Saint Paisios the Great and God-bearer, was born in Egypt in the mid-fourth century. He lost his father at an early age and dedicated himself to God. He became a cleric and showed great zeal in fulfilling his duties.
When he decided to embrace monastic life, he left the world and withdrew to a skete in Egypt. There he labored ascetically for a long time under the guidance of Saint Pambo. He studied the Scriptures and lived in unceasing prayer. After the death of his teacher, he went into the desert, where he dug a cave and lived in silence, concentrating his mind and sould entirely on God.
People’s admiration for his ascetic struggles drew many disciples to his cave, which gradually developed into a monastic lavra. From there he guided both monks and laypeople toward a virtuous life, teaching prayer and the study of the sacred texts.
Once a monastic community had been firmly established around him, he withdrew again into the desert, where a large number of ascetics gathered again and a second lavra emerged.
He fell asleep in the Lord at a very advanced age. His holy and wonderworking relics were later transferred to Pisidia.
