Having completed the alphabet with the letter Z in the previous post in this series, we now return to the letter A. Today’s saint is Saint Alypius:
Saint Alypius the Stylite (Greek: á¼Î»ÏÏÎ¹Î¿Ï á½ Î£ÏÏλίÏηÏ) was a seventh-century ascetic saint. He is revered as a monastic founder, an intercessor for the infertile, and a protector of children. During his lifetime he was a much sought-after starets (guide in the Christian spiritual life).
I find St. Alypius interesting because he was apparently quite influential (two monasteries were founded near to him), and also because at the same time he lived much of his life on top of a pillar. In my studies of the early saints I’ve discovered that it was a popular practice for ascetics in the first millennium of Christianity to live like that. Apparently it found favor with the Lord, as St. Alypius lived to be over a 100 (118 reportedly). You can find out more about him at his wiki, located here.