Venerable Paul of Thebes

CRITICAL IMAGE NOTE: the third image has been excluded from this card — visual inspection showed it to be a fresco fragment depicting THREE other monks, one labeled "EUTHYMIOS," which does not match the vita of Paul of Thebes at all; likely contamination from an unrelated fresco of Palestinian desert fathers. The first two images (with the Greek inscription "PAULOS HO THEBAIOS" and the meeting scene with Anthony the Great, labeled "PAULOS"/"ANTONIOS") are retained as excellently confirmed.

Venerable Paul of Thebes (of Egypt) was born around 227/230 in Lower Thebaid into a wealthy Christian family, educated in Coptic and Greek. Orphaned young, he became sole heir to his parents' estate, arousing the envy of his brother-in-law, who during the persecution of Emperor Decius (249–251) sought to denounce him to seize the inheritance. Fleeing, he withdrew into the desert and settled in a cave with a spring and a date palm.

There, unknown to anyone, he lived for 91 years in fasting and prayer, subsisting on dates and bread brought daily by a raven, clothed in garments of palm leaves. When Paul was 113, God revealed his existence to St. Anthony the Great, who, after a three-day desert journey, found his cave; that day the raven brought a whole loaf — double the usual portion.

After a night of conversation, Paul foretold his imminent death and asked to be buried in the mantle once given to Anthony by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. Returning with the mantle, Anthony found Paul already dead, his body buried by two lions that dug the grave. He reposed around 341. He is regarded as the first known Christian hermit; his life was first recorded by Blessed Jerome of Stridon.