Saint Pimen was an Egyptian who, along with two brothers, left for a communal monastery, where he took monastic vows. The mother of the brothers, wishing to see them, came to the church, but they, fearing, did not open the door for her. Pimen, hearing her weeping, asked what she was grieving about, and upon hearing her words, he replied that it is better to see them in the life to come than here.
Pimen spent his days in fasting and prayer, achieving high virtues and dispassion. When the ruler of the land wished to see him, Pimen refused, fearing that it would disrupt his humility. The prince, wanting to see the saint, imprisoned the son of Pimen's sister, hoping that he would come to him asking for mercy. The mother of the young man came to Pimen, but he did not open the door for her, and in despair, she reproached him for his hardness of heart.
Pimen, writing a letter to the prince, suggested that he investigate the case of the young man and, if he was not deserving of death, to release him. The prince, reading the letter, was amazed at Pimen's wisdom and freed the young man. The saint continued to live in the desert, teaching the monks humility and other virtues.
He taught that by concealing the sins of brothers, we can hope for the forgiveness of our own. Pimen also spoke about the importance of humility, citing examples from the lives of other saints. He emphasized that true repentance can be accepted even in a short time if it is sincere.
Saint Pimen, having great humility, said that he would be cast where Satan would be cast. The Lord exalted him to the heavenly abodes, where the saints glorify the Trinity. Amen.
