St. Paul of Latros

Byzantine hermit, sometimes listed as “the Younger.” Paul was born at Pergamos, near Smyrna, in Asia Minor, the son of an officer in the Byzantine army. His father was killed in battle, and after his mother died, he became a monk in a community on Mt. Olympus in Greece, with his brother, Basil. Paul later left the monastery and became a hermit on Mount Latros in Bithynia, Asia Minor. Soon he attracted followers, and Paul was compelled to organize them into a laura, or community. After twelve years, Paul departed Mount Latros and settled on the island of Samos to live in a cave. More followers gathered around him and Paul oversaw the creation of several more lauras before returning to Latros, where he died after years of prayer and mortifications.