Ammonas

Venerable Ammonas lived in the time of Saint Anthony the Great, in the fourth century. Anthony loved and esteemed him greatly, and Ammonas succeeded him in the spiritual guidance of the monks of the monastic centre of Pispir, on the left bank of the Nile.

Rarely has a man been so master of himself as to stand above insults, blessing and doing good to those who reviled him. He struggled especially for the enlightenment and return to virtue of unfortunate women who had fallen into sin. While the world spoke ill of him, he counselled, begged and prayed; so many of them repented and lived in piety and chastity. He reposed in peace before the year 403. His writings show an ascetic well tried in the hidden ascents toward God.

Asked once what the narrow and afflicted way is, he answered that it means fighting one's thoughts and cutting off one's own will for God's sake. According to some sources, he is the Ammonas of the Lausiac History, a priest who saw an angel writing in a book the names of the brothers who came to the Liturgy. The names of those absent he erased, and they died after three days. He is commemorated on 26 January (new style).