Saint Patapios of Thebes – Egyptian Hermit and Wonderworker

ST. PATAPIOS OF THEBES

Saint Patapios of Thebes, a 4th‑century Egyptian hermit, withdrew into the desert and later settled near Constantinople. Renowned for his ascetic life and miraculous healings, he is commemorated on December 8 and celebrated as the patron of those suffering with dropsy.

Saint Description:
Saint Patapios was born in Thebes, Egypt, in the 4th century to devout Christian parents. Rejecting worldly vanity, he entered the Egyptian desert as a hermit, drawing many pilgrims to his austere lifestyle for counsel and healing . Later he moved to Constantinople, establishing a cell near the Blachernae shrine. Here too, he gained renown for compassion and miraculous intercessions—healed the sick, delivered a cancer-stricken woman, and became a spiritual beacon to countless faithful .

Tradition holds he died in Constantinople and was buried at the church of St. John the Baptist, his relics enshrined by disciples . After the fall of Constantinople, his relics were moved in secret to a cave near Loutraki, Greece—rediscovered in 1904 with a sweet fragrance and Byzantine artifacts, and today preserved beneath the Monastery of Saint Patapios .

Miracles have surrounded Patapios both during his life and posthumously: early healings, deliverance from dropsy, a blind child’s sight restored, and ongoing cures at his cave shrine . His feast on December 8 in both Eastern and Western traditions honors his gift of healing and monastic devotion, and he is also commemorated the Tuesday after Easter, remembering the discovery of his relics .

Located on Mt. Geraneia near Loutraki, the female monastery established around his shrine hosts pilgrims, preserves his relics, and celebrates his memory with liturgical solemnity . Saint Patapios’s life continues to inspire those seeking healing and the ascetic path, his cave a living testament to the desert monastic ideal brought into the Christian East and West.

Feast Day

8-12-

Birth Date

--

Died Date

--463 AD

Canonised Date

--Pre-congregation

Church of St. John the Baptist, Constantinople.

Prayer Information Not Available
ST. PATAPIOS OF THEBES

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ST. PATAPIOS OF THEBES

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Credits & Acknowledgments

Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
by Msgr. Thomas Moothedan, M.A., D.D.
Saint Companions for Each Day
by A. J. M. Mausolfe & J. K. Mausolfe
US Catholic (Faith in Real Life) – Informational articles
Wikipedia – General reference content and images
Anastpaul.com – Saint images and reflections
Pravachaka Sabdam (Malayalam) – Saint-related content and insights

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