Our holy father Apollonius, at the age of fifteen, renounced the world and settled in the desert of Thebaid, where he spent forty years. He was granted the grace to hear the voice of God, who commanded him to go to populated places for the birth of chosen people. The venerable one found a cave at the foot of the mountain and spent his days in prayer, feeding on the food sent to him by an angel. Near the populated places, he gathered about five hundred monks, instructing them in the virtuous life. They ate only on Sundays, while on other days they abstained from food, except for wild grains. The venerable one established a rule that the monks should first partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and then sit down for a meal, during which they listened to teachings. Having lived to a ripe old age, Saint Apollonius departed to God for eternal life.
