The Bishop Must Be an Ascetic
A Bishop Must Be Ascetic
Asceticism is an essential attribute of the bishop. It is one of the twelve virtues chanted for him in the Church. It is also a fundamental commandment which the Lord gave to His holy disciples when He sent them out to serve, saying to them: “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts.” Thus He sent them with nothing except His grace, while His command echoed in their ears: “Take nothing for the journey.”
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself lived according to the principle of “the empty purse.” There was a money box into which the believers placed their alms, and this box would be emptied continually as its contents were distributed to the poor. Perhaps this was what troubled Judas, who carried the money box. And so, when the tribute was demanded from the Lord Jesus, He found nothing to pay, and commanded Peter to cast a hook into the sea, and from a fish take a stater and pay the tax.
And like the Lord Jesus, His disciples lived in poverty, laying up no treasures on earth. All those who had possessions sold them and brought the proceeds and laid them at the apostles’ feet. Did the apostles keep this money for themselves? No, rather they distributed it to everyone as each had need (Acts 4:35). But they—the apostles—remained poor, owning nothing. The lame man sitting at the gate of the temple asked Peter for alms, and Peter answered him: “Silver and gold I do not have” (Acts 3:6). But he had the name of Jesus, by which he raised the lame man from his paralysis.
A story comes to mind about one of the Popes of Rome. A philosopher visited him, and the Pope showed him the great cathedrals, palaces, statues, gold, precious stones, and immense wealth of the papacy. He said proudly: “The time has passed when Peter could say: ‘Silver and gold I do not have.’” The philosopher answered sorrowfully: “Yes, and the time has also passed when Peter could say to the lame man: ‘Rise,’ and he rose.”
Our holy fathers lived poor
Saint Mark came to Egypt with torn sandals, which became the cause of Anianus’s faith. Saint James the Apostle was famous for extreme austerity, and Saint Paul worked with his own hands for his needs and the needs of his brethren. He lived in hunger, cold, and nakedness. He sums up his situation and that of his companions, saying: “As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. 6:10).
The apostolic fathers spoke about the bishop’s asceticism. In Chapter Three of the Didascalia it is written about him: “Let not his manner be one of pleasure, nor let him eat choice foods… Let the bishop be not greedy for filthy gain, nor fond of abundance, nor desirous, nor a lover of money, nor extravagant… and also: not loving abundance.” And in Chapter Five: “Let the bishop receive his food and clothing according to sufficiency, as befits need and chastity. And let him not take from the money of the house of the Lord as though he had capital, but in measure, for the laborer is worthy of his wages, and let him not be wasteful, nor desire, nor adorn his garments, except with what is necessary for the body.” And in Chapter 36: “And he shall… not be concerned with worldly matters, nor love silver, nor cling to it for any reason… nor seek anything pertaining to this world…”
A poor widow can provide for the bishop’s needs, just as happened with Elijah the great prophet.
How wonderful is the departed Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum, as an example of the ascetic and poor bishop. Money beyond counting reached him from the donations and vows of the believers. But whatever reached him, he distributed immediately to the poor. Anba Abram lived in a simple bishopric house with a roof of palm branches, on a simple bed, with humble furniture. He did not adorn his chest with a cross or golden chain, and wore worn-out garments. On some occasions, they gave him money to build a new bishopric, and he distributed it to the poor. They bought furniture for him, and he gave it to a poor engaged girl. They gave him cloth for a cloak, and he gave it in charity…
Also wonderful is the example left by Saint Pope Matthew (Mattaos) in asceticism. His predecessor Pope Gabriel IV left him more than 100,000 dirhams. He distributed all of it to the poor. He left nothing for himself but gave it away. When he found nothing else, he gave away the mat beneath him. Once he gave his robe and undergarment in charity. At another time, the copper inkwell in front of him. Once he gave away his shawl, and even his priestly vestments he would give to the needy… And the more he gave, the more God blessed and sent even more.
This is the bishop — a poor man owning nothing, and whatever reaches his hands he distributes to the poor or spends on works of charity. Someone may then ask:
Who inherits the bishop?
A serious question: does a bishop have money to be inherited?
The bishop today is chosen from among the monks, and as a monk he has taken the vow of poverty, owning nothing. Therefore, he cannot be inherited, for he has no personal wealth to leave to anyone.
The bishop is inherited by his diocese
The money in the bishop’s care belongs to the diocese. The bishop is only a steward handling it for the benefit of the people. And the diocese has not died to be inherited.
The bishop, as a monk vowed to poverty, has no personal wealth to leave. All his possessions belong to the diocese, and the diocese has not died to be inherited!
Therefore, everything left by a departed bishop belongs to the diocese. It should remain preserved within it for the service of its people and its projects until a new bishop is ordained for it, who then takes charge of these funds— not for himself but for his diocese…
Everything a bishop leaves belongs to the diocese.
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