Eulogius the Priest

A certain Eulogius, a disciple of the blessed Bishop John, was a priest and a great ascetic. He fasted two days at a time and often extended his fast through the whole week, eating only bread and salt, and people praised him. He went to Abba Joseph at Panepho, expecting to find some greater austerity with him. The elder received him joyfully and provided whatever he had for their refreshment. Eulogius’s disciples said, “The priest eats only bread and salt.” Abba Joseph ate in silence. They stayed three days and did not hear Joseph and his brothers chanting psalms or praying, because their practice was hidden. The visitors left without having been helped. By God’s providence, darkness came upon them; they lost their way and returned to the elder. Before they knocked, they heard those inside chanting psalms. After waiting a long time, they knocked, and the brothers stopped their psalmody and welcomed them joyfully. Because of the heat, Eulogius’s disciples put water in the jar and gave it to him. It was mixed with sea water and river water, and he could not drink it. Coming to himself, Eulogius fell before the elder, wanting to learn his way of life, and said, “Abba, what is this? At first you did not chant psalms, but now you did after we left; and when I took the jar just now, I found the water salty.” The elder said, “The brother is foolish and accidentally mixed in sea water.” But Eulogius kept asking, wanting to know the truth. The elder said to him, “That little cup of wine was for hospitality; this is the water the brothers drink all the time.” He taught Eulogius discernment of thoughts and cut away from him everything merely human. Eulogius became discerning and adaptable in his practice; from then on he ate whatever was set before him and learned to practice in secret himself. He said to the elder, “Truly, your practice is genuine.”