Abba Onuphrius the Anchorite
The Lives of the Anchorite Fathers – “Abba Onuphrius the Anchorite”
- The Journey of Saint Paphnutius Saint Paphnutius the Anchorite said: I thought to myself that I should go into the inner desert to see the anchorite monks, the servants of Christ our God, to whom be glory. I walked for four days and nights, eating no bread and drinking no water, and saw no one there. I had taken with me a little bread and water, enough for a few days. After walking another four days without seeing anyone, the bread and water I had were finished, and my soul was troubled, thinking that I would die. Then I encouraged and strengthened myself and continued walking without food or drink. My fatigue, hunger, and thirst increased greatly until my strength failed, and my soul was about to leave my body.
I lay on the ground like one perishing, unable to move. Then I saw a person approach and touch my lips; immediately my strength returned, my soul revived, and my hunger and thirst disappeared. Seeing this great miracle God granted me, I rose at once and continued deeper into the desert. After walking another four days, I again became weak and exhausted, so I lifted my hands and prayed to the Lord. Then I saw that same person come near, touch my lips and my whole body, strengthening me even more than before. I rose and walked for seventeen more days through the desert.
From afar, I saw a terrifying man, very strange in appearance—naked, with hair covering his whole body like a garment, and wearing a loincloth of fiber. When he came near, I was afraid and climbed a high mountain, thinking he was a wild beast. But he threw himself down at the foot of the mountain where I was resting from fatigue, hunger, thirst, and heat, then lifted his face and said to me, “Come down, my brother, Saint Paphnutius, and do not fear, for I am a man like you, living alone in this desert for the sake of God.”
I marveled that he knew my name and realized he was filled with the Holy Spirit, who had revealed it to him. I descended, fell on my face before him, and bowed to the ground. But he said, “Arise, my son, for you are a servant of God like us.” I rose and sat by him and asked his name. He said, “My name is Onuphrius, and I have lived in this desert for sixty years, alone on this mountain for the sake of God, day and night, among the beasts. My food is the grass of the earth and the fruits of the trees, and I have not seen a human face since I came here—until you today.”
- Abba Onuphrius Tells His Story Then I asked him to tell me all his life from the beginning. He said: “At first, I was with a community of monks in the monastery of Brieda. We were all of one heart, numbering one hundred and four monks. We ate together once a day, the peace of the Lord was among us, and we glorified our God. I was a young man then, learning the service and worship of God from holy men who were like the angels of the Lord.
One day, I heard them praising the anchorites who lived in the deserts, saying, ‘They speak with God face to face like Elijah and John the Baptist.’ I asked them, ‘Fathers, are there in the desert any who are greater before God than you, with all your toil and diligence?’ They said to me, ‘Yes, my son, there are chosen and righteous ones before God far greater than we. For we are gathered here together, encouraging each other daily, speaking of the great works of God, and praying with joy. When we are hungry, we quickly find food prepared for us; when thirsty, we drink water at once; when weak, we find service and comfort. When evil thoughts come, we are strengthened by the word of God.
But the anchorites in the desert lack all this: when they grow weary, they find no one to comfort or speak with them; when hungry, they find no food; when sick, no one to serve or care for them. When they first enter the life of wandering, they suffer greatly from hunger, thirst, and the warfare of the devils—may God confound them—for the devil knows the great honor the Lord will grant them for their endurance, struggle, and faithfulness. According to their patience, the mercy of God comes to them, commanding His angels to serve them and bringing forth water from the rock for them.
As written by the Prophet Isaiah: ‘Those who serve the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall walk and not faint, and when they thirst, He brings water from the rock.’ He makes the grass of the mountains sweet in their mouths like honey. When they are afflicted or tempted by the enemy, and they stretch forth their hands and pray to the Lord, His mercy comes swiftly and disperses all the wars that rise against them.
As written in the Psalms of David: ‘The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them, saving them from all their troubles.’
When I heard this from the holy fathers who loved God, their words were sweet in my heart like honey, and I felt as though my soul and body were lifted to another mountain. I arose by night, took a little bread for three or four days, enough until the Lord should guide me to the place He chose for me. When I left the brethren at night and reached the mountain, I saw a radiant man standing before me, shining greatly. I was afraid and wanted to return to my place, but he came near and said to me, ‘Fear not; I am the angel of the Lord who has been with you since your youth. The mercy of God is upon you, and I will remain with you until you complete your journey.’
