Abba Pachomius - Presentation
XXXII Convegno ecumenico internazionale di spiritualità ortodossa
ABBA PACOMIO, ALLE ORIGINI DELLA VITA COMUNE
32st International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality
ABBA PACHOMIUS, AT THE ORIGINS OF COMMUNITY LIFE
Monastery of Bose, Italy, 8-11 September 2026
in collaboration with the Orthodox Churches
While St. Antony the Great is traditionally regarded as the father of monasticism, particularly in its anchoritic form, the name of St. Pachomius (c. 292-346/7), remembered as the “Father of the Koinonia” — that is, “Communion” — is closely associated with the origins of cenobitic monasticism. The novelty of Pachomius’s Koinonia, however, lies not so much in the simple fact of having brought monks together in a communal life, but rather in having created a complex structure that encompassed multiple monasteries, both male and female, subject to a single common rule, and in having developed a spiritual discipline founded on obedience to the Scriptures, which emphasized the value of charity, shared responsibility, vigilance, mutual forgiveness, and fraternal service. In this sense, according to Pachomian sources, Pachomius’s historical role was that of having ensured that a great multitude of people became “one spirit and one body”.
As an ideal continuation of the conferences dedicated to St. Basil and St. Anthony the Great, this year’s conference, drawing on the extensive studies of recent decades and based on a reappraisal of the texts comprising the Corpus Pachomianum, aims to explore some of the most characteristic aspects of St. Pachomius’s monastic experience and teaching, as well as the concrete life of the Koinonia, situating them within the broader Egyptian ecclesial and monastic context. Through an approach intended to be both historical and spiritual, the conference will also seek to highlight Pachomius’s influence on subsequent monastic tradition, as well as the challenges and opportunities that his message of communion continues to offer to the Church and the world today.