fault remitted, you might be healed. At last the man despaired, & on the third day died. For the soul that has sinned, it shall die.
[37] By a sorcerer caught At another time again, certain Monks had a little church, distant three miles, & there came to them a conjuror, as if about to renounce the world, having with him a boy: but he persevered for certain causes in being troublesome to the Brothers & the Hegumen, who was called Eumathius, a man admirable & endowed with the love of God. He sent therefore to Hypatius asking that he deign to come to him, because he was much afflicted. Going therefore to visit him, he at once recognized what manner of man he was: for it had happened that the boy did I know not what wrong, & beaten by his master was bloodied: which Hypatius seeing, seized the staff with which the boy was being beaten, & in turn struck him saying: Have you come here to commit slaughters? But that one, moved with anger, threatening said: Within one week you shall give me satisfaction. Hypatius therefore returned to his monastery, the four demons sent against him & after five days saw four demons in the form of camels, having necks & heads of a dragon: but an Angel of God standing by him lifted him above them; who stretching out their necks to seize him, could not, because he was higher than they. At last the Angel showed him that man, in servile attire, with twisted hair, sitting upon a bed, saying: This one sent them. But Hypatius, turned to the demons, I command you demons in the name of Jesus Christ, that to him who sent you, you do this very thing which he ordered you to do to me. And behold immediately they turned to him: who soon began to bite fiercely his own tongue & his own hands. he sends back upon him, The Monks therefore came again saying, He tears himself, & invokes your name: deign therefore to come & pray over him. But he was then enclosed, because the time of holy Lent was approaching, & he answered them; Let him be a while to be chastened, that he may say he fears God, & make him rest until Pascha. So, the fasts being completed, on the day of holy Pascha, Hypatius went, & finding him gravely afflicted said to him; Is God unjust, (that I may speak after the manner of men) because he seeks vengeance? Far be it: & heals him penitent. now you have known that God guards his servant. And immediately he prayed over him & anointed with oil with the sign of the Cross, at once the Lord healed him from all evil. But because of excessive weakness he could not stand on his feet; & Hypatius said to Abbot Eumathius; Within a few days dismiss him fully healed. And the Brothers, freed from that tribulation, gave thanks to God.
[38] A Reader of the church of the Apostles situated near the monastery took a wife, To a barren girl an offspring & having received half of the dowry, demanded the other half from the parents of the girl, although she was barren. But they, already before the marriage offended toward their daughter, & understanding that she did not bear; not only did not furnish the dowry, but neither wished to be reconciled. Both therefore came to Hypatius; & the girl asked him to deign to obtain peace from her parents. And when he said to the parents, make peace with your daughter, they refused saying; That if she died without offspring, they wished to recover even that which they had given in dowry. And when thus a good deal of time passed, & they would not give peace to their daughter, & obtains peace with the dowry from the parents. at last he called the girl before all, & setting her in the midst said to her: In the name of Jesus Christ you will conceive & bear a son, & you will call him Persona, by the name of his grandfather. And conceiving she bore, & gave the son the name Persona: God fulfilling the word of the Saint; for he will do the will of those who fear him, & will hear their supplication: but the parents according to the law paid the debt, & peace being made glorified the Lord over the things which had happened.
[39] A certain rustic by name Zeno at another time they brought to the holy man, so gravely vexed by a demon, Accustomed to require faith from those bringing the sick that he did not know where he was, but spoke strange things, insulting all. His village was distant six miles from the monastery: but his freedwoman fell tearful before the Saint, who before all said, that which Christ said to the blind man; Do you believe that I can do this? For if the Lord required faith from those who came to him, how much more we sinful men; if therefore you believe my God whom I have served from my youth, that for my entreaty he will confer health on you, he will readily grant the remedy: but if those bringing anyone do not have faith, the intercessor cannot easily be heard; because the faith of the one approaching does not cooperate with the prayer: but if the faith of that one cooperates with the prayer, God receives it, & imparts health. Let no one think that without the grace of God a man can heal anyone, as the Lord said; Heal the sick, cast out demons, freely you have received freely give. Matt. 10:8. It is clear therefore that to the worthy is granted the grace of curing diseases, & it cooperating with them affords the faculty of cures. So he instructed those coming to him for the sake of cure, that they should glorify God who saves those who glorify him, & to constrain the hands of the frenzied, & heals every kind of disease through the intercession of his Saints. When therefore he received Zeno, he constrained his hands within a sack without sleeves, so that from the hands of one thus wrapped nothing was to be feared by anyone: & the sack was very strong, in which he wrapped the more truculent demoniacs, accustomed to strike those approaching them, & so they could harm no one, & were tamed by fasting & prayer: for God cured through the entreaty of the Saint. This Zeno moreover chattered thus against the Servant of God: the rustic energumen, & relapsed for the third time, What to you with me, O man? why do you take mine away? I gather them; & you wickedly scatter them? what to me with you? why do you plunder mine? what to you with mine? Hearing such things the Brothers smiled, & rejoicing glorified God, & became more eager to serve God duly, seeing the marvels which the Lord worked through those who fear him. And him indeed within a few days the Saint healed; but he, returning to his home, quickly returned to the license of his former life, & again the unclean spirit entered into him. Wherefore again they brought him to the monastery, where he did worse than before, taking no food; but the Saint with his own hand putting morsels into his mouth, the fourth time he corrects & frees. he received them with difficulty: & when after some stay there he had been cured, again tempted they endured him long: & at last, brought a fourth time, the Lord fully healed him, who gave thanks to S. Hypatius praising God, & thenceforth remained healthy. But the Saint, because he was patient & full of compassion toward all the afflicted; This is, he said, the one who, as is read in the Gospel, was wounded by robbers, namely the Demons, by whom he was left half-dead; let us do mercy to him for God's sake. For the Lord came to redeem Adam through Baptism, in which are baptized those who believe in him.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER VI.
Various virtues of Hypatius & his prophetic spirit, proved in an imminent famine & in Nestorius, the Olympic games disrupted.
[40] And the holy Hypatius read quietly, for he had a longing for the divine scriptures, & eagerly beautified if anywhere he found a book in good condition having the establishment of morals, neither going forth except to the Apostolium nearby on the Lord's day, for the sake of the liturgy of God, & after the dismissal immediately returned to the monastery. And he was so prudent, that he was always seen as if carried by God; for he was foreseeing in affairs, & foresaw the outcomes through the grace of God; for some of the scholastics having renounced became his disciples, & if ever they wished by the skill of their training to philosophize in conversation, immediately he told them whether they had answered rightly according to justice, or with artful philosophy.
[41] And he had a zeal of God, & tamed many places in the country of the Bithynians from idolatrous error; for wherever he heard that some worshipped either a tree or some other such thing, he came there immediately, taking the monks, his disciples, & having cut it down he burned it with fire, & thus thereafter little by little they became Christians. For indeed the lord Jonas his Father, having become so, thus tamed Thrace & made them Christians; but the holy Hypatius, if anywhere he saw someone neglectful in the work of God, was moved by zeal & said to us, little children, be eager in the work of God, that I be not indignant; for in my being indignant I do not see my prayer pure; nevertheless it is good to have a small buffet, that we may know that we are sinful men, as the Apostle says: There was given me a thorn in the flesh, an Angel of Satan, to buffet me, lest I be exalted; for from the time God appointed me to lead you his sheep, a necessity lies upon me, unless I evangelize & teach you the way of God; for I am wary lest I be accused like Eli, because he did not rebuke for correction his own sons Ophni & Phinees the priests, & with them he received the wrath. For also the Apostle says, Reprove, rebuke, exhort; And, He who loves his son will chasten him. You therefore, children, be eager to set virtue right, God granting the grace, & the endurance; & the heart that is unwilling, to constrain it by force always to the good, to all endurance & long-suffering, abstain from every kind of evil, proving all things, hold fast the good; for you have need of endurance, that having done the will of the Lord, you may obtain the promise; for the kingdom of Heaven is of the violent, & the violent seize it.
[42] And so many
almsgivings he did to the poor & to the monks who were in want, that those who saw glorified God & said: Truly this one, according to his name, is "Consular" (Hypatos), Christ supplies to him. For once a famine was about to come, & he saw himself giving in the night bread to the poor, & the Angel of God who was always present with him, saying: Keep, Abba, for there is to be a famine, & that you may then give to them; & immediately on the morrow having entreated friends, & borrowed, he laid up pulse & grain cheaply; & within ten days there was a scarcity, so that one could not find even half of the goods, as was then given; & the famine prevailed three years. All the country therefore being famished, hung upon God & upon him, especially in the winters. And the good monk ordered pulse to be boiled, & at the hour of the ninth about five hundred souls to be gathered, & eating they said the "Lord have mercy"; & with thanksgiving & prayer they received the food of the day, so that the scripture was fulfilled: He scattered, he gave to the poor, his righteousness remains unto the age of the age, his horn shall be exalted in glory. As also elsewhere, That to the believer belongs the whole world of riches, but to the unbeliever not even an obol. And if anyone was ever profited in his life, & wished to bless him to his face, ashamed he said to him: Whatever good you have seen, brother, it is God's; but if anything otherwise, it is mine; glorify God therefore & give thanks to him, & do not bless a man before his death; for as long as we are in this flesh, we are under fear & trembling, lest as men we stumble, & offend God; until therefore the last day let no one boast, or be careless, but with fear & trembling we ought to work out our own salvation, with him who cooperates with us. If therefore any of the very rich, & prudent, & loving God wished to build a martyrium in the surrounding places, he prayed that from the disciples of Hypatius he might make Clerics, saying: That truly those are crucified, & they entreated him much to grant it, & he did not readily grant it to them.
[43] Among these too, Nestorius coming from Antioch, & about to become Bishop in the splendid Constantinople, whom Dionysius brought, who had become commander of the East. And as he was about to come near the city, the holy Hypatius sees in that same holy Church of the great city, that certain secular men were seating him on the throne, & immediately a voice saying: Three times & half a time, & the tare shall be plucked out. Hypatius therefore began to say to some & to the brothers that I am wary, children, on account of the one about to come, because I have seen concerning him that he is about to go crooked in the faith, but he rules three & a half years. As he passed therefore through the monastery, Nestorius, having heard I know not whence, did not wish to come to a meeting with the Saint, just as everywhere he visited all in his traveling. When therefore he entered the great city, & became Bishop, immediately he sends Clerics to Hypatius saying, Going say to that dreamer, that I have twenty years to hold the city, & where are your dreams? And Hypatius says to them: Say to the Bishop, that if what I saw comes to pass, it was a revelation; but if not, it was a dream, & I was deceived as a man; having answered therefore in the answer sent to him, after a little time again he sends some others, that they might catch some words of his; but they, having tested him with certain unseasonable & useless questions, not only did not find anything to catch of his words, but also marveling withdrew, having learned great understanding in him; whence Nestorius being quiet, sent no one else to him. And the three years being fulfilled the evil treasure of his heart began little by little to be manifested; for in conversing, he spoke unspeakable things against the Lord, to his own head, which it is not seemly for us to speak; the wretch not knowing the divine scripture which says, Who shall declare his generation; and, Search not things deeper than you.
[44] And Hypatius, knowing that Nestorius had thought contrary to what is right, immediately in the apostolium took away his name, that it should not be commemorated in the offering. And learning this the most devout Bishop Eulalius, fearing the outcome of the matter, as the report had it, he too indicated him, that he might rebuke Hypatius; for Nestorius was still in power in the city. Eulalius therefore says to Hypatius: Why did you take away his name, not knowing what is to come to pass? And Hypatius said: I, from the time I knew that he speaks unjust things about my Lord, do not commune with him, neither commemorate his name; for that one is not a Bishop. Then the Bishop says in anger: Go, correct what you have done, else what shall I do to you. And Hypatius answered: What you wish, do, for I have purposed to suffer all things, & so I did this. As therefore Nestorius traveled to Ephesus, & a synod was assembled, on the day on which he was to be deposed, Hypatius sees that an Angel of the Lord, taking hold of the holy John the Apostle, led him to the most devout Emperor saying: Say to the Emperor, Give sentence against Nestorius; & he hearing, gave it. And he marked the day, & it was found, that on that very day he was deposed, the three & a half years being fulfilled, as the Lord had foreshown him; & after a few days the deposition of Nestorius was brought, & read before all the Clergy & the people, Eulalius & Hypatius being present in the Church.
[45] At another time, again Leontius the Prefect undertook to renew the Olympic games in the theater of Chalcedon, which the ancient Emperors, & Constantine worthy of eternal memory, had abolished. As therefore Hypatius heard this, he showed such vehemence of zeal, that groaning he wept & cried out to God & said: My Lord, while I live does idolatry wish to bloom again? do not allow this, Master. And immediately he says to the brothers: If anyone is afraid to die for Christ, let him not come with me. And about twenty brothers followed him, & immediately he rushed to the Bishop Eulalius. And the Bishop inquiring his purpose, he said to him: I have heard & known that idolatry is about to take place in the Olympic games near us, & the holy Church of God, & I have decided to die in the theater, rather than to allow this to take place. But the Bishop in this too opposed him saying: Do you simply wish to die, unless someone forces us to sacrifice? you, being a monk, sit, & be quiet; for this is in my charge. And he said: Since indeed it is in your charge, & you do not care, I, seeing the Master dishonored by those who attempt these things, & the Christian people departing in ignorance & idolatrizing, have come to protest to your Holiness, that tomorrow, the Prefect being seated, I am to enter with a multitude of Monks, & to drag down the Prefect from above, & so to die for Christ, or while I live to allow this to take place. But the Bishop in other things too often insulted him & despised him. And Hypatius immediately rushed to the Archimandrites saying: Strive together with me, that we may drive out the devil, but if not, let us die for God. And all rejoiced & obeyed him as a Father. And Leontius, knowing these things, that the Monks had agreed to hinder him, alleging sickness, crossed over to Constantinople having done nothing of what had been foretold; for Hypatius having purposed to contend, the Lord overturned the counsel of those who counseled evil. And the Bishop Eulalius, in these things & in more, knowing Hypatius, that he was crucified, & did all things for God, & by God was prospered, afterward honored him much & all but reverenced him as a father; for this one was very devout & leading a most chaste & most upright life. And Hypatius was so zealous in the matter of the Olympic games, that he even learned the corner thereof, g & what was the wickedness of the practice, for he did not know it except partially from hearing. As therefore he was concerned about this, God sends him a man, by name Eusebius, knowing about this to the highest degree; this Eusebius said therefore that the Olympic games were a most terrible festival of Satan, & most full of idol-madness, & a stumbling & destruction of the Christians, & he set forth for him the account in writing.
[46] And the Blessed one had such poverty & a manner free from love of money, that very often he persuaded us & said, That I never had in my heart, that I possess anything in this world, but that God set me a steward. Among which once a certain scholastic left as inheritance a few coins & garments, & immediately he distributed them to the monasteries, but the garments to the poor; but a few of the garments were left, & he says to the brother standing by him: Go, spread them out, lest they be eaten by moths. And the brother, having shaken them, says to the Abba Hypatius: Command me to wrap them up with a linen cloth, that they not be eaten; but Hypatius rebuked him saying: You are worthy of rebuke, because you said, I will wrap them up to lay them away, & do not rather give them to the poor. And the brother, seeing his love of the poor, was much profited.
[40] Hypatius read with attention & deliberation, vehemently loving the divine Scriptures, & studiously searched, Devoted to sacred reading if he found any spiritual book, suitable to form morals: nor going forth, except on the Lord's day to the nearby church of the Apostles, for the sake of the divine Liturgy: this finished, he immediately returned to his monastery, & was so circumspect in all things & intelligent, that he was looked up to as a Divine man in all things; because, provident in affairs, he foresaw the outcome of each through the grace of God. And so of those skilled in the laws some, the world left, became his disciples; & very prudent & when they wished from the discipline of their art to philosophize in the conferences, he immediately discerned whether they had answered rightly according to law & equity & the rules of the philosophic art.
41] Having also a zeal of God he purged many places of Bithynia from idolatrous error: [& zealousfor wherever he knew there was a tree which was worshipped, he proceeded thither with his disciples, & cut down handed it to the flames; & so little by little all became Christians: just as also his spiritual Father Jonas tamed Thrace to Christianity. But if he saw anyone negligent in the work of God, moved with zeal he said to us; Be eager, little children, in the service of God lest perhaps I be angry; for if I have been angry I shall not find my prayer pure. Yet it is good now & then to receive a small buffet, that we may acknowledge that we are sinful men, as the Apostle says: There was given me a thorn of the flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me, lest I be exalted. 2 Cor. 12:7. For from the time the Lord willed me to preside over his sheep a necessity lies upon me of evangelizing & teaching you. he exhorts his own For I fear lest I be called into judgment like Eli, who, because he did not correct his sons the priests Ophni & Phinees, underwent a similar vengeance with them: since the Apostle says, Reprove, rebuke, exhort; &, He who loves his son chastens him. 2 Tim. 4:2. Be eager therefore, Sons, to exercise virtue, God granting the grace & perseverance, & constraining your mind by force, though unwilling, always to all good, & to all endurance & long-suffering, abstaining from every appearance of evil, to endurance, proving all things, hold fast what is good: for patience is necessary for you, that doing the will of God, you may bring back the promise. For the kingdom of heaven suffers violence & the violent seize it.
[42] Such almsgivings he did to the poor & to the abandoned Monks, that those who saw glorified God & said: profuse in almsgiving & forewarned of an imminent famine, Truly this man, according to his name, is a Consul of Christ, who supplies all to him. And when once a famine was imminent, he seemed to himself by night to distribute bread to the poor, & the Angel of God, who was always present with him, to say: Keep them, Abba, for want is at hand, that you may then bestow them on them. And early in the morning, friends being called together, taking a loan at small price, he laid up legumes & grain bought up; & within ten days there was such dearness of provisions, that for what he had given before he could scarcely have had half: & the famine lasted three years; whence the whole multitude of the rustics, laboring with hunger, depended on God & on him, especially in the winter season. he provides for it for three years. And the holy old man ordered legumes to be cooked, & at the ninth hour some fifty souls to be gathered, by whom amid eating "Kyrie eleison" should be said, & so with thanksgiving & prayer they took the daily nourishment, that what is written might be fulfilled: He dispersed, he gave to the poor; his justice remains unto the age of the age, his horn shall be exalted in glory; & elsewhere, To the faithful belongs the whole world of riches, but to the unfaithful not even obols. Psalm 111:9. But if anyone helped by him praised him to his face, ashamed he said; If you see any good, Brother, it is all God's; if anything else, mine. Glorify God & give him thanks, nor beatify a man before death: for as long as we dwell in this flesh, we live with fear & trembling lest we slip like men & offend God; wherefore before the day of death let no one boast, or be without care: but with dread we ought to work out our salvation, God helping us. If any of the Rich & more honorable & God-fearing wished in the surrounding region to build an oratory for some of the Saints, He refuses to be praised for a good work. he strove to obtain Clerics from his disciples: for he said; These are truly crucified, & they asked him much that he would send them: nor did he give them readily.
[43] In those days when Nestorius came from Alexandria, a Dionysius b the Prefect of the eastern militia conducting him, about to be Bishop in the illustrious city of Constantinople, & he now approached the city: holy Hypatius saw that some seculars set him on the throne; predicting the short time of Nestorius, & immediately heard a voice saying to him: Three years or half a year & the tares will be uprooted: hence Hypatius said to some & also to his Brothers: I dread the future Bishop: because I have seen concerning him that he will overthrow the faith: he will rule three & a half years. When therefore Nestorius had heard this, I know not whence, passing through the monastery, he was unwilling to come to a meeting with Hypatius, although he was wont to visit all foreigners through whom there was passage; but coming into the great city, & made Bishop; he immediately sent Clerics to Hypatius, saying: Going announce to that dreamer that I am to hold the city for twenty years, & where then will his dreams be? Hypatius answered, Announce to the Bishop, if that which I saw comes to pass, the revelation made to me was true; if not, I shall have been deluded by a dream & imagination, as a man. he is laughed at as a dreamer, Thus caught in the answer sent to him, after a little time he again sent others, to catch his words. These therefore set about to test him with useless & frivolous questions: but so far were they from being able to find what to carp at, that they departed full of admiration, having known his such great prudence: wherefore Nestorius, growing quiet, ceased to send to him. & replies skillfully to those sent to him from that one, But three years being passed, it began little by little to appear how evil a treasure lay hidden in the heart of Nestorius: for amid preaching he spoke abominable things c against our Lord to his own head, which it is not fitting to set forth here; the wretch not understanding what is written, His generation who shall declare? &, Things deeper than you do not search out. d
[44] Hypatius moreover, understanding that Nestorius wished to know more than he ought, immediately in his own church of the Apostles took away his name, that it should not be commemorated in the Sacrifice. Is. 33:8. Which understood, the most pious Eulalius, e & fearing the outcome of the matter, as is said, denounced it to Nestorius, & as he begins to spread his blasphemies excommunicates him privately, that he might rebuke Hypatius, because he was very powerful: but to Hypatius he said: Why have you taken away his name, not yet knowing what is to come to pass? Hypatius answered: I, from the time he began to speak wickedly of my Lord, no longer commune with him, nor endure to commemorate his name among the Sacred things: for he is not a Bishop. Then Eulalius said to him with vexation; Away, amend what you have done; if not, I know what I shall do with you. Hypatius answered; Do what you wish, I am ready to suffer anything: for with this mind I did this. When therefore Nestorius set out to Ephesus to the Synod assembled there, on the very day on which Nestorius was to be deposed, Hypatius saw that an Angel of the Lord, seizing S. John the Apostle by the hand, which the fact that his deposition was made at the foreknown time proves. led him to the most religious Emperor to whom he said: Give sentence against Nestorius; which that one hearing did. The day being noted f, it was found to be that on which the third & a half year was completed, & on the same Nestorius was deposed, just as the Lord had manifested to Hypatius. And after a few days his deposition was announced, & read before all the Clergy & People in the church, Eulalius & Hypatius being present.
[45] At another time too the Prefect Leontius wished in the theater of Chalcedon to restore the Olympic games, The Bishop being warned in vain not to allow the Olympic games to be restored, which the ancient Emperors & Constantine worthy of eternal memory had abolished: which Hypatius hearing was inflamed with such zeal, that with a groan he cried out & said to the Lord: Even while I live will idolatry wish to flower again? do not, I pray, permit this, Lord. And immediately he said to the Brothers: If anyone fears to die for Christ, let him not come with me. And about twenty Brothers followed him, immediately going to the Bishop Eulalius. And he asking for what cause he came, he answered: I have heard that idolatry is to be restored through the Olympic games, & that near our church & monastery: but I am resolved rather to die in the theater than to tolerate it. But the Bishop in this resisted him saying: Do you then wish to die for nothing while no one forces us to burn incense? you who are a Monk, sit & be silent: this rests on me. To whom Hypatius, If, he said, it rests on you, & you do not care; I, seeing my Lord despised by those who attempt such things, & the Christian people through ignorance proceeding to idolatry, have come to admonish your Holiness, that I tomorrow, when the Prefect sits, [he himself rather to die rouses all the monks & disrupts the affair as idolatrous.] will enter with a multitude of Monks, & cast him headlong from his place; & so I will die for Christ rather than permit this. But the Bishop, who often elsewhere too had treated him with contumely, then too despised him. Wherefore Hypatius immediately went off to the other Archimandrites; Come to the contest with me, he said, that we may put the devil to flight: if not, let us lay down our life for God's cause. They, rejoicing, all obeyed as their father. But Leontius, understanding the Monks had conspired to hinder him; feigning sickness immediately returned to Constantinople, & nothing was done of what he had designed. For Hypatius showing that he wished to contend, God subverted the counsel of those who plotted evil. But Eulalius, taught by this & many other experiences, knew that Hypatius was truly crucified, & would do all things for God, & walked rightly before him, thenceforth esteemed him greatly, & venerated him almost as a father: for he was exceedingly religious & leading a venerable & most upright life. But Hypatius was so fervent in the affair of the Olympic games, even before he understood on what the matter turned, & what malice lay beneath it: for he knew nothing of it except in part & from hearsay. And when he was anxious about it, God sent him a man by name Eusebius most knowing of that matter, who set forth that the Olympic games were a mere festival of the devil, a most full idolatrous madness, & the perdition & ruin of the Christians; & delivered to him the description of the whole matter in writing.
[46] So great a despiser of riches was the blessed man, & so alien from all avarice, that often instructing us he said: his inclination to almsgiving. Never did it descend into my heart, to believe that I possessed anything in this world: but only that I was God's dispenser. Let it be an argument; that when once a pleader had bequeathed to him by will a certain sum of money & garments; the money he distributed to the monasteries, the garments to the poor: & when something was still left of the garments; he said to a Brother standing by him: Spread it out lest it be eaten by moths: to whom the Brother, shaking it out; Order, he said, that I clothe myself with it together with a linen cloth, that it not be consumed. But Hypatius rebuked him, saying: You are worthy of reproof; because you said I will clothe myself with it, to keep it: & will not rather give to the poor. And the Brother
CHAPTER VII.
The great prudence of Hypatius, & his esteem with all; the miraculous effects of his eulogiae (blessed gifts), their efficacy against demons.
[47] And a certain scholastic, having heard about the holy Hypatius, & being very Christian, became known to him, & became to him a heartfelt friend; for he longed for God, & honored devout men. And this one had also three other brothers, likewise scholastics; & of them two had not yet received baptism. And learning from understanding that Hypatius was greatest in love of God, & adorned with faith & virtue, he goes & brings his own brothers. And they say to the Abba Hypatius, testing him: That a certain free virgin wishes to take lodging with you, & to stay today. And the Abba Hypatius, knowing the whole through the grace of God, says to them, There is also a lodging & we receive; but Hypatius did not readily meet with a woman. And they say to him: That if your Holiness receives us, we wish, God granting, through your hands to receive the holy baptism; for they were much indebted to his admonition, having heard also of his life from their former brother. Immediately therefore Hypatius, giving thanks to the Lord, gave them to read, & said, Daily, children, be eager to save your souls, for that is the gain you have from the world; for all other things remain here; for they were exceedingly wealthy, living chastely. As therefore he baptized them, so much was the grace of God poured out upon one of them, that the bystanders perceived that his soul was caught up into the heavens; for before he consented to be baptized he gloried, living in the affairs of life; but when he was baptized, he was so filled with compunction from God, that he immediately renounced all the affairs of life, & cared for nothing else, except how he might please God; for night & day praying & weeping he brought us too to compunction; & he was humble & reckoned himself last of all. And the holy Hypatius loved him, & seeing the change made from the Holy Spirit, wished to keep him with himself. But that one said he must go & save his own wife. And Hypatius said to him: If you go, immediately they will ordain you Presbyter; & as he told him, so it came to pass. And being ordained with his own wife, they dwelt together chastely as two brothers, & emulating the life of the holy Hypatius, he lived devoutly, so that all were profited by him, & wishing to imitate the Abba, moved by longing, he asked that the life of the Abba be written down. And after a little while his brother too was deemed worthy of the Presbyterate, & dwelling with one mind, they earnestly served God.
[48] And how many others too, seeing Hypatius, conceived a longing to be baptized by his hands? And how many from heresies & from the gentiles did he convert, & monks were made of them, despising the world? How many storm-tossed in affairs took refuge with God & with him, & obtained help? for being renowned to all, he was heard by all; for what stranger came to him, & did not find rest? or what grieved one was not consoled? for with the suffering he suffered, & to those faint-hearted in asceticism he gave eagerness; for all, seeing him an old man & thus contending, took eagerness. And concerning the wounded, or lame, or blind, or paralytic, or sick, how many the Lord healed through his prayers, it is not possible to relate one by one. And having heard about him in the West & in the East, they wrote to him as to a Father, & sent him eulogiae from Jerusalem, & Egypt, & Syria, & Rome, & Asia, & Thessalonica; all the Archimandrites & the Bishops & devout men from the desert prayed to receive replies from him & blessings. And he wrote back, entreating all to pray for him, that, he said, we may pass through this age well.
[49] And the most pious Emperor Theodosius, having seen him a second time, embraced him greeting him & saying: As I heard, so I have also seen; & more frequently he wrote to him as to a Father & entreated him to write back, & he wrote back to him this prayer as to a Christian: May the Lord grant you with a perfect heart to seek out his ordinances. And the three Empresses, the sisters of the Emperor, having desired to see Hypatius, come near the Apostolium to the palace, & indicate to him: Come, that we may see you, or we come to you that we may be blessed. And he, constrained, because they loved Christ, went, & having profited them through his admonition & having made a prayer, blessed them & withdrew.
[50] Two other scholastics became known to him, & frequented him as a Father, marveling at his understanding & his life; who related to us that they had seen many marvels of God in the man; of whom some also said this, That we went to our own estate, & a little slave-boy of theirs struck his eye with a stick, so that the flesh of his eyes hung as if to fall out; & all weeping, there was nothing to do; but one of them, a fellow-servant, says: Bring a eulogia of the holy Hypatius, & his eye is healed. And having sent & received a eulogia from the Saint, they brought it, & having soaked it in water bound up his eye, & on the morrow loosing it, found it whole, & entire as his other eye, & all glorified God. And others often related, that being found far off, & having fallen into dangers, through the eulogiae of the holy Hypatius the Lord saved them; for one once being shipwrecked, & saved with the men, for all the things of the ship were lost, two of the sailors seized two bundles of pure silk, & sought whose they were. Then the man says: Loose them, & if eulogiae of the holy Hypatius are found, they are mine. And loosing they found it so, & glorified God, that not one garment was wetted.
[51] And near the dwelling there was a stable, in which are the horses of the Post, & a demon having entered killed the horses. And the stable-keeper came crying out, & falling before the Saint. And he, having blessed water, gave it to him saying: Sprinkle in the house & on the horses; & giving him also a eulogia he said: Hang it in the dwelling, & the demon will flee. And that one going off & doing as he was commanded by the Saint, no other animal died any longer, the demon having fled. And a demon having entered into the houses of many of the villagers afflicted them sorely, killing either an ox or a sheep. And the villagers immediately came to him weeping, that going he might make a prayer, & he going & making a prayer, the Lord healed them.
[52] And after a long time from the banishment of Nestorius, there came often dignitaries & devout Ascetics, & asked him, whether it were possible for Nestorius to come to Constantinople. And he said to them: If it is the time of the Antichrist, Nestorius must come to Constantinople, but if it is not the time of the Antichrist, neither will Nestorius come to Constantinople; for the teaching of Nestorius is a preparation of the Antichrist; for truly, Brothers, I blush at the impiety of those who speak his things, & who, thinking the incomprehensible, dare presumptuously, intruding into the things they have not seen—Nestorius & those with him, against whom the wrath of God will be wakeful, & their destruction will not slumber, unless they turn & repent of their lawless deceit; but may it be ours, having the eyes of the mind enlightened, to walk on the true path, & to hold the faith which the Apostles handed down to us, worshipping one God in three hypostases; for there is one will, one power, one Godhead, one kingdom of Father & Son & Holy Spirit. And the incarnation of the Only-begotten is true, having been made flesh of the Holy Spirit & Mary the virgin according to the pious tradition of the Fathers, & having been manifested to us in the flesh, & having worked divine & marvelous wonders, & having suffered in the flesh for us the cross & death, & having raised us up together with himself, us who were broken down under sins, & having led us up to the first blessedness. Those therefore hearing rejoiced, & greeted him, being well taught.
[53] And once, as he was going on the Lord's day
to the holy Apostles, a certain strange woman was found crying out, & being convicted, & adjuring said: What to me & to you, O Hypatius, do not torment me, & having entered as far as the porch, she remained twisting until the dismissal; & immediately going out he sealed her, having made a prayer; & she falling at his feet, & being quiet for a moment, rose of sound mind, God granting her the healing through the laying on of the hands of the Saint. Another, a younger man, by name Alexander, was brought by his own father, weeping & entreating the Saint concerning his own son. And he says, Let him remain in the monastery. And he remaining forty days, the demon dwelling in him was hard to be cast out; at last the Saint having prayed the demon went out crying out great things. Another again, a youth by name Stephen, his own mother brought sorely driven by a demon; for he could not remain in one place, drawn to absurdities; for he was so strong that he overpowered ten men, & broke the chains on his hands like sticks. And having remained in the monastery, & become whole through the prayers of the servant of God, going off again he walked in the youthful disorders of the world; whence the demon returned again upon him. And again having bound him, they brought him to the Saint, whom God healed through the entreaty of the Saint; & this happened both first, & second, & third, & fourth, so as to pass a four-year time. And afterward the demon attempted also to do a murder, for taking up a great bench, while the Brothers slept at midday, he wished to strike upon their heads; but the Lord did not allow him; for the Lord guards the souls of his holy ones; for one of the young men, waking, seized him, & a tumult arising, with difficulty thirty-six bound him, who of them bit two, of the one the arm, & of the other cut off the finger. But the Lord, through the prayers of his servant Hypatius, healed even that one at last, & the demon no longer drew near to him, & he cured those who had been bitten.
[54] Another rustic by name Tryphon they brought having his foot rotted, that he might be healed by the Saint. And the servant of God, having summoned a skilled physician, that by his skill he might cut out the bone called the "little reed," & that one saying, let us rather cut off the foot from the knee, Hypatius having prayed orders the bone to be taken out. Taking therefore a drill & a hammer the physician cut the bone, & made a noise. And the rustic in pain said: What are you doing to me? And the physician pleasantly says to him: We are making you a little foot without a bone; & having taken out the bone from the ankle, in a little time the Lord healed him having the foot without a bone. And he ran like all, & labored more than the others, & nothing hindered him, so that all who saw glorified God.
[55] And again the brothers dug a pit, two fathoms in depth, & having brought up a great stone, such as eight men lift, & having set it from the edge, the stone fell down, & caught two brothers below in the pit. And the holy Hypatius standing by, & beholding what had happened in their falling, cried out saying: Blessed be the Lord; & not one of them was harmed by the stone at all, except only that one of them wetted his garments; for there was water in the pit, wherefore also digging they found both the stone, & they found the water that it might irrigate their garden.
[56] Another, a soldier, a Scriniary (secretary) of the Prefects, by name Egersius, of middle age, was a pagan; & God wishing to save him, arranges for him to lose documents, & he was hearing about Hypatius, & he comes to him falling before him & saying: Pray that the documents be found & I will believe in God; for if it be not found I take to flight, or I devise some other evil, that I be not put to death by the Magistrate. And he admonished him with exhortations, & having prayed to God says to him: Go, for a man will meet you saying that the documents are found, & immediately, as you agreed with God, do, & become a Christian. As therefore he went three miles, now about to cross, he heard that the documents were found; for his own man pursued him, supposing that he had fled, & meeting him, announced to him that the documents were found. And that one, becoming exceedingly glad, returned to Hypatius, giving thanks to the Lord, & not only believed in God, & was baptized, but also renounced; for having set his own man in the Scrinium, he himself lived a chaste & devout life. And having become a host, every day he received as guests both monks & poor, distributing sufficient food, of those things which God gave him in his military service.
[47] A certain pleader, a good Christian, hearing the fame of S. Hypatius, became very familiar with him: because, loving God, he greatly honored religious men: prudence in directing those converted from the world but he had also three other brothers, likewise skilled in the law; of whom two had not yet received baptism. Knowing therefore by experience how great Hypatius was in the charity of God, & with how great virtue & faith he was adorned; he brought him his brothers. And these said to the Abbot, testing him: A certain freeborn virgin asks of you some little gift, & today she awaits. To whom Hypatius, knowing all through the grace of God, thus answered: Nay, we rather receive a little gift: for the Saint did not easily deal with a woman. But they said; If your Holiness receives us, we wish through the grace of God from your hands to receive baptism: for they had been much edified by his exhortation, & by the things which they had heard before about his life from their former brother. to one of whom profiting notably, Wherefore Hypatius, giving thanks to God, gave them things to read & thus admonished them: Be eager, sons, daily to save your souls: for this gain you will bear from the world; because all other things remain here: for they were very rich & lived splendidly. When he had baptized them, so copious a grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon one of them, that the bystanders thought his soul was caught up to heaven: for before he was baptized, he was puffed up handling the affairs of the world: but after baptism he was so filled with grace of compunction from God, that he immediately renounced all the things of the world, & cared for nothing else, than how he might please God: for night & day praying & weeping he moved us too to compunction, & humbled himself, & reckoned himself the last of all. Therefore S. Hypatius loved him, & seeing such a change to be from the Holy Spirit, wished to retain him with himself: but he said that he wished to go & save also his own wife. To whom Hypatius; If you go, immediately they will ordain you presbyter; & it came to pass as the Saint had said. he foretells he will be ordained Presbyter. Ordained with his wife he lived as with a sister; & having imitated the life of Hypatius, he so piously ordered his own, that he edified all vehemently: & that he might better express the Abbot's morals in himself, he asked that his life be written for him. But his brother too, not long after raised to the presbyterate, dwelling together they served God with one mind.
[48] Everywhere famous How many, seeing Hypatius, were kindled with the desire of receiving baptism from his hands! How many did he convert from heresy & Gentilism, of whom also several made Monks despised the world! How many immersed in secular affairs took refuge with God & with him, opportunely helped! For being famous among all, he was heard by all. What stranger came to him & was not received? What afflicted one did not receive consolation? For with the suffering he had compassion, & to those failing in the exercise he added courage: because seeing the old man so manfully contending, they became more eager. But of the wounded, lame, paralytics, or otherwise infirm, healed by God through his prayers, it is impossible to render an account one by one. As many as heard his fame in the East & West, wrote to him as to their father, & sent him eulogiae from Jerusalem, Egypt, Syria, Rome, Asia, he is consulted from everywhere; Thessalonica. The Bishops & all the Archimandrites & the more religious of the Hermits asked him that they might merit to receive his replies & blessings: but he wrote back to all, asking that they pray for him, So that, he said, we may pass through this age with virtue.
[49] The most pious Emperor Theodosius, visiting him once & again, embraced him with a kiss, & said, As I heard so I have also seen: writing to him often too, he asked to be written to: he is sought by the Emperor, & writing back to him as to a Christian he wished him thus: May the Lord give you with a perfect heart to seek out his justifications. And the three Queens, the Emperor's sisters, desiring to see Hypatius, & by his sisters. came to the palace near the church of the Apostles, & a messenger being sent to him said; Come that we may see you, or we ourselves will come to you, to receive a blessing. But he, constrained by necessity, because they loved Christ, went, & by his instruction edified them; & a prayer being made for them, blessing them he withdrew.
