Paul of Tammah ( Coptic: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲧⲁⲙⲙⲟϩ) (died October 17, 415 AD) was an Egyptian saint who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD. He is venerated as a saint in the

Oriental Orthodox Churches The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 60 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the Nicene Christian tradition, and represent ...

Life

Paul of Tammah lived as a hermit in the mountain of Ansena (currently in the El Minya governorate of

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

). He had a disciple named Ezekiel. Paul of Tammah is most known for spending his life in lengthy fasts and worship. The Coptic Orthodox tradition has it that he would only break his fasts when

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...

told him to. He is credited to have written a number of ascetical texts. Towards the end of his life, he befriended

Pishoy Pishoy of Scetis ( Coptic: ''Abba Pišoi''; Greek: Ὅσιος Παΐσιος ὁ Μέγας; 320 – 417 AD), known in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria as the ''Star of the Desert'' and the ''Beloved of our Good Savior'', was a Cop ...

at the time when the latter fled the Nitrian Desert because of the Berbers' attacks, and went to dwell in the mountain of Ansena.

Departure and Relics

Paul of Tammah departed on 7

Paopi Paopi ( cop, Ⲡⲁⲱⲡⲉ, ''Paōpe''), also known as Phaophi ( grc-gre, Φαωφί, ''Phaōphí'') and Babah. ( ar, بابه, ''Baba''), is the second month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between 11 October and 9 Novem ...

(October 17, 415 AD). He was buried along with Pishoy in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Deir El Barsha, which still exists today near Mallawi. On 4

Koiak Koiak (; cop, Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ, []), also known as Choiak ( grc-gre, Χοιάκ, ''Khoiák'') and Kiyahk. ( cop, Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ, ''Kiahk'', []; ar, كياك or ), is the fourth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between ...

557 AM (December 13, 841 AD), Pope Joseph I fulfilled the desire of Pishoy and moved his body as well as that of Paul of Tammah to the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in the wilderness of

Scetes Wadi El Natrun (Arabic: "Valley of Natron"; Coptic: , "measure of the hearts") is a depression in northern Egypt that is located below sea level and below the Nile River level. The valley contains several alkaline lakes, natron-rich salt de ...

. It is said that they first attempted to move the body of Pishoy only, but when they carried it to the boat on the

Nile The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered the longest ...

, the boat would not move until they brought in the body of Paul of Tammah as well. Today, the two bodies lie in the main church of the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of Saint Pishoy in the Nitrian Desert.

References

Coptic Orthodox Church Synaxarium (Book of Saints)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul Of Tammah 4th-century births 415 deaths Saints from Roman Egypt Egyptian hermits Egyptian Christian monks 4th-century Christian saints