ST. PAUL THE HERMIT
Childhood and Youth
St. Paul the First Hermit was born around 227 AD, in the Egyptian city of Thebes (today’s Luxor), to a wealthy family that ensured his careful education in both Egyptian and Greek sciences. At sixteen he lost his parents and became, along with his older sister, the heir of a huge fortune. In addition to great knowledge and good upbringing, St. Paul was characterized by an extremely deep devotion and love for Christ. After the outbreak of persecution of Christians during the reign of Emperor Decius, Paul’s brother-in-law, taken by greed, decided to hand him over to the Romans in order to be able to seize a part of his property. Upon learning of this, Paul decided to run away and take refuge in the desert that would become his home forever.
The desert
Wandering through the desert in search of shelter, St. Paul came across a small grotto with a spring inside and a palm tree outside. Grateful to God for His care, he decided to live there, devoting himself to work and prayer. He made a long tunic from the leaves of the palm tree. He drew water from the stream, and the raven provided his food, which God sent each day with half loaf of bread. In such conditions, in solitude and in prayer, St. Paul lived almost ninety years.
Death
Shortly before his death, to the grotto of St. Paul came another hermit, St. Anthony, to whom God had revealed that there was someone older and more perfect in the depths of the desert. St. Paul rejoiced at this visit and asked St. Anthony about how the world lives, how Christians are doing, and whether persecution has ceased. During their conversation, a raven flew in, this time bringing a whole loaf of bread. Finally, St. Paul asked his guest to bring him the mantle of Bishop Athanasius, which he would wrap his body in after death, as a sign of unity with the Church community to which St. Paul remained faithful throughout his life in the desert. St. Anthony agreed to this request and set off on his way to his monastery. On the way back to the grotto of St. Paul, Anthony saw his soul ascend to heaven, and found his body in the grotto, in a kneeling position, with his hands raised to heaven. Wrapping the body of the holy hermit in a mantle, he placed it in a tomb dug by the paws of two lions that came from the desert. St. Paul the First Hermit died at the age of 113. His life was described by St. Jerome. The figure of Saint Paul the First Hermit has inspired successive generations of Pauline Fathers and Brothers who, responding to the voice of God’s call, leave this world and live their everyday life alone with God.
