Theophilus of Oxyrhynchus

Holy Venerable Theophilus of Oxyrhynchus struggled in the Egyptian desert in the fourth century, together with John, Heraclammon and Andrew. The four were sons of leading men of the city of Oxyrhynchus in Middle Egypt. While still at school they became friends and, after learning the higher studies of the world, they were kindled with a desire to find spiritual wisdom.

Resolved to give themselves to ascetic struggle, they withdrew into the desert, where they met a holy man far gone in age and lived beside him for a year, profiting by his teaching. When the old man died they remained in the desert but settled in different places. They ate wild greens, taking food only twice a week. Each spent his time alone in the hills and caves round about, while on Saturdays and Sundays they gathered for common prayer and were counted worthy of holy communion from the hand of an angel of God.

So they were found by the venerable Paphnutius, a monk of a monastery in the Egyptian desert, who, setting out to look for monks who laboured more than he, had earlier discovered the venerable Onuphrius. Paphnutius tells that he came to a cave with a spring of water and a garden of trees laden with fruit of great sweetness and fragrance, where four young men whose faces shone with grace received him with joy. He stayed with them seven days and asked how they had come there. They told of Oxyrhynchus, of their parents, of the school and of their shared resolve. Paphnutius wished to receive holy communion at the end of the week, so he waited for Saturday. Then a scent of incense filled them all, and the angel, in the form of a radiant youth, came with the chalice and gave communion to them all, saying that the Body and Blood of the Lord should be to them incorruptible food and eternal life.

The angel told Paphnutius to return to Egypt and tell the brethren all he had seen. When he left, the four walked with him five miles. Paphnutius earnestly begged them to tell their names, and they answered: John, Andrew, Heraclammon and Theophilus, and asked him to give their names to the brethren for remembrance.

After about sixty years in the desert the venerable ones fell asleep in peace. Saint Theophilus is commemorated on 25 June and on 15 December.