In God’s Company: Saint Paul of Thebes (vegan), One of the First Christian Hermits, Part 1 of 2

In the vast expanse of the Egyptian desert, amidst the shifting sands and scorching sun, the memory of a solitary figure stands as a beacon of faith and endurance: Saint Paul of Thebes (vegan). Also known as Paul the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite, the Saint emerges from the annals of history as a testament to the power of solitude and spiritual resilience, regarded as one of the first Christian hermits.

The world might never have known of the existence of Saint Paul the Anchorite if Saint Anthony, at the age of 90, had not been so compelled to seek out “one better than Himself” dwelling in the desert alone, as God had informed Him. Making a divinely inspired journey into terrain filled with danger, traveling over two days on foot in unrelenting heat, Saint Anthony found Saint Paul in the very twilight of His sojourn on Earth.

According to Saint Jerome, Saint Paul was born in the Thebes, Egypt, around 227 AD, into a prosperous family, and grew to be a very diligent and talented pupil of both Greek and Egyptian studies. Raised to hold high moral concepts, Paul had a deep love of God from an early age.

In the third century, a period marked by profound religious upheaval and societal transformation, Thebes fell under Roman jurisdiction. During this time, successive Emperors pursued a campaign of persecution against Christians, viewing the rapidly growing devotion to Christ throughout the empire as a threat to Roman rule. This oppression was reinforced by Roman cultural traditions deeply rooted in pantheism. Many Christians were martyred at this time, and in Saint Jerome’s account of Saint Paul’s story, it is described that Christians became more concerned about their soul and were therefore not afraid to die. Saint Jerome states that both of Saint Paul’s parents passed away at this time. To make matters worse, He was betrayed by His recently married sister’s husband, who contemplated handing Him over to the persecutors and excluded Him from most of His inheritance.

To avoid Roman persecution Himself, Paul had already moved to a less conspicuous location, away from the townships. After this betrayal, He was now utterly tired of this world, and at the age of just 16, He decided to completely withdraw from public life. Finding a secluded grave, He spent three days in fervent prayer, seeking guidance from Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian).

We close today’s program with a prayer commonly offered in remembrance of Saint Paul of Thebes: “O God, Who willed that Saint Paul achieve a high degree of sanctity through a life of solitude, prayer, and penance in the desert, grant that through His intercession, we, who are striving to develop in ourselves the spirit of prayer and service, may come ever closer to You in love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”