| Paul the Simple | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown Egypt |
| Died | ca 339 Egypt |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox |
| Feast | March 7 |
Paul the Simple (d. ca. 339) was a contemporary of St. Anthony and a younger contemporary of St. Paul of Egypt, the First Hermit. The account of his life is found in Palladius of Helenopolis De Vitis Patrum 8,28 and Tyrannius Rufinus Historia Eremitica 31.
Originally a farmer, upon discovering that his wife was an adulteress, Paul left her to become a hermit. He asked to study the monastic life with St. Anthony, but the latter was reluctant to accept him as Paul was 60 years old. Paul refused to leave, fasting outside St. Anthony’s door night and day until the fourth night. Fearing that Paul would die of thirst and hunger, Anthony took him in.
That night at dinner, when Anthony took a crust of bread and gave three to Paul. When each had eaten one crust, Anthony told Paul to eat another. "If you have another one, I will," said Paul, "but not if you won't." "I've had quite sufficient for one who is a monk," said Anthony. Paul replied, "Then one is enough for me, for I want to be a monk."
Later, the account describes a miracle performed by Paul—a victim of demonic possession came to the cell on St. Anthony, but he directed the boy to Paul who, with a prayer to Christ, cast out the creature into the Red Sea.
"St. Paul the Simple". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11591a.htm.