3rd–4th century
Saint Chariton the Confessor
Confessor from Iconium who, after the persecution under Aurelian, lived as a hermit in the Judaean desert and founded lavras there.
Biography
Chariton came from Iconium and was tortured during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian (270–275). He was released once the persecution edict was cancelled after Aurelian's assassination, and he set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
According to tradition, on the way he was abducted by bandits and taken to a cave in the Pharan gorge, but his captors died after drinking wine poisoned by a snake; Chariton stayed on as a hermit and founded his first lavra there. Later, seeking greater solitude, he built a new lavra at Souka, where he died.