147- Escape

 

St-Takla.org Image: A word of spiritual benefit from a Coptic nun to Saint Sirabion the Great. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: كلمة منفعة من أم راهبة قبطية إلى القدير الأنبا صيرابيون الكبير، صرابيون.

 St. Serapion the great was known for purity and chastity and was respected by all monks and nuns. Once he met a nun and asked her about her personal affairs. Finally he asked her for an apophthegm. She said, “Escape.”

“From what?”

“Escape from what you’re doing.”

“What am I doing?”

“Forgetting your sins and not minding your own business.”

The great father was silent for he benefited from what she said. Our fathers and mothers were concerned with their salvation and that of others kindly, bravely and without hypocrisy. Though he was a great Saint he needed the advice of a nun to be only concerned with his spiritual growth.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: اهرب مما أنت فيه!

Open my eyes to see You coming on the clouds,

Taking Your believers to an unspeakable glory.

May I be concerned with my eternity and that of my brethren.

May I not be concerned with nonsense.

May I be always obsessed with You.

You are my love, my joy and my glory.

You are my fullness.

And by His Stripes we are Healed

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Who Supports Me?