by St. Athanasios the Great (trans. by Monk Chrysostomos)
Feast day Jan. 5/18
- 265 – 350
It is to be lauded that at long last there is an accurate English translation of this ancient classic! It presents an account of the Desert Mother’s early years, her monastic struggles, her teachings, her last days and the patient endurance she showed in the illness that led to her death.
Paperback, 82 pages, illustrated with icons
From the text:
“No one is ignorant of the martyric achievements of the blessed Thecla, how she contended through fire and untamed beasts, and I think most will not be unaware of Synkletike’s toils and sweat for the sake of virtue. For if the same Savior was the object of their yearning, they necessarily had also one opponent. And I perceive Thecla’s toils to be lighter. For the enemy approached her from the outside, and his malice was laid low; whereas in this case [that of St. Synkletike], he showed his evil to be more intense, operating from the inside by way of adverse and pernicious thoughts.”
St. Athanasios the Great
