Saint Ammon (Amon)
A 4th-century Egyptian nobleman, Ammon lived in continence with his wife for eighteen years before retiring as a hermit.…
Category
anchorite
47 saints
Saint Anastasia the Patrician
A patrician at the court of Justinian, Anastasia fled to Egypt to escape the jealousy of Empress Theodora. After foundin…
Saint Anthony of Liarolles
A former soldier from an illustrious family of Agen, Antoine de Liarolles abandoned arms for the eremitic life to flee t…
Saint Antimond
A solitary near Reims, Antimond was chosen by Saint Remi to restore the faith in Morinia in the 6th century. Despite a h…
Saint Arbogast
An anchorite in the Vosges and later Bishop of Strasbourg in the 7th century, Arbogast was an advisor to King Dagobert I…
Saint Armel (Ermel)
Born in Great Britain in 482, Saint Armel settled in Armorica in the 6th century to lead a rigorous monastic life. After…
Saint Audebert of Senlis
Bishop of Senlis in the 7th century, Audebert began his religious life as an anchorite at Villemétrie before being calle…
Saint Barsanuphius
A 6th-century anchorite, Barsanuphius lived first at the monastery of Saint Seridon near Gaza before withdrawing into ab…
Saint Bohaire (Betharius)
Originally from Rome, Bohaire became a hermit near Blois before being appointed chaplain to Clotaire II and then Bishop …
Saint Condedus
An English priest who came to Gaul for the contemplative life, Saint Condède first lived as a hermit before joining the …
Saint Die (Didier, Deodat)
Bishop of Nevers in the 7th century, Saint Dié renounced his office to embrace the eremitic life in the Vosges and Alsac…
Saint Donatus of Lure
A disciple of Saint Marinus, Saint Donatus founded the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lure in the Basses-Alpes in the 5th centur…
Saint Evrard
A former Duke of Italy under Lothair I, Evrard abandoned his titles to live as an anchorite in the desert of Moiron. Hav…
Saint Felix of Valois
A prince of the House of Valois, Felix renounced his titles to become a hermit and then a monk at Clairvaux. With Saint …
Saint Flavit
A nobleman from Italy taken as a slave to Champagne in the 6th century, Flavit earned his master's esteem through his vi…
Saint Florent of Strasbourg
Originally from the British Isles, Florent retired to Alsace as a hermit before healing the daughter of King Dagobert II…
Saint Gaon (Gand)
A nephew of Saint Wandrille and allied to the kings of Austrasia, Saint Gaon renounced worldly greatness for monastic li…
Saint Germain of Montfort
Born in Belgium in the 10th century, Germain was the tutor of Saint Bernard of Menthon before becoming a Benedictine mon…
Saint Gonsalvo of Amarante
A 13th-century Portuguese priest, Gonçalo of Amarante retired as a hermit after a long pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Havi…
Saint Gregory of Armenia (Bishop of Nicopolis)
Bishop of Nicopolis in Armenia, Gregory abandoned his see to flee honors and the Manichaean heresy. He settled as a recl…
Saint Helier (Helibert)
Born in Tongeren and converted to Christianity, Helier became a disciple of Saint Marcouf in Normandy before retiring as…
Saint Herbaud
A nobleman from Great Britain, Herbaud retired as a hermit in the diocese of Quimper in the 8th century. Renowned for hi…
Saint Jerome of Stridon
Born in Stridon in the 4th century, Saint Jerome was one of the greatest scholars of the Church, famous for his translat…
Saint Joevin
A disciple of Saint Paul of Léon originally from Great Britain, Saint Joevin lived as an anchorite in Armorica before be…
Saint John of Egypt (the Prophet)
A former carpenter who became a solitary in the Lower Thebaid, Saint John of Egypt was distinguished by his absolute obe…
Saint John of Nepomuk
A priest and canon of Prague in the 14th century, John of Nepomuk became the first martyr of the seal of the confessiona…
Saint Junien of Mairé
A hermit at Chaunay and later the founding abbot of Mairé in the 6th century, Saint Junien was the spiritual friend of S…
Saint Laumer
Abbot of Corbion in the 6th century, Saint Laumer is a major figure of Benedictine monasticism. His relics, transferred …
Saint Leonard of Dunois
Noble by birth, Leonard renounced his possessions to enter the monastery of Micy before retiring as a hermit in the fore…
Saint Lothaire (Loyer)
A Lorraine nobleman and soldier at the court of the kings of France, Lothaire became a hermit after the death of his wif…
Saint Macarius of Alexandria (the Younger)
A former merchant from Alexandria, Macarius the Younger became an illustrious anchorite and disciple of Saint Anthony. F…
Saint Mary of Egypt
A former sinner from Alexandria, Mary converted in Jerusalem before an icon of the Virgin. She lived for forty-seven yea…
Blessed Nicholas of Flüe (Brother Klaus)
A respected magistrate and soldier from Unterwalden, Nicholas of Flüe left his family in 1467 to become a hermit at the …
Saint Nilus the Elder
A high dignitary and governor of Constantinople, Saint Nilus left his duties and family to embrace the solitary life on …
Saint Onuphrius (Anchorite)
A former monk of the Thebaid, Onuphrius lived for seventy years as a hermit in the Egyptian desert, clothed only by his …
Saint Pelagia of Antioch (Penitent)
A famous actress of Antioch leading a life of debauchery and luxury, Pelagia converted after hearing a sermon by Bishop …
Saint Porphyrius of Gaza
Born in Thessalonica, Porphyrius became Bishop of Gaza after a life of asceticism in Egypt and Palestine. He fought with…
Saint Quinidius (Quiniz)
Bishop of Vaison in the 6th century, Quinide was announced to his mother by an angel in Arles. After a life as a hermit …
Saint Sabas of Mutalasca
Saint Sabas was one of the most illustrious patriarchs of the monks of Palestine in the 6th century. Founder of the Grea…
Saint Savin of Barcelona
An 8th-century Spanish nobleman, Savin renounced his titles to become a monk in Poitiers before isolating himself as a h…
Saint Schetzelon (Scocelin)
A 12th-century solitary living in the Diocese of Trier, Schetzelon led a life of extreme austerity, living naked in the …
Saint Severinus of Noricum
A hermit from the East who came to Noricum in the 5th century, Severinus became the protector of the populations facing …
Saint Sisoes (Sisoy)
An Egyptian anchorite of the 5th century, Sisoes lived for seventy-two years in the desert, notably on the mountain of S…
Saint Sour (Sorus)
Born in Auvergne, Saint Sour retired to Périgord to lead a life as a hermit and recluse in the rocks of Terrasson. After…
Saint Telesphorus
Of Greek origin and an anchorite on Mount Carmel, Telesphorus became pope in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian. He i…
Saint Walfroy (Stylite of the West)
Originally from Lombardy, Walfroy is the only known stylite in the West. Settled on a pillar near Carignan in the 6th ce…
Saint Walter of Pontoise
A Picard scholar who became the first abbot of Pontoise in the 11th century, Gautier was distinguished by his radical hu…