Heraclius

A brother who was being attacked told Abba Heraclius about it. To strengthen him, Heraclius said, “An elder had a very obedient disciple for many years. One day the disciple was attacked, and he made a prostration in repentance before the elder, saying, ‘Make me become a monk.’ The elder said to him, ‘Find a place, and we will make a cell for you.’ The disciple went about one marker’s distance away and found a place, and together they built a cell. The elder said to the brother, ‘Whatever I tell you, do it. When you are hungry, eat; drink; sleep. Only do not leave your cell until Saturday; then come near me.’ The brother kept the command for two days. On the third day he fell into acedia and said, ‘Why did the elder do this to me?’ He rose and chanted many psalms. After sunset he ate, then went to sleep on his mat. He saw an Ethiopian lying there, gnashing his teeth at him. Terrified, he ran to the elder, knocked on the door, and said, ‘Abba, have mercy on me and open.’ The elder knew that he had not kept his word and did not open until morning. When he opened in the morning, he found the brother outside pleading with him, and in compassion he brought him in. The brother said, ‘I beg you, Father: when I went to sleep, I saw a black Ethiopian on my mat.’ The elder said, ‘This happened to you because you did not keep my word.’ Then, according to the brother’s strength, he instructed him in the rule of the solitary life, and little by little he became a good monk.”