| Paul of Thebes | |
|---|---|
 Coptic icon of Saint Paul the Anchorite (left) and Saint Anthony (right) | |
| First Hermit | |
| Born | ca 232, Egypt |
| Died | ca 345, Egypt |
| Major shrine | Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite, Egypt |
| Feast | Feast day celebrated on January 10 in the west, on January 5 or January 15 in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and on February 9 in the Oriental Orthodox Churches |
| Attributes | Two lions, palm tree, raven |
 Saints Portal
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Saint Paul of Thebes, commonly known as Paul the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite (d. c. 345) is regarded as the first Christian hermit. He is not to be confused with Paul the Simple, who was a disciple of St. Anthony.
Contents |
Legend
The legend according to Saint Jerome's Vitae Patrum (Vita Pauli primi eremitae) is that, as a young man, Paul fled to the Theban desert during the persecution of Decius and Valerianus in c. 250. He lived in the mountains of the Theban desert in a cave near a palm tree. He ate only fruits and drank water; later a crow or raven brought him half a loaf of bread daily. He would remain in that cave for the rest of his life, almost a hundred years later. Jerome further relates the meeting of Saint Anthony and Paul, when the latter was aged 113. They conversed with each other for one day and one night. When Anthony next visited him, Paul was dead. Anthony clothed him in a tunic which was a present from Saint Athanasius and buried him, with two lions helping to dig the grave.
Veneration
His feast day is celebrated on January 10 in the west, on January 5 or January 15 in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and on 2 Meshir (February 9) in the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Saint Anthony described him as "the first monk". The Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit was founded in his honour: see Pauline Fathers. He is usually represented with a palm tree and two lions.
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite
- Hermit
- Byzantine Discalced Carmelites
- Coptic Saints
References
- Oxford Dictionary of Saints, ed D. H. Farmer. OUP 2004.
- "Coptic Synexarium"
- Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
External links
