Wheeler, Rachel2017-05-252017-05-252016-11-21Wheeler, R., 2016, ‘Holy feigning in the Apophthegmata Patrum’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 72(4), a3457. http://dx.DOI. org/ 10.4102/hts.v72i4.3457.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v72i4.3457http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60662The purpose of this article is to uncover the meaning of holy feigning in the late-antique Christian text the Apophthegmata Patrum, or Sayings of the Desert Fathers [and Mothers]. Whereas stories in this text depict demonic feigning as a regular occurrence (demons often appearing in the guise of a fellow desert dweller), what I call ‘holy feigning’ depicts one desert Christian expressing empathy for the situation of another – and helping the other to change. By looking at two stories that are paradigmatic of holy feigning, I show that exemplary deceptive behaviour, though explicitly defying the otherwise consistent rhetoric of ‘radical self-honesty’ in the Apophthegmata Patrum, paradoxically marks out the person who feigns as holy, discerning and imitative of Christ. In this article, I offer several suggestions for accounting for this seeming contradiction in the desert literature and propose how a spirituality of holy feigning might remain meaningful to readers of this literature today.en© 2016. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Holy feigningApophthegmata PatrumSayings of the Desert FathersTheology articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationTheology articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesTheology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle