"tribe", and its "chief" was elected by the abbots – or heads –
of the member monasteries who held regular conferences
together. All the ‘chiefs of' the tribes’ were subject to the
‘Supreme Head’ of the Pakhomian Monasteries, who
exercised his authority by two means: inspection visits
whenever he wanted to, and the convocation of general
assemblies twice a year. The first of these assemblies was
held at Easter time, and gave the monks of all the
monasteries the opportunity to celebrate jointly the most
important of Christian festivals. The second assembly was
held in August of each year, and in which the general affairs
of the monasteries were discussed, reports were presented
on the various activities of each of them, suggestions and
future plans made, etc. Then the ‘Supreme Head’ divided
the work and the responsibilities for the following year, and
concluded the meeting by holding a liturgical service at the
end of which he gave the blessing and benediction, and then
all departed in peace.
During his life, Pakhom was the Supreme Head of all
the Pakhomian monasteries.
The concern of Pakhom for others was not confined
to his monks. It was a real Christian concern for all human
beings. Because of it, he inserted in his ‘constitution’ clauses
for the care of the sick and the needy, the strangers, the
wayfarers, etc. The monks were enjoined to welcome
anybody who knocked at the door of the monastery, wash
his feet and look after his needs. Each monastery had a
guest house close to the gate, within its walls, yet apart from
the cells.^23
- The establishment of the first convent for women –
organised along the same lines and governed by the same
rules as the Pakhomian monasteries – came about when
Mary, the sister of Pakhom came one day and tried to pay