Saint Pachomius the Great
Stored in Cargo: Saint Pachomius the Great
| Saint Pachomius the Great | |
| Feast Day | May 09 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Monks |
| Birthplace | Thebes, Egypt, Roman Empire (now Luxor, Egypt) |
| Death Place | Tabennisi, Egypt, Roman Empire (near modern Dendera, Egypt) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes (plague) |
| Primary Shrine | |
Saint Pachomius the Great, born around 292 near Thebes, Egypt, founded cenobitic monasticism, creating the first communal monastery at Tabennisi c. 320. A pagan-turned-Christian after army conscription, he was baptized c. 314 and trained as a hermit before an angel’s vision urged him to build a community. His Rule—balancing work, prayer, and discipline—grew nine monasteries, housing thousands by his death from plague on May 9, 348. His system, influencing Benedict, reshaped desert spirituality, blending solitude with shared life.
Canonized pre-Congregation, Pachomius’s feast day, May 9, is honored in the West (May 15 in Coptic tradition), with no surviving shrine—his Tabennisi relics lost. Patron of monks, his legacy—via Coptic vitae—lives in his Rule, translated by Saint Jerome. Venerated in Catholic and Coptic churches, Pachomius’s vision of ordered monasticism endures, a desert father whose communal ideal fortified early Christianity.
Biography
Birth
Saint Pachomius was born c. 292 near Thebes, Egypt, to pagan parents. No exact date survives; his Nile-side origin shaped a rugged faith. Thebes’s vibrancy framed his early life.
His pagan youth pivoted to a Christian call, sparked by kindness in captivity.
Early Life
Pachomius was drafted into the Roman army c. 312, converting after Christians aided him. Baptized c. 314, he trained as a hermit under Palamon near Dendera. An angel’s command c. 318 led him to found Tabennisi c. 320, starting communal monasticism.
His youth was a shift from soldier to monk, a visionary’s start.
Occupation
Pachomius’s occupation was as a monk and abbot, founding Tabennisi c. 320 and leading nine monasteries. His *Rule* governed thousands, emphasizing labor and prayer. He died of plague on May 9, 348, aged about 56, in his monastery.
His work was monastic innovation, ending in death. Pachomius’s role was a founder’s labor.
Vocation
Pachomius’s vocation began post-baptism, a call to communal holiness. From c. 320, his monasteries spread, guided by an angelic vision. Leading until 348, his *Rule* shaped desert life, his plague death a final offering.
His vocation shone at Tabennisi, a saint’s legacy. Pachomius’s life was a monk’s gift to the Church.
Death
Saint Pachomius died on May 9, 348, at Tabennisi, aged about 56, from plague while nursing monks. Buried there, his relics vanished—his monastery a lost shrine. His passing mourned a father of monks.
His death fueled devotion, his *Rule* his enduring mark.
Significant events
- Baptized, c. 314.
- Founded Tabennisi, c. 320.
- Died May 9, 348.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Thebes, Egypt, Roman Empire (now Luxor, Egypt)
Death location: Tabennisi, Egypt, Roman Empire (near modern Dendera, Egypt)
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
No “Servant of God” process in 348; veneration began in Egypt post-death.
Venerable
No Venerable status then; sanctity was organic.
Beatification
No beatification in the 4th century; sainthood grew naturally.
Canonization
Canonized pre-Congregation, by 4th–5th century, via Coptic tradition.
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
No beatification miracle; veneration rested on his work.
Miracle for canonization
No miracles required; sainthood stemmed from his *Rule*.
Other notable miracles
- Angel vision for monastery, c. 318.
Patronage
Saint Pachomius is patron of monks.
Feast day
The feast day of Saint Pachomius the Great is May 9.
Veneration
Saint Pachomius is venerated for monastic life, his Tabennisi shrine gone. With staff, his May 9 feast honors a pioneer, strong in Coptic circles. His *Rule* shapes monastic echoes.
Books
Written about the saint
- Life of Pachomius (Coptic vitae)
Written by the saint
Rule of Pachomius