Pachomius the Great facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintPachomius the Great |
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Father of Spiritual Communal Monastic Life
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| Founder | |
| Born | 292 AD Thebes (modern-day Luxor, Egypt) |
| Died | 9 May 348 Egypt |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Anglican Church Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Catholic Churches Oriental Orthodox Churches Lutheran Church |
| Major shrine | Monastery of Saint Pachomius (Luxor), Egypt |
| Feast | 9 May 14 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox) 15 May (Roman Catholic Benedictines, Orthodox, Anglican) |
| Attributes | Hermit in a garb, Hermit crossing the Nile on the back of a crocodile |
Pachomius (/pəˈkoʊmiəs/; Greek: Παχώμιος Pakhomios; Coptic: Ⲡⲁϧⲱⲙ; c. 292 – 9 May 348 AD), also known as Saint Pachomius the Great, is famous for starting a new way of life for Christians called cenobitic monasticism. This means monks or nuns live together in a community instead of alone.
Many Christian churches remember him. Coptic churches celebrate his special day on May 9. Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches celebrate it on May 15 or May 28. In the Lutheran Church, he is honored on January 17.
Contents
Pachomius' Early Life and Conversion
Pachomius was born in 292 AD in a place called Thebaid, near what is now Luxor, Egypt. His parents were not Christians. When he was about 21, he was forced to join the Roman army. This was common during that time of war.
He was put on a ship that sailed down the Nile River to Thebes. There, he saw local Christians bringing food and comfort to the soldiers. This act of kindness deeply impressed Pachomius. He decided to learn more about Christianity. He was able to leave the army without fighting and became a Christian in 314 AD.
From Hermit to Community Leader
After becoming a Christian, Pachomius met a hermit named Palaemon. A hermit is someone who lives alone for religious reasons. Pachomius decided to follow this path and studied with Palaemon for seven years. He prayed a lot, sometimes with his arms stretched out like a cross.
Later, Pachomius lived like a hermit near St. Anthony of Egypt, another famous hermit. But then, Pachomius felt a calling to build a place for hermits to live together. Before this, most monks lived alone in huts or caves. They only met for worship.
Pachomius started his first monastery between 318 and 323 AD in Tabennisi, Egypt. His older brother, John, joined him. Soon, more than 100 monks lived there. Pachomius organized these groups into a formal community. This was the beginning of "cenobitic" monasticism, where monks or nuns live together and share everything.
Pachomius became known as "Abba," which means "father." This is where the word "Abbot" comes from. He took care of all the community's tasks himself. This allowed the other monks to focus on their spiritual practices.
Growing Monasteries and Influence
The monastery at Tabennisi grew quickly. It soon became too small, so Pachomius founded a second one at Pbow. This new monastery became the main center for many other monasteries that started along the Nile River in Upper Egypt. Pachomius spent most of his time at Pbow after 336 AD.
Even though he was a leader, Pachomius and his monks were not priests. St. Athanasius, an important church leader, visited Pachomius in 333 AD and wanted to make him a priest, but Pachomius avoided it. Pachomius was known for defending Christian beliefs against other ideas at the time.
Basil the Great, another influential Christian leader, also visited Pachomius. He took many of Pachomius's ideas and used them to create his own rules for monasteries. Pachomius's rules are still used today by the Eastern Orthodox Church. They are similar to the Rule of St. Benedict used in Western churches.
The Rule of St. Pachomius
Pachomius was the first person to write down a set of rules for monks. His first rules included common prayers that monks were to say every day. As the community grew, he added more rules based on the Bible.
His rules made life easier for those who were not as strong in their spiritual practices. But they also allowed very dedicated monks to practice extreme self-discipline. The Rule of St. Pachomius aimed to balance prayer with work. It also balanced living in a community with having time for quiet reflection. The day was planned around religious services, with time for manual work and reading holy texts.
The amount of fasting and work each monk did depended on their individual strength. Everyone received the same food and clothing. Monks could eat together, or they could choose to eat bread, salt, and water in their own cells. Pachomius's rule allowed monks a lot of freedom to decide their own daily schedule.
His rules were later translated into Latin by Jerome, a famous scholar. Other important figures like Honoratus of Lérins, Basil the Great, and Benedict of Nursia used parts of Pachomius's rules in their own guidelines for monastic life.
Death and Lasting Impact
Pachomius led the communities of monks for about 30 years. During a widespread illness, probably a plague, Pachomius gathered his monks and strengthened their faith. He died on May 9, 348 AD.
By the time Pachomius died, there were eight monasteries and hundreds of monks following his guidance. Within a short time, the idea of monks living in communities spread from Egypt to other parts of the world. This included Palestine, Syria, North Africa, and eventually Western Europe. The number of monks following his way of life may have reached 7,000.
Pachomius is still remembered as a very holy man. Many miracles are linked to him. For example, it is said that he could speak Greek or Latin even though he had never learned these languages. He is also believed to be the first Christian to use and suggest using a prayer rope for prayer.
Coptic Literature
Pachomius is an important figure in Coptic literature. He spoke only Coptic, the language of the native Egyptians. His writings, along with those of Anthony the Great and Shenoute the Great, are key examples of early Coptic literature.
Pachomius' Name
The name Pachomius comes from the Coptic word pakhōm. This word means "eagle" or "falcon." The "p-" at the beginning is like "the" in English. The name was later adopted into Greek as Παχούμιος and Παχώμιος. Some people in ancient Greece thought his name meant "broad-shouldered" because it sounded similar to Greek words for "thick" and "shoulder."
See also
In Spanish: Pacomio para niños
- Anthony of Egypt
- St. Benedict
- Book of the First Monks
- Coptic monasticism
- Coptic saints
- Desert Fathers
