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Hidden Virtue and the Danger of Vainglory in the Evergetinos
29:36
The third volume of the Evergetinos, Hypothesis 26, gathers sayings of the Desert Fathers and saints on the necessity of pursuing virtue in secret. St. Syncletica compares virtue to treasure that is plundered when revealed, urging nuns to conceal spiritual gains and prefer obedience over visible asceticism to avoid arrogance. She contrasts worldly people who hide profits to avoid envy with monastics who display small virtues and cease striving for greater heights.
Abba John the Short, caught singing with compunction, prostrates and asks forgiveness for not knowing monastic rudiments, modeling humility. A former praetorian prefect feigns being a grandee's slave to avoid an imperial deputation, concealing his past glory. Abba Isaiah likens unconcealed ascetic work to a house without doors or windows where any reptile enters, saying human honor corrodes the heart like rust on iron.
Abba Joseph teaches Eulogius to perform ascetic works in secret, explaining they chant only when alone and serve wine only for love of guests, not for display. St. Isaac likens the monk who imbibes vainglory to a dog licking a rasp and drinking its own blood, unaware of the harm from transient sweetness. Abba Cassian recounts a brother driven by vainglory to ordain himself a deacon and dismiss catechumens in his cell, showing the passion's delusion.
St. Maximus notes vainglory attacks after grosser passions are defeated, aligning with the demon of fornication to slay virtue. The sayings conclude that hidden spiritual work destroys vainglory, and a sign of deliverance is harboring no resentment against those who speak ill of you.
Key moments
- St. Syncletica teaches that virtue must be concealed like treasure, for ostentation dissipates spiritual gains just as revealed treasure is plundered.
- Syncletica contrasts worldly people who hide profits to avoid envy with monastics who flaunt small virtues and cease laboring for greater heights.
- Abba John the Short, caught singing with compunction, prostrates and asks forgiveness for not knowing monastic rudiments, modeling humility.
- A brother who was formerly praetorian prefect feigns being a grandee's slave to avoid an imperial deputation, concealing his past glory.
- Abba Isaiah compares unconcealed ascetic work to a house without doors or windows where any reptile enters, and says human honor corrodes the heart like rust on iron.
- St. Isaac likens the monk who imbibes vainglory to a dog licking a rasp and drinking its own blood, unaware of the harm from transient sweetness.
- Abba Cassian recounts a brother driven by vainglory to ordain himself a deacon and dismiss catechumens in his cell, showing the passion's delusion.
- Abba Joseph teaches Eulogius to perform ascetic works in secret, explaining they chant only when alone and serve wine only for love of guests, not for display.