Ηegumen / Abbot
Saint Benedict, born in 480 in Nursia, left Rome at the age of 14, seeking to escape immorality. He settled near the church of Saint Peter the Apostle, but soon withdrew to the mountains, where he met the hermit Roman, who tonsured him into monasticism. He spent three years in solitude, battling temptations. Disciples began to gather around him, and he divided them into twelve communities, each with an appointed abbot. The strict rules he established were not to everyone's liking, and he faced slander and persecution.
In Campania, he founded Monte Cassino, which became a center of theological education for the Western Church. Here he wrote a rule based on the experience of Eastern hermits and the teachings of John Cassian. The rule prescribed absolute renunciation of property, unconditional obedience, and constant labor for the monks. Senior monks taught children and copied ancient manuscripts, contributing to the preservation of literary monuments.
Saint Benedict was granted the gift of foresight and miracles, healing many through prayer. He foretold his own death in advance. His sister, Saint Scholastica, also became renowned for her strict ascetic life and was canonized as a saint.
