Авва Захария

1. A certain Egyptian named Karion had a wife and two children. Leaving them, he went to the Skete and became a monk. After some time, there was a famine in Egypt. Carion's wife, in a difficult situation, came to Skete with both children, of whom the son was called Zacharias: the other child was female. Karion's wife sat down under a tree on the bank of a stream, opposite the church, according to the custom accepted in the Skete. The custom was this: if a woman came to the Skete to talk with a monk, or a monk needed to talk to a woman, then they sat away from each other, on opposite banks of the river, and thus talked with each other. His wife said to Karion: “You have taken monasticism, but a great famine has come: who will feed your children?” Karion answered: “Let the son come to me, I will take him and raise him in the Skete, and you take upon yourself the upbringing of your daughter.” They did just that. Everyone in Skete knew that his son lived with Karion. Despite this, when Zechariah began to grow old, the monks began to grumble because of him. Karion, having learned that the brethren were grumbling, said to Zechariah: “Let’s get out of here: the fathers are grumbling.” Zechariah said to this: “After all, everyone knows that I am your son.” They retired to Thebaid and placed themselves in cells. But even there, after a short time, a murmur arose because of them. They returned to Skete; there the brethren continued to grumble against them. Then Zechariah went to the mineral lake, and, plunging into it up to his nostrils, stayed in it for a whole hour. This made him seem like a leper. When he came to his father, his father barely recognized him. Soon after this, Zechariah had the opportunity to begin holy communion, and there was a revelation about him to the Monk Isidore the presbyter, who said to him: “My son, Zechariah! Last Sunday you received communion as a man, and now you have turned into an Angel” 309. 2. When Zechariah lived in the Skete in this way, he was granted a spiritual vision, and told his father about it. The elder was not a spiritual worker and knew nothing about these subjects. He began to beat his son, saying: “This is out of hostility.” But Zechariah was in a state that is produced by vision. At night he went to Abba Pimen and told him everything, and how his insides were burning. The elder, although he knew that the spiritual state was from God, sent him to some other elder, saying: “As this one tells you, do so.” When Zechariah came to the elder, the elder, before Zechariah said anything to him, explained to him everything, and that the vision was from God. “But,” added the elder, “obey your father” 310. The gracious, spiritually wise elder took care to preserve for Zechariah the foundation on which his spiritual success was created. From true obedience, true humility is born: true humility is overshadowed by the mercy of God. From incorrect and man-pleasing obedience, false humility is born, which alienates a person from the gifts of God, making him a vessel of Satan. 3. When the time came for Karion to repose before God, he said to the brethren: “I have endured a lot of bodily labor; He bore them more than my son Zechariah; but he did not come to his measure because of his humility and silence.” And the elder died 311. 4. Once Abba Moses came to the well to draw water, and saw the young monk Zechariah praying at the well. The Spirit of God, in the likeness of a dove, sat on his head. Abba Moses said to Zechariah: “Give me instructions for my life.” Zechariah, hearing this, fell at the feet of the old man, saying: “Are you asking me, father?” “The elder said to him: “Believe me, my son, Zechariah, that I saw the Holy Spirit descend on you, and I find it necessary to question you.” Then Zacharias took the doll from his head, put it under his feet, and, trampling it, said: “If a person is not trampled in this way, then he cannot become a monk” 312. This is who those who want to receive correct, soul-saving instruction should ask! they must question people of grace who speak the word of God, and not their own. 5. Abba Macarius said to brother Zechariah: “Tell me, what is the monk’s business?” Zechariah answered him: “Are you asking me, father?” Abba Macarius said: “I reveal to you, my child, Zechariah, that there is one who compels me to question you.” Then Zechariah said: “Abba! in my opinion, a monk is one who constantly forces himself on the commandments of God” 313. 6. Abba Pimen said: While brother Zechariah was dying, Abba Moses asked him: “What do you see?” Zechariah answered: “Abba! Isn’t it better to keep silent about this?” Moses said, “Be silent, my son.” At the hour of Zechariah’s death, Abba Isidore the presbyter was sitting with him, and, looking up at heaven, he said: “Rejoice, Zechariah, my child! The gates of the kingdom of heaven have been opened to you.” Then Zechariah gave up the ghost and was buried by the Fathers in Skete 314. You might be interested in: