He was born to a wealthy inheritance with rich Christian parents. But all the comforts of a rich and sumptuous lifestyle just made him want to rebel.

So he gave his fortune away, sent his sister to a nunnery, did various goodly deeds and went to live with a hermit.

His actions impressed a great many people and helped to popularize early monasticism. Unfortunately he was so virtuous that he began to worry about being too virtuous and falling into the sin of pride.

This spiritual dilemma proved too complicated and so he retired to a mountain cave with no forwarding address.