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of needs? Otherwise, it is also worthwhile to be instructed from this example. For the soldier who has just been enrolled in a certain regiment does not try to change those in the regiment to his own habit, but he himself conforms to the conduct and custom of the regiment. Therefore, it is fitting that the one who is enrolled in a spiritual community should not wish to conform them to his own way, but should make his own way like the customs and models in the community.

CHAPTER 27. That the ascetic ought not to have his own occupations.

The ascetic would not have authority over himself even for a moment, so as to be occupied with his own affairs. For neither can an instrument be moved without the craftsman, nor can a member of the whole body be separated for even a short time, or be moved contrary to what seems good to the craftsman within and the master of the whole body; nor does an ascetic have opportunity to do or perform anything contrary to what seems good to the superior. But if he should say that he is unable to perform the commands due to bodily weakness, he will entrust the examination of his own weakness to the leader. Otherwise, considering also the saying of the Scripture, he will urge himself to the fulfillment of the commands, hearing the Scripture say: You have not yet resisted to the point of blood, striving against sin; and again elsewhere: Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees.

CHAPTER 28. That the superior ought to manage the affairs of his subjects with paternal goodwill.

And the leader himself, like a father caring for his own children, will look after the need of each one, and will, as far as possible, provide the appropriate treatment and care; and he will bear the member that is truly weak, whether spiritually or physically, with love and the goodwill befitting a father.

CHAPTER 29. That there should be no cliques of two or three brothers in an ascetic community.

It is fitting for the brothers to have love for one another, but not, however, for any cliques of two or three to be formed together. For this is not love, but faction, and division, and an accusation of the wickedness of those who gather together. For if such men loved the common good order, they would have a common and equal love toward all; but if, cutting themselves off and separating themselves, they become a system within a system, the gathering of such a friendship is evil, and something different from the common practice brings such men together, which is an innovation contrary to the prevailing stability. Therefore, it is fitting neither that such cliques be permitted, nor, for the sake of preserving love, that one enter into fellowship with a brother who wishes to do evil and to counterfeit the laws of the common good order; but as long as all remain in what is good, each one's fellowship and union is to be with all. But if someone, wishing to oppose the prevailing order, draws his brother along with him, he is first to be admonished in secret by the one who is sound, as one who is sick in his thoughts; but if he should not wish to be healed privately, other more prudent brothers are also to be taken along for his healing, according to the holy Gospel: But if he will not listen to you

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χρειῶν; Ἄλλως δὲ καὶ ἐξ ὑπο δείγματος τοῦτο παιδεύεσθαι ἄξιον. Ὁ γὰρ ἐγκατα λεγόμενος ἄρτι τάγματί τινι στρατιώτης οὐχὶ τοὺς ἐν τῷ τάγματι πρὸς τὴν οἰκείαν ἕξιν μεταστῆ σαι πειρᾶται, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς πρὸς τὴν τοῦ τάγματος ἀγωγὴν καὶ συνήθειαν μεθαρμόζεται. Προσήκει τοί νυν καὶ τὸν ἐγκαταλεγόμενον πνευματικῷ συστή ματι μὴ ἐκείνους πρὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τρόπον μεθαρμό ζειν ἐθέλειν, ἀλλὰ τὸν οἰκεῖον τρόπον τοῖς ἐν τῷ συστήματι ἔθεσί τε καὶ τύποις ἐξομοιοῦν.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΚΖʹ. Ὅτι οὐ χρὴ ἰδίας ἀσχολίας ἔχειν τὸν ἀσκητήν.

Ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἑαυτοῦ οὐδὲ πρὸς τὸ ἀκαριαῖον ἔχοι ἂν ὁ ἀσκητὴς, ὥστε

