Preface

This is the discourse that our holy prophetic father Apa Shenoute pronounced when a pagan philosopher came to him, having come to him on other occasions, knowing (Shenoute) that he (the philosopher) did not think straight about God, while many of the dignitaries and wealthy who were sitting before him knew him (the philosopher), having ridiculed him in this way when he came to hear the discourse.

He (Shenoute) began to speak, saying in this way, The prophet said, “A lion will roar, and who will not be afraid? The Lord God has spoken, and who will not prophesy?” It is the Lord who has commanded, and his Spirit. Who will not speak of what has happened? And who will hide things that are profitable?

Shenoute's vision

As I was sitting on a mountain, he who speaks these things said, I saw an animal in the air, fighting with another animal on the ground. I felt great joy because the flying one prevailed upon the earthly one. But after a while the animal on the ground turned upon the flying one, and seized it and overpowered it.

Allegorical interpretation of the vision

The wise will understand that this story concerns every heretic who is of two minds. For it is no wonder that a pagan or a heretic who has no faith is in the church. Indeed, the birds themselves are often in the church – look, there is the peacock and the Nile goose. If the heretic and the pagan spread out their hands and lift them up hypocritically, behold the birds themselves often do this, spreading their wings.

And will you fight Satan, you faithless, while you lack the shield of faith, that by which you would be able to quench his arrows? Woe unto you, if you do not go to the church and if you do not partake of the body and the blood of the Lord. And woe unto you, if you do not go, and if you do not partake of the holy mystery, since you are of two minds.