Hyperechios

Abba Hyperechios or Hyperechius was one of the Desert Fathers quoted in the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers). He lived during the 4th or 5th century AD in urban Egypt or Palestine.

Quotes

Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Wortley, John (2014). Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Yonkers, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-497-4. 

• Abba Hyperechios said: “Just as a lion is fearsome to the wild asses, so is the well-tried monk to lascivious logismoi.”
  • Saying 1

• He also said: “It is good to eat flesh and to drink wine and not to eat the flesh of your brothers in backbiting.”
  • Saying 4

• He also said: “By whispering, the serpent expelled Eve from Paradise, and he who bites back at his neighbor is like it, for he ruins the soul of him who hears and does not keep his own safe.”
  • Saying 5

• He also said: “The monk’s treasure is voluntary destitution; lay [it] up in heaven, brother, for the ages of repose are limitless.”
  • Saying 6

• He also said: “Let your consciousness always dwell on the Kingdom of Heaven and soon you shall inherit it.”
  • Saying 7

Exhortation to the Monks

Vivian, Tim (2024). Exhortation to the Monks by Hyperechios: Reflections on the Spiritual Journey. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 9781649033673. 

• Εὐχομένου μοναχοῦ καθαρῶϛ ἐν νυκτεριναῖϛ εὐχῆϛ.
  Ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δὲ τοῦτο λαμπρύνει Κύριοϛ καὶ ὡϛ ἡμέραν καθαρὰν ἀναδείξει.
  • The Lord listens to the monk as he prays the nightly prayers with a pure heart.
    During the day the Lord makes him shine and will proclaim him pure.
    • Saying 21

• Ἐν πάντι καιρῷ ἔστω ὁ χιτὼν τοῦ μοναχοῦ ἄσπιλοϛ οὐκ ὁ ὕϕαντοϛ ἀλλ’ ὁ πνευματικόϛ.
  Ἐν μέσῃ γὰρ νυκτὶ ὁ τοιοῦτοϛ συνεισελεύσεται τῷ νυμϕίῳ Χριστῷ εἰϛ τὴν παστάδα.
  Ἔλαιον ἐπικομιζέτω ὁ μοναχὸϛ εἰϛ ἀπάντησιν τοῦ νυμϕίου.
  • Let the habit of a monk at all times be spotless; this means a spiritual habit, not one that’s woven.
    In the middle of the night such a monk will enter the bridal chamber with Christ the bridegroom.
    Let the monk bring oil for his meeting with the bridegroom.
    • Saying 24

• Ζωὴ μοναχοῦ κατὰ μίμησιν ἀγγέλου γινέσθω, καταϕλέγουσα ἁμαρτίαν.
  Ζωὴ γὰρ μοναχοῦ ἐστιν ἡ τῶν μετανοούντων ὁλοκάρπωσιϛ.
  • The life of a monk should emulate that of an angel, a life that destroys sin with conflagration of flame.
    The life of a monk is a whole burnt offering for those who repent.
    • Saying 25

• Ἡσυχία μοναχοῦ μετὰ καθαρὰϛ καρδίαϛ δυσωπεῖ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον.
  • The contemplative quiet (hēsychía) of the monk with a pure heart wins over the Holy Spirit.
    • Saying 36

• Θησαύρισον, μοναχὲ, ἐν οὐρανῷ ἀπέραντοι γὰρ τῆϛ ἀναπαύσεώϛ σοι αἰῶνεϛ.
  • Monk, store up treasure in heaven; endless will be the ages of your inward stillness.
    • Saying 41

• Ἱλαρὸϛ τῇ ὄψει μοναχόϛ ἀσκητοῦ ἀνάπαυσιϛ καὶ λογισμῶν πονηρῶν καθαίρεσιϛ.
  • A monk with his face lit up with joy through ascetic practice provides inward stillness and he overthrows evil thoughts.
    • Saying 47

• Νόμοϛ πηγὴ ζωῆϛ μοναχοῦ ἐν χείρι πρακτικοῦ.
  • The law is a fountain of life in the hand of the monk who practices the ascetic life.
    • Saying 83

• Πηγὴ ἀένναοϛ ὁ Χριστόϛ.
  Ἐκ ταύτηϛ ἀρυόμενοϛ τὴν δυσώδη πυρκαϊὰν ἀποσβέσον.
  • Christ is a fountain ever flowing.
    Draw (water) from it. Extinguish the foul-smelling burning conflagration.
    • Saying 109

• Ῥεῖθρον Ίορδάνου καθάρσιον ἁμαρτημάτων δάκρυα.
  Χριστὸϛ γὰρ εἶπε, “Μακάριοι οἱ κλαίοντεϛ, ὅτι γελάσονται.”
  • Tears (are) the cleansing river of Jordan (for) sins.
    Christ said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”
    • Saying 115

• Ῥιπίζεται μοναχὸϛ ὑπὸ λαίλαποϛ λογισμῶν.
  Ῥήμασι δὲ ἀγγελικοῖϛ στηριζέτω ἑαυτὸν κραταιῶϛ.
  • A monk is (continually) lashed by a gale storm of thoughts.
    But let him firmly strengthen himself with the words of the angels.
    • Saying 116

• Στέϕανοϛ μοναχοῦ εἰρήνη καὶ ἁγιασμόϛ.
  Ὁ κεκτημένοϛ αὐτὰ ὅψεται τὸν Κύριον.
  • The crown of a monk is peace and sanctity.
    The person who has acquired these will see the Lord.
    • Saying 119

• Φάοϛ καθαρὸν ἐπὶ γῆϛ μοναχὸϛ ἀπαθήϛ, πὰρ’ ᾧ οὐχ εὑρέθη ϕιλαργυρία.
  “Φιλαργυρία γὰρ πάντων κακῶν ῥίζα,” ἤ οὐ τίκτει καρπὸν ἀγαθόν ποτε.
  • A monk who does not have the passions, in whom there is no love of money, is a pure lamp upon the earth.
    “A love of money is the root of all evil,” and never bears good fruit.
    • Saying 143

• Χρυσὸϛ δοκιμάζεται ἐν καμίνῳ πυρὸϛ καὶ μοναχὸϛ ἐν πλήθει μοναχῶν γνωσθήσεται.
  Ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀκίβδηλοϛ σωθήσεται.
  • Gold is tested by fire in a fiery furnace, and a monk will be recognized as a true monk by a multitude of monks.
    So, then, the genuine will be saved.
    • Saying 146

• Χιόνοϛ λαμπρότεροϛ εὐρεθήσεται μοναχὸϛ ἀνώτεροϛ τῶν σαρκικῶν ἐπιθυμίαν ὑπάρχων.
  Χριστὸν ἀντὶ χρυσοῦ ποθῶν, ὅψεται αὐτὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθοσύνηϛ στεϕανοῦντα αὐτόν.
  • The one who is above fleshly desires will be found shining more brightly than snow.
    Desiring Christ rather than gold, he will see Christ crowning him on the Day of Generosity.
    • Saying 150

Quotes about Hyperechios

• If Hyperechios were with us today, he would not be on Wikipedia, or Twitter, or Facebook, or any of our phantasmagoriae of social media.
  • Vivian, Tim (2024). Exhortation to the Monks by Hyperechios: Reflections on the Spiritual Journey. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 9781649033673. 

See also

• Evagrius Ponticus
• Hesychia