[50] At another time two Scholastics, brought to his acquaintance, adhered to him as to a Father, admiring his wisdom & conversation, & related to us many marvels which they had noted in the man: of whom some also reported this: By his Eulogiae an eye almost torn out is healed, when once we were returning to our own region, a boy of servile condition struck his eye against a piece of wood, so that the flesh of his eye hanging outward seemed about to fall out. But all weeping, & not knowing what to do, one of the fellow-servants said: Bring the eulogiae of S. Hypatius, & his eye will be healed. They sent therefore & received & soaking them in water laid them on his eye: but the next day undoing them, they found it whole & entire, like the other eye; & all glorified God. Others likewise often related that the Lord saved them set far off & in danger through his eulogiae. & the shipwrecked goods are not wetted, One of these, having once suffered shipwreck, & thence saved together with his companions (for the whole ship had utterly perished), related how two of the sailors had seized as many bundles of all-silk cloth: & when they asked whose they were; this man said: Loose them, & if you find there the eulogiae of S. Hypatius, they are mine. They opened them therefore, & so found & gave glory to God, & found nothing wetted, except the outer garment.
[51] In the neighborhood of the monastery was a stable, & in it the horses of the public post, which a Demon having entered killed the animals: the stable-keeper came therefore
crying out, & falling at the knees of the Saint, the mischief upon the public horses ceases, who, blessing water, gave it to him: With this, he said, sprinkle the house & the horses, & adding also a eulogia, he said, Hang it in the stable & the demon will flee. The man did what he was ordered, nor did any animal die any more, the demon fleeing. A demon also vehemently afflicted many of the rustics, having entered their Houses, & upon the animals of the rustics. & killing either an ox or a sheep: but then they immediately ran back to him, wailing & praying, that coming to them he would pour forth a prayer; which done the Lord cured them.
[52] Long after Nestorius had been punished with exile, there came to the Saint many placed in dignity, & also Clerics & religious Hermits, Consulted about the return of Nestorius, asking him whether by any means it could come to pass that Nestorius should return to Constantinople: but he answered, if the time of Antichrist is at hand, it will be necessary for him to return: but if his time has not yet come, neither is it the time for Nestorius to return: for his doctrine is the prelude of that one. Truly, Brothers, I blush at the impiety of those speaking with him, or for him, & daring to approve those abominable things which Nestorius & his companions, too pleased with themselves, attempted not understanding; he execrates his abettors, upon whom the wrath of God will be wakeful & their destruction will not slumber, unless they be converted & repenting depart from the error of that impious one. But may it be ours, the eyes of our mind being illumined, to walk by the way of truth, & to hold that faith which the Apostles handed down to us, by adoring one God in three Persons: for there is one will, one power, one Deity, one kingdom of the Father & Son & Holy Spirit: likewise the true incarnation of the Only-begotten taking a body from the Holy Spirit & Mary the virgin, & confirms catholics in the faith. according to the tradition of the Fathers, & appearing to us in the flesh, & working divine & stupendous miracles, & in that same flesh suffering for us the cross & death, raising us too with himself prostrated by sins & leading us back to our former blessedness. Those who heard him teaching such things rejoiced very much & embraced him, being well instructed.
[53] When on a certain Lord's day he was going to the church of the Apostles, a certain foreign woman met him crying out & rebuking him with these words: What to you & to me, Hypatius? the demon from the woman do not torment me: & she followed him as far as the vestibule, remained there d … until the people were dismissed. But he, soon going out, signed her, & prayed; & she falling at his feet & resting a moment, rose restored to a sound mind, God himself granting health through the laying on of the hands of S. Hypatius. Another certain young man, by name Alexander, was brought by his father weeping & wailing, & beseeching the Saint for his son: who said: Permit this one to remain in the monastery. But he remaining there forty days, & from the youth he casts out; it was difficult to cast out the demon by which he was possessed. At last however the demon went out chattering many things. A similar other by name Stephen his mother brought direly vexed by a demon: for he could not remain in the same place, wandering from insanity: & he was so strong, that he was superior to ten men, & broke the chains placed on his hands like sticks. But remaining in the monastery & made whole through the prayers of the servant of God, [the more difficult third, returned four times, at the fifth time at last he wholly overcomes.] he went away, & turned again to the youthful follies of the world: wherefore the demon returned again into him, & therefore again binding him they brought him to the Saint; whom God healed through the intercession of the Saint. And this was done once, twice, thrice, & four times over a space of four years: & at last the demon attempted through him to make a great slaughter; for taking up a great bench among the Brothers sleeping at midday, he wished to dash out their heads; but God did not permit him: for the Lord guards the souls of his Saints; because one of the younger ones, awaking, seized him, & a tumult being made, thirty-six Brothers with difficulty could bind him: who however, attacking two of them with his bites, bit the arm of one, & took off the finger of another. But God through the prayers of his servant healed him, nor did the demon approach him; & those who had been wounded were also cured.
[54] A rustic too by name Tryphon they brought to the Saint to be cured, whose foot had rotted. And the servant of God summoned an experienced physician, that according to his art he might cut out the bone, For the laboring foot he has a little bone cut out which is called the "little spoke." But this one said, We shall rather cut off the leg at the knee: but the Saint persisted ordering only the bone to be taken out: wherefore the physician, a wedge & mallet taken up, cut off the bone with a crash: & the rustic in pain, What are you doing to me? he said, to whom the physician smiling, We are removing the little foot from the bone. without harm. And when they had taken the bone from the ankle, within a short time the sick man was healed by God, having the foot without that bone, & he ran like the rest, & worked more than the others, without any hindrance, to the astonishment of all who looked on.
[55] The Brothers once dug a cistern two fathoms deep; whence bringing up a great stone, such as eight men could lift, & placing it on the brink, they let it fall away from them, upon two Brothers who were within the cistern: Two of his own about to be crushed by the fall of a stone he preserves. which the Saint, who was standing by, seeing in the very fall of the stone exclaimed, saying: Blessed be the Lord: & none of those who were inside was harmed, except that the garment of one was wetted: for there was water in the cistern, on account of which the diggers had found the stone: & that water was to serve for watering their garden.
[56] A certain soldier, a Scriniary of the Prefects, of early age & still a gentile, by name Egertius, God so disposing who wished to save him, lost his documents, For the Scriniary who had lost his documents, causing them to be found, & when he had heard of Hypatius, came to him & fell down saying; Pray that I may recover my writings, & I believe in God: but if not, I have need to take to flight, or even to do something worse, lest the prince take me out of the way: who, having exhorted him much, after a prayer made to God said: Go, & a man will meet you, & will say the documents are found, & immediately do what you have promised God, & become a Christian. When therefore he had gone three miles, & was about to cross, he heard that the documents were found: for his domestic followed him, makes him a Christian & a Monk. fearing lest he take flight, & meeting him, announced that they had been found: at which he, rejoicing, returned to Hypatius, giving thanks to God, & not only was baptized; but also made a Monk, transferred the office of the Scrinium to his man, & himself led a religious & upright life. Become also a receiver of strangers, he daily refreshed very many, both Monks & poor, received in hospitality, with food, out of those things which God had conferred on him in his military service.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER VIII.
S. Alexander the Acoemete received, a presumptuous Monk chastised, superstitions restrained by S. Hypatius.
[57] At another time again a certain Archimandrite, by name Alexander, having come from the East, & with him about a hundred Brothers, dwelt in the city; & his way of life became glorious to all, for he was a zealot to the highest degree, & carried by zeal he rebuked the Magistrates, if he knew anything absurd; but they, having made one counsel, banished him, that he should go to his own homeland. And he, together with the brothers, having gone out of the city, comes & takes refuge with the Apostles near the dwelling of Hypatius. And the Bishop sends crowds, on account of the command of the Magistrates, that they might drive them thence; & the crowds coming & having beaten the Brothers with Alexander, cast them out of the Apostolium; & some of them they also wounded. The brothers then carrying their Abba crossed near the monastery, for he could not walk because of the blows. As they were passing there, Hypatius going out detained them; & having led all into the monastery he restored them, & cured their wounds. And the Bishop of Chalcedon sends saying to Hypatius, that you have received Alexander, tomorrow you are to be driven out with him. And he says to the one sent: Say to the Bishop: Thus shall the one who touches him be, as one who touches the pupil of his eye. At dawn therefore the Bishop sends the Deacons of the martyria, & poor men & some from the workshops, & Clerics, & two mules, that, having set them on, they might travel to the exile. But the country-folk, grieving, send to Hypatius saying: Command, & having gathered let us drive them off. But he said to them: Let it be, children, for if it be not from God for us to be driven off, my God will drive them off. As therefore the brothers of both groups were prepared, & each wished at least to take a book as a eulogia for the road, behold a Deacon from the palace on horseback, who learning what was being done, entering among the crowd says: Give a notary & paper, give your names, the Empress has sent to learn who are those driving off the servants of God. And immediately those, hearing, covered their faces & fled, so that not one of them was caught. And the scripture was fulfilled which says: How shall one pursue a thousand, & two move ten thousand, unless God had given them up? for the Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, & will deliver them. Hypatius therefore, having rested a time, sent the sheep with the shepherd. And they, giving thanks, departed about fifteen miles, & in a solitary place made a very great monastery, in which dwell three hundred ascetics together, glorifying God unceasingly. And these are the monks who inhabit the monastery of the Acoemetae (the Sleepless).
[58] And another disciple of the holy Hypatius there was, by name Macarius; & this one, living in the world, had zeal, but not according to knowledge, & was dwelling with meddlesome men, whence he had also a derangement, hiddenly, in his mind,
so that not even he knew it, for this was hidden. This man, having received the holy baptism, immediately moved by zeal & longing came into the monastery, & having renounced the world became a monk; & he advanced to such persevering asceticism, for he was very robust in body, that he labored at three offices. For if ever a garden was to be cultivated, or vineyards to be dug, or some other persevering work to be done, those skilled were appointed to the work for this; but the rest worked at hair-cloth. There is among them one a calligrapher, another a washer & sewer, another a doorkeeper, for there being one door, no one may simply enter or go out; another is over the grinding animals, another a builder; & if anywhere there was need of a building to be made, all came together there. Another served the sick, another to receive & give rest to strangers; but all making weeks, render the service to one another, besides the common Liturgy of all, & no one may simply leap from his own work, to which he was appointed, to another, but where he was commanded he remains in his order.
[59] And Macarius, to whatever he was assigned, eagerly & zealously gave himself to the toil, as truly serving God, according to him who says: In labors more abundantly; for being very self-controlled he kept vigil, often even standing upright the third part of the night he prayed; for besides the common psalmody & vigil of all, in the day-and-night he meditated all of David a second time. And he had such love toward the Brothers, that he never sought his own rest, but that of the Brother. Thus then serving God, he received from God the healing of his first derangement. Having spent then eighteen years in the monastery, the devil, not being able to find whence to overcome him, found him weaker about humility, & raising up in his mind the labors of his virtues, & bringing certain phantasms to him in the form of Christ, at last took him captive into self-conceit, suggesting to him in his thoughts, that he was just above all; For you have practiced more than all, & Jesus loves you, & dwells in you, & through you speaks to the Brothers. And as time passed, from his words Hypatius knew, & some of the Brothers, that he was deceived, & brought him admonitions, & he was not persuaded by him, but mocked all; for he was ravaged by the cunning of the adversary, & this befell him through lack of discretion. He was so deranged in mind, that he openly called the holy Hypatius a rebel against Christ. The right hand of God is upon my head, & Jesus speaks through me, & it was revealed to me, & Jesus said to me, that I bestow on you a thousand Bishops, that you may rule them as an Archbishop. And Hypatius, having compassion on him lest he go out of the monastery wandering astray, puts irons on his feet, that being guarded he might come to himself. And after a few days Macarius says to Hypatius: Release me, & give me one Brother, that going I may gather the thousand whom Jesus promised me. And Hypatius said to him: I indeed wished you not to go, but if you do not bear it, I do not give you another brother; but if you wish to go, go alone.
[60] Going off therefore, he immediately approached the holy mysteries not having received a blessing, nor having made peace with the spiritual Father; for such a custom & order prevailed, that one going out of the monastery, & whether about to stay in another place, or even about to travel on the road, should first come & make peace with the Priest & Father, & receive a blessing, & thus thereafter without hindrance & without stain approach the holy mysteries, according to the command of the Lord which says: If you offer your gift, first be reconciled to your brother; for once a certain one through folly communicated, not having received a blessing, & was chastised with a terrible chastisement by God, until he came to Hypatius, & he prayed for him & he was healed. But the wretched Macarius, full of the tears of the servants of God, having spent four years, neither came to the Father & made peace, nor gathered one of the thousand; & the not making peace with the Father became worse for him than any harm; for a year after the death of Hypatius, being chastised into the utmost sickness, certain Brothers bring him into the monastery, whom the disciples of Hypatius, taking pity, received, until both his flesh & his bones wasted away. And for eighty days he took no food, crying out & saying: Woe is me, that I set at nought the holy Hypatius my Father; for being sober in his own mind he cried out saying: Behold my back, for some are sorely tormenting me with rods; & saying these things he gave up the spirit. And they laid him with the Brothers, where each day the Brothers perform the prayers; for since he suffered this through lack of discretion & levity, & as inexperienced did not stand soberly in the wars, for this cause the Lord had compassion on him, & did not deprive him of the brotherhood; whom we hope, by the intercessions of all the Saints, & of our Father Hypatius, to find mercy from the Lord in that day with all the servants of God. Amen.
