St Anthony of Kiev or Anthony of the Caves was a monk and founder of the monastic tradition in Kievan Rus’. Together with Theodosius of Kiev he founded the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Monastery of the Caves). He was born in Lyubech (present day Liubech). H e was baptized with the name Antipas. At an early age he was drawn to the spiritual life and joined the Greek Orthodox Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos to live as a hermit. He lived in a secluded cave overlooking the sea - which is open to this day for visitors to see. In about 1011 the abbot set Anthony the task of expanding monasticism in his native Kiev. He returned to Kiev to find several monasteries had been established by local princes. They were not as austere as those on Mount Athos so he lived in a small cave which had been dug near the presbyter Hilarion. In 1015 Vladimir I of Kiev died and war broke out between his two sons. During the conflict Anthony returned to Athos. Once the conflict had finished he returned to Kiev. He had a very strict asceticism ( austere diet ) - he ate rye bread every other day and drank only a little water. The abbot prophesied that many monks would join him. His fame spread beyond Kiev… !2 others joined him including Nikon the priest and Theodosius of Kiev Read Establishment of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra He continued to live a seclusion in a cave. The cave became the first of what would later be known as the Far Caves. Iziaslav sends him into exile: his brother, Sviatoslav secretly invites him to Chernigov. Iziaslav reconciled with Anthony.A large stone church is built to accommodate the increased number of monk. A large stone church was under construction to accommodate the increased number of monks during his life time. He died before it was completed. Anthony died aged 90. He requested that his remains were hidden - they have never been found.

Claudio was an Italian Jesuit priest. In 1581 he was elected as the fifth Superior General of the Society of Jesus.He has been referred to as the second founder of the Jesuit order After initial studies of humanities (Greek, Hebrew and Latin) and Mathematics.he studied Jurisprudence in Perugia. In 1567 he joined the the Society of Jesus. With the blessing of Pius V he asked the Superior General, Francis Borgia,if he could be admitted to the noviceship . Soon after completing his studies he was given important responsibilities- his administrative gifts marking him out for the higher posts.He became the Provincial superior first in Naples then in Rome. In 1580 he joined the Jesuit mission to England He was responsible for *Ratio atque institutio studiorum * (1586). It was the summing up of years of experience in the field of education and marshalling them int the Jesuit system of education Parts were withdrawn in 1591 but under Clement VIII and Paul V he was able to save his party from a condemnation that at one time seemed probable. Read ‘Achievements as General.’ By the time he died in Rome the Society had tripled in size with 13,000 numbers in 550 houses and 15 provinces.** Claudio was undoubtedly one of the greatest Superior Generals to have govern the Society,

William Ames was an English Puritan minister, philosopher and controversialist. He spent much of his time in the Netherlands. He is noted in the controversy between the Calvinists and the Arminians. ( See notes on both of them) He studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge 1598 -BA and 1601 MA. He was chosen for a fellowship in Christ’s College but it was given instead to Valentine Carey. Similar rebuffs followed and he ended up in the Netherlands. On 7th of May 1622 he was installed at Franeker and stayed for 12 years. He was made rector in 1626. His works were known over Europe and collected at Amsterdam in 5 volumes. In 1633 he caught a cold from a flood which flooded his house and died.

I had not realised when I began my research that Saint Barnabas is mentioned over thirty times in the first half of the Acts of the Apostles. Barnabas introduced Saint Paul, formerly Saul, to the disciples in Jerusalem. Together they went on Paul’s first missionary journey. They took the the Good News to the Gentiles. Together they were responsible for the founding of the young Jewish/Gentile Christian church in Antioch. Paul went on to establish himself as the writer of many of the epistles in the New Testament. Barnabas went back to Cyprus to bring them the Good News. Barnabas means* son of encourager*

Richard Allen was a minister, writer and one of USA’s most active and influential black leaders. He taught himself to read and write. He founded the African Methodist Episcopal church (AME) - the first Black denomination in the USA. He opened the first AME church in Philadelphia in 1794 and in 1816 he was elected their first bishop. He was born into slavery. His family were sold to Stokley Sturgis who had a plantation. Having financial problems Sturgis later sold his mother and two younger siblings,keeping him and his older brother and sister. The three attended the local Methodist Society. The Revd. Freeborn Garrettson came to preach in Delaware in 1775.He preached at Sturgis’s plantation and convinced him that slavery was wrong, This resulted in him giving Richard the chance to buy his freedom. Aged 17 he joined the Methodists Society and began to evangelize which angered the slave owners . In 1780 he bought his freedom having done extra work for Sturgis. He changed his name from Negro Allen to Richard Allen. With his future Flora they establish a church (1787-1799). They married in 1790. In 1800 he met Sarah Bass who became his second wife after Flora, died in 1801 after a long illness. They moved to Philadelphia, married and had 6 children. Sarah was highly active and became in the AME Church the* Founding Mother.* December 1784 he went to the Christmas Conference of the Episcopal Church in North America. Along with harry Hosier they were the only 2 black attendees. In 1786 he became a preacher at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal church but was restricted to the early morning services. Along with Absalom Jones he resented the white leaders segregation of blacks for worship and prayer. They decided to leave St. George’s to create an independent, self-reliant worship for African Americans. 1787 Allen and Jones led the Black members out. They formed the Free African Society (F.A.S.). ( White ministers had to consecrate the bread and wine.) In 1793, during the yellow fever epidemic, Allen and Jones, helped to organize free blacks as essential workers. Allen caught yellow fever and nearly died. 1794 he founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) and opened his first church. 1799 ordained as first Black Methodist minister in recognition of.his leadership and preaching (The Blacks still had to negotiate with the white leadership). 1816 he proposed the uniting of the 5 African-American Congregations. The first fully independent Black denomination was created -the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E,). Richard was elected as their first bishop. From 1797 until his death in 1831 Richard and Sarah operated a station in the City of Brotherly Love on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves. Richard died in 1831 having firmly established a separate Black Methodist denomination. The A.M.E. is the oldest and largest formal institution in Black America. Source Wikipedia

