Editing Snake handling in Christianity (section)

==== Egyptian monasticism ====
The ''[[Sayings of the Desert Fathers]]'' detail an Egyptian monk named Paul, who was said to be able to hold snakes in his hand and cut them open. The account attributes this ability to a special grace from God.<ref>{{cite web | title=Apophthegmata Patrum: The Greek Alphabetical Collection | website=ldysinger.com | url=http://www.ldysinger.com/@texts/0400_apophth/greek_alph/00a_start.htm | access-date=2025-02-18 | quote=One of the Fathers used to tell of a certain Abba Paul, from Lower Egypt, who lived in the Thebaid. He used to take various kinds of snakes in his hands and cut them through the middle. The brethren made prostration before him saying, 'Tell us what you have done to receive this grace.' He said, 'Forgive me, Fathers, but if someone has obtained purity, everything is in submission to him, as it was to Adam, when he was in Paradise before he transgressed the commandment.'}}</ref>