Rufinus the Presbyter. "Living of Desert Fathers."
(translated from Russian)
We cannot pass over in silence the
inhabitants of the desert adjoining the Porfenian sea and bordering the
area of the city Diolk. There we saw one wonderful priest, named
Piammon, who was notable for the absolute humility and meek indulgence.
He was given the grace of revelation. Once bringing the Bloodless
Sacrifice to the Lord, he saw an Angel of the Lord near the Altar: he
was holding a book in which he wrote down the names of the monks who
approached to the Holy Altar. The elder carefully noticed whose names
the Angel missed. After the end of the liturgy, he summoned separately
each one of the missed by the Angel and asked him whether he had some
secretly committed sin in the conscience. At this confession, he
revealed that each of them was guilty of a mortal sin ... Then he
persuaded them to bring repentance, and casting himself down before the
Lord along with them, prayed with tears day and night, as if he was
involved in their sins. And he was in repentance and tears until he saw
the Angel again, standing before the Altar and writing down the names of
those who were taking the Holy Mysteries. Having written down the names
of everyone, the Angel even started to call each one by name, inviting
to come to the Altar for reconciliation with God. And the elder, seeing
this, understood that their repentance was accepted and happily admitted
everyone to the Altar.
