Venerable or

Life

A hermit of the Thebaid. Through exceedingly great ascetic struggle he attained great perfection. When he had well established and enlightened himself in solitude, he gradually founded several monasteries and was an excellent spiritual leader and teacher of many monks. Rufinus, who visited him, described him thus: "In his garments he resembled an angel of God, a ninety-year-old elder with a long beard white as snow, of a most pleasant appearance. His gaze shone with something superhuman." He saw the angels of God many times. He especially strove never to speak an untruth. He had great temptations from demons, but soberly and courageously he overcame them all. He received Holy Communion daily. Once a disciple reminded him that Pascha had come and that it should be celebrated. Hearing this, he went outside, raised his hands to heaven, and spent three days in prayer without rest. Then he explained to his disciple: "This is indeed the celebration of Pascha for a monk — to lift up one's mind and unite it with God." He reposed in deep old age around the year 390.