November 8: [Ammonius, Hermit, c. 403]

The Collect of the Day

Ammonius

Drive far from your church, O God, every vain spirit of clerical ambition, that, like your servant Ammonius, we may refuse to conflate ordination and leadership, and may never confuse rank with holiness; in the name of your son Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone is our great High Priest. Amen.

Ammonius

Drive far from thy church, O God, every vain spirit of clerical ambition, that, like thy servant Ammonius, we may refuse to conflate ordination and leadership, and may never confuse rank with holiness; in the name of thy son Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone is our great High Priest. Amen.

1 Samuel 10:20–27
Psalm 24
Matthew 23:1–12

The most popular story that is related about Ammonius would seem quite unbelievable if it were not recorded in such a large number of historical sources, including many that were contemporary with his life. Although praised for his learning and his asceticism, he is most vividly remembered for the vehemence with which he resisted ordination.

Ammonius was one of four brothers who became monastic hermits in Scete in northern Egypt, disciples of the great ascetic Pambo. Although most of the monks in that settlement were illiterate, Ammonius had been exceptionally well educated. He is said to have had the entire Old and New Testament memorized, as well as the works of many early Christian theologians. Although he left no writings, many of his students and colleagues did, perhaps the most famous of whom is Evagrius of Pontus.

In addition to his great knowledge, Ammonius was also very strict in his spiritual practice and was well loved as a spiritual director and guide. Because of all of this, the inhabitants of a nearby village wanted him to be their bishop. Forcible ordination was not unusual in the early church, and so Bishop Timothy of Alexandria told the people that if they were able to bring this holy man to him, he would absolutely ordain him.

Ammonius pleaded with them not to do this thing, but they would not hear it, and a large crowd of them gathered to drag him back to Alexandria by force. Seeing that they were too numerous for him to resist or to flee, Ammonius seized a sword and chopped off his ear in front of the shocked observers. He then calmly replied that he was now utterly disqualified for ecclesiastical office since the law forbids a man who is mutilated to become a priest (Leviticus 21:16–24). Deeply shaken, the people returned to Bishop Timothy, who told them: “This law is only observed by the Jews. If you bring him to me, I will ordain him even if he chops off his nose too!”

Therefore, they returned, but when they attempted to drag Ammonius off again, this time he said to them “I swear to you that if you do such a thing to me, I shall cut out my tongue as well!” Alarmed by the prospect of losing his preaching and exhortation, they finally left him in peace. This story was as striking in antiquity as it is today, and is recounted by a number of writers (including his disapproving bishop). Most sources refer to him as “Ammonius the Earless” from that time forth.

Despite his strident refusal of the episcopate, Ammonius was by no means anti-clerical. His own brother Dioscorus had become a bishop, his other two brothers were both priests, and when he left Egypt towards the end of his life during the theological controversies that had embroiled Scete, he sought out the company of his close friend John Chrysostom. He was also a close companion and associate of Melania the Elder, welcoming her as a guest to his monastic settlement, visiting her in Jerusalem at hers, and welcoming her protege Evagrius to his community. He died while visiting John Chrysostom sometime around the year 403.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

Psalm

¹The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, *the world and all who dwell therein.

²For it is he who founded it upon the seas *and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

³“Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? *and who can stand in his holy place?”

⁴“Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud.

⁵They shall receive a blessing from the Lord *and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”

⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him, *of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

⁷Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *and the King of glory shall come in.

⁸“Who is this King of glory?” *“The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.”

⁹Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *and the King of glory shall come in.

¹⁰“Who is he, this King of glory?” *“The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.”

Gospel

²⁰Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. ²¹He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken by lot. Finally he brought the family of the Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. ²²So they inquired again of the Lord, “Did the man come here?” and the Lord said, “See, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” ²³Then they ran and brought him from there. When he took his stand among the people, he was head and shoulders taller than any of them. ²⁴Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” ²⁵Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people back to their homes. ²⁶Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went warriors whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He would gouge out the right eye of each of them and would not grant Israel a deliverer. No one was left of the Israelites across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites and had entered Jabesh-gilead.