Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18
“One of the earliest recorded practitioners of the ascesis of foolishness for Christ’s sake is Isidora of Tabenna. She lived in the fourth century in the monastery of Tabenna in Egypt… Feigning insanity, Isidora was largely despised by the 400 nuns at the monastery and was relegated to performing the most menial tasks…
Isidora did not wear a traditional cowl, but instead she covered her head only with an old rag. Whatever task she was asked to do, she did with all her might, maintaining always the spirit of Christ in everything she put her hands to. Even when she suffered abuse from the sisters she served – which she often did – Isidora never once was heard to complain or become angry. The sisters considered her insane or demon-possessed and refused even to eat with her, not understanding Isidora’s desire to fulfill the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:18…
A number of miles away in the Porphyrite desert there dwelt a holy anchorite by the name of Pitirim… Sometimes he was tempted by pride to consider himself superior to others. One day an angel appeared to him and said, “What makes you think your struggles are so excellent? Would you like to see a woman more devout than yourself? Go to the women’s monastery in Tabenna, and you will find a nun wearing a rag on her head. She is superior to you because she gives herself up to struggle in the midst of people; she serves everyone and though everyone mocks and reviles her, she has never looked away from God with her heart. But you, sitting here in the desert, are sinning with your thoughts in the city.”
Humbled by these words, Pitirim abandoned his life of solitude and went to the Tabenna monastery so he could meet this holy woman the angel had proclaimed. When he arrived, he was allowed to enter in (an unusual occurrence since typically men were not allowed inside a woman’s monastery, but because of his great holiness and his old age he was welcomed). Once he entered, he asked that all the nuns be gathered together. Obediently, they all assembled before him – all except for Isidora. But Pitirim said that there must be others since he had not seen the woman “with a crown on her head.” The sisters told him that all were there, and that the only one absent was Isidora, who was in the kitchen. “But she is a fool,” they said. Nonetheless, Pitirim asked htme to bring her to him.
The sisters had to bring Isidora from the kitchen forcibly, but as she entered the room Pitirim could se with his spiritual sight that she was the one wearing not a rag but a splendid crown on her head. Pitirim fell prostrate at her feet and said, “Bless me, Amma!” In turn, Isidora fell at Pitirim’s feet and asked instead for his blessing. The sisters were shocked to see the famous and holy Pitirim behave in such a manner, and they said to him, “Father do not let her deceive you. She is only a fool.” “You are the fools,” Pitirim replied. “She is mother of me and of you all. I pray that I might be found worthy of her on the Day of Judgment.”
Isidora of Tabenna (1929-1995) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 51-53.
Today’s post continues on the theme of humility from yesterday and adds ascesis to the mix. What does ascesis mean? It means choosing a lifestyle of extreme self-discipline that often runs contrary to common cultural or worldly patterns.
While I travel, people look at me as a some famous holy man. But I am nothing more than Pitirim. I am brought low by many of the humble people I serve around the world. I am serious. Perhaps you can relate?
As I read this post, I said to myself, “I go to counties like Colombia to bless people, and I find that God turns the tables. I meet such amazing saints that I need to ask them to bless me.”
I find tremendously godly and humble people in some of the hardest places. Together we have accomplished much here. And it’s time for me to go home. Thanks for your prayers for safe and uneventful travel.
If you do not already receive my trip reports, reply if you want a copy of my report from Colombia. Regardless, ask God what ascesis He might be calling you to or what lifestyle of extreme self-discipline.