Paul the Simple

Saint Paul the Simple was an Egyptian hermit of the fourth century, a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great, held up as an example of spiritual simplicity. Saint John Climacus writes: "Paul the Simple was a clear example for us, for he was the rule and type of blessed simplicity." He is not to be confused with Paul of Thebes, regarded as the first hermit. The Church remembers him on 4 October and on 7 March.

His life is told by Palladius of Helenopolis in the Lausiac History and by Rufinus in the History of the Monks. He was a farmer who, at sixty, discovered that his beautiful wife was unfaithful, and left her to become a hermit, after patiently bearing her insults. He came to Anthony and told him his wish to become a monk. Anthony answered that it was impossible for a man of sixty to take up so harsh a life, and urged him to be content with the life of a pious and thankful labourer. Paul was not satisfied and pleaded to be received. Anthony told him to go to a cenobium, then shut the door, and Paul remained outside. On the fourth day, fearing that Paul would die, Anthony took him in. He set him to weave a rope from palm leaves, then to undo it and weave it again. In the evening at table Anthony took a crust of bread and gave three to Paul. When each had eaten one, Anthony told Paul to eat another. "If you have another, I will," said Paul, "but not if you will not." "I have had enough for a monk," said Anthony. "Then one is enough for me, for I want to be a monk," answered Paul. Anthony went on testing his endurance and humility by hard work, severe fasting, night vigils, constant psalmody and prostrations. Impressed by his effort, he let him have a separate cell some miles from his own.

In time Paul received the gift of foresight and the power to cast out demons. Once, when a youth possessed by an exceedingly evil spirit, one of the princes of darkness, was brought to Anthony, Anthony said: "It is not my business, for I have not received from God power over the mightiest demons, but Paul the Simple has this gift." He took him to Paul, who commanded the demon in Anthony's name to come out. The demon refused. Then Paul climbed on a rock at noon, like an unmoving pillar, and prayed to Christ that he would neither come down nor taste bread or water until he was heard. The demon cried that he was coming out and, going out, turned into a great serpent and threw himself into the Red Sea. So Paul overcame the devil by simplicity and humility, for the small demons are driven out by those great in faith, while the princes of demons are overcome by the humble. He also had the gift of seeing into souls. He fell asleep around 340.