Epiphanius, the bishop of Cyprus, once sent a message to Elder Hilarion and
begged him: “Come, let us see each other before we depart this world.”
Indeed, the Elder did go, and they were glad they met. While they were
eating, someone brought a cooked bird to the table. The Bishop took it and
offered it to Elder Hilarion. Then the Elder said to him: “Forgive me, I have not
eaten a slaughtered bird since I became a monk.” And the Bishop replied.
"Since I became a monk, I never let anyone sleep having something against
me, or I slept having something against someone." The Elder then said to
him: “Forgive me: your way of life is superior to mine.”
From the Great Gerontikon
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
