Born c.360 and died 435 AD. He travelled to Egypt to spend time amongst the Desert Fathers and later sought to promote Egyptian monasticism in the West through his two major spiritual works: the Institutions and the Conferences. In these, he transmitted the wisdom of the Desert Fathers of Egypt. He was ordained deacon by St John Chrysostom and later ordained a priest in Marseilles (France) where he founded two monasteries based on the Egyptian example.
Born 347 and died 407 AD. Became archbishop of Constantinople in 398. He was a prolific preacher and theologian and loved the ascetic life. He wrote a vast number of homilies and many hundreds of sermons on both the Old and New Testaments. He is famous for eloquence in public speaking and his criticism of those who abuse authority in the Church.
Bishop Palladius of Galatia: Born 363 and died c. 430. A devoted disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He travelled to Egypt to live amongst the famous Desert Fathers. He spent 9 years in Kellia with St Macarius of Alexandria and St Evagrius Ponticus. He is best remembered for his work the ‘Lausiac History’.
Born 347 and died 420 AD. He is considered a father of western Christianity. He spent time living amongst the Egyptian desert fathers and spent two years in a Pachomian Monastery in Upper Egypt where he learnt the Sahidic Coptic language. He authored the biography of St Paul the First Hermit and was keen to raise the status of Christian writings throughout the Roman Empire. He was a prolific scholar and translated the Bible into Latin.
Born 300 and died 391 AD. He is one of Egypt’s greatest monastic fathers and is famous for his wise sayings, his humility and his gentleness. He is the founder and organiser of semi-eremitic monasticism in Scetis (Wadi El-Natroun), and was greatly inspired by St Antony’s teachings.
Born 292 and died 348 AD. He is the founder and organiser of communal monasticism. He was born of pagan parents and was converted to Christianity during his army years. He became a monk under the spiritual guidance of St Palamon the ascetic. Some years later the angel of the Lord commanded him to establish communal monastic life. He established more than 11 monasteries for monks and nuns based on a life of prayer and manual labour.