Abba Pior

d. c. AD 395 · Disciple of Antony · Ascetic of the unreturned glance · Egypt → Nitria

The Nicene Age

Who Abba Pior was

The young Egyptian who left home vowing never to look on his own kin again — and who, ordered by Antony after fifty years to relieve his aged sister's longing, stood at her door and kept both vows at once: 'I am Pior thy brother; look at me as much as thou wilt,' eyes shut fast until she was satisfied and he walked back to the desert. He ate walking, dug wells that turned bitter sweet, and left the Lausiac History its purest specimen of the desert's terrible consistency.

Also listed in desert fathers & mothers.

Common questions

When did Abba Pior die?

Abba Pior is dated d. c. AD 395 in the archive, which places Abba Pior in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Abba Pior?

Abba Pior is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Palladius of Galatia and The desert tradition. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Abba Pior from?

The archive associates Abba Pior with Egypt, Nitria. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Abba Pior’s contemporaries?

The archive links Abba Pior to 1 other figure, including Anthony the Great. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (2)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

The Lausiac History 39

c. AD 420

Standing before his sister's house with his eyes shut, he said: 'I am Pior thy brother: look on me as much as thou wilt.' And she, satisfied, glorified God; but he, having not seen her, returned into the desert.

Palladius of Galatia · 39 · source text