St. Antony of Egypt is usually called the ‘founder of monasticism’, although he was a hermit who later travelled to give encouragement to other religious living in isolated cells in the Egyptian desert. However, the title really belongs to Pachomius, who became a Christian in Egypt on leaving the army in 313. He too began as a hermit, but soon made use of exceptional administrative gifts to bring together communities of men and women, beginning in 320. They were organised on very practical lines, according to the trades which the monks practised to earn funds to support their life. There was a certain military precision in Pachomius’ method; monks could be transferred from one community to another; each house was given a local superior and all leaders met twice annually, to render an account of their community life. Pachomius’ rule was thus highly centralised and disciplined, as well as being austere, though not extreme (unlike some of the hermitages). St. Jerome translated Pachomius’ Rule into Latin, thus making it widely available; it influenced the later and more widespread Rules of Basil and Benedict. He died in 346.