Beautiful Egypt 193 – The First Hermit – February 12, 2017

   The “First Hermit” is the title lent to the Egyptian Abba Paula who was born in Alexandria, and introduced asceticism to the world. Thus, he became a stranger whom humans knew nothing about. Yet, God provided for him throughout his life which was full of prayer and worship.

   In like manner we tackled the life of St. Anthony who introduced monasticism to the world in the two previous articles, we will present the biography of the first hermit. St. Paula’s story reached us through St. Anthony who met him shortly before his departure, enshrouded and buried him. Mysticism is a spiritual rank which only few monks and anchorites attain, having forsaken the world and lived in constant prayer and worship.

Life 

   Paula was born in Alexandria. He had an elder brother called Peter. When their father died, Paula was almost twenty-five years old. It came to pass that Peter wanted to take the greatest portion of their father’s wealth, which is why they clashed. When Peter obtained a bigger portion than Paula’s, the latter felt bad and said, “Why didn’t you give my right in my father’s inheritance?” “Because you are a young man, I fear lest you waste it. I shall preserve it for you,” replied his brother

   Paula was not convinced. So, they sued each other. On their way to court, they saw a funeral. Paula asked one of the mourners who the deceased was. He said he was one of the city’s richest and most renowned personae. Having passed away, he left all his money behind, taking nothing but his robe. So, Paula wondered how that man left all his wealth and treasures behind. When he found that none of the man’s belongings was put in his tomb, worldly treasures became trivial to him. He thought, “I do not want this ephemeral world’s wealth: for I shall leave it naked.” Then, he turned to his brother and said, “Let’s go back, brother. I do not want my portion anymore!”

   Thus, instead of sewing his brother for money, he abandoned the world, having decided to lead a life of prayer and worship. He left the town and went to a deserted tomb where he spent three days beseeching God to guide him through his path. Meanwhile, his brother searched for him a lot, and grieved for not finding him, only to feel remorseful for his deed.

Flight to the Wilderness

   St. Paula headed to the eastern wilderness after God’s angel had guided him to the route. He settled in a mount near the Red Sea to lead a life of seclusion and worship for more than seventy years during which he saw nobody! He wore a robe which he made from palm leaves. God provided him with food in the wilderness: whereby a raven used to bring him half a loaf of bread daily. He also ate the fruit of palm trees and some wild plants. He drank the water of a nearby spring.

Encounter

   It came to pass that St. Anthony felt he was the first to inhabit the desert to worship God. However, God’s angel guided him to the man who went to the wilderness before him: a man who the world does not deserve his footstep, and because of this man’s incessant prayers, God prevents drought, sends rain as well as the flood of the Nile on time. St. Anthony yearned to see the man who heaven testified to. So, God guided him through the wilderness toward St. Paula’s cave. Thus, the Father of Monks and the First Hermit met.

   During that meeting, St. Paula told St. Anthony his life story. Likewise, they kept tackling God’s great deeds in the universe and with humans. At sunset, the raven brought him his daily food. Yet, on that day, he brought a whole loaf of bread instead of half. When St. Paula saw this, he said, “Now I know you’re a man of God; for throughout the past eighty years or more, the raven has brought me half a loaf of bread. Now, he brings over a whole loaf. God sent you your food, too.” Then, both prayed. At the end of the conversation, St. Paula asked St. Anthony to bring him Pope Athanasius’ priestly cloak which King Constantine had given him for he would soon depart.

Departure

   St. Anthony walked for two days till he reached his cave. He was quite weak due to his old age. No sooner had one of his disciples seen him than he asked him why he disappeared for a while. However, St. Anthony preferred silence and brought the cloak hurriedly. Then, he returned to St. Paula’s cave. He was on his knees, as if worshipping. At first, St. Anthony thought he was praying, so he did not want to interrupt him. Yet, as he stayed for quite a long time, he approached him only to find out that he had departed. He wept, then enshrouded him with the cloak he had brought, taking the palm leaf robe with him.

   St. Anthony started considering St. Paula’s burial. Being an elder of ninety, he was unable to dig a grave. In his confusion, he found two lions approaching him! He showed them the body’s length and breadth. So, they dug the ground with their claws and left. St. Anthony buried St. Paula while praying. This was in 341.

   Later, St. Anthony recounted St. Paula’s biography to his disciples. Then, he gave St. Paula’s robe to Pope Athanasius the Apostolic who rejoiced exceedingly. He used to wear it on Nativity, Epiphany, and Easter. Pope Athanasius wanted to bring over St. Paula’s body to have it buried beside the patriarchs who had departed. Yet, his messengers could not find it. So, he understood that God wanted the body to remain where it was. The hermit’s biography was written and kept in Alexandria. It was read to whoever yearned to monasticism that their lives and prayers might be filled with zeal and strength.

A Monastery in His Name

   The place where St. Paula had lived now contains a prosperous monastery which bears his name. Several monks live there. Among St. Paula’s saying is the phrase, “Whoever flees from tribulation flees from God.” One of the monks wrote St. Paula’s biography, concluding it with the following words, “I would like to know from those who have countless possessions, decorate their houses with marble, and purchase mansions and ranches what this ascetic did need. Your cups are made of gems, whereas he used to quench his thirst with his palm. You wear gold-embroidered clothes, whereas he had a robe the least of your slaves would wear. You and your wealth will perish in hell! I entreat you to beware the wealth you love!”

   This is life story of St. Paula who loved God and left world, enjoying divine love and leading an angelic life. Such stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center