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 It
is unclear what we really know of Paul's life, how much is fable, how much
fact.
Paul was reportedly born in Egypt, where he was orphaned by age 15. He was
also a learned and devout young man. During the persecution of Decius in
Egypt in the year 250, Paul was forced to hide in the home of a friend.
Fearing a brother-in-law would betray him, he fled in a cave in the desert.
His plan was to return once the persecution ended, but the sweetness of
solitude and heavenly contemplation convinced him to stay.
He went on to live in that cave for the next 90 years. A nearby spring gave
him drink, a palm tree furnished him clothing and nourishment. After 21
years of solitude a bird began bringing him half of a loaf of bread each
day. Without knowing what was happening in the world, Paul prayed that the
world would become a better place.
St. Anthony attests to his holy life and death. Tempted by the thought that
no one had served God in the wilderness longer than he, Anthony was led by
God to find Paul and acknowledge him as a man more perfect than himself. The
raven that day brought a whole loaf of bread instead of the usual half. As
Paul predicted, Anthony would return to bury his new friend.
Thought to have been about 112 when he died, Paul is known as the "First
Hermit." His feast day is celebrated in the East; he is also commemorated in
the Coptic and Armenian rites of the Mass.
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