Abba John related that Abba Anoub, Abba Poemen, and their other brothers were born of the same mother and became monks in Scetis. When the Mazices came and devastated it for the first time, they withdrew from there and went to a place called Terenuthis until they could decide how they should settle. They stayed there for a few days in an old temple. Abba Anoub said to Abba Poemen, ‘Do me this kindness: you and your brothers, each separately, practice stillness, and let us not meet one another during this week.’ Abba Poemen said, ‘We will do as you wish.’ And they did so. There was a stone statue there in the temple. Every morning the elder, Abba Anoub, would rise and throw stones at the face of the statue; every evening he would say to it, ‘Forgive me.’ He spent the whole week doing this. On Saturday they met one another, and Abba Poemen said to Abba Anoub, ‘Abba, I saw you this week throwing stones at the statue’s face and making a prostration before it. Does a faithful man do such things?’ The elder answered, ‘I did this for your sake. When you saw me throwing stones at the statue’s face, did it speak or become angry?’ Abba Poemen said, ‘No.’ ‘And again, when I made a prostration before it, was it disturbed and did it say, “I do not forgive you”?’ Abba Poemen said, ‘No.’ The elder said, ‘We too, then, are seven brothers. If you want us to remain together, let us become like this statue, which is not disturbed whether it is insulted or honored. But if you do not want to become like this, look, there are four gates in the temple; let each one go wherever he wishes.’ They threw themselves to the ground and said to Abba Anoub, ‘We will do as you wish, Father, and obey what you tell us.’ Abba Poemen said, ‘We remained together throughout our lives, acting according to the elder’s word to us. He appointed one of us as steward, and whatever he set before us, we ate. It was impossible for any of us to say, “Bring us something else,” or, “We do not want to eat this.” We spent all our time in rest and peace.’
Abba Anoub said, ‘Since the name of Christ was invoked over me, no lie has come from my mouth.’