<P> In 346 St Pachomius established in Egypt the first cenobitic Christian monastery . At Tabenna in Upper Egypt , sometime around 323 AD , Pachomius decided to mold his disciples into a more organized community in which the monks lived in individual huts or rooms ( cellula in Latin , ) but worked , ate , and worshipped in shared space . The intention was to bring together individual ascetics who , although pious , did not , like Saint Anthony , have the physical ability or skills to live a solitary existence in the desert . This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic or `` community - based '' . In Catholic theology , this community - based living is considered superior because of the obedience practiced and the accountability offered . The head of a monastery came to be known by the word for `` Father ; '' - in Syriac , Abba ; in English , `` Abbot '' . </P>
<P> In 346 St Pachomius established in Egypt the first cenobitic Christian monastery . At Tabenna in Upper Egypt , sometime around 323 AD , Pachomius decided to mold his disciples into a more organized community in which the monks lived in individual huts or rooms ( cellula in Latin , ) but worked , ate , and worshipped in shared space . The intention was to bring together individual ascetics who , although pious , did not , like Saint Anthony , have the physical ability or skills to live a solitary existence in the desert . This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic or `` community - based '' . In Catholic theology , this community - based living is considered superior because of the obedience practiced and the accountability offered . The head of a monastery came to be known by the word for `` Father ; '' - in Syriac , Abba ; in English , `` Abbot '' . </P>
who is credited with the establishment of the earliest monasteries
who is credited with the establishment of the earliest monasteries
St Pachomius
St Pachomius