To the monk Agathius

Treatise of St. Nile of Sinai “To the Monk Agathius” (or “Peristeria”) (12 sections) is devoted to issues of the ascetic life of the laity. The exact date of writing is unknown, the work dates back to 390-430. In the introduction, the author states the reason for writing the essay. One day, during a walk outside the city, his friend Agathius spoke about one pious woman - Peristeria. Her life was a true example of Christian virtue: abstinence, love for the poor, constant prayer and reading the word of God, participation in any grief of one's neighbor, caring for the monks and their protection. The image of Peristeria surprised St. Nila. According to its content, the treatise can be divided into 3 parts. Part 1 talks about the duties and virtues of a person in relation to himself (modesty, humility, prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures as a means of combating vain thoughts). The author calls abstinence the beginning and basis of all virtues. In the 2nd part, the author discusses a person’s attitude towards his neighbor (mercy, compassion, the fight against arrogance, etc.). The desire for earthly goods and the arrogance associated with it is an obstacle to virtue. In confirmation of his thought, Rev. Neil cites as an example the gospel story of the rich man and Lazarus. Part 3 deals with spiritual warfare and temptations, the culprit of which is the devil. According to the author, one cannot please God without causing the envy of the serpent. All tests are beneficial because... “The fragrance of virtue then becomes greater when it is set in motion by many temptations.” St. Neil, using the example of the righteous Job, advises to endure sorrows patiently and without grumbling. It also reminds us of the actions of God’s Providence in the lives of the righteous: Sarah, David, Hezekiah, Elisha, the Babylonian youths, etc. *The title of the work in Greek is Πρὸς ᾿Αγάθιον μονάζοντα. *The title of the work in Latin is Peristeria (ad Agathium monachum). Section 1. Introduction Section 2. About abstinence Section 3. About vanity Section 4. About reading and prayer Section 5. About the fact that souls addicted to wealth, as those who love life, find it difficult to part with life at death Section 6. About the fact that those who transfer their property into the possession of someone who happens to be justly punished Section 7. About those who, at the time of death, do not take care of their salvation, but they write wills and give orders about things over which they have no power Section 8. That those who suffer carelessly during life and at the time of death, instead of taking care of themselves, make efforts to pass on their property to their heirs Section 9. Reproof of those who write wills Section 10. About the life of the blessed and the evil of the devil Section 11. About Joseph and Susanna and that the feat of Joseph is higher than the feat of blessed Susanna Section 12. The parable of the vineyard and the laborers hired at different hours You might be interested in: