Instructions: Counsel for Novices

St. Ammonas, the Egyptian hermit and successor to St. Anthony the great, lays out his instructions to young monastic novitiates in this short treatise. In it he warned against the sin of pride, encourages his monks to learn to "die to themselves" and accept that there is "no longer any I, but Christ". He offers practical advise for maintaining humility and encouraging wisdom to strengthen them in their daily struggle against their own passions.