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Evergetinos Hypothesis 28: Avoiding Self-Conceit in Monastic Asceticism
11:08
The video presents Hypothesis 28 from the third book of the Evergetinos, which teaches that monks should not exceed the common monastic rule out of self-conceit. The reading opens with Hebrews 11 describing the righteous who wandered in deserts and caves, destitute and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. Saint Euthymios teaches that public displays of stricter fasting are unreasonable and harmful; true abstinence consists in eating only enough to remain hungry and fighting the passions secretly with humility, temperance, study, discernment, and godly obedience.
Saint Pachomius corrects a brother who follows his own will, quoting Christ's words that he came to do the Father's will, not his own, and warns that the enemy envies and seeks to despoil such labors. Pachomius instructs the brother to keep the common rule of meals, eating in moderation according to his strength, and to practice asceticism until he overcomes the demon of boasting.
In another instance, Pachomius sees a brother displaying two rush mats instead of the required one, done for vainglory, and says the brother has given all his labor to the devil and cherishes human glory over God's. Abba Daniel remains in Scetis during a barbarian invasion, trusting God, passes unseen through the barbarians, then tells himself to flee like the other fathers because that is the human course.
Saint Ephrem commands monks in a cenobium not to deviate from the typicon, to join in common worship and meals, and to accept whatever food is set before them with thanksgiving, recalling that Christ ate barley loaves.
Key moments
- The reading from Hebrews describes the righteous who wandered in deserts and caves, destitute and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy.
- Saint Euthymios considers it unreasonable and harmful for monks to publicly display greater fasting than the common rule, and he wants goodness to go unnoticed.
- Euthymios teaches that the best abstinence is to eat only enough to still feel hunger, and to resist the passions secretly with the virtues of humility, temperance, study, discernment, and godly obedience.
- Saint Pachomius admonishes a brother who follows his own will, quoting Christ's words that he came to do the Father's will, not his own, and warns that the enemy envies and seeks to despoil his labors.
- Pachomius instructs the brother to keep the common rule of meals, eating in moderation according to his strength, and to practice asceticism until he overcomes the demon of boasting.
- Pachomius sees a brother displaying two rush mats instead of the required one, done for vainglory, and says the brother has given all his labor to the devil and cherishes human glory over God's.
- Abba Daniel remains in Scetis during a barbarian invasion, trusting God, passes unseen through the barbarians, then tells himself to flee like the other fathers because that is the human thing to do.
- Saint Ephrem commands monks in a cenobium not to deviate from the typicon, to join in common worship and meals, and to accept whatever food is set before them with thanksgiving, recalling that Christ ate barley loaves.