Pistus

Pistus told this story: “Seven anchorites went to Abba Sisoes, who was living at Clysma, and asked him to give us a word. He said, ‘Forgive me; I am an unlearned man. But once I went to Abba Or and Abba Athre. Abba Or had been sick for eighteen years. I begged them to give me a word. Abba Or said, “What do I have to say to you? Go, and do what you see. God belongs to the one who does violence to himself in everything.” Abba Or and Abba Athre were not from the same region, but there was great harmony between them until they left the body. Abba Athre had great obedience, and Abba Or great humility. I stayed with them a few days, watching them, and I saw a great wonder that Abba Athre did. Someone brought them a small fish, and Abba Athre wanted to prepare it for the elder. He was holding the knife and cutting the fish when Abba Or called him. He left the knife in the middle of the fish without finishing the cut. I marveled at his great obedience, because he did not say, “Wait until I finish cutting the fish.” I asked him, “Where did you acquire such obedience?” He said, “It is not mine; it belongs to the elder.” Then he took me and said, “Come and see his obedience.” He cooked the fish and deliberately spoiled it, then set it before the elder. The elder ate without saying anything. Athre asked him, “Is it good, elder?” He answered, “Very good.” Afterward Athre brought him a little food that had been prepared well and said, “I spoiled this, elder.” He answered, “Yes, you spoiled it a little.” Athre said to me, “Did you see? The obedience belongs to the elder.” I left them and, as far as I could, kept what I had seen.’” After Abba Sisoes had told us this, one of us begged him to show charity and give us a word of his own. He said, “The one who knowingly holds himself of no account fulfills the whole Scripture.” Another of us asked, “What is exile, Father?” He answered, “Keep silence, and wherever you go say, ‘I have no business here.’ This is exile.”