Saint Pachomius the Great of Egypt, Venerable of Thebaid. Wooden orthodox icon.
(Years of life: c. 292–348)
Commemorated on May 28
Saint Pachomius the Great, along with Anthony the Great, Macarius the Great, and Euthymius the Great, is a pillar of hermitage and the founder of the monastic community in Egypt. Saint Pachomius was born in the 3rd century in the Thebaid (Upper Egypt) to pagan parents and received a good secular education. From his youth, he had the makings of a good character, was chaste and prudent. When Pachomius turned 20, he was called up to the army of Emperor Constantine. The recruits were placed in the city prison building under the protection of guards. Local Christians came with food supplies, fed the soldiers, and diligently served them. When the young man learned that these people were doing this for the sake of their God, fulfilling His commandment to love one's neighbors, this deeply sank into his pure soul. Pachomius promised to become a Christian. Returning from the army after the victory, Pachomius accepted holy Baptism, settled in the secluded village of Shenesit and immediately began to lead a strict ascetic life. Feeling the need for a spiritual leader, he turned to the Thebaid hermit Palamon, was received by the elder with love and began to zealously undergo monastic feats following the example of his mentor.
One day, after 10 years of desert life, the Monk Pachomius, walking through the desert, stopped at the ruins of the village of Tavennisi and heard a Voice commanding him to build a monastery on this site. Pachomius told the elder Palamon about this, and both, accepting the words they heard as an instruction from God, went to Tavennisi and began to build a small monastic dwelling. The holy elder Palamon blessed the beginning of the foundation of the monastery and predicted its future glory. Soon the Monk Palamon departed to the Lord. Then an Angel of God appeared to Saint Pachomius in the form of a schemamonk and handed him the statute of monastic life. Soon his elder brother John came to the Monk and settled with him.
Saint Pachomius suffered many temptations and attacks from the enemy of the human race, but Saint Pachomius valiantly repelled all temptations with prayer to God and patience.
Gradually, students began to gather around Saint Pachomius. They were all amazed by the diligence of their mentor, who managed to do all the monastic work: he cultivated the garden, talked with those who came asking for guidance, and served the sick. Saint Pachomius introduced a statute of common life, establishing uniformity for everyone in food and clothing. The monks of the monastery had to work in the obediences assigned to them for the common good of the monastery. Among the obediences was copying books. The monks were not allowed to have their own money or accept anything from their relatives. The monk believed that obedience performed with zeal was higher than fasting and prayer, and demanded that the monks strictly observe the rules, severely punishing violators.
One day, his sister Maria came to see the monk Pachomius, who had long wanted to see her brother. But the strict ascetic refused to let her see him and through the gatekeeper conveyed his blessing to her to enter the path of monastic life, promising his help in this. Maria wept, but acted according to her brother's instructions. The Tabennisi monks built a dwelling for her on the opposite bank of the Nile. Nuns began to gather around Maria, and soon a women's monastery was created with a strict rule, which was passed on by the monk Pachomius.
The number of monks in the monastery quickly grew, which necessitated the construction of 7 more monasteries nearby. The number of monks reached 7,000, and they were all under the leadership of the Monk Pachomius, who visited all the monasteries and managed them. At the same time, the Monk Pachomius remained a deeply humble monk, who was always ready to obey and accept comments from each brother. Severe and strict with himself, the Monk Pachomius had great mercy and indulgence towards the spiritually immature monks. One of the monks strove for the feat of martyrdom, but the monk turned him away from these aspirations and instructed him to silently fulfill monastic obedience, taming his pride and accustoming himself to humility. However, the monk did not listen to his mentor and left the monastery, after which he was attacked by robbers, who, under threat of death, forced him to offer a sacrifice to the pagan gods. In complete despair, the monk returned to the monastery. The saint ordered him to pray intensely day and night, to observe a strict fast and to live in complete silence. The monk followed the saint's instructions, and this saved his soul from despair.
The saint taught to be wary of condemning others in every way and he himself was afraid to condemn anyone even in his thoughts.
The Lord revealed to him the future fate of monasticism. The saint knew that the last monks would not have such zeal for their exploits as the first ones, they would walk as if in darkness, without experienced leaders. Prostrating himself on the ground, the Monk Pachomius wept bitterly, calling out to the Lord and asking for mercy for them. In response, he heard a Voice: “Pachomius, remember the mercy of God. Know about the last monks that they too will receive a reward, for they will have to suffer from a life that is hard for a monk.” Towards the end of his life, the Monk Pachomius fell seriously ill from a plague that occurred in those places. His closest and beloved disciple, the Monk Theodore (commemorated on May 17), looked after him with filial love. The Monk Pachomius died around the year 348 at the age of 53 and was buried near the mountain near the monastery.
The icon is made by printing on a wooden board. Paints are mineral, do not fade with time. The thickness of the board is 2 cm. The board is covered with primer by hand. The image is covered with wax. Each icon has a metal mount on the back side so that you can hang the icon on the wall.
You can buy the icon in three sizes:
- 13 х 11 centimeters (5,1 x 4,3 inches)
- 19 х 16 centimeters (7,5 x 6,3 inches)
- 26 х 21 centimeters (10,2 x 8,3 inches)
Our icons are made by Orthodox craftsmen. You can read more about the technology here.
We hope it will be a good gift for you and your loved ones.