I walked with him for six or seven miles into the desert until we came upon a small cave. I turned toward it to see if anyone lived there. I knocked and said, as monks do, ‘Bless me, bless me.’ A holy man of pleasant countenance came out. When I saw him, I fell at his feet, but he raised me up and said, ‘You are Abba Onuphrius, my companion in labor. The Lord bless you and be with you to fulfill what you have resolved, for you are chosen for this. Enter, my friend, peace be with you.’
I stayed with him a few days, learning the way of God. He taught me how to live in the desert, to fight the devils, and resist their fearful acts. When he saw that my understanding had grown and I had learned to fight the spiritual and visible battles, he said, ‘My son, it is time for you to struggle and strive well. Go now to the inner desert and live alone, praising the Lord who called you to this life.’
He walked with me four days into the inner desert until we came to a fortress with a palm tree growing beside it. He said, ‘This is the place God has appointed for you to serve Him.’ He stayed with me for a month, teaching me the good works I should do. Then we embraced, bid each other farewell, and he departed. After that, I met him once a year until he rested in peace. I buried him in the place where he worshipped God and returned to this spot, glorifying the Lord.”
- His Last Conversation with Saint Paphnutius I asked him, “Father, did you suffer when you first arrived in this desert?” He replied, “Truly, my beloved brother, I came near death many times from hunger, thirst, the heat of summer, and the cold of winter, until my body became dry. Yet I strengthened myself and did not turn back from my purpose. Many times, the devil, the hater of good, appeared to me and fought me openly and in secret, but I endured, and God dispersed all the tribulations from me.
This palm tree bears twelve clusters of dates every year, each cluster feeding me for a month, together with the mountain grass which God made sweet like honey. And now, my brother Paphnutius, let us go to where we dwell.”
We walked two or three miles together, and I marveled at him and his patience until we reached the fortress and the palm tree. We prayed together, then sat and spoke of the things of God. When evening came, I saw bread and a jug of water before us. He said, “Come, my brother, eat this bread and drink this water before you, for I see you are faint from hunger, thirst, and the journey.”
I begged him to eat with me, so we both ate until we were full, and some remained. We drank the water until we were satisfied, and some was left. We spent the whole night in prayer until morning. Then I saw him at dawn, shining like fire, and I was greatly afraid. He said to me, “Do not fear, my brother Paphnutius. The Lord has sent you to care for my body and bury it in peace. By the Holy Spirit, I know that today is the completion of my life on this earth.” I said to him, “Father, may God make me worthy to stay in your place when you depart?”
He replied, “My son, the Lord has not sent you for this, but that you may see and journey through this desert, then return to the mountain of Egypt and tell the saints what you have seen, for the salvation of their souls. They will glorify God for His wonders and mighty works, and you shall live there doing good deeds always.”
I fell at his feet, saying, “Bless me, holy father, that I may find mercy from God, and as I have seen you on earth, I may be worthy to see you in the kingdom of heaven.” He blessed me abundantly. As we prayed, I said “Amen” to all his words.
Then he stood and prayed to the Lord with many tears, lay down joyfully on the ground, stretched out his hands and feet, and gave up his spirit into the hands of the Lord. This was on the sixteenth day of the month of Baounah, in the peace of the Lord. Amen.
After that, I heard a host of angels praising before the soul of the blessed Abba Onuphrius, saying, “This is a pure soul without stain. Let us lift it up and offer it as a sacrifice to the Lord Christ, the King of Glory. You asked, O saint, and you have received; you knocked, and it has been opened to you…”
I heard this from the angels, then their voices ceased. I tore my garment in two, wrapped him in one part, and covered myself with the other. I placed his body under a small stone shelter, covered it with stones, and prayed over him. At that very hour, the palm tree and the fortress collapsed. I marveled greatly, knowing the truth of Abba Onuphrius’s words: “God does not will for you to remain here.” I ate the remaining bread, drank the water, and prayed. Then that same person I had seen before appeared to me, comforting and strengthening me. I departed from that place with great sorrow in my heart for the blessed and righteous Abba Onuphrius.
— An article by His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education, published in “El-Keraza” Magazine, April 1965,
