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[[Image:StPakhom.jpg|thumb|Coptic icon of St. Pachomius the Great, the Father of Cenobitic Monasticism]] On 14 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashons Bashans] (= May 22 or [[May 15]] (West)) of Our father among the saints '''Pachomius the year 64 A.M. Great''' ([http://enc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_calendar Coptic calendar] = 292-346/348 A.D.)was an early Egyptian ascetic, '''Abba Pachomius (or Pakhom), the both a [[Desert Fathers|Desert Father ]] and a founder of cenobitic [[monasticism]] in Egypt. He is celebrated by the Spiritual Communal Life (Cenobitic Life)''', departedChurch on May 15.

Then the [[angel]] of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him Pachomius was born to establish a communal and holy monastic life. He established his first [[monastery]] around 323 A.D. pagan parents in Tabennae Thebaid (or Tabenna, an island in the NileUpper Egypt). Many monks gathered together to him, and There he built for them many monasteries and established for them a system of manual labor, the times of prayers (both corporate and private), and eating, i.e., a rule that balances the communal life with the solitary life. The monks would live in individual cells, but would also work together for the common good of the community. He was the father of them all, with received an Abbot in every monastery. He visited all the monasteries, from Aswan to Edfu to Donasa to the end of Upper Egypt to the Northexcellent secular education. He did not permit anyone of From his sons to become youth he had a priest for the sake of the vainglory of this worldgood character, or to overlook the purpose of their monastic life of worship by being away from the world. He invited a priest from outside for each monastery to officiate the Divine Liturgyand he was prudent and sensible.

When Pope [[Athanasius At the Great|Athanasius]] wanted to ordain him a priestage of either 20 or 21, he fled from himwas called to serve in the Roman army. St. Athanasius asked his disciples to tell him It was then that he who built his stayed in a prison, used to house on the Rock that cannot be shakennew conscripts, and fled from the vainglory which was run by Christians. He was so impressed by their love of the world, is blessed, and their neighbor that he vowed to become a Christian after his disciples are also blessedmilitary service ended.

Thus in 314 Pachomius was baptised and began to practice the ascetic life. Three years later he withdrew to the desert under the guidance of the elder Palamon. According to tradition, after ten years with Palamon he heard a Voice telling him to found a monastic community at Tabbenisi (also Tabenna, Tabbenisiot). He desired once and Palamon traveled there, and subsequently Pachomius had a vision in which an angel came to see Hadeshim, clothed in a schema (a type of monastic garment), and he saw gave him a rule for the cenobitic life. This is significant because up until this time ascetics had for the most part lived alone as hermits, not together in a night vision community. Pachomius' rule balanced the communal life with the habitation of solitary life; monks live in individual cells but work together for the sinners and places of tormentcommon good.

Furthermore, Pachomius was strict with the community of monks that began to grow around him. He remained gave everyone the father same food and attire. The monks of the Cenobites monastery fulfilled the obediences assigned them for forty yearsthe common good of the monastery. When The monks were not allowed to possess their own money nor to accept anything from their relatives. St Pachomius considered that an obedience fulfilled with zeal was greater than fasting or prayer. He also demanded from the time monks an exact observance of the monastic rule, and he chastized slackers. Once he even refused to speak directly with his departure drew near own sister in order that he might maintain his detachment from the world. (He did, however, talk to her through a messenger, and he died during blessed her desire to become a plague in Tabennanun; soon, she had her own all-female monastic community growing up around her.) Pachomius lived the rest of his life managing his monastery, performing wonders, fighting the demons, and of course in fervent prayer. Near the end of his life he called was granted another vision: the Lord revealed to him the future of monasticism. The saint learned that future monkswould not have such zeal in their struggles as the first generation had, strengthened their faithand they would not have experienced guides. Prostrating himself upon the ground, St. Pachomius wept bitterly, calling out to the Lord and appointed someone imploring mercy for them. He heard a Voice answer, "Pachomius, be mindful of the mercy of God. The monks of the future shall receive a reward, since they too shall have occasion to suffer the life burdensome for the monk." By 348, Pachomius directed almost three thousand monks. This, however, was also the year that he was infected by some form of plague or pestilence. His closest disciple, St. Theodore (May 17), tended to take over his place after him, then departed in peacewith filial love. St. At Pachomius died around the time year 348 at the age of his deathfifty-three, he and was buried on a hill near the spiritual leader monastery. St. [[Jerome]] translated the rule of St. Pachomius into Latin in 404, and only this translation survives. The rule of about 3St. Pachomius influened St. Benedict,000 monksthe most influential figure in Western monaticism, in preparing his own rule.

* [http://www.copticchurchoca.netorg/synaxarium/9_14FSlives.html#1 Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium asp (Book of SaintsSelect May 15, no direct link possible)]* http://www.orthodox.cn/prologue/May15.htm