St. Pimen the Great Memorial Day: strong prayer on September 9th

Orthodox Christians annually celebrate St. Pimen the Great's Memorial Day on September 9. His strict asceticism, wise teachings and instructions to his students became the basis of a tradition that influenced the entire Byzantine and Slavic monasticism. What to ask the saint for is in the Izvestia article.

Who is Pimen the Great: biography of the saint

St. Pimen the Great is one of the recognized ascetics of the early Christian desert tradition, who, according to generally accepted sources, lived at the turn of the fourth and fifth centuries. Born around the 340s in Egypt, in his youth he entered monastic life together with two brothers, Abba Anuvius (Anuvius in some sources) and Paisius. He settled in one of the monasteries of the hermitage and became a model of rigor and ascetic feat.

Under conditions of constant prayer, abstinence, and hard work, the brothers developed a clear monastic practice: hard work and reading during the day, and time for prayer and sleep at night.

Later biographies emphasize that Pimen achieved outstanding dispassion and was the mentor of many monks. His teachings and short sayings were copied by his students and served as a guide for subsequent generations of hermits.

The events of Pimen's life include dramatic episodes: in 407, according to hagiographies, Berber raids forced the community to leave its former cells and settle in the ruins of a pagan temple in Terenufis.

It was in these conditions that the discipline and inner closeness of the ascetics intensified, who sometimes did not even let their relatives into their cells, believing that renunciation of worldly attachments served to save the soul.

Pimen is revered not only as an ascetic, but also as a spiritual mentor: his answers to the questions of his brothers and laity were recorded and transmitted, which cemented his reputation as a "great one" — a title reflecting the depth of spiritual experience, and not just age or rank.

In the theological and historical context, the significance of Pimen lies in the fact that he represents the type of "ascetic fathers" of Egyptian monasticism, whose practice and teachings formed the basis of the Byzantine and Slavic monastic tradition.

His behavior and teachings contributed to the formation of the ideal of a silent monk and mentor, whose advice was considered a direct path to spiritual perfection. Sources also mention cases of healings and spiritual insights attributed to him. After his death (around 450, according to tradition), Pimen became revered as a saint and later became widely glorified in church calendars.

Pimen the Great Memorial Day: What not to do on September 9th

He is one of the recognized ascetics of the early Christian desert tradition.

What to pray to Pimen the Great for

In church and folk practice, St. Pimen acts as an advocate for those who strive for inner self-transformation: believers traditionally turn to him with requests for humility, curbing passions, overcoming pride and spiritual strife.

In the texts of prayers and lives, Pimen is referred to as "the image of monks", "the giver of healings", "the inhabitant of the desert", "the eradicator of passions", which defines the range of petitions: spiritual strength for repentance, wisdom and spiritual reasoning, help in family or community conflicts, consolation in sorrow and strengthening humility.

Prayer texts attributed to or composed in honor of the saint ask him for guidance in asceticism, as well as help in healing and spiritual firmness.

The practical requests of Russians and parish communities nowadays are often related to the domestic sphere: to pray for reconciliation in the family, to ask for help in overcoming passions and harmful tendencies, blessings for humble service and patience in trials.

A strong prayer to Pimen the Great:
"O wondrous saint, our Venerable Father Pimene, we sinners will fail in our duty to praise you. For you were the image of monks, the giver of healing, the inhabitant of the desert, the steward of silence, the extirpator of passions, and the teacher of all virtues. For this reason, we tenderly fall down to you and humbly ask: give from your treasury to our misery. By thy humility, cast down our pride; by thy dispassion, our passions have fallen; by thy wakefulness, the spirit of laziness has been wrung from us; by thy tears, awaken our insensitivity; by thy vigil, raise us from neglect; by thy prayers, kindle the flame of prayer in us; by thy love, create brotherly love; grant us the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of purity and piety; free us from passions, therefore and lead me to true repentance. For in your mind you unceasingly had the Son of God crucified on the Cross for us. Incessantly mark His sweetest Name in mind and heart, and grant us, the wretched, that through His love, burning and reflecting on our sins, we may meet that terrible Day of Judgment and enter the Kingdom of heaven with you and all the saints, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen to that."

Pimen the Great Memorial Day: folk traditions

The church commemorations of St. Pimen the Great are celebrated on September 9 in the new style (August 27 in the old style), and this day is included in the church calendars of the Russian Orthodox Church and other local churches.

Morning and evening divine services are held in parishes, troparion and kontakion are read to the saint, prayer services for the laity and spiritual enlightenment are appointed; in monasteries where the memory of ancient ascetics is honored, other skete elders who accompany the historical context of Pimen's life are often remembered on this day.

Folk culture has associated Pimen's Day with separate rituals, mainly of an agrarian and folk nature. In the village tradition, September 9 was considered rowan day — picking berries, making jam and stocks, as well as conducting rituals for good luck and protecting the house.

It was often necessary to read special signs on this day.: a good rowan tree foreshadowed an early cold snap and a favorable supply of berries for the winter; in some places, berries were left to birds as a sign of gratitude and care.

Modern publications on folk customs emphasize that these practices are closer to everyday culture and are often complemented by hiking or family traditions: church visits, commemorations of the deceased, and the organization of joint feasts after the service.

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What not to do on September 9th

There are a number of popular prohibitions and customs related to Pimen Day. The most common prohibitions recorded in ethnographic and popular sources include: not to lend money, not to make large purchases or start important business, not to woo or engage in marital activities on this day, not to tear or break the branches of mountain ash (it was considered sacred in local customs, not to pick up at the intersection found Things, don't stand on the doorstep for long.

In many publications, these prohibitions are interpreted as a set of precautions aimed at maintaining order and caution in economic and social affairs at the turn of autumn.

From the ecclesiastical point of view, there are no direct "canonical" prohibitions related solely to the veneration of Pimen: the recommendations on behavior on the feast day are more about participation in worship, prayer and fasting in accordance with parish customs.