Saint Poemen the Great

A great ascetic of the Egyptian desert, Poemen was born in 340 and from his youth sought wisdom and a life in Christ. As a boy, he received the blessing of Saint Paisios the Great, who foresaw Poemen’s future as a wise elder who would lead many to salvation. He became a monk along with his two brothers and labored in strict asceticism. Poemen became a spiritual guide and teacher for many of the monks in the desert and word of his virtues and wisdom spread throughout the land. When the governor requested to see him, Poemen realized that being shown respect by dignitaries could destroy the grace of humility which God had given him and he refused. A strict faster, Poemen would often go without food for a week or more but he advised others to eat every day, but not to their fill. His disciples wrote down his sayings and many of Saint Poemen’s words of wisdom and events from his life remain as a treasure for Christians to this day. Saint Poemen the Great reposed in peace at the age of 110.