He is revered as a monastic founder, an intercessor for the infertile, and a protector of children.

Western monasticism, too, turned away - as had already some Greek monastic founders such as St Basil - from the extremes of asceticism.

Saint Philibert of Jumièges (c. 608-684) was an abbot and monastic founder, particularly associated with Jumièges Abbey.

Saint Giles (Aegidius), monastic founder along the Rhone (c. 712)

I shall quote it: "The early monastic founders asked everything of their followers and they got everything; the moderns ask little and they get nothing."

St Romuald, abbot and monastic founder, was born in Ravenna, a favourite resort of the Meynells.

He was a monastic founder and many architectural accomplishments date to his reign.

St Benedict's chapel, completed in 1875, is a colourful gem of its own showing the monastic founder in the central reredos.

Saint Laurence, monastic founder at Mt. Pelion in Volos (late 14th century)

In 370 Basil the Great, monastic founder in Cappadocia, becomes bishop of Caesarea and he writes principles of ascetic life.