He was influenced by St. Anthony the great and became a disciple of Isidore and of St. Macarius.
He was trained first in a cenobitic monastery, then became a solitary.
He was nicknamed ‘Bubalus’ or ‘Bubalis,’ the ‘wild ox’ or ‘buffalo’ for his love of solitude.
ca. 373 he succeeded Isidore as priest of the primary community of Scetis, and after the death of St. Macarius ca. 390 became ‘father of Scetis.’
When St. John Cassian visited Egypt, Paphnutius was the head of the four monasteries of the desert.
What he wrote
Abba Paphnutius said, “When I was walkingalong the road, I happened to lose my way andfound myself near a village and I saw somepeople who were talking about evil things. So Istood still, praying for my sins. Then behold anangel came, holding a sword and he said to me,‘Paphnutius, all those who judge their brothersperish by the sword, but because you have notjudged, but have humbled yourself before God,saying that you have sinned, your name is writtenin the book of the living!’ ”