[61] And this we have mentioned for a demonstration of the profit which is in humility; for though one have ten thousand virtues without humility, he labors in vain; for an abomination to the Lord is everyone high-hearted, & he builds upon the sand, & there is contempt for the proud, but the Lord looks upon the prayer of the humble; For I was humbled & he saved me. For behold how the Brother Macarius practiced! & that he supposed himself to be something, had not the mercy of God anticipated him, he lost all. Whatever good works therefore one does, let him say in his heart in truth that I am not worthy to be called a servant of the Lord, neither am I sufficient even for a least servant of God; for the good works God does, who gives the grace, & deems us worthy to know to do the good, who teaches man knowledge; for he said, Turn away from evil, & do good; for what good one does, this he will receive from the Lord.
[62] And again, as he stood at the service, he perceived a certain bitter stench, for many from the city, hearing about him, came & enjoyed his holy prayers. And the service being finished, as by a divine power he called the man in whom the stench was, & setting him in the midst said: Whence are you, & what is your occupation, & what do you carry? And he said: I am from Antioch, & I wish to become a Christian. And searching him he found on him a rag like a girdle three fingers wide, & examining him, what did this wish to be? for I perceived in the prayer a satanic stench. With difficulty he confessed that the garment was of Artemis, & immediately he commanded it to be burned. The garment therefore being cast into the fire was not burned, but became like a round vessel. Then the Saint having made a prayer with other Brothers, & having crushed it with his feet, ground it fine, & mixing it with earth threw it into a privy, & says to the man: If you wish to become a Christian, bring me your book, & all your sorceries, & he sent a Brother with him; but he, being let go, ran off.
[63] At another time, having heard about someone that he practiced divination, he sends for him saying, Come, that I may honor you with honor. And he having come, he says to him: I hear about you that the things about to be, & if anyone has lost anything, you tell him who stole them; & I beseech you, tell me how you do it, that I too learning may honor you worthily; & he eagerly began to say: If anyone tells me about some matter, immediately in the night it is revealed to me; & I tell them that each of them should go & sacrifice either a sheep or a bird in the idol-temple, & thus thereafter if the angel reveals anything to me, I tell it. And Hypatius made these words to be written, & when he had secured him, he says to him: So then through you Satan teaches men to idolatrize? Be persuaded, you do not go out hence, that Satan may not through you destroy souls, having enclosed you in a cell I provide you bread until your life's end; for he was an old man. And having spent there a little time, the presbyters who were neighboring his region came, & with difficulty gave their word to Hypatius not to allow him to do these things, & he took from him a written abjuration, & thus released him, & after a little he died.
[64] And again, he heard that three miles off there was a house, in which dwelt about forty men sacrificing to the idols, & one of them wished to become a Christian, by name Elpidius, & did not join them in the unlawful things, on which account very often having scourged him they broke him, saying: Let us see what Christ profits you, who, lying among the blows, made terrible sores. And Hypatius, learning these things, immediately having sent a beast of burden, brought him into the monastery, & having given him rest as his own father, healed also the sores; & being made whole from the hands of Hypatius he was deemed worthy of baptism; & having renounced he served the Lord holily three years, & having ended his life blessedly, in a good old age he was at rest. And to those forty Hypatius sent saying: Repent, & become Christians, but if not, very quickly the wrath of God will overtake you. And they not wishing to obey, not one year was fulfilled, & the wrath of God overtook them. And some of them died of a bitter death from a demon, but the rest were scattered, & the house was made desolate, so as not to be inhabited, as it is written: Let their habitation be made desolate, & let there be no inhabitant in their dwellings.
[57] A certain Archimandrite by name Alexander, coming from Asia Minor, Alexander the Abbot, driven from the city with his men together with about a hundred Monks, took a dwelling in the city, whose conversation was approved by all: for kindled with vehement zeal he rebuked the Princes themselves
if he knew anything done by them wickedly. But they by common counsel decreed exile for him to his homeland, & he withdrawing from the city with his Monks took refuge with the holy Apostles, near the monastery of S. Hypatius. But the Bishop, having received a mandate from the Princes to expel them thence, sent a crowd of men, who, having beaten Alexander with his Monks with blows, cast them from the church. The Brothers therefore carrying their Abbot to the monastery (for he could not walk because of the wounds) met Hypatius, Hypatius receives & defends; who received all, & kept them with himself, until their wounds were cured. And the Bishop of Chalcedon sent to Hypatius, who should say that he too, because he had received Alexander, was to be expelled the next day: to whom he ordered this to be announced: So shall it be for him who touches him, as if he had touched the pupil of the eyes of the Lord himself. The following morning therefore the Bishop sent the Deans of the oratories, & poor men & some from the workhouses, & Clerics with two asses, on which placed they should go off to exile. But the rustics, taking this ill, sent to Hypatius, that if he should command, they would come & put all to flight. But he answered; Let them act, sons: for if it is not God's will that we go away hence, he himself will put them to flight. And as the Brothers on both sides were preparing for departure, & wished for a blessing to carry at least one book for the road, yet without violence, behold a Dean of the Palace, by name Ephippus, when he had learned what was being done, came forward into the midst, & cried out; Give a Notary & give the names of each: for the Empress has commanded to be reported to her, a Dean of the palace coming to their aid. who they are that persecute the servants of God. Which they hearing, with their heads covered, ran off, so that not even one was caught: & the Scripture was fulfilled which says: How shall one pursue a thousand & two ten thousand, unless because the Lord sold them: &, The Angel of the Lord shall encamp round about those who fear him & shall deliver them. Deut. 32:30, Ps. 33:8 And so for some time keeping with himself the Shepherd with the sheep, he dismissed them: who, thanks being given, went off to fifteen miles into a solitary & quiet place, who afterward found the monastery of the Acoemetae. where they built a very great monastery, dwelling in it up to three hundred, continually praising God; & these are the Monks who inhabit the cenobium of the Acoemetae. a
[58] There was also another disciple of S. Hypatius called Macarius, who, still living in the world, had zeal, A certain one cured of insanity; but not according to knowledge: for he dwelt with certain impostors, whence he incurred a hidden disturbance of the brain, so that he himself was ignorant of it, because it was done secretly; but having received holy baptism, moved by zeal & great desire, he came to the monastery, & the world dismissed became a Monk; & by constant exercise he profited so much, that, since he was of a very firm body, & made a Monk, he himself alone filled three offices: for if the garden was to be cultivated; or the vines, or any fixed & necessary work to be done, some skilled in such things were deputed; but the rest wove hair-shirts: & one of them is a writer, another acts as a fuller, another a cobbler, another finally a doorkeeper, for whom, since there is only one door, it is not lawful for anyone to enter or go out at will. each performing his own office weekly, There was one who had the care of the animals serving the mill, another attended to the building of the house: but if anywhere there was need to build something, all ran together to the work. But there was also a curer of the sick, as also a receiver of strangers: but all succeeded one another weekly in the office, except that the Liturgy was common to all; nor was it lawful for anyone to pass from the office which was enjoined on him to another; but each was ordered to remain in his own order.
[59] But Macarius, whatever was commanded him, performed alacriously sparing no labor, he, more fervent in all things, profits excellently: as a true servant of God, who could say, In labors more abundantly: & persevering in vigils he often passed the third part of the night standing upright in prayer: but besides the vigils & psalmody common to all, twice within the day & night he ran through the whole Psalter. As regards the love of the Brothers, he so excelled in it, that he never looked to his own, but always to their convenience. Thus therefore serving God he obtained the cure of his former evil: And when he had thus passed eighteen years in the monastery, the devil, not being able to find whence he might prevail over him, at last observed that he was weaker about humility; & recalling to his memory his own labors for virtue, & bringing certain phantasms under the appearance of Christ, thence puffed up into pride; & deceived by the devil, at last captivated his mind, that he thought himself to be just above all: For you have more, he said, than the rest, & Jesus loves you dwelling in you, & through you speaks to the Brothers. As time went on therefore, from his words Hypatius noted, & some others of the Brothers, that he was being deceived, & tried to instruct him; but persuaded nothing: indeed rather he despised all: for he was carried off by the violence of the adversary, & that on account of a defect of discretion. He was carried therefore into such madness, that he confidently called Hypatius an adversary of Christ, saying: The right hand of God is over my head, & Jesus speaks through me, & has revealed to me & said: I will gather for you a thousand Bishops, that you may lord it over them as an Archbishop. he asks to be dismissed: But Hypatius, pitying him, & fearing lest he go out of the monastery wandering, put fetters on him, that, guarded, he might come to himself. But after a few days Macarius said to Hypatius: Give a Brother, with whom I may go to gather those thousand whom Jesus promised me. To whom Hypatius; Indeed I was unwilling to dismiss you: if you do not bear this, I will not give you a Brother companion: if you wish to go, go alone.
[60] Departing therefore, he approached the Divine mysteries; but received neither blessing nor peace from the spiritual Father: & having departed without the customary blessing, for this custom & order had grown up, that one going out of the monastery, whether about to stay in another place, or simply about to make a journey somewhere, before he set out, should receive from the spiritual Father peace with a blessing, & so without hindrance approach pure to the divine mysteries, according to the command of the Lord saying, If you offer your gift, first be reconciled to your brother: but if anyone through imprudence had communicated, the blessing not received, he was gravely punished by God, until he returned to Hypatius, &, this man praying over him, was healed. The unhappy Macarius therefore, the tears of the Brothers following him in vain, passed four years thus, so that he neither came to the spiritual Father to be reconciled, nor gathered even one of the thousand. & therefore having become sick & brought back, But not to be reconciled to the Father was worse for him than any other evil: for one year after the Saint's death, chastised with a most grave infirmity, certain Brothers brought him back to the monastery, where he was mercifully received by the disciples of Hypatius, until his flesh & bones withered away; & for eighty days admitting no food he cried out: Wretched me, who despised the holy Hypatius my Father! but restored to a sober mind he cried out: See my back, repenting he dies for some beating me with rods grievously torment me, & so crying out he expired: & they buried him in the place where the Brothers are wont to pray daily: for because he suffered this on account of his indiscretion & levity, & as inexperienced did not conduct himself cautiously enough in the spiritual war, therefore the Lord had mercy on him, nor deprived him of the fellowship of the brotherhood. Wherefore we trust, that through the prayers of the Saints of God & of holy Hypatius he will find mercy in the day of judgment with all the servants of God. Amen.
[61] And of this we have made mention, that we may learn what is the profit of humility: for without this, if one have a thousand virtues, he labors in vain: because abominable to God is every proud man, & builds upon the sand; whence shines the necessity of humility. & those who exalt themselves shall be reduced to nothing. But the Lord regards the prayers of those who humble themselves, according to that: I was humbled & he saved me. For behold how the Brother Macarius exercised himself? but because he thought himself to be something, he would have utterly perished; had not Divine mercy anticipated him: whatever good works therefore one does, let him say in his heart; Truly I am not worthy to be called a servant of the Lord, neither have I capacity for this even in the least: for the good works God does, granting grace, who renders us worthy to understand to work well, & teaches man knowledge: for he says; Turn away from evil, & do good: for the good which each one does, God will care for. Psalm 36:27.
[62] It happened that, attending to a certain service, Hypatius perceived a certain troublesome stench: for many from the city came to him, to receive fruit from his prayers: The Saint recognizes a magician from the stench, but the service being completed, he called the man in whom that stench was, & setting him in the midst said: Whence are you? what work do you exercise, or what do you carry? Who answered: I am from Antioch, & I wish to become a Christian. But he, searching him, found upon him a little cloth, like a girdle three fingers wide, & extending it; What does this, he said, mean? for, being at prayer, I perceived a certain satanic stench. Which when he at last confessed to be a garment of Diana, the Saint ordered it to be burned immediately: but it, cast into the fire, was not burned, but became like a round vessel. Making a prayer therefore, the Saint together with the Brothers, crushed it with his feet & broke it into pieces, & mixed with earth threw it into a latrine, & said to the man; If you wish to become Christians, bring here your book & all your sorceries, & he sent a Brother with him, but he, let go, ran off.
[63] At another time, understanding that someone practiced divination, he summoned him saying, he catches a soothsayer, Come, that I may honor you: but to him coming to him, I hear, he said, that you foretell the future, &, if anything has been lost, indicate who stole it: I ask you therefore, indicate to me how you do this, that I may follow you with worthy honor. Who promptly began to say to him: If anyone speaks to me about some matter, that very night it is revealed to me: & I command him that each of those questioning slaughter an ox or sheep or bird in the idol-temple, & I announce what the angel has revealed to me. All these words Hypatius ordered to be written; & when he had caused him to be seized, So then, he said, the devil through you teaches men to worship idols? & rebukes him. I advise you not to go out hence, lest through you Satan destroy souls: I, shutting you in a cell, will provide you bread as long as you live: for he was an old man. And a little time being thus passed, there came
the presbyters, who dwelt in his neighborhood & gave their pledge, that they would not allow him to do such things any more: wherefore taking his abjuration in writing, he dismissed him, who a little after died.
