Saint Pachomios and the Challenge of the Heretics

Some heretical ascetics once went to the monastery of Saint Pachomios, who concealed the wolf within themselves beneath garments of coarse hair. Arriving at the gate, they told the brothers that their elder was sending them to the great Pachomios, and they added: “Go then and tell him: if you are truly a man of God and believe that God hears you, come, let us cross this river together on foot, so that all may know who among us has greater boldness before God.”

When the brothers told these things to Pachomios, he was indignant and said to them:

“Tell me, did you actually consent to listen to them? Do you not know that such proposals have nothing to do with God and are entirely inappropriate not only for the monastic life but even for laypeople who think rationally and are true Christians? What law, then, permits us to propose and carry out such things? And what indeed is more pitiable than this folly—than for me to abandon the mourning for my sins and the concern for how to escape eternal damnation, and to play games and occupy myself with such proposals?”

Then the brothers asked him: “So then, is it because they are heretics and alienated from God that they dared to invite you to such a lofty feat?”

“Yes,” he replied to them, “this proposal is of heretics. Have you not read what the Apostle says: ‘Because of their hardness and impenitent heart, God gave them over to their foolishness’? (Rom. 2:5; 1:28) These men, by God's allowance, might perhaps be able to cross the river as if on dry land, being helped by the devil, who seeks to confirm in their impious heresy those who rely on him, and to offer, through this spectacular act, a proof to some of those whom he has already deceived. But I have no need of such things. Go outside, then, and tell them: ‘Behold what the servant of God Pachomios answers you: My struggle and all my effort are not to cross a river on foot, or to fly over mountains, or to command beasts, but to have the judgment of God in my mind and to overleap the snares of the devil by the power of the Lord, who gave us the command to tread upon serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). For if the Lord grants me these things, then all the others will follow as well.’”

After these words, the elder continued, urging the brothers not to be proud of their achievements, nor to desire visions, nor to tempt God by asking Him for such things, because the snares of the devil, who wages war against us, are many. And he added that all these things are unnecessary and dangerous for any person, since even the very Word of God, the Savior, said to the enemy devil: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:7).

 

(Evergetinos, Volume III, Hypothesis 35)

 

Greek source: https://imlp.gr/2025/05/24/%ce%bf-%ce%ac%ce%b3%ce%b9%ce%bf%cf%82-%cf%80%ce%b1%cf%87%cf%8e%ce%bc%ce%b9%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%ba%ce%b1%ce%b9-%ce%b7-%cf%80%cf%81%cf%8c%ce%ba%ce%bb%ce%b7%cf%83%ce%b7-%cf%84%cf%89%ce%bd-%ce%b1%ce%b9%cf%81/