Byzantine Saints: Venerable Pimen the Great (27 August)

About this sermon

On August 27, the Church commemorates Venerable Pimen the Great, one of the most beloved of the Egyptian Desert Fathers. Born around A.D. 340, Pimen entered monastic life with his brothers and became renowned for strict asceticism, humility, prayer, fasting, and spiritual wisdom. His sayings were preserved by generations of monks because of their remarkable simplicity and insight into the Christian struggle against sin and the passions. Pimen taught that we should be slow to judge the faults of others, quick to repent sincerely, and constant in prayer. When asked how to overcome persistent evil thoughts, he compared them to fire that must be extinguished with water: the fire is temptation, and the water is prayer. He also warned that fasting without charity is useless. Hearing of a monk who could fast for an entire week but could not restrain his anger for a single day, Pimen lamented that the monk had conquered food but not his passions. His teaching was practical and direct: fear God, pray often, do good to your neighbor, return good for evil, and struggle against the passions with humility. Venerable Pimen died around A.D. 450 at approximately 110 years of age. He became known as “the Great” because of his humility, uprightness, ascetic struggles, and complete dedication to God. Venerable Pimen the Great, pray for us! #PimenTheGreat #DesertFathers #OrthodoxSaints #August27 #ChristianMonasticism #Prayer #Humility #Fasting #Repentance #Asceticism #SaintOfTheDay #SensusFidelium 00:00 – Venerable Pimen the Great 00:26 – Entering Monastic Life With His Brothers 00:33 – The Visit of Their Mother 00:54 – Choosing Heaven Over Earthly Consolation 01:02 – Pimen Rejects Fame and Honors 01:24 – Spiritual Father to the Monks 01:33 – Do Not Judge Your Brother 01:56 – How Long Should We Repent? 02:13 – True Repentance From the Heart 02:23 – How to Defeat Evil Thoughts 02:45 – Prayer Extinguishes Temptation 02:53 – Fasting With Moderation 03:02 – Fasting Means Nothing Without Control of Anger 03:18 – When to Speak and When to Be Silent 03:26 – Silent Lips, Condemning Heart 03:41 – Three Things Every Christian Should Practice 03:48 – Conquer Evil With Good 03:57 – Pimen Faces Jealousy From Another Elder 04:15 – Humility at the Hermit’s Door 04:29 – “Your Works Are a Hundred Times Greater” 04:38 – The Depth of Pimen’s Humility 04:46 – Avoiding Lofty and Useless Speculation 05:04 – The Struggle Against the Passions 05:12 – Death of Pimen the Great 05:20 – Why He Was Called “The Great” https://www.oca.org/saints/lives 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