[64] He heard once that there was a house three stages distant, where dwelt about forty men sacrificing to idols, one of whom, by name Elpidius, a company of 40 idolaters wished to become a Christian, who did not cooperate with their impieties; wherefore they often punished him with blows, saying: Let us see what Christ profits you, so that, lying down from the blows, he suffered grievous sores. Which Hypatius understanding, sent a beast of burden, on which placed he was carried to him; & receiving him as his father, he healed his sores, who, fully cured, worthily received baptism from the hands of Hypatius, & made a Monk served God; & surviving three years, he predicts it will be scattered. ended his life happily in a good old age. But to those forty Hypatius announced, that they should do penance, & become Christians; if not, it would come to pass, that God's vengeance would seize them: which, they being unwilling to obey, happened within the space of one year. For some of them were taken from the living by a bitter death from demons, but others torn from one another; & the house itself so collapsed, that it was habitable for no one, as it is written: Let their habitation be made desolate, & let there be no one to dwell in their tents. Psalm 68:26.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER IX.
Sorceries done away, salutary admonitions given to the disciples by S. Hypatius.
[65] At another time, a certain chamberlain-woman, by name Euphemia, was tormented by a terrible demon, & sends to the Saint entreating that he would make a prayer because she was in danger. Having entreated much therefore, she was consoled because she was very Christian; & going he made a prayer, & immediately she took food, & coming into the monastery he prayed for her entreating Christ. The demons therefore, being constrained, manifest themselves to Hypatius saying: Why do you force us to withdraw from her, if you drive us thence, we will come & afflict you, which they also did; for she being made whole, they so afflicted the Saint, that for twenty days he was sick, & he being made whole, at last the Lord destroyed them.
[66] Another, a certain Count, by name Elpidius, the architect of the Emperor, also was terribly afflicted in body by a demon, & worn out with terrible pains, sent forth cries. And having heard about the Saint, he comes to him with a litter & servants. As soon therefore as the holy Hypatius made a prayer for him, & sitting on the litter, laid his hand where he suffered, it became more bearable for him; but he did not allow him to withdraw, for at the same time as withdrawing, immediately the pains tormented him, & he cried out saying, & he said boasting, That my riches are not subject to number. And he having spent there a few days, there came contractors, & poor workmen, & approached the Saint saying, that Elpidius has wronged us, & that from greed he has his riches. And the Saint, knowing these things, says to Elpidius: It was indicated to me that you are dying, for God has chastised you, because you wronged many; go off therefore & set in order your house, & if you have wronged anyone, restore it; that your soul may receive relief. And he, having received the answer, departed very grieved. But as he wished to set in order, the physicians, exceedingly at the bidding of those who wished to snatch his riches, told him that you are not dying. And within three days, being in distress he cried, Where are you, Abba Hypatius, & saying these things, he gave up his spirit. And all glorified God, that whatever the Saint said immediately came to pass.
[67] Another, by name Antiochus, beloved by the Illustrious, having been bewitched by someone through envy, was so afflicted by the demon, that all who saw him suffered with him, whom having led also to other martyria for the sake of cure, then they brought to Hypatius, & the demon was so terrible, that for fifty days he could not sleep even one hour from his crying out. And he having remained there a year, the Lord healed him; & thereafter he gave thanks to God, worshipping & beseeching Hypatius, that he would pray for him. And he was of another religion, & having become of the orthodox faith, immediately renounced; & he so emulated virtue, God granting the asceticism in him, that he became truly a disciple of Hypatius, & God led him perfectly in the prayers of the Saints, so that the scripture was fulfilled which says, This is the change of the right hand of the Most High.
[68] Another, by name Dionysius, was so assailed by the demon, that his body, moved from the heart, leaped about entirely, & he became as if trembling. And having gone to the servant of God, in a few days the Lord healed him, & immediately this one too renounced the world, & became a servant of God, & a genuine disciple of the Saint. Another, a stonemason by trade, having been captivated by the way of life of the Saint, & having longed for it, gives his word to the Abba to renounce; but having gone off & delayed, his mind was turned. And God chastises him in the eyes, & he was sorely chastised, & comes excusing himself & saying: I have sinned, having agreed with God & set it at nought; now therefore pray that I may be cured, & I will not set it at nought. And Hypatius having prayed, the Lord healed him, & having gone off again he set at nought the word, & after a few days in the quarry he was overtaken & died, so that not even his bones appeared, as it is written: It is a snare to a man hastily to sanctify something of his own, & having sanctified not to render it; for God does not put a necessity on us to make a vow; but for giving the word after the agreement, if we set it at nought, he is indignant against us. For pray, he says, & render to the Lord your God.
[69] Another, by name Polychronius, had a terrible sore in the right foot, which made the bone porous with the flesh, so that neither beginning nor end of the sore could be found, nor how to tend it. Being therefore in difficulty about the cure, he besought the holy Hypatius, promising to renounce; & the Abba said to him: We pray to God that you may become well, & in this we shall know that God calls you to serve him, if he heals you. And once for all he was simply as a physician given by God to that country, according to Job: He was a foot to the lame, & an eye to the blind, & a staff to the weak, & a consolation to the needy, according to him who says: Give your bread to the hungry from your soul, & bring the poor homeless into your house, & your light shall rise early. But when you hear "blind," do not think it like the man blind from birth; for this is possible to the Lord alone. And he himself too about the lunatics, that to no one is it possible to cure them, except to the Lord alone who shows mercy upon all through the prayers of the Saints, as in the gospel he said, that he was brought to his disciples, & was not healed, but the Lord healed him.
[70] And once it came to pass that he went off to visit Brothers in the inner country of the Bithynians, where also is the river Rhebas, & it was at that time which they call the Basket of the abominable Artemis, which the country, observing yearly, they did not go out on a far road, for fifty days; & he wishing to travel, the locals said to him, Where are you going, man? the demon is going to meet you on the road, do not travel, for many have been assailed. And Hypatius, hearing these things, smiled saying: You fear these things, but I have Christ traveling with me. As therefore he traveled he was bold; for the just one trusts like a lion. And there met him a woman, tall as the height of ten men, walking & spinning, & feeding swine; as therefore he saw her, immediately he signed himself, & stood praying to God, & immediately she became invisible, & the swine with a great rush fled.
[71] At another time, going through the mountain of Olympus with other Brothers in the autumn season, suddenly he stopped, for a disturbance of the air & a dark cloud overshadowed them on the mountain; & those with him said to him: Lord, pray that hail come not upon us. And Hypatius immediately in the place, having spread out his hands, prayed to God, & a most vehement rain coming, with a little hail, when they had traveled two or three miles, not even their shoes were at all wetted. And when they reached the monastery to which they were going, the Brothers there marveled, that there was no water at all in their garments. Let no one therefore disbelieve, if God through his servant did these marvels; for the Lord beforehand said, Amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard, & say to this mountain, Be lifted up, & cast into the sea, it shall come to pass. And, Whatever you ask my Father in my name, he will give you, for all things are possible to the believer. And, Everything whatever you ask my Father in prayer believing, you shall receive. And the holy Apostle before explained the undoubting faith, saying, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen. For behold, before God in Christ we speak, that we have favored nothing the servant of God Hypatius; but the chief things having recorded we have signified to those who desire to serve God; nor again do we say that Hypatius commanded to heal, or commanded the demons, but that he entreated Christ, & was well-pleasing before him; for all things whatever the Just one does, will be prospered. For he had the Lord favorable because of loving him,
& with fiery longing to do his commandments, wherefore Christ also wrought these things in him, for to those who love Christ, all things cooperate for good.
[72] Wherefore he also always taught as a father saying: Little children, Christianity is no ordinary thing, be eager, fight the good fight; labor a little, that you may rest much; lay hold of eternal life; run to the prize of the upward calling; learn to do good; act manfully in the Lord; & be strengthened mightily, for the struggle is not against blood & flesh, but against the evil demons, & against the passions of the flesh; wherefore taking up the whole armor of God, & girding your loins in truth, & having shod your feet in the preparation of the gospel of peace, taking up also the shield of faith, & receive the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, through all prayer & supplication. Having put on these arms therefore, for the unspeakable reward of righteousness, let us be shown well-pleasing soldiers of Christ, & let us mightily war against the devices of the devil, & resist unto blood against sin; for perfect virtue is to have the senses exercised for the discernment of good & evil, according to him who says: In labors more abundantly, in vigils, in fastings, in cold & nakedness, in stripes, in prisons, in disturbances.
[73] But if anyone philosophizes about Christ by appearance, or words, do not attend to him; for the kingdom of heaven is not in word, but in power; nor in the appearance of sheep, but as Jesus said, By their fruits you shall know them. If anyone be found with longing working the commandments of Christ, & his works agree with his good words, always having a contrite heart, despising himself night & day; & he who does such things thus in truth stands firm, & to such a one let us attach ourselves, & take to ourselves as a father & teacher, & brother, & a familiar member of the faith, & a faithful friend, & a genuine one of one soul, according to him who says: Stand in the midst of the elders, & if anyone is prudent, attach yourself to him; & if you see a prudent man, rise early to him; for he who cleaves to the holy shall be sanctified. And again, With an angry man do not dwell together, lest you learn his ways, & take snares to your soul; for evil conversations corrupt good morals; but if you attach yourself to the good, cleave also to the prudent; for the good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth the good, & always counsels you good things; for he counsels to make you equal to himself, & to bring you to God, according to him who says, I wish all to be as I am; but each has his own gift from God. For Hypatius himself too wished his own disciples to be such as it behooves to stand before God, & to serve as he himself did; for with a perfect heart he chastised his own children, for they greatly revered him, & with fear obeyed him, & with reverence honored him as a spiritual Father; for he always taught them saying: Little children, let us not grow weary in this brief age; for little is the labor of virtue, & great the promises; let us be eager through brief toils to enter the kingdom of heaven, & to be enrolled in the portion of the lot of the Saints. For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come to be revealed in us.
[74] While we still have time, let us attend to ourselves, & let us endure being well-pleasing to the Lord, lest we be about to repent & weep, when it is not possible to repent, or to do any good; for the sloth of this world & its cares distract our mind, lest, becoming sober, we attend clearly to God, & secure ourselves from every evil; for it is impossible for one living in indifference, & filling his belly, to be illumined with the illumination of the inmost man, in the hidden workshop of the heart. For he who has recognized the war according to the mind, to contend mightily in security, hastens & attends to himself, & fleeing all earthly things, will cleave his mind to God, hanging upon the longing for him with a sober soul night & day; this one begins to be illumined by the grace of God as to the inner man, & to be guided into the way of salvation. Much therefore must one be afflicted in temptations, & thus attain this degree; but if even after receiving the grace temptations & afflictions come upon him, he ought to endure for the good, continually beseeching God, & not, being disheartened in the affliction, grow weary, but bear nobly & endure; for love endures all things, & immediately again the grace of God turns back & dwells in him. For behold, little children, I am compelled to say for your profit what I ought to hide, lest, having boasted of something, I be damaged; but the Master Christ knows, that for the glory of God I speak & your profit; for I now have the sixtieth year in the solitary life, neither was I sated with sleep, nor with bread, nor with water, that I might be able to become a genuine & faithful servant, that I might be deemed worthy to hear from my Lord: Well, good & faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many, enter into the joy of your Lord. For still I do not reckon myself as one of the least servants of God; for from the time I fell into the cares of the Brothers, & am compelled to correct each one, the purity of my mind which I had toward God was much made waste; for I was once free from care, & earnestly attending to God & to myself, & I had then a little boldness. As therefore he said these things in part grieving, one of the Brothers answered him & said: Lord Abba, then you saved yourself through God, but now many, & there you were damaged, where you doubly save? for the Lord Jesus came that he might save the poor. And he, hearing, rejoiced in the Lord.
[65] A certain chamberlain-woman, called Euphemia, was tormented by a fierce demon, who, sending to Hypatius, The possessed woman freed, the saint himself is beaten by demons. asked him to come & pray over her, because she was in danger; & having prayed much, she merited consolation, because she was a good Christian: for Hypatius coming prayed for her, who immediately took food: & he, returning to the monastery, proceeded to beseech the Lord for her: which the demons not being able to bear, appeared to him, & said, why do you compel us to withdraw from her? if you cast us thence we will afflict you: which they also did: for she being healed, they so afflicted him, that thence for twenty days he was sick: but he being healed again, God at last restrained them.
