4th–5th century
Saint Alexander the Sleepless
Founder of the 'Sleepless' monks, who chanted in relays so that prayer in their monastery never stopped.
Biography
Alexander came from a distinguished family in Asia and studied in Constantinople, but he left the world, gave his property to the poor and became a monk in Syria, later living as a hermit in the desert for seven years.
He founded a monastery on the Euphrates and then another in Constantinople, organising the monks into choirs who chanted in turns so that prayer in the monastery never stopped, day or night; this made him the founder of the 'Sleepless' monks. He died peacefully in Bithynia.