St. Pachomious

OBJECTIVE

Though monasticism is a path chosen by few, all of us can learn from those who choose it.

Through the stories of St. Pachomius and St. Theodore, we learn obedience and the gifts it brings us.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Last week we talked about St. Antony and St. Paul. These two saints showed us what love looks like. They showed us how we should love one another and also how we should love Christ. We saw the example of brotherly love through the story of when St. Antony went on a journey to retrieve a cloak to bury St. Paul in. He did this just so he could lay his brother to rest. St. Antony and St. Paul lived their lives, fueled by their love for God. They left the world so that they could be with Him. From these two saints, we learned about this unconditional love we should have for God and each other. I hope that we can all remember these two saints and the lessons we've learned from them.

This week we will be learning again about monasticism by looking at the lives of Saint Theodore and Saint Pachomius. Let us start by singing about our fathers and the lives they led.

Link to the song: My Fathers the Monks

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

As we look at the stories of Saint Pachomius and Saint Theodore, keep this verse in mind.

Memory Verse
"If you love Me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

Meaning: If we love God, we will be obedient children of God.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

Obedience is important in the lives of the monks. When individuals choose monasticism, they also choose a life of obedience. They are servants of the Lord who live for him. Every action they take shows this. Monks get up early to pray and they sleep later so that they may also pray more. During the days, they also pray while continually doing acts of service. These actions can revolve around weaving baskets, working in the kitchen, working in the fields, and serving elder monks in different ways. This is where the stories of Saint Pachomius and Saint Theodore can be referenced. Saint Theodore served Saint Pachomius with unwavering obedience.

Their Stories:

Saint Pachomius was born of pagan parents (they did not believe in God) in Upper Egypt and they once forced him to worship idols. He rejected and mocked this worship. After serving in the army and seeing the good nature of Christians during wartime, he chose to become a monk under St. Balamon (Palaemon). He lived in submission to him for many years, and he mastered well the ways of the monastic life. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to establish a communal and holy monastic life. Many monks gathered together with him, and he built for them many monasteries and established for them a system of manual labor, the times of prayers, and eating. He was the father of them all, and each monastery had an Abbot (head leader). His name spread far, and so many came to him to be his disciples that he founded nine monasteries in all, filled with many thousands of monks, to whom he gave a rule of life, which became the pattern for all communal monasticism after him. Saint Pachomius fell asleep and reposed in the year 346. His name in Coptic, Pachom, means "eagle."

St. Theodore was born in Egypt and he was the son of rich and respected Christian parents. His desire to be a monk came early in his life. Once there was a large party at the house of his parents during the feast of Theophany (Christ's Baptism). The boy did not want to take part in the festivities, grieving that because of earthly joys he might be deprived of joys in the life to come. He secretly left home when he was fourteen and entered one of the monasteries. Hearing about Pachomius the Great, he burned with the desire to see the ascetic. Saint Pachomius received the young man with love, having been informed by God beforehand about his coming. Remaining at the monastery, Saint Theodore quickly succeeded in all his monastic tasks, particularly in the full obedience to his guide, and in his compassion towards the other brethren. Saint Pachomius appointed Saint Theodore as overseer of the Tabennisi monastery and withdrew to a more solitary monastery. Saint Theodore continued to concern himself over his instructor, and he looked after Saint Pachomius in his final illness until abba reposed in the Lord. After the death of Saint Pachomius, Saint Theodore directed the Tabennisi monastery, and later on, he was at the head of all the Thebaid monasteries. Saint Theodore the Sanctified was famed for his holiness of life and reposed in his old age in the year 368.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Where can we see obedience in the lives of these two saints?

In the story of St. Pachomius, we see it in his obedience to the angel. When the angel appeared to him and commanded him to establish a monastery where groups of monks could live, he listened and carried out this task. He asked no questions and was strong in faith. His obedience led him to open nine monasteries where a great number of monks found a home. His obedience led him to be the father of communal monasticism.
In the story of St. Theodore, we see his obedience in his relationship with St. Pachomius. The saint sought guidance from the abbot and was known for his full obedience to his guide. This obedience led St. Pachomius to appoint St. Theodore as the overseer of the monastery. Even in the abbot's illness, St. Theodore remained a faithful servant and served him till his last breath.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Though we do not live the lives that monks choose to, we can still learn from their virtues and apply them to our own lives. We have talked about obedience in both these saint's stories, and we've also talked about the gifts it brought to them. Let us now talk about how we can be obedient children of God.

We can show obedience in our relationships with our parents.
- How would you guys say this could be done?
  - Listening to their words of guidance
  - Helping them in ways they ask us to
  - Taking their instruction
We can show obedience to our elders.
- How would you guys say this could be done?
  - Helping them in the ways they need
  - Offering our assistance
  - Listening to them when they speak to us

ACTIVITY - 5-10 Minutes

"Simon Says" - In this game, one person is the designated Simon, and the others are the players. Standing in front of the group, Simon tells players what they must do. However, the players must only obey commands that begin with the words, "Simon Says."

SERVANT RESOURCES

Song link: My Fathers The Monks

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Parents can ask their children to do little tasks throughout the week while reminding them of the relationship between St. Pachomius and St. Theodore.