Apollonius of Egypt

Venerable Apollonius of Egypt was an ascetic of the fourth century, an Egyptian by birth, who died in the year 395. He is commemorated on 31 March (13 April by the Gregorian calendar).

At the age of fifteen he withdrew to a mountain, where he lived forty years in asceticism. Then he continued his ascetic life in a nearby desert. The desert was close to inhabited places, so many people came to him. Around him gathered a great number of monks, about five hundred.

He founded a monastic community that lived by very strict rules. As abbot, Saint Apollonius reached a great old age and died in 395. The Orthodox Church celebrates him on 31 March.