life.phib.01 Chapter 1

The life of our holy father Apa Phib, the holy Anchorite, which Papohe, disciple of the blessed and perfect Apa Apollo, has documented.

The blessed Apa Phib lay to rest on the 25th of the month of Paope, in the peace of God.

May his blessings be with us! Amen.

Truly the word of David the holy psalmist, who proclaims “The righteous one will be remembered forever!” is true, as is:

“The righteous one will grow tall like a palm tree, and expand like the cedars in Lebanon.” This was fulfilled for the holy one.

There was a brother whose name was Apa Phib, a native of Sinemoun, within the borders of Hermopolis.

He came to my holy father Apa Apollo, and lived as a monk with him.

They remained with one another for about five years.

Afterwards, the head of the church had me bring them both, and he left them with one another in the mountain of Titkooh, and went on until the day he lay to rest.

They both lived with one another, carrying out great practices, and no man can count nor are we able to speak about their abundance.

Listen to me, my beloved brothers in the Lord, and I will tell you about the mighty works and the living doctrines of our blessed father Apa Apollo, man of God,

who has offered up his body in holy sacrifice to God,

who has become a dwelling place to the Father, and a resting place to the Son, and a gathering place to the Holy Spirit.

I, Papohe the steward, the least of men, was a young child, a little one in the house of my fathers.

God sent his messenger, and brought me out of the house of my father, and guided me on the ways of righteousness, and brought me to the good life-saving shepherd, and I moored at the harbor of salvation, in which there was no robber, which was truly our beloved father, Apa Apollo the Israelite, in whom there was no deception.

He was in this mountain prior to the Lord revealing his glory down upon him. I knocked on the door, and he came out to me immediately, with a smile on his face.

For my father was gentle towards any good person, very good in every aspect before God and men.

He took me in gladly, and made me a monk alongside him, and I was worthy of staying in the shade of his holy prayers and his fatherhood.

And there was our beloved brother, Apa Phib the pious one, with him.

Both of them lived their lives with great discipline and great innumerable acts of conduct.

Apa Phib was a man who loved the quiet life, desiring to stay in the desert all the time, living his life.

My father was a peaceful man, who loved the entire image of God as one individual person.

The brothers were gathered around him like bees, sweet towards their mother, listening to the words of life and his holy commandments, amazed at the mighty works of God which happened through our father.

I spent a year with them on this mountain. Afterwards, we journeyed out of that place, and continued to journey through all the mountains like wild animals.

So any place wherein we'd stay and the brothers heard about my father, they'd come to him and learn the rules of divinity through him.

And he spoke to them about the suffering in their souls, consoling all of them with his sweet words, as they glorified God.

I spent a year with him, through my father.

Beyond these things, Apa Phib was also a man who loved the quiet life all the time.

My father was an ascetic.

I too went along, tending to worldly needs, taking care of the holy ones' errands. Because of this, he called me Papohe the Steward.

One day, as the three of us were gathered together glorifying God, my father turned to Apa Phib with a cheerful face and said to him,

“I see you, O my son, loving the quiet life and hating the empty glory of men.

For it is written in the gospel that no city can hide atop a mountain, nor is a lamp lit and put under a bushel, but rather it is put upon the lampstand, and it illuminates all those who are in the house. So you, O my son, are the hidden lamp, who will be offered up upon the lampstand and illuminate all those who are in the house, and scent will scatter out of the entire world along with a gift of forgiveness on your day this year.”

Immediately Apa Phib kneeled and begged to my father. My father then answered him saying, “Get up, my son.

It is not I who speaks, but rather the Holy Spirit, the one who prophesies about whichever things will happen before they happen.

So now, keep this secret until the moment it's revealed.

For it is written in the Deuteronomy of Moses that whatever is hidden belongs to the Lord your God,

and what is visible belongs to you and your children.”

Apa Phib answered and said,

“Permit me to tell you something without your getting angry with me. I truly wouldn't speak condescendingly or arrogantly,

but rather, I'm impressed at the Holy Spirit that is within God's glorious man, who has them getting along with one another in their conversations.” The blessed Apa Apollo said to him, “Say your piece, my son.”

Apa Phib answered saying,

“One day it happened to me, when I was young in my parents' house, tending to their sheep in the field, that an elderly saint of God passed by me through the field.

For evening had come, and I led him in to where the sheep were, and I kept pleading to him so that he would eat some bread.

He was persuaded by me, and ate the bread.

I did a small act of good for him, and he rested with me until the morning.

When morning came and he was about to journey on, I bowed to him so that he would bless us. And he, too, said to me that same thing you had told me: ‘A day of forgiveness shall happen in your name.'

So now, at this point, I'm amazed, since I don't know what will happen.

On one particular day I had become worthy, and the Lord called me to your fatherhood.

So in whatever way it pleases the Lord, may his good will happen.”

The gladiator of Christ, the victor to the right and left, Apa Apollo, answered,

“Listen to me, and I will tell you these things,

for it is the Lord who has spoken to me. I myself would not utter it with any pride, but rather would tell you what will happen to us together.

My savior said to me, ‘This word which Paul said, written to the Corinthians:

“Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come with you; and it was perhaps not his plan to come to you now,

but he is coming if he finds the time.”

Because of this, the holy spirit continued begging my father, ‘Let him come now.'

My father answered, ‘He is coming if he finds the time.' So now, my children, we are prepared to deal with anything which the Lord would task us with. May his will happen. Glory to him forever and ever, Amen.”

After all these things, we arrived at a deserted mountain opposite a village called Tahruj, and found rocky ravines there. We made small habitations, and dwelled in them, and we had conducted ourselves with great conduct.

When all the brothers heard about my father being there, they came to him and listened to the words of life from his mouth.

The place was deserted, with no water in it.

My father said to me,

“My son Papohe, dig into the ground, and we'll see that God will give us water for the brothers heading to us.”

And when we dug down about four cubits, a fountain of good and very sweet water sprang up to drink from.

And we spent two years drinking from it along with those heading to us. My father then said to me,

“Let's make a well, and leave it for the brothers heading to us.

The Lord has already told us: ‘Any place in which you'll reside, I will leave it lasting forever.'”

When we had made it, we journeyed out of that place to go to a place in the south called Apa Pamin.

And while still journeying, we came to the mountain of Titkooh, this mountain which God appointed his blessing of eternal life.

We lodged with pious brothers who were in that mountain, and they did great acts of good for us.

Our blessed brother Apa Phib lay to rest there on the 25th of Paope at the 3rd hour of the day, and we were very saddened, heartbroken for him with great grief.

We buried him there.