December 7, 1997
Repentance
This week's selection is from the life of St. Sisoes who lived
in Scetis. After the death of St. Anthony, Abba Sisoes left Scetis saying that it had
become too popular and went instead to St. Anthony's mountain where he settled for 72
years.
BEGIN: When Abba Sisoes was about to die, and the fathers were sitting with him, they saw
that his face was shining like the sun. He said unto them, "Behold, Abba Anthony has
come." After a little while he said again, "Behold, the company of prophets has
come," and his face shone twice as bright. Suddenly, he became as one speaking with
someone else, and the fathers sitting there asked him, "Show us with whom you are
speaking, father."
Immediately, Abba Sisoes said to them, "Behold, the angels came to take me away and I
asked them to leave me so that I might tarry here a little longer and repent." And
the old men said unto him, "You have no need to repent, father." And Abba Sisoes
said to the fathers, "I do not know in my soul if I have rightly begun to
repent," and they all realized that the old man was perfect.
Then, suddenly, his face beamed like the sun and all who sat there were afraid and he said
to them, "Look! Look! Behold, the Lord has come and he says, 'Bring unto me the
chosen vessel which is in the desert,'" and he at once delivered up his spirit and
became like lightning and the whole place was filled with a sweet fragrance. END
from "The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, vol II," translated by E. A.
Wallis Budge, (Seattle, Washington: St. Nectarios Press, 1984)
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