In God’s Company: Saint Paul of Thebes (vegan), One of the First Christian Hermits, Part 2 of 2

Just then, an astonishing thing happened: a raven-person flew down from a nearby tree, delivering a whole loaf of bread before them. Saint Paul explained: “The Lord, truly loving, truly merciful, has sent us a meal. For the last 60 years, I have always received half a loaf: but at Your coming, Christ has doubled His soldier’s rations.”

The two Saints then spent the evening by the pure spring, eating the bread and conversing. The 113-year-old Saint Paul recounted the history of His life, revealing that He knew for some time that Saint Anthony was nearby, and also that His own time to depart this Earth was near, saying, “I have always longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ; my course is finished, and there remains for me a crown of righteousness. Therefore, You have been sent by the Lord to lay my poor body in the ground, yes, to return earth to earth.”

Saint Anthony implored Him not to leave Him, as They had just found each other, to which the hermit Saint replied, “You ought not to seek Your own, but another man’s good. It is expedient for You to lay aside the burden of the flesh and to follow the Lamb; but it is expedient for the rest of the brethren to be trained by Your example.”

He then instructed Saint Anthony to return home and collect the cloak of Saint Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, for His burial. During His return trip, He had a vision of Saint Paul clothed in robes of pure white, surrounded by a multitude of Heavenly beings. Indeed, Saint Paul had passed away by the time Saint Anthony arrived back at the small desert cave.

Saint Anthony then noticed He had no way of digging a grave. Suddenly, a pair of lion-individuals appeared out of the desert. Saint Anthony recognized they were sent from God. He traced the length and width of the pit on the ground, and two lion-people excavated the grave with their strong paws, following Saint Anthony’s instructions. Saint Anthony wrapped the body of Saint Paul in the cloak of Saint Athanasius and solemnly interred the first Hermit Saint.

The desert spring of Saint Paul, which sustained Him throughout His lifelong retreat, continues to supply water to the monastery at a rate of four cubic meters per day. In deep gratitude to the Saints and Sages who have blessed our planet, may we remain steadfast in our faith and attain eternal spiritual liberation with the Divine’s guidance.