Saint Amun

Ammon or Amun (c. 350) was a saint and hermit of Egypt. He was one of the most venerated ascetics of the Nitrian desert , and Saint Athanasius mentions him in his life of Saint Anthony.

According to his legend, he was forced into marriage at the age of 20 and persuaded his wife, on their wedding night, to embrace a vow of chastity. The two lived together for 18 years in celibacy, and then he left to become a hermit in the Nitrian desert, while she founded a convent in her own house. He cooperated with Saint Anthony and gathered his monks under his direct supervision, thus forming a monastery from sole hermits. Traditionally, he is supposed to have been the first hermit to have a monastery at Nitria. This is by no means verifiable, but it is more certain that Amun's piety and fame drew others to the region.

His feast day is October 4 in the Roman Catholic Church.

External links

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia entry