E00217: Fulgentius, bishop of Ruspe, writing in Latin in Ruspe (North Africa) c. 523, in his treatise On the Truth of Predestination, refers to holy monks of Egypt, whom he knows most probably from monastic hagiography, as examples of saintly life. Contains references to *Paul (the First Anchorite, S00089), *Antony ('the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356, S00098), *Hilarion (anchorite in Palestine and Cyprus, ob. 371, S00099), *Makarios (probably Makarios 'the Egyptian', monastic founder in the Sketis, ob.391, S00863), and *Ioannes/John (probably of Lycopolis, anchorite of Egypt, S00102).

Fulgentius of Ruspe, On the Truth of Predestination 2.43

Sed quis usque adeo sit diuinae fidei et caritatis inimicus, ut Paulum, Antonium, Iohannem, Hilarionem, Macarium, alios que similis uitae ac sanctitatis monachos, in quibus et rectae fidei ueritas et sanctae conuersationis refulsit integritas, uasa contumeliae non metuat appellare?

'But who would be such an enemy of the divine faith and love and would not fear to call "the vessel of dishonour" Paul, Antony, John, Hilarion, Macarius, and other monks resembling them in life and sanctity, who shone both by the truth of faith and the soundness of their holy customs?'

Text: Fraipont 1968. Translation: Robert Wiśniewski.