Theodore, the Successor of Pachomius

Theodore, successor to the grace and the headship of the abbot Pachomius mentioned above, addressed letters written in the language of Holy Scripture to other monasteries. In them he often mentions his master and teacher Pachomius and sets out his teaching and his life as examples. This, he said, he had been taught by an angel, so that he himself might teach it in turn. He also urges them to hold fast to the purpose of their heart and desire, and to bring back into harmony and unity those who, when a dissension had arisen after the abbot’s death, had broken the unity by separating themselves from the community. Three letters of exhortation by him are still in existence. [a]