Saint Poemen
The most quoted of the desert fathers, a wise shepherd of monks
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Religious, Mystic
- Feast
- 27 August
- Countries
- Egypt
Life story
Poemen was an Egyptian hermit, traditionally dated about 340 to 450, and he is the Abba with the most sayings in the collections of the Sayings of the Fathers; one source says about one seventh of the alphabetical collection bears his name. Because “Poemen” (shepherd) was a fairly common title, scholars caution that not every saying under his name need belong to the same man.
He lived at Scetis with two of his brothers under the eldest, Abba Anoub. According to one source, their rule divided the night into handwork, sleep and reading the Psalter, and they ate one meal a day. When raiders overran Scetis in 407 (some give 408) the monks were scattered; Poemen and Anoub fled with a few monks to Terenuthis on the Nile, where they first lived in an abandoned pagan temple. His group is credited with helping to preserve the wisdom of Scetis.
His teaching is known for its gentleness and sharp observation. Asked about monks who doze during prayer, he said he would rest the sleeper's head on his own knees rather than wake him. He told a visiting monk to be an example to others, not a legislator. On mortification he said that monks are taught to kill the passions, not the body. One source says he died peacefully at the age of 110, but that figure is traditional and cannot be checked. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 27 August.
Works and witness
- Lived at Scetis with his brothers under Abba Anoub
- Fled to Terenuthis after the raid on Scetis in 407
- Has the largest share of sayings in the Apophthegmata Patrum
- Taught monks to lead by example rather than by rule
- Stressed killing the passions rather than punishing the body
Saints from the same country
References
- Mystagogy Resource Center (John Sanidopoulos), “Life and Sayings of Holy Abba Poemen the Great” (27 August 2016), first 100,000 of 120,000 characters read – dates 340–450 and age 110 (traditional), Anoub, Terenuthis, Sayings 92, 174, 184, feast 27 August
- Wikipedia (English), “Poemen” – cross-check of Scetis raid 407 and Terenuthis
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.