Palamon of the Thebaid

Venerable Palamon of the Thebaid was a hermit in the Thebaid, spiritual father and teacher of Saint Pachomius the Great. He fell asleep about the year 330. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 12 August (25 August on the new style), and the Catholic Church on 11 January.

At the beginning of the fourth century he became spiritual father and mentor of the young ascetic who was to be the founder of communal life in Egypt, Venerable Pachomius the Great. When Pachomius came to him, Palamon at first refused him, thinking him too young, about twenty-⁠two, for the hard life of the desert, but Pachomius insisted, promising obedience without murmuring. The elder received him and, with a strict trial, prepared him for the labours of the desert life.

After ten years of life in the desert they built, at God's direction, a monastic dwelling at Tabennisi. Palamon blessed Pachomius to live separately, but Pachomius was guided by his instructions until the elder's death. Shortly before his death, Palamon blessed the beginning of the founding of the monastery of Tabennisi and foretold its future glory.