οἰκείαις ἀσχολίαις ἐνδια τρίβειν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ὄργανον δίχα τοῦ τεχνίτου κινη θείη ἂν, οὐδὲ μέλος τοῦ παντὸς σώματος ἐν βραχεῖ γοῦν χωρίζεσθαι δύναιτ' ἂν, ἢ κινεῖσθαι παρὰ τὸ δοκοῦν τῷ ἔνδον τεχνίτῃ καὶ ἐπιστάτῃ τοῦ παντὸς σώματος· οὐδὲ ἀσκητὴς παρὰ τὸ δοκοῦν τῷ προ εστῶτι πράττειν τι ἢ ἐνεργεῖν χώραν ἔχει. Εἰ δὲ λέγοι δι' ἀσθένειαν σώματος ἀτονεῖν πρὸς τὰ ἐπι τάγματα, τῷ καθηγουμένῳ ἐπιτρέψει τὴν δοκιμα σίαν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἀσθενείας. Ἄλλως δὲ καὶ τὸ τῆς Γραφῆς λογισάμενος, ἑαυτὸν παρορμήσει πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἐπιτασσομένων ἐκπλήρωσιν, ἀκούων τῆς Γρα φῆς λεγούσης· Οὔπω μέχρις αἵματος ἀντικατέστη τε, πρὸς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι· καὶ πάλιν ἑτέρωθι· ∆ιὰ τὰς παρειμένας χεῖρας καὶ τὰ παραλελυμένα γόνατα ἀνορθώσατε.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΚΗʹ. Ὅτι χρὴ τὸν προεστῶτα πατρικῇ εὐνοίᾳ τὰ κατὰ τοὺς

ὑπηκόους οἰκονομεῖν. Καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ καθηγούμενος, ὡς πατὴρ παίδων γνησίων ἐπιμελούμενος,

ἐπισκέψεται τὴν χρείαν ἑκάστου, καὶ τὴν προσήκουσαν, κατὰ τὸ ἐνὸν, εἰσοίσει θεραπείαν καὶ ἐπιμέλειαν· καὶ τὸ κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ἀσθενοῦν μέλος εἴτε ψυχικῶς εἴτε σωματι κῶς μετὰ ἀγάπης καὶ τῆς πατρὶ πρεπούσης εὐνοίας διαβαστάσει.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΚΘʹ. Ὅτι οὐ χρὴ ἑταιρίας δύο ἢ τριῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐν συστήματι

ἀσκητικῷ γενέσθαι. Ἀγάπην δὲ τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔχειν μὲν προσ ήκει τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, μὴ

μέντοι τινὰς ἑταιρίας δύο κατὰ ταυτὸ ἢ τρεῖς γενομένους συνίστασθαι. Οὐ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ στάσις ἐστὶ, καὶ διαίρεσις, καὶ κακίας τῶν συνιόντων κατηγορία. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ 31.1420 κοινὸν τῆς εὐταξίας ἠγάπων οἱ τοιοῦτοι, κοινὴν ἂν ἔσχον πρὸς πάντας καὶ ἰσότιμον τὴν ἀγάπην· εἰ δὲ, ἀποτεμόντες καὶ διορίσαντες ἑαυτοὺς, σύστημα ἐν συστήματι γίνονται, πονηρὰ ἡ τῆς τοιαύτης φιλίας συναγωγὴ, καὶ παρηλλαγμένον τι παρὰ τὸ κοινὸν πρᾶγμα τοὺς τοιούτους συνάγει, ὅπερ ἐστὶ καινοτο μία παρὰ τὴν κρατοῦσαν εὐστάθειαν. Προσ ήκει τοίνυν μήτε τὰς τοιαύτας ἑταιρίας συγχωρεῖ σθαι, μήτε διὰ τὴν τῆς ἀγάπης τήρησιν εἰς κοινωνίαν ἔρχεσθαί τινα ἀδελφοῦ πονηρεύεσθαι βου λομένου, καὶ τοὺς τῆς κοινῆς εὐταξίας παραχαράτ τειν θεσμούς· ἀλλὰ μέχρι μὲν ἂν ἅπαντες ἐν τῷ καλῷ μένωσιν, εἶναι ἑκάστου τὴν πρὸς ἅπαντας κοι νωνίαν καὶ ἕνωσιν. Εἰ δέ τις, ἐναντιοῦσθαι τῇ κρα τούσῃ καταστάσει βουλόμενος, τὸν ἀδελφὸν συνεφέλ κεται, τοῦτον τὰ μὲν πρῶτα παρὰ τοῦ ὑγιαίνοντος, ὡς νοσοῦντα τοὺς λογισμοὺς, ἐν ἀποῤῥήτῳ νουθε τεῖσθαι· εἰ δὲ μὴ βούλοιτο κατ' ἰδίαν θεραπεύεσθαι, καὶ ἑτέρους ἀδελφοὺς τοὺς συνετωτέρους εἰς θερα πείαν αὐτοῦ συμπαραλαμβάνεσθαι, κατὰ τὸ ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον· Ἐὰν δὲ μή σου