Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Feast of St. Pachomius of Egypt (15 May)

Founder of Communal Monasticism in Christianity. His rule for the monks stands as one of the early examples of Coptic literature. He organized communities for both men and women and legend says that there were some 3000 monks in those communities at the time of his death in 348.


Abba Pakhom



Troparion for Pachomius the Great (Tone VII)

With the streams of thy tears thou didst irrigate the barren desert,
and with sighs from the depths of thy soul thou didst render thy labors fruitful an hun­dredfold.
Thou wast a beacon for the whole world, radiating miracles.

O our father Pachomius, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.

2 comments:

Jeff said...

The Bible calls every born-again believer a saint.

"For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." (Romans 15:16)

"And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:1-4)

Lawrence of Arabia said...

...and yet there are still particular moments toward which, and, especially, persons toward whom the Christian community has historically turned as models of certain aspects of the Christian life.

Mar Pachom, pray for us.