The earliest of the Christian ascetic ‘pillar’ saints. After living nine years in a Syrian monastery without leaving his cell, he became revered as a miracle-worker. To separate himself from the people, c.420 he established himself on top of a pillar c.20 m/70 ft high at Telanessa, near Antioch, where he spent the rest of his life preaching to crowds. He had many imitators, known as stylites. Feast day 5 January (W), September (E).
