السيرة
St. Anba Thomas the Hermit was born in the village of Shenshif — known today as "Arab Bani Wasel," in the district of Saqulta, Sohag Governorate — to two Christian parents who loved God. They raised and disciplined him in the ways of the Church. Many of the references available to us do not record the year in which Anba Thomas was born; yet it is clear that he lived more than one hundred years, not exceeding one hundred and thirty. The saint longed for the monastic life, so he went out and dwelt in the mountain of Shenshif near his village. In the bosom of the mountain he chose a cave, where he lived a life of solitude and asceticism, worshipping God, struggling mightily with a heart full of holiness, persevering in prayer night and day; and he would eat but once a week.
Anba Thomas was influenced by the great saint Anba Antony, founder of monasticism, and so he loved the life of solitary withdrawal and would not mingle with the brethren (the monks) except at the time of prayer. Even so, Anba Thomas did not withhold counsel from any of the brethren; rather he would listen to each with purity of heart and great patience. From time to time some of the monastic fathers and the solitaries who dwelt in the mountain would come to him, seeking spiritual guidance and to receive his blessing.
The saint had a gentle voice in praising God — like the voice of the angels — and he had memorized the Holy Scriptures entirely. Because of his perfection in the Christian virtues, God granted him the gift of working signs and wonders, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. His prayers and fasts had great strength and power to disturb the demons and put them to flight, and the enemy of good could neither overcome nor defeat him.
Anba Shenouda testified concerning him, saying: that none was equal to him; that the Saviour, the Lord, spoke with him mouth to mouth; and that the angels were present with him many times. God also granted him the gift of prophecy and the knowledge of certain future events, for the Holy Spirit made known to him the day of his repose. During a visit of St. Anba Shenouda to St. Anba Thomas at the mountain of Shenshif, Anba Thomas said to him: "I shall depart from you, and the Lord has informed me that you will follow me after some days." Anba Shenouda asked the saint for a sign, and he said to him: "The stone that lies outside your dwelling shall split into two halves at the parting of my soul from my body."
When the time drew near for the departure of Anba Thomas from this passing world, the Lord of Glory appeared to him, comforted and strengthened him, and promised him that in this place a church would be built in his name, that people would come to it from every land, and that his name would be renowned. He told him that after three days he would leave the body and receive the everlasting crown of life; then He gave him peace and ascended into heaven.
The saint reposed in a good old age on the twenty-seventh day of the month of Bashans, in the year 168 of the Martyrs, corresponding to about 452 A.D. At the departure of the saint to heaven, Anba Shenouda, the head of the solitaries, was standing outside his cell, and he saw that the stone on which he used to sit had split into two halves. At once the saint sighed and said: "The desert of Shenshif has lost its shining lamp." When he said this, he beheld the archangel Raphael pointing to him with his right hand, saying: "Peace be to you, O friend of God and beloved of all the saints;
come, let us shroud the body of the saint, Anba Thomas." So St. Anba Shenouda arose, taking with him his disciple Anba Wissa, and Anba Yusab the Wise, and Mar Akhnoukh, and Anba Tamrinos, to shroud Anba Thomas; and the body was buried in the place where he had been dwelling. Some traditions relate that at the time of his shrouding the Lord Christ, to whom be glory, and David the prophet were present. Thus was fulfilled the saint's prophecy concerning the repose of Anba Shenouda, the head of the solitaries — on the seventh day of Abib.