How did the monastic movement start in Egypt?

From Egypt, all other monastic orders spread out to the whole world. In the fourth century, this movement served to restore the heart of the Church to the inner life after the state had accepted Christianity, and the doors of the emperor were opened to bishops and priests. These monastic orders established by the Copts did not emerge through a preorganized plan by the Church, but through the powerful love that inflamed the hearts of many of the early Christians.

In the apostolic age, many practiced a kind of monasticism, seeking to enjoy the perfection of the Gospel. The eschatological direction of the Church made the believers long for the coming of their Bridegroom, so some preferred to live a life of virginity, consecrating all their time for worship to prepare themselves for the heavenly wedding. In the second century, the Christian virgins in Smyrna and Corinth used to walk in liturgical processions behind the priests and in front of the widows. Moreover, many groups of virgins were found living in Alexandria and in many cities around the world. Articles about virginity represented an essential aspect of the writings of the Church Fathers in the first three centuries.

Virgins used to live together, while men preferred to leave the cities to live in simple huts in villages and were often called “consecrated.” Some people felt a thirst for the angelic life so they fled to the wilderness. We know of only a few of these, such St. Paul the Hermit who lived in the wilderness for almost ninety years (between 250–340 A. D.).

St. Anthony established the monastic movement and is considered the father of all monks in the entire world, even though many preceded him. This is because of his strong relationship with St. Athanasius, who wrote about him to the Roman world. It is also because he opened his cave after twenty years of solitude to disciple monastic leaders, converse with philosophers in the simplicity of his faith, and receive rulers. He had an active role in the Church and went to Alexandria to support the martyrs and stand against the Arians.

St. Pachomius, founder of cenobitic monasticism, felt that the order of solitude may not work for all those who want to become monks, so he started a monastic community within the walls of monasteries, and the hermits praised him for doing so.

St. Macarius the Great, St. Ammonas and others started the order of communities (or the semi-eremitical order). Many came from around the world to practice the ascetic life in Egypt, and to write about it and take these orders back to their countries. It is important to note that the leaders of the three orders were not biased for their monastic styles, but instead they used to visit each other and praise each other’s orders.

The monastic movement of women started side by side with that of men, and monks helped build convents. Female leaders arose and had great influence, like Amma Sarah, Amma Theodora, and Amma Syncletica. Moreover, some Egyptian and foreign women were disguised in the apparel of men and led ascetic lives in monasteries of men, and their asceticism, struggles, and spirituality exceeded many.