Paul of Tammah
Encyclopedia
Saint Paul of Tammah (died 415 AD) was an Egyptian saint
who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD. He is venerated only in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
). He had a disciple named Ezekiel. Paul of Tammah is most known for spending his life in lengthy fasts and worship. The Coptic Orthodox tradition has it that he would only break his fasts when Jesus
told him to. Towards the end of his life, he befriended Saint Pishoy at the time when the latter fled the Nitrian Desert because of the Berbers
' attacks, and went to dwell in the mountain of Ansena.
(October 17, 415 AD). He was buried along with Saint Pishoy in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Deir El Barsha, which still exists today near Mallawi
. On 4 Koiak
557 AM (December 13 841 AD), Pope Joseph I
fulfilled the desire of Saint Pishoy and moved his body as well as that of Saint Paul of Tammah to the Monastery of Saint Pishoy
in the wilderness of Scetes. It is said that they first attempted to move the body of Saint Pishoy only, but when they carried it to the boat on the Nile
, the boat would not move until they brought in the body of Saint Paul of Tammah as well. Today, the two bodies lie in the main church of the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of Saint Pishoy
in the Nitrian Desert.
Coptic saints
Egypt was one of the first countries to know Christianity, with Saint Mark the Evangelist bringing Christianity to the country around 55 AD.The Egyptian Christians, also known as the Copts, have produced thousands of saints, many of whom are recognised simultaneously in the Oriental Orthodox...
who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD. He is venerated only in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Life
Paul of Tammah lived as a hermit in the mountain of Ansena (currently in the El Minya governorate of EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
). He had a disciple named Ezekiel. Paul of Tammah is most known for spending his life in lengthy fasts and worship. The Coptic Orthodox tradition has it that he would only break his fasts when Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
told him to. Towards the end of his life, he befriended Saint Pishoy at the time when the latter fled the Nitrian Desert because of the Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
' attacks, and went to dwell in the mountain of Ansena.
Departure and Relics
Paul of Tammah departed on 7 PaopiPaopi
Paopi , also known as Baba, is the second month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between October 11 and November 9 of the Gregorian calendar...
(October 17, 415 AD). He was buried along with Saint Pishoy in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Deir El Barsha, which still exists today near Mallawi
Mallawi
Mallawi is a town in Egypt, located in the governorate of Minya.- Overview :Situated in a farm area, the town produces textiles and handicrafts.The total area of the city is about...
. On 4 Koiak
Koiak
Koiak , also known as Kiahk, is the fourth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between December 10 and January 8 of the Gregorian calendar...
557 AM (December 13 841 AD), Pope Joseph I
Pope Joseph of Alexandria
Pope Joseph I of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .According to the History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, conditions finally improved in Ethiopia, allowing Abuna Yohannes to return to that country to administer its church.It was Pope Joseph who,...
fulfilled the desire of Saint Pishoy and moved his body as well as that of Saint Paul of Tammah to the Monastery of Saint Pishoy
Monastery of Saint Pishoy
The Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt, is the most famous Coptic Orthodox monastery named after Saint Pishoy. It is the easternmost monastery among the four current monasteries of the Nitrian Desert....
in the wilderness of Scetes. It is said that they first attempted to move the body of Saint Pishoy only, but when they carried it to the boat on the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
, the boat would not move until they brought in the body of Saint Paul of Tammah as well. Today, the two bodies lie in the main church of the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of Saint Pishoy
Monastery of Saint Pishoy
The Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt, is the most famous Coptic Orthodox monastery named after Saint Pishoy. It is the easternmost monastery among the four current monasteries of the Nitrian Desert....
in the Nitrian Desert.