Baring-Gould’s sources: Inserted by Baronius in the Modern Roman Martyrology. The Coptie Kalendar on Feb. 9, Authorities: — Mention by Eusebius, Soerates, Sozomen, Theodoret. and Rufinus.] S. Paphnutius, according to Socrates, was a monk from his boyhood. He witnessed a good confession, probably Lives of the Samis, under Firmilian in Egypt, in a.d. 308, having his eye plucked out, and his leg hamstrung, and he was sent thus mutilated to work in the mines, by Maximus, probably in a.d. 311. When released from this work, he retired to the rocky desert to S. Antony, and learned from him the training of a perfect anchorite. He was created bishop, but when is uncertain. As bishop he attended the Council of Nicsea, and there performed many miracles, healing the sick by prayer, and restoring sight to the blind, and vigour to the paralytic.
Constantine regarded the venerable confessor [in old usage, a saint who was not martyred, or who suffered for the faith without being killed] with the utmost reverence, and often spoke with him. Among the canons passed at that famous council was one to guard against the scandals which might arise from the companionship of the clergy with religious ladies. “No bishop, no priest, no deacon, no one holding any clerical office, is to have with him a woman of this sort, unless it be his mother, sister, or aunt, or such persons as are certainly above suspicion.” But connected with this decree was an abortive attempt, which discloses to us one of the most interesting scenes of the council. A proposition was made, enjoining all married clergy to separate from their wives. It was in substance the same measure that was afterwards carried in the Spanish synod of Illiberis, and it is therefore probable that, on this occasion, it was proposed by the great Hosius. It was also, we are told, supported by Eustathius of Antioch. But opposition came from a most unexpected quarter. From amongst the Egyptian bishops stepped out into their midst, looking out of his remaining eye, and halting 011 his paralysed leg, the old hermit confessor Paphnutius. With a roar of indignation rather than with a speech,1 he broke into the debate: — “ Lay not this heavyyoke on the clergy. Marriage is honourable in all, said the apostle. By exaggerated Sept ii.] S. Paphnutius.
strictness you will do the Church more harm than good. All cannot bear such an ascetic rule. The wives themselves will suffer from it. Marriage itself is continence. It is enough for a man to be kept from marriage after he has been ordained, according to the ancient custom; but do not separate him from the wife whom once for all he married when he was still a layman/’1 His speech produced a profound sensation. His own austere life of unblemished celibacy gave force to every word he uttered; he showed that rare excellence of appreciating difficulties which he himself did not feel, and of honouring a state of life which was not his own.
Paphnutius was lodged in the palace. The Emperor had often sent for him to hear his stories of the persecution; something in the simple sincerity, the guilelessness of the desert-bred, grand old man touched Constantine to the core, and when about to leave the council, the Emperor threw his arms round Paphnutius, and put his lips to his eyeless socket, and pressed his royal purple to his paralysed limb. In a.d. 335 was held the famous synod of Tyre, in which a caucus of Arians [followers of Arius, who taught that the Son is a created being, not fully God] and Meletians sought to crush S. Athanasius [bishop of Alexandria (d. 373), great defender of the Nicene faith] with calumnies. Paphnutius was present, and defended Athanasius, and with the other Egyptian bishops wrote an account of the intrigues of the Eusebians to the Count Flavius Dionysius, who had been sent from Constantinople to preside in the room of the Emperor at the council.
Rufinus tells us that when Paphnutius saw Maximus of Jerusalem, also a one-eyed confessor, hamstrung like himself, sitting amidst the enemies of Athanasius, he went before him, dragging his paralysed limb after him, and 1 said: — “What ! Maximus, who fought with me in the same fight, and witnessed with me the same confession ! I can1 S. James of Nisibis took the same view. Serai, xviii. g. [Sept. it.
not bear to see thee sitting in the council of the ungodly, and standing in the way of sinners.” And taking him by the hand, he drew the guileless simple old man from their midst, and led him over to the side where sat the adherents ot Athanasius, and to him he clung steadfastly ever after. It is probable that Paphnutius was also present at the council of Sardica in a.d. 347. A Paphnutius was expelled his see in Egypt by the Arians in, or about, a.d. 356, but if it was this Paphnutius, he must have reached an extreme old age. It is more probable that this was another prelate of the same name.
