The Life & Teaching of Pachomius

Monasticism in its broadest sense encompasses a number of different ways of setting oneself apart from the world for God.

The first monks moved as far away from the world as they could by going to live in the desert, either singly - as hermits - or in loosely knit communities which met from time to time for meals or worship. 

The first major figure to give order and system to these 'desert saints' was Pachomius.