St Paul of Thebes RC Church Annual Festival Chariot Procession 2021
Channel: e-Content Development
Date: 17/06/2021

Smell of the soil Documentation of Tamil Culture and Arts Dharmanathapuram St. Paul of Thebes RC Church Annual Festival Chariot Procession 2021 monastery of saint paul with sanda melam punitha vanaththu chinnappar thiruvila therpavani

During the persecution of the Christians by Caesar Decius in 250, young Paul fled to the Desert in Thebes by the Red Sea and learned to enjoy his solitary life "alone with God alone" so much, that he remained there for the rest of his life. He lived nearly ninety years in prayerful solitude, constant penance, and contemplation of God. Before he died he was discovered by St Anthony the Abbot who spread the news about his holiness.

It is believed that St Paul was kept alive by the fruit of a palm tree and by a raven which daily brought him a piece of bread. He died at the age of 113, at which time, as related by St Anthony, two lions dug a grave for him.

This story is captured in the coat-of-arms of the Order, showing the palm tree, two lions and a raven. The Pauline Order chose St. Paul the First Hermit as its Patron and Patriarch and thus took the name "Order of St. Paul the First Hermit".

The feast of St. Paul is solemnly observed by the Order on January 15th.

தர்மநாதபுரம் புனித வனத்து சின்னப்பர் கோயில்  திருவிழா தேர் பவனி