Then, gradually drawing together around charismatic spiritual fathers, they formed the first semi-eremitic groups. Pakhomius then organized them into an embryonic form of cenobitism which was finally perfected by Basil.
Or, contrairement à l'idée si fortement ancrée en beaucoup d'esprits, c'est l'anachorétisme qui, en plusieurs régions, est sorti du cénobitisme, et non l'inverse.