Paul the First Hermit

Paul the First Hermit (Paul of Thebes, (d. c.345)), traditionally the first Christian hermit, visited and later buried by Antony of Egypt. He had fled to the desert in persecution (perhaps of Decius) and was reputed to have lived there ever since to well over a hundred years of age. Jerome's Life of Paul, based on a Greek original and almost the only authority for these details, is a baffling mixture of fact and fantasy. Paul is represented in art usually with two lions, who traditionally burrowed the ground at Antony's request for Paul's grave, or else with a palm tree, which provided him with food and shelter during his long life as a hermit. Scenes from his life, especially the meeting with Antony, are depicted on the Ruthwell cross (c.700) and on some Irish crosses. He also appears on the 15th-century painted rood-screen of Wolborough (Devon) with other monastic saints. Feast (kept in several medieval monasteries): 10 January in the West: 5 or 15 January in the East.

Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.

• AA.SS. Ian. I (1643), 602–9; Life by Jerome also in P.L., xxiii. 17–28 (tr. in H. Waddell, The Desert Fathers (1936), pp. 35–53); J. Bidez, Deux versions grecques inédites de la vie de Paul de Thèbes (1900); F. Nau, ‘Le texte grec originale de la Vie de S. Paul de Thèbes’, Anal. Boll., xx (1901), 121–57; H. Delehaye, ‘La Personnalité historique de S. Paul de Thèbes’, Anal. Boll. xliv (1926), 64–9

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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

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.

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

• Catholic Encyclopedia article

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