People come to God in different ways. For Pachomius, his journey began with conscription into the army of Constantine the Great. The recruits were distrusted and kept under guard in the city prison. The case was in Egypt, the heat exhausted the guards and recruits. With water and food they were visited by good people. When Pachomius asked why they were doing this, the answer was that their God, Jesus Christ, had commanded them to do so. Pachomius was struck by the warmth and willingness to serve that he saw among Christians. The name of Christ stuck in his soul. Soon recruits were loaded onto a ship and sent to Byzantium. But along the way, news of Constantine’s victory reached them. All the recruits have returned home. But not Pachomius.
Along the way, he stopped at a place today known as Shaneset. He questioned the local priest, studied the basics of faith. There Pachomius was baptized and immediately began the life of an ascetic. He settled in an abandoned building, cultivated a garden, the fruits of which he shared with the poor. However, life among people strained Pachomius, and he went to the famous deserter Palamon. The elder accepted him as a disciple and they spent 10 years deserting together.
One day, passing by the abandoned village of Tavenne, the saint heard a voice that ordered him to build a monastery in this place. He shared this with Palamon and the two of them, and they started building the first building. Palamon soon passed away, and his brother John joined Pachomius. Other monks began to come to them. At this moment, an angel appeared to Pachomius, who handed him the rules of monastic life.
Pachomius laid down a communal way of life in the monastery. He argued that:
- Monks must work for the benefit of the monastery
- They shouldn’t have had their own money.
- They are not allowed to accept gifts or money from relatives.
- They should eat together.
- The Charter must be strictly observed
It was Pachomius who obliged the monks to copy books.
Soon, the number of monks grew so much that the pachomia had to open another monastery. And then again. Thus, under his leadership there were 7 monasteries. The story of one is interesting because a sister came to the saint. But he did not go out to her, but told her to lead a monastic life. Mary settled on the other side of the Nile, leading a pious life. Others began to settle nearby, and a women’s monastery was formed. They lived according to the statute that Pachomius gave them.
The monk spent much time supervising the monasteries, but he remained cheerful and participated in all the work that needed to be done. But such a life undermined his health and Pachomius died. He was just over 50 years old. He was buried in his first monastery.
Memorial Day
May 15(28)
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
