Khirbet Jinjas - HEPTASTOMOS

A monk of the Great Laura, a Jerusalemite by birth, Jacob by name, on the occasion of Sabas’ going out into the desert (during Lent), presumptuously took some (monks) of the Laura and began to build a small chapel and cells near the above-mentioned cistern of Heptastomos, intending to establish a laura there. When the fathers of the Laura angrily protested against this work, he mendaciously explained that it was the holy father’s command. Hearing this, the fathers, though vexed, did not try to prevent the work; but when the great man himself came in, around the time of the Festival (of Palms) and saw the building, he sent for Jacob and said to him: “Your work does not please God, my son: namely that you started another laura within the area of the Laura, especially since the fathers of the Laura do not give their consent (to the building), but on the contrary they are much troubled by its being alongside the road and near our cistern. Even if one should declare that this building will be subject to the Laura, I do not want the Laura to be so far extended. Besides, listen to the prophet’s advice to those who, through inexperience or folly, undertake something beyond their own worth and power: ‘Beat your ploughshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears’ <Joel 3:10>, for what is the good of tilling the land, when the land is in the land is in the grip of war? So you, who have not yet conquered the passions of the flesh and the spirit, how will you instruct others, still being yourself a slave of pleasure and vain glory?”. But. as Jacob answered back and would not accept his reproach, the old man said to him: “For my part, I give you the advice that I think is best for you, but as you persist in your disobedience, you will forthwith learn by experience that truly the Scripture says: “An evil man seeks only rebellion and the Lord will send a cruel messenger against him’ <Prov. 17:11>”; and having said these words the holy man retired into his tower; and Jacob was seized with shivering and a dreadful fever. He was tortured by this disease for seven months, and in November his life was despaired of. Then he begged of the fathers to be carried out and brought to the church of the Laura and laid at the holy man’s feet, so that he could ask his forgiveness before he died. When this was done, the holy man said to him: “Do you know now what is the salary of arrogance and opposition? have you been chastised by your own boastfulness?” - Jacob, who could hardly open his mouth, said: “Forgive met father” and the holy man replied: “God will forgive you” and giving him a hand raised him and directed him to take part in the immaculate Mysteries. After receiving Communion. Jacob immediately partook of food too and recovered his strength, so that everybody marvelled at his sudden change. From that time on, he no longer returned to that building. And the archbishop Elias, having heard of this, sent some (labourers) to dismantle Jacob’s building; on the other hand, our holy father Sabas took some capable (monks) of the laura and built a chapel and cells all around, at a distance of perhaps five stadia from the dismantled building. He appointed administrators there two monks of the Great Laura, called Paul and Andrew, who were brothers in the flesh and Greek by birth. And having planted more brothers there, he turned the place into a laura that he called Heptastomos. The site for that laura had been pointed out to Sabas by one Zanagon, who came from the village of Betaboudison. Sabas took proper care of the place, and whenever there was a feast <agape, ‘love-feast’, a common meal consumed by the monks when offering of food were brought to the monastery> at the Great Laura, he would send the offerings of food also to the (monks) there, so much he care for that monastery.