Saints

Saint Paul the Hermit is regarded as the first Christian hermit. He was born in 228 AD. The Life of Saint Paul the First Hermit, was composed in Latin by Saint Jerome, around 376. According to Jerome, Paul fled to the Theban desert as a boy during the persecution of Decius and Valerianus, around AD 250. At that time Paul and his married sister, both of whom lived in the Thebaid, lost their paren... Read More

Bishop. Born in Syria in the second century, Felix was a solder in the Imperial army. He left the army, gave all his possessions away and became a priest in the town of Nola, near Naples in Italy. Bishop Saint Maximus chose him to be his assistant. In the year 250, the persecution of Christians began, under the Emperor Decius. Felix was arrested, thrown into prison and tortured. Eventually he esca... Read More

Henry was a 12th century Dane who decided to become a hermit abroad, rather than go into an arranged marriage that made him unhappy. The prior of Tynemouth allowed him to settle on Coquet Island, which had once been home a community of monks, during the time of Bede. It was also the place where Cuthbert used to meet Elfleda, abbess of Whitby. Henry lived a very simple life, earning his keep by ... Read More