القديس العظيم الأنبـــا بــولا – أول الســـــواح- ST. PAUL the first
Hermit
ST. PAUL the first
Hermit
+
St. Paul was born to a wealthy family in
Alexandria in 228 AD.
+ After his father death, St. Paul and
his brother disagreed over their shares in the inheritance.
+
St. Paul left every thing to his brother
after watching the funeral procession of a wealthy man and retreated to an empty
tomb outside of Alexandria.
+ He fasted and prayed for 3 days for
guidance from God. An Angel appeared and let him to the eastern desert.
+
St. Paul left alone with God in a mountain
cave near the Red Sea for 90 years.
+ Near the cave, St. Paul found a spring.
He ate dates from the palm trees. And every day a raven brought him half a loaf
of bread. St. Paul clothed himself in a garment of woven palm leaves.
+
When God wanted to reveal the holiness of St. Paul, He sent him St. Anthony.
When they met, the raven appeared with a whole loaf of bread.
+ St. Paul asked St. Anthony to bring him
the liturgical vestment of Pope Athanasius the Apostolic.
+
On his way back, St. Anthony saw a throng of singing Angels lifting the spirit
of St. Paul up to heaven in the year 343 AD.
+ When St. Anthony returned to the cave
he found St. Paul dead kneeling in prayer.
+
Two loins approached the cave, St. Anthony
instructed them to dig a grave for the body of St. Paul.
+
St. Anthony burled the body of St. Paul
using the Papal vestment as a coffin. He took the palm leaf garment of the saint
and gave it to Pope Athanasius, Who wore it on feast days. Many miracles were
attributed to the garment of St. Paul.
The only saying we Know of St. Paul the
first Hermit is:-
“Who escapes from hard times, escapes from
God”
May the blessing of St. Paul be with all of
us, Amen.