[66] Vexed by them & brought to him A certain Count Elpidius, the Emperor's architect, suffered from a demon a grave torment of the whole body, by which worn out he broke into cries. He, having heard the fame of Hypatius, came to him in a litter with his servants: but as soon as he, a prayer being made, sat on the litter, & laid his hand on the place of the pain, the sick man began to be better; but the Saint did not allow him to leave, because as soon as he attempted it, the evil grew worse again, & he was compelled to cry out, & the Demon said insulting: My riches exceed number. And within a few days, in which he stayed there, there came poor workmen complaining of the injuries done to them by Elpidius, & that he had acquired his wealth through avarice. Which Hypatius understanding said to Elpidius; It has been manifested to me that you are about to die: for God has chastised you on account of much injustice. Go therefore, he orders him soon to die to restore what was taken, but in vain, set in order your house; & if you have unjustly seized anything, restore it that your soul may obtain pardon. Such an answer received, the man departed sad; to whom wishing to make restitution, the physicians, at the suggestion of those who gaped after his goods, said: You will not die. But he within three days, reduced to extremity, exclaimed; Where now are you, Abba Hypatius: & so he rendered his spirit. And so all glorified God; because whatever the Saint said was immediately put into effect.
[67] A certain Antiochus, dear to the Magnates, touched by sorcery through envy, A noble heathen he frees from sorcery, was so afflicted by a demon, that all who saw him were moved with compassion. Whom, leading for the sake of cure through various oratories, they at last brought to S. Hypatius, the Demon was so troublesome, that for fifty days he did not allow the wretch to sleep even one hour; but he cried out continually: but after he had stayed there a whole year, the Lord cured him: who at last, giving thanks to God, fell at the feet of Hypatius, & prayed that he would always pray for him. & receives him as a disciple. Moreover, since he was of another religion, converted to the orthodox faith, he became a Monk, & was carried with such zeal to the study of virtue, God receiving his exercise, that he appeared a genuine disciple of Hypatius: for God promoted him through the prayers of the Saints; that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, This is the change of the right hand of the Most High. Psalm 76:11.
[68] A certain one called Dionysius was so vehemently vexed by a demon, that his whole body, moved from the inmost heart, leaped up, & trembled in all its members; Likewise one trembling in his whole body, but coming to the servant of God within a few days the Lord healed him, who immediately renouncing the world, gave himself to the discipline of the Saint. Likewise another, a stonemason by trade, captivated by the conversation of the Saint, & desiring to imitate it, promised to become a Monk: but when, going off, he deferred the matter, & had changed his mind, the Lord chastised him in his eyes so grievously, another likewise, who twice failing from his purpose that at last he was blinded. Wherefore returning he excused himself saying: I have sinned promising to God & not performing: now pray that I may be cured, nor will I any more leap back from my purpose. The Saint therefore prayed for him, & he recovered his health: but when he had again broken his given word, after a few days he was so overwhelmed by the collapse of the quarry, perishes miserably. that not even his bones were found; as it is written: It is a snare to a man hastily to sanctify something of his own things & not to render what he has sanctified: for neither does God compel us to promise: but if we do not perform what is promised, he is indignant with us on account of unfaithfulness: Vow, he says, & render to the Lord your God. Psalm 75:12.
[69] A certain Polychronius suffered in his right foot a sore, which had made a fistula in his flesh up to the bone, so that neither beginning
nor end of it could be found, He cures an ulcerated foot. nor by what means it could be cured. Despairing therefore of medicine, he supplicated S. Hypatius, & promised to renounce the world. To whom Hypatius: We pray, he said, that you may be healed, & in this we shall know whether God has chosen you to serve him: a for he was given to that region by God as a physician like Job who says: I was a foot to the lame, & an eye to the blind, & a staff to the weak, & a consolation to the needy, Job 29:15. according to him who says: Give to the hungry your bread from your heart & bring the poor without shelter into your House; & your light shall rise in the morning. b Isa. 58:7. But when you hear "blind," do not think that he was such from birth: for to cure such is of God himself. The same I would say of lunatics, c whom besides the Lord no one can cure, who has mercy on all on account of the prayers of the Saints, as in the Gospel it is written, that one was brought to his disciples, whom they could not cure: but the Lord healed him. Matt. 17:14
[70] [He despises the superstition of those fearing to make a journey on the days hostile to Diana.] When once Hypatius had gone out to visit the Brothers through the inner parts of Bithynia, which the river Rhibas d waters, there was being held in that region the festival of execrable Diana, which they call "of the Baskets," e which she observes yearly so, that no one then dares for fifty days to undertake a long journey. He wishing therefore to set out, the inhabitants said; Where are you going, O man? a demon will meet you on the way; beware lest you go: for many have experienced this. To whom Hypatius, smiling, You, he said, fear these things: I have the Lord as companion of the way: thus setting out he felt courage added to himself, For the Just one trusts like a lion. And there met him a woman, tall as ten men, who walked spinning & feeding swine: whom when he had seen, he signed himself, & immediately she vanished: but the swine with a great grunting were scattered in flight.
[71] At another time, having set out with certain brothers onto Mount Olympus f in the autumn season, he suddenly halted: Untouched by the rain he makes his journey with his own, for a grave storm & a dark cloud darkened them on the mountain itself: & his companions said to him, Lord, pray, lest hail seize us. But Hypatius, stretching out his hands, prayed to the Lord, & as they proceeded, there came a most vehement rain like hail for three miles, nor yet were their shoes even slightly wetted. Luke 17:6 And when they had reached the monastery to which they were going; the Brothers there present marveled, that in their garments not even a drop of water appeared. But let no one marvel that the Lord works such miracles in his Saints: for the Lord said: Heb. 11:1. If you have faith as a grain of mustard, you shall say to this mountain, Be lifted up & cast into the sea, & it shall be done: &, If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it you: for all things are possible to the believer, & Whatever praying you ask the Father with confidence, you shall receive. And the Apostle defined sincere faith, saying: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the proof of things not appearing. For behold, before God in Christ we speak, that we have feigned nothing through flattery for God's servant Hypatius: but commemorating only the chief things, we indicate them to those desiring to serve God. And again we do not say that Hypatius worked cures by his own command, or expelled demons, but by invoking Christ & acting well in his sight: for whatever the Just one did, he directed toward God, having the Lord favorable, because he loved him, & with fervent heart fulfilled his precepts: for therefore Christ worked through him, because for those who love God all things cooperate for good.
[72] And this is what the Father always taught us; Little children, Christianity is no small thing: be eager to fight the good fight: & he instructs them labor a little, that you may obtain much rest: lay hold of eternal life: run to the prize of the supernal calling: learn to do good: be comforted in the Lord & you shall be strengthened; because there is for us no wrestling against flesh & blood, but against the evil demons & the passions of the flesh. Wherefore taking the arms of faith & having girded your loins in truth, to the spiritual song, & shod your feet in the preparation of the Gospel of peace, taking up the shield of faith, & receive the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, through all prayer & supplications. Taking therefore these arms for the ineffable reward of justice, let us appear good soldiers of Christ, & bravely fight against the snares of the devil, & resist unto blood against sin: for it is perfect virtue to have the senses exercised for the discernment of good & evil, according to him who says: In labors more abundantly, in vigils, in fastings, in cold & nakedness, in stripes, in prisons, in instability. 2 Cor. 11:23
[73] But if anyone in the appearance of speech philosophizes about Christ; do not receive such: for not in words, but in power is the kingdom of God: & he commands to cleave to the best, nor in the appearance of sheep; but, as Christ says, by their fruits you shall know them. But if anyone be found doing from the heart God's commandments, & his works consonant with good words, & always having a contrite heart perfecting himself day & night; he who does such things, this one in truth persists; & cleave to him & let us take to ourselves as a father, master, brother, & genuine member of the faith, & a faithful & true friend, of one mind with us; as it is said: g Stand in the midst of the elders, & if anyone is intelligent, cleave to him; & if you see an intelligent one, rise early to him: for he who is joined to the Saints shall be sanctified: & with an angry man do not dwell, lest sometime you imitate him & take a snare for your soul: & to imitate them, for evil conversations corrupt good morals: but if you cleave to the good, you will also cleave to the intelligent; because a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good & always will counsel you good things: for he will counsel you to do the same things which he himself does, & to approach God according to him who says; I wish all of you to be as I am: but each one has his own gift from God. 1 Cor. 7:7 For Hypatius wished that his disciples be such as it befits to stand before God, & so to minister to him as he himself: for with a perfect heart he corrected his sons, who greatly revered him, & with trembling obeyed him, & honored him as a spiritual Father. For continually he taught them saying; Little children, let us not be slothful in this brief age: for slight is the labor here & great the promises: let us hasten through the troubles of a brief time to enter the kingdom of heaven & to be enrolled in the city of the inheritance of the Saints: For the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed in us.
[74] While we still have time, & to watch in temptations, let us attend to ourselves, & persevere pleasing the Lord, that it may not happen to us to repent & wail, when there will be no place for penance or for doing any good; because the slackness of this world & its cares distract our mind, lest watching we perfectly cleave to God, & guard ourselves from all evil: for it is impossible for one acting indiscreetly, & serving the gluttony of the belly, to be illumined with the light of the inner man in the hidden workshop of his heart: because one skilled in the spiritual war, with diligent care attends to himself, & fleeing all earthly things, fixes his mind on God, hanging on his love, with a sober mind, day & night: this one will begin through God's grace to illumine the inner man, & to direct him into the way of salvation. Much therefore must one suffer in temptations, & thus reach the summit: but if, after one has received the grace, temptations & tribulations come upon him, he ought to persevere in good, always praying to God, neither to fail in it through acedia, but generously to endure & persist; because charity endures all things: then indeed immediately grace returns, & dwells in him. Behold, sons, I am compelled for your profit to say what ought to be hidden, lest by boasting I suffer some damage (Christ knows that I admonish this for the glory of God & your profit) for I am now in the sixtieth year in the solitary life, nor have I ever taken sleep or food or drink to satiety, that I might be able to become a true & faithful servant, & become worthy to hear: Well, good & faithful servant, because you have been faithful over a few things I will set you over many, enter into the joy of your Lord: to his own example. but still I do not think myself comparable even to the least of God's servants: for from the time I fell into the cares of the Brothers & am compelled to direct each one, the purity of my mind, which I had in divine things, has grown very uncultivated & squalid: for I was at that time without anxiety, wholly intent on God & on myself, & I used much confidence in him. Thus far he, in part afflicted. There answered him one of the Brothers saying, Lord Abba, then you saved yourself through God, but now many; & do you say you have suffered loss there, where you have gained double? For the Lord Jesus came to save all. Which he hearing rejoiced in the Lord.
NOTES BY D. P.
g In
the Vulgate edition this & the place following it are not found: it could perhaps easily be found in the Greek of the 70 Interpreters, if there were the Concordances, as they are called, of it, as there are of the Latin & Hebrew texts.
CHAPTER X.
The last acts of his life, his holy death, & certain things that followed.
[75] At another time, many troubling him, & distracting him to many things, to the sick, to giving answers about the storeroom, or the doorkeeping, concerning strangers, concerning the poor, concerning the Brothers; as therefore they troubled him, a certain Brother standing by says to him: Now, Lord, do not all these distract your mind from God? And he answered saying: I believe in the grace of God, even if there were as many others, my mind remains sober toward God. When therefore he became an old man, & his white hair was as snow on the whole head, & on the beard; for his appearance too was venerable & profitable, as truly of a Priest of God & a Father; he cultivated a small vineyard, that the sick might have consolation. Another ascetic by name Zeno came to him, & meeting him going out to the vineyard, on the road says to him, Are you the Lord Hypatius? And he says to him, Yes; & he said to him, To you I have been sent that with you my bones may rest; & his appearance was very lowly, for humbling himself he was of mean form, so as to be seen a rustic, & he received him, & having spent about ten days, he labored exceedingly; & seeing a Brother brought forth dead, standing he says: O my God, give rest to me too the lowly here, & on that same day falling sick, on the sixth day he was at rest, & there was found in his wallet letters of recommendation, that he was a Presbyter, & at all he confessed it to no one.
[76] And after three months the holy Hypatius, being eighty years old, & having well shepherded for forty years the flock of Christ, & having holily adorned the priesthood, was shown a perfect & well-pleasing servant of Christ, having sent before himself to God eighty of his disciples. And he said in those three months, Little children, a terrible wrath lies upon the world, & it is good to depart to the Lord before the trial comes. Attend therefore to yourselves; for I have fulfilled my part, & be eager genuinely to serve the Lord, with fear & trembling work out your own salvation, in the manner you have seen me too, & as I delivered to you, hold fast the traditions which I was taught from God; for I believe in God that if you do the work of God, God will not forsake you; but as he had mercy on me he will have mercy on you too, & the reward of endurance full; enjoy, & I will receive you as truly my own children, that with one mind we may be deemed worthy to dwell with the Saints. As he said these things we were all strengthened & wept, knowing that he had prayed to be perfected. And having fallen sick five days, on the sixth day, it being the Lord's day, he says: Call the Brothers, that I may give them communion, & being now in ecstasy, in giving the blessing, another holding his hand, he intones the response, Come let us exult in the Lord. And the Brothers singing, & receiving the communion from his hand, all wept, knowing that truly the Angels rejoice, who receive him, & for this they sang, Come let us exult in the Lord; for as certain Bishops, & his heartfelt friends he saw coming to take him, & being in ecstasy receiving blessings from the one standing by, he gave them as to certain ones, & no one appeared to receive them, & again the one standing by received them; & all the friends & Monks & Clerics, coming together, received a blessing from him. And having blessed all & greeted them, he was at rest in peace, & was added to the holy Fathers, leaving up to fifty Brothers as a company, whom he delivered to one certain successor of his, to lead them.
