Balıkesir İlahiyat Dergisi

Öz

The subject of the article is Pachomius (c. 292-346), the founder of the systematic cenobitic life and the Christian monastic tradition. The monastic system established by Pachomius refers to cenobitic, that is, communal life monasticism. The following stages in Pachomius' previous life were instrumental in developing this system: being born into a farming Coptic family, serving in the Roman army, living in the Pagan temple of Serapis for one year, and experiencing the apostolic tradition for three years after baptism. This experience led him to the life of monk. The most important experience in wanting the communal life is the period when they formed a small community with St. Palamon. Then he started to establish his own monastic system with the first monastery in Tabennesi and created a systematic cenobitic life model while he was still alive. The subject of the study is limited to Pachomius, the Pachomian monastic system and monastic rules. These three points are enough to understand the subject. The main purpose of the study is to reveal that the monasteries established by Pachomius were systematized by rules and that this monastic system was the first model and basis in the history of Christianity. Pachomius's transformation of individual monkhood into communal monastic life and his development of a balanced cenobitic life by bringing monk life and earthly life closer together are among the aims of the article. Pachomius' previous life and the process of founding monasteries show that his ideas developed. It was seen that the most important stage in the formation process of his ideas is his small communal life with Palamon. Because he has experienced that monks can live together in line with their spiritual goals. The most important step in the process of establishing monasteries is to expel some monks. Pachomius made it his motto to serve kindly at first, but when this attitude was abused by some novice monks, he expelled them. It was seen that this event was the first clear step of order and rule development. It has been understood that Pachomius had no problems with the Church hierarchy and the cononic doctrine, but did not stay too close to the Church administration, thus creating a balance. The communal monastic administration showed him to be intelligent, sincere, determined and faithful, and this led to his fame. His first monastic rules and data on his life led to the establishment of new monasteries in both the West and the East, and the development of new rules such as Basil and Benedict rules. While the monastic system of Pachomius spread in Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia, it gained acceptance among communities such as Greeks, Assyrians and Armenians. The Pachomian monastic system and rules became the basis of all Christian monasteries.