He became a hermit in 317 . Called the Father of Cenobitic Monasticism, he wrote a rule that balances the communal life with the solitary life. The monks live in individual cells but work together for the common good of the community.
Prayer is both corporate and private.
He established his first monastery around 323 in Tabenna. St. Pachomius died during a plague, and at the time of his death, he was the spiritual leader of about 3,000 monks. The rule of St. Pachomius influened St. Benedict in preparing his own rule for monks. This file may be copied on the condition that the entire contents, including the header and this copyright notice, remain intact.