Saint Isaac of Fayoum

This great father of monks was a 4th-century disciple of St. Anthony the Great. His life story was written by St. Serapion and contained in a manuscript found in the monastery of St. Anthony the Great. Although relatively unknown until recently, his story is now being revealed.

St. Isaac was born in the village of Abawite in the province of Beni Suef. When he was very young, he desired to live a monastic life, so he went to Mount El-Sharika, which is east of Fayoum. Fayoum is a region rich in farmland and many well-watered oases, south of present-day Cairo. It is also the site of many martyrdoms during the sanctity from Christian suffering. Mount El-Sharika is the site of the Archangel Gabriel Monastery, which is still functioning to this day. One can till see the desert caves in which St. Isaac and his disciples lived.

An angel appeared to the great St. Anthony, telling him to visit Mount El-Sharika, where he would find many disciples. He was told that some of them would become priests, arch-priests, and bishops. After St. Anthony met him there, St. Isaac, who loved solitude, left for Mount El-Prompel in the El Suf District. St. Anthony visited him from time to time to guide and strengthen him, as well as be refreshed in his company.

St. Isaac gained many virtues, and was given the grace to heal the sick, cast out demons, and lead many pagans to faith in Jesus Christ. One day, he was visited by a group of pagans who came to inquire about Christ. After preaching to them, they all wanted to become Christians. He sent them to the Bishop of El-Fayoum who baptized them. Ten of them returned to him and wanted him to be their spiritual father. Agreeing to their request, he built them a monastery dedicated to St. Mary, "El-Hammam," in 346 A.D., which is still functioning to this day.

Ten years later, the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, appeared to him in 356 A.D. and asked him to go and visit St. Anthony, as his time of departing this life was close at hand. After receiving the blessing from the father of monks, he buried St. Anthony with the help of St. Macarius the Great, with whom he returned. The Egyptian Pope, Peter II, sent Abba Isaac to Mount El-Khazain around 365 A.D. to care for the monks in that area. He taught them and guided them in the monastic life. Later, he tonsured the novices and clothed them in the angelic schema. One day, Pope Peter II returned again and ordained him priest for the monks.

Two months before his departure from this life, he received a call from heaven letting him know that his prayers and supplications had been accepted and that he was to now have the elder monks look after the younger ones. He asked his disciples to bury him on Mount Mafset, and from then on to be under the guidance of his disciple Steven.

The monastery of the Virgin Mary in El-Hammam is a testimony to God's miracle-working power. Although countless miracles have occurred there, one story is an amazing wonder in this world. During a period of persecution and suffering, the monastery was left vacant and the walls were torn down. Yet through the prayers of the Mother of God, every year between January 10 and March 10 mud wasps would come and rebuild the walls until they were restored to their original height of around 8 to 10 feet and 1 ½ to 3 feet thick!

Then, as soon as the monks came back to restore the monastery, the wasps never returned again. In parts of the wall, remains of the wasps are there to this day. It is a reminder that if man won't do the work of God, He can call even the insects to do His bidding!

St. Isaac is commemorated on May 20/June 2 each year. In his icon he is depicted as a very dark African father. Through his holy prayers, may many future African desert fathers emerge for these times!