Ares

Abba Abraham came to Abba Ares, and while they were sitting, a brother came to the elder and said to him, “Tell me what I should do to be saved.” He said to him, “Go, for this whole year eat bread and salt late in the day, and then come back, and I will speak to you.” He went away and did so. When the year was completed, the brother came again to Abba Ares, and Abba Abraham happened to be there then also. The elder said again to the brother, “Go, and this year fast two days at a time.” After the brother had left, Abba Abraham said to Abba Ares, “Why do you speak to all the brothers with a light yoke, but lay heavy burdens on this brother?” The elder said to him, “The brothers come asking, and they leave as they came. But this one comes for God’s sake to hear a word. He is a worker, and whatever I tell him, he does eagerly. For this reason I too speak the word of God to him.”