234- A Feast of Love: Changing the Course of History

Upon their arrival at Esnah, Upper Egypt, the exhausted captain and his troops were surprised by what the residents of the town offered of food and drink joyfully. The pagan soldier Pachomius approached one of the youth carrying the food and asked him, “Who sent this food?”

The youth responded to him saying that the food was offered by the Christians.

Surprised by that fact, Pachomius asked the youth if he knew who the soldiers were.

The youth answered, “No.”

“Why is this food and drink given so generously then?” asked Pachomius.

“For the sake of God who loves all mankind”, said the youth.

“But why is it offered joyfully?”

“We offer it in the name of God, a feast of love and an offering from sincere hearts.”

When Pachomius heard this, he decided to convert to Christianity upon his safe return from Ethiopia after quelling the revolution there. By the time he and his troops had reached the city of Aswan, they learned that the revolution had been subdued and that the soldiers had been released. Instead of returning to his house after he heard that, Pachomius was baptised and became a disciple of the Ascetic Hermit Palemon. He finally founded the Communal (cenobitic) system of Monasticism in the East, which was later (in the sixth century AD) used as the basis for the Benedictine Order in the West.

A feast of love has thus changed the course of history of the Church. It attracted millions for the enjoyment of the Divine love and brotherly charity.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: مائدة محبة تغيِّر التاريخ.

O Divine Love

Grant me to offer a cup of cold water in Your name.

Grant me a loving heart that seeks doing good.

Grant me to love my brothers in return for Your love for me.

Long The Flying Man

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

He Sets the Example