Abba Mark, the Disciple of Abba Silvanus
1. It was said of Abba Silvanus that at Scetis he had a disciple called Mark, whose obedience was great. He was a scribe. The old man loved him because of his obedience. He had eleven other disciples who were hurt because he loved him more than them. When they knew this, the elders were sorry about it and they came one day to him to reproach him about it. Taking them with him, he went to knock at each cell, saying, "Brother so and so, come here; I need you, "but none of them came immediately. Coming to Mark's cell, he knocked and said, "Mark." Hearing the old man's voice, he jumped up immediately and the old man sent him off to serve and said to the elders, "Fathers, where are the other brothers?" Then he went into Mark's cell and picked up his book and noticed that he had begun to write the letter "omega", nut when he had heard the old man, he had not finished writing it. Then the elders said, "Truly, abba he whom you love, we love too and God loves him."
2. They said this of Abba Silvanus that, as he was walking to Scetis one day with the old men. And wishing to demonstrate his disciple Mark's obedience, and show the reason for his affection for him, he said to him, seeing a small wild boar, "Boy, do you see that little buffalo? He said to him, Yes, Abba. And do you see his horns, how attractive they are? He said to him, "Yes, abba." The old men were astonished at his reply and edified by his obedience.
3. Abba Mark's mother came down to see him one day with great pomp. The old man went out to meet her. She said to him, : Abba, tell my son to come out so that I may see him." So the old man went back and said to him, "Go out, and let your mother see you." He was wearing ragged garments and coming from the kitchen, so he was very dirty. He went out under obedience and closed his eyes and said to them: "Greetings, greetings, greetings!" but he did not see them at all. His mother did not recognize him. So she sent a message to the old man again, "Abba, send me my son, so that I may see him." He said to Mark, "Did I not tell you to go out, so your mother would see you?" Mark said to him, "As you said, abba, I went out; but please, do not tell me a second time to go out, because I don't want o disobey you." The old man went out and said to the mother, "Your son was he who came to meet you, saying "Greetings!" Then he comforted her and sent her away.
4. On another occasion Mark decided to leave Scetis and go to Mount Sinai and live there. His mother sent his abba a message, begging him with tears to send her son out to see her. So the old man made him go. But as he was putting on his sheepskin to go and preparing to take leave of the old man, he suddenly burst into tears and did not go out after all.
5. It was said of Abba Silvanus that when he wished to go away to Syria, his disciple Mark said to him. "Father, I do not want to leave this place, nor to let you go away, abba. Stay here for tree days." And on the third day Mark died.
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