It was said of Abba Megethius that if, after leaving his cell, the thought came to him to move away from the place, he did not return to his cell. He owned nothing material from this world except a single needle with which he split palm leaves. Each day he made three small baskets, and from this came his food.
They said of a second Abba Megethius that he was very humble. He had been trained among the Egyptians and had met many elders, including Abba Sisoes and Abba Poemen. He lived by the river at Sinai. As he himself related, one of the holy men once visited him and asked, “Brother, how do you live in this desert?” He replied, “I fast two days at a time and eat one loaf.” The other said, “If you want to listen to me, eat half a loaf each day.” He did so and found rest.
Abba Megethius said, “If cooked food is left over and has spoiled, do not force the brothers to eat it; throw it away. But if it is still good and you throw it away out of luxury so that another dish can be cooked, that is wrong.”
Abba Megethius said, “At first, when we gathered together, we spoke for our benefit and strengthened one another, and we became like choirs rising toward heaven. But now, when we gather, we turn to slander and drag one another down.”