The Ecclesiastical History of Evagrius Scholasticus - Coptic ...

52
EVAGRIUS
and to clothe the body only to the extent that necessity compels. Their
way of life is so counterbalanced on precise scales that when they move
between extremes the tilting is imperceptible to them, even when there is
considerable di¡erence between these. For to such an extent are the
opposites combined in them, since the divine grace brings together the
unmixable and in turn separates it out again, that life and the corpse
cohabit in them, things which are opposites both by nature and in
reality. For where there is passion, they must be corpses and inside
tombs, but where there is supplication to God, they must be robust in
body and vigorous in strength even if they have passed beyond youth.
And in them the two lives are so interwoven that [32] in fact, while
rejecting the £esh completely, they both continually live and consort
with the living, applying remedies to bodies and conveying the voices of
suppliants to God; they conduct themselves in other respects just like
their earlier existence, except they do not lack essentials and are not
circumscribed in place ^ rather they listen to everyone and associate
with everyone. They perform frequent and uninterrupted bendings of
knees and earnest risings, with zeal alone rekindling in them their youth
and voluntary weakness: they are like bodiless athletes, bloodless wrestlers,
who consider the fast as complete banquet and indulgence and the
ability to taste nothing as a satiating spread. Whenever a stranger
comes among them, even if at dawn, in turn they welcome him with
such hospitality and a¡ection, considering eating when they do not wish
as another form of fasting; hence the matter is a marvel, that, when in
need of so much for self-su⁄cient nourishment, they thus have quite
su⁄cient in a short time. Enemies of their personal wishes and nature,
they are surrendered to the wills of those at hand, in order that the pleasure
of the £esh may be constantly thrust away by them and the soul
might give direction by selecting with discrimination and preserving the
¢nest things and those pleasing to God. They are blessed in their life
here, but more blessed in their removal from here, for which they
constantly yearn in eagerness to see the one whom they desire.
22 Now, after the spouse of Theodosius had conversed with many such
men and, as has been said by me, had founded many such monasteries
and, furthermore, had also restored the walls of Jerusalem to a better
state, she also raised up a very great sanctuary of Stephen the ¢rst
deacon and martyr, outstanding in size and beauty, not one stade
distant from Jerusalem; she too was placed in this after she departed to