E00089: Coptic Life of *Onnophrios, the Anchorite (Egyptian anchorite, 4th c., S00055), attributed to Paphnoutios, probably Paphnoutios of Scetis (4th c.). Written probably in the 5th/6th c. in the Scetis (Lower Egypt). Presents Onnophrios as a model anchorite.

Paphnoutios of Scetis, Life of Onnophrios, the Anchorite

ⲡⲃⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓϯⲓⲁ ⲙⲡⲛⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲟⲛⲛⲟⲫⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲁⲛⲁⲭⲱⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ ⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
ⲙⲡⲉϥⲃⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ⲙⲛⲧⲁⲥⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲡⲁⲱⲛⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ

'The life and conduct of our holy and in every aspect precious father Apa Onnophrios, the anchorite, who completed his life on the 16th day of the month Paoni in God’s peace.'

ⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲛⲁⲭⲱⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲡϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲡⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲝⲏⲅⲓⲥⲑⲁⲓ ⲉϩⲉⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙⲙⲁⲓⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉ ⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ

'A hermit monk named Apa Papnoute told a story to pious monks; and these are the words he spoke.'

Summary:

Paphnoutios (Papnoute) presents to his fellow monks the stories of formerly unknown hermits living in the remote desert. He claims he has made his way deep into the desert, to see whether any hermits were living there. He found a few and recorded the information they gave him about their reason for going to the desert and their way of life there.

Paphnoutios (Papnoute) asks each one he finds for their names, how long they have been in the desert, and how they manage to live there. He records everything they tell him for the benefit of the people in Egypt so they hear about them and remember their names. His immediate audience consists of the brothers of the Scetis who write down the account of his findings as a book which they place in the church in the Scetis to be read out to others.

The hermits he found in the remote desert are:
1. A hermit who sat in his cave, but was already dead. Paphnoutios buries him and moves on.

2. A hermit named *Timotheos, a former monk, who decided to become an anchorite (S00056). Living through the works of his hands alone, he met a female monk and eventually had a sexual encounter with her lasting for six months. Filled with remorse he finally retreated deeper into the desert, where he remained undisturbed for thirty years, living only on dates and water. The only other interaction, apart from Paphnoutios' visit, having been with a spiritual being who healed his liver.

3. Onnophrios himself who left his monastery near Hermopolis sixty years ago to live as a hermit in the remotest part of the desert. He lives of dates, water, and provisions miraculously appearing for him through an angel, as well as the Eucharist administered to him by an angel. After telling Paphnoutios about his life and visions, he negotiates his future cult with him and dies. His soul is taken up by angels and sweet voices are heard. Paphnoutios buries his body by placing it in the cliffs and covering it with stones. He wishes to remain in the saint’s hut, but upon his burial, the hut collapses and the date tree falls, which Paphnoutios takes as a sign from the saint that God wants him to move on and to fulfil his vocation to make the life of the hermits known.

4. Four monks who have also been in the desert for 60 years share a meal with Paphnoutios, but refuse to disclose their names.

5. Four monks from Oxyrhynchos, John, Andrew, Heraclamon, and Theophilos, anchorite friends for six years in the desert, who meet each other regularly on the weekends to receive the Eucharist together from an angel. Paphnoutios stays with them for a week to eat and tell them of his encounters and to receive the Eucharist with them through an angel.

The angel then orders him not to remain with these brothers, but to get back to Egypt to tell the life stories of the hermits he encountered.

6. Paphnoutios reaches the place of ten monks from Scetis, staying with them he informs them of all his encounters and finds in the remote desert, and they write everything down and place the manuscript in the church of Scetis for the benefit of a wider audience.

Text: Budge 1914. Translation and summary: Gesa Schenke.