By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
Today our Holy Church commemorates Venerable Pachomius the Great, Saint Achilles, Bishop of Larissa, Venerable Kali, and Saint Demetrius of Moscow the Wonderworker.
Saint Pachomius the Great, born in Upper Thebaid of Egypt in 290 AD, was raised by pagan parents. As an adult, he was imprisoned and was introduced to the love and charity of Christians, leading him to seek baptism. He later became a monk under the guidance of the ascetic Palamon, eventually establishing a monastery and promoting the coenobitic system for spiritual growth.
Over time, Saint Pachomius founded multiple monastic communities, with his legacy influencing Orthodox monasticism to this day. He had a spiritual connection with Athanasius the Great and passed away in 346 AD during a pestilence outbreak, leaving a lasting impact on the monastic tradition.
Source: Church of Cyprus