Petronius

Venerable Petronius was an Egyptian monk of the fourth century who led the Pachomian monasteries and died in the year 346. He was born into a wealthy family in Pjoj, a town in the diocese of Diospolis Parva (Hu). He built the monastery of Tbew by converting his family estate into a monastery. Soon afterwards his father, Pshenthbo, his brother, Pshenapalhi, and other relatives became Christians and joined the nearby Pachomian monasteries as monks. He later asked Pachomius that Tbew join the Koinonia, Pachomius' federation of monasteries.

During Pachomius' lifetime Petronius was superior of Tsmine and also oversaw other monasteries, among them Šmin and Tse. Pachomius appointed him his successor on his deathbed. Petronius died on 21 July 346, three months after Pachomius the Great, and was succeeded by Horsiesius. Today he is canonized as a saint by the Coptic Orthodox Church; his day in the Coptic calendar is 27 Abib.