Story
We have spoken before of Saint Amon, bishop of Hermopolis Magna (al-Ashmunein), who is most likely not the monk Amon mentioned by Saint Jerome in his book "History of the Monks: 9" — though he bears the same name in the same region, and was perhaps a contemporary of his.
Saint Jerome and the Serpent:
In Saint Jerome's account of the history of Saint Apollo, who had his monastery at al-Ashmunein, he says that when the blessed Apollo had blessed him and his companion, the three of them set out together with some of the brethren, leaving the monastery. On the way they saw the tracks of a huge serpent in the sand, and the three were afraid; but the brethren encouraged them, saying: "Fear not, come and see, for by faith we shall kill it. We have killed venomous snakes and serpents with our own hands, and that which is written has been fulfilled: 'Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy' (Luke 10:19)."
The brethren asked them to come and watch its killing, but Saint Jerome asked them to excuse them from this, for he was afraid. Yet one of the brethren left the company and followed the serpent's tracks until he reached its lair, then asked them to come and see; and when the brethren encouraged them, they all went, but Jerome and his companions were afraid. So the brother who had gone after the serpent's tracks began to rebuke them for their little faith, then took them to a nearby monastery to recount to them the story of Saint Amon, who dwelt in this monastery (in the region of al-Ashmunein), and who had been the cause of this brother's accepting the faith.
Amon and the Robbers:
Certain robbers were accustomed to break into his cell continually and steal his garment and his food; but he paid no heed to what was stolen from him. When the matter was repeated, however, he left his place and set out into the desert so that this would no longer trouble him. He brought two serpents and asked them to guard the door of his dwelling, and when the robbers came as usual, the two serpents suddenly appeared, so that they were thrown into confusion and turned to flee; but out of fear they fell upon their faces.
The blessed Amon met them, and in firm love said to them: "See how you have become worse than the serpents, for these creatures obey our commands for God's sake, while you neither fear God nor honor His servants."
In love he led them to his dwelling, set food before them, and admonished them, asking them to offer repentance and forsake this way of life. They immediately repented and clung to him, and became monks in the monastery, and they surpassed many in their spiritual works, until they became able to work miracles.
Amon and the Serpent:
Once again, the people of the village came to the blessed Amon complaining to him of a serpent that was destroying their sheep and cattle, asking him to kill it; but he sent them away, and in the morning came to the place where the serpent was wont to appear. The blessed one knelt and began to pray, and behold, the serpent passed by him and tried to spring upon the blessed one, hissing three times to kill him. Boldly the blessed one said to it: "Christ the Son of God, who killed the great serpent, shall crush you also," and immediately it fell dead and its belly burst open.
While a boy was tending the sheep, he saw the serpent and was disturbed, and fell to the ground, robbed of speech from fear. His relatives took him to the blessed one, who prayed over him and anointed him with oil, and the boy was healed (of the psychological affliction) and recounted what had happened to him