Venerable Isidore of Pelusium

Isidore was born in Alexandria into a noble family, related, as the tradition retold by St Dimitry of Rostov has it, to the archbishops Theophilus and Cyril. As a young man he gave up wealth and rank and became a monk on a mountain near Pelusium in the Nile delta, where the brethren chose him as their abbot and priest. Bishops, officials and even the emperor asked his advice.

He is remembered above all for his letters: about two thousand survive, and old historians spoke of ten thousand, explaining Scripture and correcting morals with a sharp pen. He defended John Chrysostom when he was deposed and later persuaded Cyril of Alexandria to restore Chrysostom's name to the diptychs. He died at a great age, c. 436–440.