Pachomius the Great
Pachomius the Great | |
|---|---|
 Father of Spiritual Communal Monastic Life | |
| Founder | |
| Born | c. 290 Thebaid, Roman Egypt (near modern-day Luxor, Egypt) |
| Died | 9 May 348 Pbow, Roman Egypt (modern-day Faw al-Qibli, Egypt) |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglicanism Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Lutheranism |
| Major shrine | Monastery of Saint Pachomius (Luxor), Egypt |
| Feast | 9 May 14 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox) 15 May (Catholic Benedictines, Eastern 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 generally recognized as the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. In the Vita Pachumii, his name is recorded as Pachumius (Παχούμιος). Coptic churches celebrate his feast day on 9 May, and Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches mark his feast on 15 May or 28 May. In Lutheranism, he is remembered as a renewer of the church, along with his contemporary (and fellow desert saint), Anthony of Egypt on 17 January.