Star worshippers, who became followers of John the
Baptist. Iticy combined Babylonian civilisation with Greek
learning. Cf. Ency. Brit.14 cd. vol. XIX, p. 790.
As to the phrase at the end of the paragraph, three
opinions have been expressed regarding its origin: a) that
the words in question were taken from the Apocryphal
Gospel according to the Hebrews, b) that they were
adapted from the parable of the talents, c) that they were
actually said by our Saviour and were handed down orally.
J. Neale, op. cu, vol. l, p. 40.
Mgr. Kyrillos Macaire. op. cit., vol. I, p. 43.
Archimandrite Guettee, op. cit., vol. I, p. 506 and vol. II,
p. 7.
Manassa'l Qommos op. cit. p.112.
Eusebius B. VI s 39; Freppel: "Origene" vol. II, pp. 114-
15.
Up to the present a monastery bearing the name of St.
Paul still exists within the vicinity of this cave. When, in
1884, A. J. Butler published his book "Ancient Coptic
Churches of Egypt" he said on p. 346, v. I, “This far
convent has scarcely ever been visited by a European
traveller, and its beauties and its treasures must be left to
their ancient silence". This is no more the case, however,
for the monastery. Cars and desert routes have made the
monastery accessible now.
"Desert Fathers" translated from the Latin and Greek mss.
by Helen Waddell, London, 1936, p. 50.
