His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the life of the anchorites (sawah) and corrects some mistaken notions and legends about them, clarifying the difference between miracle and the natural condition in the lives of these monks.

The Difference Between Miracle and Natural Life

He explains that miraculous transfer which God does on certain occasions does not mean that the daily life of anchorites is supernatural; miracles are exceptions and people should not confuse them with a permanent life pattern.

The Humanity of the Anchorites and Their Physical Weakness

He affirms that the anchorites are humans like us — they eat and drink and may fall ill and die — with examples mentioned in the lives, and that some healings were miracles in response to prayer and not an indication that anchorites are angels or non-human beings.

The Way of Solitude and Spiritual Gradation

He explains that anchorites are monks who progressed into the life of solitude until they lived in the inner desert for long years sometimes without seeing a human face, and their whole preoccupation was worship, chanting, prayer and contemplation of God.

Diversity of Cases and the Fathers’ Accounts

He points to the diversity of anchorite cases: some lived long years in exile and total isolation, some practiced anchoritism for a short period or began it young; and there are Church fathers who wrote about them and recorded their lives and pastoral ends.

Errors and Spiritual Trials

He admits that anchorites are not infallible; they may err out of ignorance or simplicity, and there are stories of demonic trials and some incidents that show human weakness even in a life of holiness.

Unusual Manifestations and Means of Asceticism

He speaks about odd matters such as clothing not wearing out or primitive dress at times, clarifying that some of this is understood as miracle and sometimes has other explanations, and he confirms that a fixed number of anchorites is not established and that much of what is narrated can be exaggerated or deceptive.

Practical Spiritual Meaning

The spiritual conclusion is that anchorites are withdrawn to God and dedicated to worship and spiritual work, and all their stories call us to distinguish between spiritual devotion and astonishing manifestations, while holding to wisdom and spiritual vigilance.

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