In the various manuscripts of the Lausiac History of Palladios (§ 32), the following Greek forms are found: Ταβέννησις, Ταβέννησος, Ταβενίσιος and Ταβένη.
14th century) the following phrase: "ἔν τινι νήσῳ, ἣ Ταβέννη ώνόμαστο", "in a certain island called Tabenne".
One day while collecting wood at this village, it is said that Pachomius was shown a vision that told him to build a monastery at this location.
[8] In the fall of 329, the monks were visited by the new archbishop Athanasius of Alexandria, who ordained Pachomius as a priest.
Pachomius himself settled there c. 336-37, and Pbow became the most important settlement with 600 monks at the time of the death of the founder in 346.
A gathering of all the monks took place twice a year, at Easter and August 13th, in the mother house of Tabennêsis; on this occasion, superiors ought to report on their material management to the general bursar.
The monastery of Metanoia, which had Latin monks, played an important role in the influence exercised by its rule in the West.
More recent archaeological efforts have placed the ancient monastery on the edge of the modern-day village of Faw Qibli.