Desert father | Poemen the GreatНамуна

From foe to friend

The Desert Father stories are often so beautiful that they don't need any further explanation. An example of such a story is the following from the desert father Poimēn, about friendship and jealousy:

Before Abba Poimēn and his followers came to Egypt, an old man lived there, who had a good reputation and enjoyed considerable fame. When Abba Poimēn's group settled in Sketis, people left the old man to see Abba Poimēn and learn from him instead. So the old man became jealous and he started spreading gossip about them. 

Poimēn heard about the gossip and was saddened by it. He discussed his thoughts with his fellow monks: ‘What shall we do for this great old man? For people caused us trouble by abandoning him, by turning their attention to us. I don't understand, because we're not special at all, are we? Anyway, how can we comfort this holy man and make peace with him?’ (Romans 12:13-17) After a while, Poimēn thought of something and said to his pupils: ‘Let's prepare some nice dishes and collect a few liters of wine. Then we'll go to him to enjoy it together. Maybe we can cure him of his jealousy.’ (Proverbs 14:30)

The monks put together some food and went. When they knocked on the door, a disciple of the old man answered and asked, 'Who are you?' They responded, 'Would you tell your Abba that father Poimēn is here, he would like to receive his blessing.’ When the disciple delivered the message, he quickly came back and said, 'You'd better go, the old man says he doesn't have time'. Poimēn and the monks were disappointed but remained to wait in the glowing heat of the desert sun, saying: 'We will not leave until we have been able to show our respect to the old man'. 

When the old man saw their humility and patience, he was filled with compunction, and opened the door and welcomed them. They went inside and had a good time. And while they were eating the old man said: ‘All the good stories I have heard about you are true. And not only that, what I've seen now is a hundredfold greater.’

From that day on Poimēn and the old man became friends.