The various positions in Egyptian Monastery based on the Rule of Pachomius

Superior:    head of the entire monastery
Second:    does bidding of the superior; second in command
Housemaster:    one for each house; usually main disciplinarian and one who grants permission
Leaders:    those who have been appointed specific duties or areas of expertise
Ministers:    those in charge of leading religious services
Elders:    seasoned monks who are looked to in certain circumstances for advice
Housemates:    those who live together in the same house
Porter:    the doorman; given many duties
Weekly server:    this position can be passed around to many monks each week; in charge of specific duties for that particular week
Infirmarian:    the one charged with caring for the sick
Guestmaster:    the one in charge of housing and supervising guests
Bakers:    those who are in charge of the baking
Cooks:    those who are in charge of preparing the meals
Boatmen:    those who are in charge of fishing
Gardner:    in charge of all gardening business
Palms Supervisor:    in charge of all the palms; the distributor
Teachers:    those who teach new monks
Steward:    has various leadership roles
Farmers:    in charge of the fields; planting and harvesting
Herdsmen:    in charge of caring for the flocks and herds

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The translation of Pachomius' rule used on the Fourth-Century Christianity website is a revised version of that found at the Patristics in English website: http://www.seanmultimedia.com/Pie_homepage.html
Translated by Esmeralda Ramirez de Jennings
Edited by Rev. Daniel R. Jennings
Paragraph numbers added by Rachael M. Schuman to correspond with Pachomian Koinonia, Vol. 2: Pachomian Chronicles and Rules, trans. Armand Veilleux. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Cistercian Studies, 1981, pp. 145-67.

Created by RMS
Last updated:9/25/07 AJW
Copyright 2006 Wisconsin Lutheran College
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