Journey into the heart of the desert The Desert Fathers left us their lives as guides so that we could follow their footprints to the priceless peace found only in God. “One day as I, Paphnutios, was praying in solitude and silence, it came into my mind that I should make a visit to all the places in the desert where there were holy monks, to shed light on how they habitually lived their lives of asceticism, and learn the way in which they served God. So it was that I quietly began my journey, eager to make this pleasurable venture into the desert.”