[77] And very many Bishops came together, & all who loved him for his virtuous life, so that from this there came a great multitude of Christ-loving people, & from every monastery, & all kindling candles in psalms & hymns prepared him for burial holily. All who carried forth his precious body wept, as having become orphans of such a Father; his holy remains therefore they laid in peace in a venerable oratory of that same monastery in a stone tomb, in which house the Brothers send up their prayers; & as he was being laid, the crowds tore apart the bier, wishing for the sake of a eulogia to take from his garments, & one with a knife cut the linen cloth, another from the garment, another hairs from his beard, & with difficulty, certain ones insisting, we were able to make them cease from this. And his tomb the servant of God Urbicius contributed, & near him lies the holy Ammonius the great ascetic of the desert, concerning whom it is reported that he cut off his ear because he did not wish to receive the priesthood, whose way of life was excellent, & marveled at by all on account of the Lord. Thus then we too ought to practice asceticism, Brothers, for indeed the Lord glorifies those who glorify him, & those who genuinely serve him not only makes enrolled in his kingdom, but also honorably displays their way of life to all as a model for good imitation.
[78] There passed not thirty days, & immediately there came hail in those places, so as to assail the vine, so that it was utterly stripped by the hail; for the hail was like a great stone, having in itself the eye of a man, signifying, See the things to come; for within another five months there came the great earthquakes, which also lasted for a time, & the barbarian nation of the Huns which is in Thrace became so great, that more than a hundred cities were left desolate, & it lacked little but Constantinople was endangered, & the more part fled from it. And even the Monks wished to flee to Jerusalem, for it lacked little but they came also to sack Constantinople; & so many slaughters & bloodsheddings happened, that the dead could not be subjected to number. For they took captive the Churches & monasteries, & killed very many monks & virgins, so that even holy Alexander's was sacked, & the money & treasures in it taken, which had never happened; for when the Huns came very often to wall up holy Alexander's, none of them ever dared to draw near to the martyrium. And they so devastated Thrace, that it could no longer recover, & become as it was before. And we, remembering, marvel, that these were the things which the holy Hypatius foretold at his being perfected; for whence did he know, except that the Lord indicated to him?
[79] He had also one Sister, who, having been married once, became a widow, & having one daughter, renounced, & having served Christ, three days before her brother, she too was at rest; & her daughter, she too married once having one daughter, renounced with her husband; & her husband, having become a Deacon, was at rest; & she very much applied herself to God, serving him night & day. So holy Hypatius did all things following our holy Father Antony, even as to his sister; for that one too had one sister, & this one one; for as the holy Hypatius said when going about in the flesh, that you know, little children, with the holy Apostles I beheld the holy Antony our Father, & having greeted me he blessed me, & having made a prayer dismissed me.
[80] After these things there came one seeking Zeno the Presbyter, & we saying that he did not confess to us that he was a Presbyter; immediately that one answered saying: This Zeno, whom you thought to be of mean condition, was Steward of eight hundred Brothers, & he told me in his lifetime, for he was a friend of mine from Alexandria & the desert, That I was given an oracle by the Lord, That go to Hypatius & there be perfected; Be persuaded therefore that immediately being perfected, & having gone to God, I take the Abba Hypatius as following me; for the Abba Hypatius, having survived three months after Zeno, was at rest, according to the oracle of God indicated to Zeno. And when I came here to the monastery, while Zeno was still living (said that Papas), Zeno nodded to me, & charged me not to tell any of you that I knew him. And the monastery of Zeno was near the Red Sea, through which the people of Israel passed, which monastery the barbarians took captive; for always those there had Zeno as a prophet.
[81] And the brother Polychronius the aforewritten, who suffered in the foot, to whom the holy Hypatius said that, if you are healed, you become a monk, God granting it, this one became a monk, & a servant of God according to the prophecy of our father Hypatius; & his disciples, having love, & concord in Christ with one another with one mind, serve God, performing the memory of the father, & holding fast his admonitions, are eager to present themselves to God approved workmen, God granting them the grace through the prayers of the holy ones, & of our holy father Hypatius; for performing the traditions of the father & his spiritual conduct, they walk in the footsteps of the father in Christ, & dancing in spiritual choirs, night & day send up hymns to God, glorifying the Father, & Son & Holy Spirit; to whom befits all glory, honor, & adoration; now & always, & unto the ages of ages. Amen.
[75] When many vexed S. Hypatius & distracted him for the sick, for giving answers to the storekeeper, the doorkeeper, for strangers, for the poor, To the saint now an old man for the Brothers: the Brother who was standing by, seeing him troubled, said to him; Come, Lord, do not all these draw away your mind from God? To whom he answered: Even if they were double as many, I trust that through God's grace my mind would remain firm with him. And when he had grown old, & in his whole head & beard had grown white as snow (whence his appearance was full of edification & venerableness, as of a true Father & a Priest of the Lord) he began to cultivate a small vineyard for the consolation of the sick. Then a certain other Ascetic, called Zeno, came, & meeting him going to the vineyard, Are you, he said,
the Abbot Hypatius? [Zeno comes to him to die, & after his death is found to have been a Presbyter,] To whom he: I am indeed. And he, To you I have been sent, he said, that my bones may be buried by you. And his appearance was mean, for humbling himself he was of abject garb, so that he seemed a rustic; nevertheless Hypatius received him, who, staying with him ten days, labored beyond measure: & seeing a certain Brother carried forth to burial; And me too, he said, O God, make to rest here: & the same day falling sick he died on the sixth day. But on opening his wallet, there were found open letters, whence it was clear that he had been a Presbyter, which he had confessed to no one at all.
[76] But Hypatius himself, surviving him by three months, in the eightieth year of his age, when for forty years he had fed the flock of Christ, & adorned the Priesthood by his holiness, whom the Saint would follow after three months appeared a perfect servant of God; & having sent before himself to God eighty Brothers, he said, Within these three months, little children, a grave wrath of God will lie upon the world; wherefore it is good to depart to the Lord, before the temptation comes. Provide therefore for yourselves: for I have finished my course, & be eager to serve God perfectly, in fear & trembling working out your salvation, just as you have seen me doing, & as I delivered to you what I received from God, keep the traditions. For I trust in the Lord, that if you do his work, he will never desert you, & as he had mercy on me, so will he have mercy on you, & you will receive the full reward of patience. he exhorts his own to perseverance, And I will receive you as genuine sons: that we may be deemed worthy to be received in the same tabernacle with the Saints. As he said these things, dismayed we all began to weep: for we saw that he desired to die. Having fallen sick five days therefore, on the sixth, which was the Lord's day, he said: Call together the Brothers, that I may give them communion, communion given to them, & being in ecstasy, while he gave the blessing to each, & another held his hand, he subjoined the versicle; Come let us exult in the Lord. And the Brothers singing & receiving communion from his hands, all wept: yet knowing that the Angels, exulting, received his soul, they too said, Come let us exult in the Lord. Then as if he saw certain Bishops & familiar friends coming to receive him, he himself in that same ecstasy as it were received a blessing from one standing by, he dies holily: as he had given to some, & no one appearing to receive, again the one standing by received it. All the friends & Monks & Clerics came to ask a blessing, to whom imparting the same with a kiss, he rested in peace, & was added to the holy Fathers, leaving after himself a congregation of Brothers about fifty, whom he handed over to a certain Successor of his to direct.
[77] Furthermore, very many Bishops coming together & all who had loved him for the probity of his life, & the obsequies solemnly performed, there was made a great multitude of people loving Christ, from every place & monastery, who with kindled tapers holily prepared him for burial with hymns & songs: but all, while the venerable body was carried forth, wept bitterly, as bereft of such a father. And the sacred pledge they laid in a venerable oratory within a stone chest, where the Brothers pour out their prayers: but as he was being buried the people rushed upon the bier tearing it apart, wishing for the sake of a blessing to take something of his garments: & some indeed with knives cut the linen cloth, others the garment, some even sheared off the hairs of his cheeks, so that with difficulty we could restrain those making a tumult. And his urn the friend of God Urbicius c supplied the expenses for. d But the next place is held by the great ascetic from the desert, Ammonius; e of whom it is reported that he cut off his own ear, he is laid beside S. Ammonius. because he was unwilling to admit the priestly ordination; certainly his conversation was excellent & to all admirable on account of the Lord. f Therefore we too, Brothers, ought thus to exercise ourselves: because the Lord glorifies those who glorify him & not only enrolls those who faithfully serve him in the kingdom of heaven, but also proposes their holy conversation as an example for all to imitate.
[78] Not yet had thirty days passed, when in those places there was such great hail, There followed within a half-year the plagues foretold by the Saint. that rushing upon the now ripening vine it crushed it to the roots: for the hail was like stones & had as it were human eyes as if it foretold the impending evils: for after another five months there were great earthquakes, which also lasted long. And the barbarian nation of the Huns which is h in Thrace so prevailed, that it occupied more than a hundred cities, & it was little short but that Constantinople itself was endangered, & many deserted it in flight: indeed even the Monks themselves wished to run off as far as Jerusalem, because they all but approached to the taking of Constantinople: but so great was the slaughter & so abundant the blood poured out, that the number of the dead could not be reckoned. And they plundered the churches & monasteries, killed Monks & nuns, & from the very basilica of holy Alexander i carried off all the treasures, which had never been done before: for whereas before they often, coming, had mounted the walls of S. Alexander's, k none of them dared to approach his Confession. But Thrace they so devastated, that it could never raise its head & return to its former state. And we, mindful of the things foretold by Hypatius, marveling recognized that they were the very things which about his death he had intimated to us: for how would he have known these, unless the Lord had revealed them to him?
[79] That Saint had a sister, who, content with the marriage of one husband, kept her widowhood, having one daughter, who, when she had renounced the world, The Saint's niece by his sister, together with her husband, renounces the world, & served God, died three days before her brother. And her daughter too, the wife of one husband & mother of one daughter, together with her husband took the monastic habit: & the husband, made a Deacon, rested in the Lord: but the wife profited much in the worship of God, serving day & night. Therefore in all things S. Hypatius was like our great Father Antony, even as to a sister: as of old the sister of S. Antony. for he too had a single sister, & that one a single one: for thus S. Hypatius spoke to us while still alive: Know, sons, that with the holy Apostles I saw our holy Father Antony, & greeting me he blessed me, & a prayer being made dismissed me.
[80] Afterward there came a certain one asking us about Zeno the Presbyter, It is understood who Zeno was, who died before the Saint. to whom when we answered that he had never confessed to us that he was a Presbyter, that one said; Nay, whom you thought mean, he was Steward of eighty Brothers, & told me while still alive (for he was a friend of mine from Alexandria l & the desert) that he had been admonished by a divine oracle to go to Hypatius & die with him. Wherefore, he said, I believe that I shall die soon & going to God shall lead also the Abbot Hypatius after me. And Hypatius survived Zeno by three months, according to God's oracle disclosed to Zeno, & likewise fell asleep, & when I came here to the monastery while Zeno was still living (said that Father) Zeno nodded to me & asked that I tell none of you that I knew him. And the monastery of Zeno is near the Red Sea m through which the sons of Israel passed, which monastery the barbarians laid waste, where, as many as there were, they esteemed Zeno as a prophet.
[81] And the brother Polychronius, n of whom it is written above, to whom, suffering in the foot, Hypatius had said that if he were healed he should become a Monk, God doing him this grace, this he became; & a servant of God according to the prophecy of our Father Hypatius. And the other Brothers, preserving love & concord unanimously among themselves, served the Lord, continually recalling the memory of the Father, & having his exhortations before their eyes, strove to show themselves good workmen to God, he granting them this grace, through the intercession of the Saints & of our holy Father Hypatius: the disciples of Hypatius persevere in his rule. for having his traditions & his spiritual conversation before their eyes, they followed his footsteps in Christ; & leading choirs in the spirit, day & night offered hymns to God, glorifying the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit, whom befits all glory, honor, & adoration, now & always & unto the ages of ages. Amen.
NOTES BY D. P.
of Diocletian, as before, when occupied with another matter, it had seemed to Bolland in the Acts of SS. Julian & Basilissa on the 9th of January: for afterward Henschen ascertained with me that nothing prevents Cedrenus from being believed, who refers it to the 10th year of the Emperor Anastasius, the year of Christ 601, as I have shown at length in the response to the Exhibition of errors, Article 15, no. 314. It must be said therefore that that monastery, just like the monastery of Mount Sinai, was several times violated by the barbarians; & so that the depopulation here mentioned, which Zeno seems to have foretold, was much earlier than the foretold martyrdom; notwithstanding which, those who had been dispersed returned thither.
n Above, no. 69.