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St. Ammonas of Nitria
IV Century
Celebrated, after Anthony and Pachomius as the third founder of Egyptian
monasticism, St. Ammonas was the son of wealthy Alexandrians. They, or an
uncle, forced him to marry at 22, and for 18 years, Ammonas and his wife
lived together celibately. Around 340, he retired to Mount Nitria to live
as a hermit. Palladius records that he continued to see his wife twice a
year. A wonder-worker, Ammonas began to attract disciples, whom Anthony
advised him to organize; John Cassian says that Ammonas founded 50
monasteries and had charge over 5,000 monks. Ammonas died c. 348/53, and
his sayings are preserved in collections of the wisdom of the Desert
Fathers.
Karen Rae Keck
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