Pachomios the Great

Founder of communal monasticism in Egypt.

St. Pachomios the Great was born in Egypt at the end of the third century. A pagan conscript soldier, he was won to Christ by the kindness of Christians to the troops, and after baptism took up the ascetic life in the desert. At Tabennisi by the Nile he founded the first great communities of monks living a common life under a rule, and thousands gathered under his guidance.

With St. Anthony he stands at the head of Egyptian monasticism, the father of the cenobitic way that spread through the whole Church. He reposed in the fourth century and is commemorated on May 15.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Pachomios the Great is commemorated on May 15. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 28 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Pachomios

Also commemorated on May 15

• Achillios of Larisa

  Hierarch, Αχίλλιος Λαρίσης

  Saint Achillios, Bishop of Larisa, wonderworker and father of the First Ecumenical Council.

  Name days: Achillios, Achilleas, Achilles, Achillefs, Achileas

• Barbaros the Myrrhstreamer

  Venerable, Βάρβαρος ο Μυροβλύτης

  Venerable Barbaros the Myrrhstreamer, the former robber who became an ascetic in Aetolia.

  Name days: Varvaros

• Andrew the Hermit

  Venerable, Ανδρέας ο Ερημίτης

  Venerable Andrew the Hermit and Wonderworker of Epirus.

• Kale the Righteous

  Holy Woman, Καλή

  Venerable Kale, a righteous woman remembered in the synaxarion.

  Name days: Kali, Kale

• Silvanos of Tabennisi

  Venerable, Σιλβανός ο Ταβεννησιώτης

  Venerable Silvanos of Tabennisi, the actor who became a model of repentance under Saint Pachomios.

  Name days: Silvanos, Silvanus

• Panegyrios of Cyprus

  Venerable, Πανηγύριος

  Venerable Panegyrios the Wonderworker of Cyprus.

  Name days: Panigyrios

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.