Alexander the Acemeta (†430)

Biography

A cultured man, he converted to Christianity at the age of 30. He lived in Syria first as an anchorite and later as a cenobite. In Mesopotamia he founded communities of Acemet monks for 20 years, so called because it was believed that they did not sleep. In fact, day and night they took turns singing hymns and psalms so that the praise of God was never interrupted.