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St. Paul of Thebes
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Bernardino Passari: Saint Anthony Finds the Hermit Saint Paul Dead in the Arms of Angels
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Bernardino Passari: Saint Anthony Finds the Hermit Saint Paul Dead in the Arms of Angels
Bernardino Passari: Saint Anthony Finds the Hermit Saint Paul Dead in the Arms of Angels Saint Anthony Finds the Hermit Saint Paul Dead in the Arms of Angels, etching and engraving by Bernardino Passari (also spelled Passeri), 1582; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 43.18 × 28.89 cm.

St. Paul of Thebes

Christian hermit
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Also known as: Paul the Hermit
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Article History
Quick Facts
Also called:
St. Paul the Hermit
Born:
c. 230, near Thebes, Egypt
Died:
c. 341, Theban desert

St. Paul of Thebes (born c. 230, near Thebes, Egypt—died c. 341, Theban desert; feast day January 15) was an ascetic who is traditionally regarded as the first Christian hermit.

According to St. Jerome, his biographer, Paul fled to the Theban desert during the persecution of Christians (249–251) under the Roman emperor Decius. Thereafter he lived a life of prayer and penitence in a cave and died at the reputed age of 113. Jerome considered Paul to be the first Christian hermit, an honour in modern times generally accorded to St. Anthony of Egypt. It is said that Anthony visited Paul when the latter was 113 years old and later buried him, wrapped in the cloak given to Anthony by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. In art Paul is often represented with a palm tree, symbolizing the source of his sustenance, or with two lions, which allegedly dug his grave.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.