Life in the Last Times - Abba Pambo (Saying of the Desert Fathers)

Abba Pombo, on life in the last times, from the Eurone de Cone, the sayings of the Desert Fathers. An Egyptian ascetic on the Nitrian mountain, Abba Pombo was a contemporary of Saint Anthony the Great and himself great in monastic asceticism. Born about 303, he was one of the first to join Amun in Nitriah. He was illiterate until he was taught the scriptures as a monk and ordained a priest in 340. He had two characteristics by which he was especially known. By long training, he sealed his lips so that no unnecessary word passed them, and he never ate bread other than that which he gained by his own labor, plating rushes. He was like an angel of God and an old age his face shown as did the face of Moses in ancient times, so that the monks could not look on it. He did not give a quick answer even to a simple question, without prayer and pondering in his heart. This wonderful saint had clear discernment in the destiny of the living and the dead. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 374. Abba Pombo says, "And I tell you this, my child, that the days will come when the Christians will add to and will take away from and will alter the books of the Holy Evangelists and of the Holy Apostles and of the Divine Prophets and of the Holy Fathers. They'll tone down the Holy Scriptures and will compose Triparia, hymns, and writings technologically. Their news will be spilled out among them and will become alienated from its heavenly prototype. For this reason, the Holy Fathers had previously encouraged the monks of the desert to write down the lives of the Fathers and not onto parchment but onto paper, because the coming generation will change them to suit their own personal taste. So you see, the evil that comes will be horrible." Then the disciple said, "So then, Yeranda, the traditions are going to be changed and the practices of the Christians. Maybe there won't exist enough priests in the church when these unfortunate times come." And the Father continued, "In these times, the love of God in most souls will grow cold and a great sadness will fall onto the world. One nation shall face off against another. The souls will move away from their own places. Rulers will be confused. The clergy will be thrown into anarchy and the monks will be inclined more to negligence." The church leaders will consider useless anything concerned with salvation as much for their own souls as for the souls of their flocks and they will despise any such concern. All will show eagerness and energy for every matter regarding their dining table and their appetites. They'll be lazy in their prayers and casual in their criticisms. As for the lives and teachings of the Holy Fathers, they'll not have any interest to imitate them nor even to hear them. But rather they will complain and say that, "If we have lived in those times, then we'd have behaved like that." And the bishops shall give way to the powerful of the world, giving answers on different matters only after taking gifts from everywhere and consulting the rational logic of the academics. The poor man's rights will not be defended. They'll afflict widows and harass orphans. Debutary will permeate these people. Most won't believe in God. They'll hate each other and devour one another like beasts. The one will steal from the other. They'll be drunk and we'll walk about as blind. The disciple again asked, "What can we do in such a state?" An abopombo answered, "My child, in these times, whoever will save his soul and prompt others to be saved, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."