Paul of Tammah

Paul of Tammah (died October 17, 415 AD) was an Egyptian Christian monk and saint who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD. He is venerated as a saint in the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Quotes

Harmless, William (2004). Desert Christians: An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 261-2. ISBN 978-0-19-516222-6. 

• My son, obey God and keep his commandments, and be wise and remain in your dwelling, which is your delight, and your cell will remain with you in your heart as you seek its blessing, and the labor of your cell will go with you to God. For you will know God in your cell. Keep him with you and the Devil will depart from you, which will allow you to tame him. Do not forsake God. Do not forsake your cell. For the incense of God is a wise man in his cell. The altar of God is a wise man in his cell. The glory of God will appear to him there. A poor man who remains in his cell is a king and lord. Honor him, for God is dwelling in him.
  • De Cella 1, 34, 51–55, 119

• Truly the lion leaves the desert and erases his pawprints with his tail. If he prevails over the person who has come out to [hunt] him, he goes up in complete confidence. Now then, you who are poor, you shall look boldly upon your enemies like the roaring lions.”
  • De Cella 7 and 28

• Be like the master sailors piloting their ships as you watch the wind to see what direction it is taking you, whether it is a good wind or bad that is coming.
  • Untitled Work, 100

• Do not be like the thorny acacias that grow on the mountain, which is God (Coptic: pnoute). Instead, be like a reed growing in the water, which is the abyss (Coptic: pnoun).
  • Untitled Work, 203–204
    • Note the Coptic pun between pnoute 'God' and pnoun 'water'.