Saint Barsanuphius
A 6th-century anchorite, Barsanuphius lived first at the monastery of Saint Seridon near Gaza before withdrawing into absolute solitude in 540. Author of a treatise against Origenism, he is honored by both the Greeks and the Latin Church, notably in Oria, Italy, where his relics rest.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
3 reading sections
SAINT BARSANUPHIUS, ANCHORITE (6th century).
Monastic Life and Anchoritism
Barsanuphius resided at the monastery of Saint Seridon near Gaza before choosing a life of total reclusion in 540 to devote himself to contemplation.
Saint Barsanuphi us spent several years in the m onastery of Saint Seridon, located near Ga za i n Palestine, where John the Prophet, the blessed Dorotheus, and S aint Bouithee lived at th e same time as him. The love of contemplation led him, in 540, to shut himself away in a secluded cell and have no further commerce but with God. It was there that he wrote a treatise against the monks who had fallen into Orig enism. The Greeks had such veneration for his memory that they placed his image in the great church of Constantino ple, near thos e of Saint Anthony and Saint Ephrem. Saint Barsanuphius is honored on February 6, with the status of primary patron, in Orlé, near Si pont o, in Italy, where his relics were transferred in the 9th century. His office is found on the same day in the Greek synaxaries. Cardinal Baronius inse rted his name into t he Roman Martyrology under April 11.
Defense of the faith and influence
He wrote a treatise against Origenism and enjoyed great veneration in Constantinople as well as in Italy, where his relics were transferred.
See Evagrius, bk. IV, ch. 33; Father Pagi, under the year 548, no. 10; Bulteau, Hist. mon. d'Orient, bk. IV, ch. 9, p. 693.
Sources and references
The life of the saint is documented by authors such as Evagrius Scholasticus, Father Pagi, and Louis Bulteau.
See Evagrius, bk. IV, ch. 33; Father Pagi, under the year 548, no. 10; Bulteau, Hist. mon. d'Orient, bk. IV, ch. 9, p. 693.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
Frequently asked questions about Saint Barsanuphius
Who was Saint Barsanuphius?
A 6th-century anchorite, Barsanuphius lived first at the monastery of Saint Seridon near Gaza before withdrawing into absolute solitude in 540. Author of a treatise against Origenism, he is honored by both the Greeks and the Latin Church, notably in Oria, Italy, where his relics rest.
What is Saint Barsanuphius the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Barsanuphius: Orléans.
How is Saint Barsanuphius depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Barsanuphius is recognizable by: image in the church of Constantinople.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Barsanuphius?
Contemporaries include: Saint Remigius (Apostle of the Franks), Saint Antide of Besançon, Saint Eugene of Carthage and Saint Nicaise of Reims.
When did Saint Barsanuphius die?
Saint Barsanuphius died around 600.
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Stay at the monastery of Saint Seridon
- Retirement to a remote cell in 540 for contemplation
- Writing of a treatise against Origenism
- Translation of relics in the 9th century