Edward was an American Maryknoll Catholic priest, missionary, relief/medical aid/educator worker. He worked in Kongmoon (now Jiangmen), Guangdong Province, China and Hong Kong in the mid 20th century. Together, with two other priests, he entered Hong Kong on October 15th 1941. He stayed in China throughout WWII. One story told is that he gave a crazy 15 year old boy 1 grain and 1 grain of calomel - a purgative . Within 3/4 days the boy was cured. The delighted father told the everyone the story - the accidental cure was worth 100’s of hours of preaching. In 1947 , suffering from tuberculosis he returned to the USA. In the USA he became Vice Rector at Mountain View (1919-58). In 1958 he returned to Hong Kong. In 1959 Edward, with Peter Alphonsus Reilly, were asked by the bishop to found a new parish in Kwun Tong - government planned satellite industrial town. They also set up a clinic in the poor neighbourhood to provide emergency treatment to injured workers - the Maryknoll sisters then took over the clinic and moved it to Lily House. A school for 24 primary children was also opened. In 1962 Kwun Tong became St. John the Baptist Parish of Kwun Tong -subdivided into 3 parishes in 1967. In Kai Liu, a 15 minute away, The Maryknoll Fathers negotiated with the government for more space. (Read ‘Later service in Hong Kong’)’ Edward and Peter were kept very busy launching various programmes. From 1966 - 1975 he worked as Auxiliary Chaplain in the Servicemen’s Guides’ Association. He offered more than 1,000 Sunday Masses on the ships. Early in 1975 he suffered from a blood clot in his left lung.and returned to the USA. He died on the 23rd June 1975. He was buried in the Maryknoll Cemetery in New York. In November 1975 the Maryknoll Hong Kong Chronicle wrote** the fruits of Fr. Frumpelmann’s efforts before his death. 62 tons of medical supplies arrived on the USS Niagara Falls with the cooperation of Operation Hanclasp.** Edward was active from 1941-1975. Over 20 years he worked tirelssly for the people of China.

Cornelis (Kees) Boeke was a Dutch educator, Quaker missionary and pacifist. He is best know for his popular book *Cosmic VIew* (1957) which presents a seminal view of the universe from the galactic to the miscroscopic scale -which inspired several films( See Legacy). Kees tried to reform education by allowing children contribute their ideas - a process he called sociocracy. He regarded schools as workshops with the pupils as workers and teachers as co-workers. While in England he became a Quaker. He married Beatrice (Betty) Cadbury. In 1912 the couple went as missionaries to Lebanon where Kees was headmaster at the Brummana School. He was a pacifist- he was against war. During WW1 he went to Germany and came back to UK and publicly said we should see Germans as our friends -for this he was deported back to the Netherlands. After WW1 he erected a large conference centre in Bilthoven- the Brotherhood House. Queen Beatrix as a child attended his school. In the late 1920s he started a school- in 1926 he founded De wekplaats (the workshop). He used Maria Montessori’s methods combined with Quaker ideals, plus his own ideas. He wanted the children to respect democracy. The children were treated as adults and on first name terms with their teachers. Kees died on 3rd July 1966 During WW11 he joined the Dutch resistance movement against the Germans. They sheltered Jews during WW11 and for this work they were later enshrined in Yad Vashem in 1992. Source used Wikipedia

Wilhelmina (Minnie) Vautrin was an American missionary, diarist, educator and president of Ginling College.She was a missionary in China for 28 years. Her mother died when she was only 6 and for 3 years was fostered before her father was allowed to look after her. She went to University, having to work to pay for the fees. She came out top of her class. A request was made by the Foreign Missionary Society for her to replace a teacher in China. She accepted the request and established in Hofei the San Ching Girl’s Middle School. In 1918 returned to USA to pursue a master’s degree in education. Ginling College, in China, approached her to serve as president for 1 year. She stayed for many years, with furlongs home, until 1940. During the time of the Nanking Massacre the college was a place of refuge for 1000s of refugees. In 1941, a year after returning to the USA , she committed suicide due to the extreme stress and trauma from the massacre. Minnie was postumously awarded the Emblem of the Blue jade by the Chinese government for her humanitarian work during the massacre.

Carl F. H. Henry was a leader of American Evangelism. He was a Baptist minister. He wrote 35 books. He helped establish Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was the editor-in- chief of** Christianity Todayfounded by Billy Graham. He taught as a visiting professor across the world He gave his life to Christ when he was aged twenty. Christ has been real to me in a vital way ever since June 1933. it was a blinding experience. I know he was real. He’s alive. he is the Risen one. i’ve never , even in the most serious crisis of life, doubted that The evangelical movement is deeply indebted to both Carl and his wife, Helga. I have enclosed Wikipedia data and a picture of him sitting with Billy Graham.

Peter Frederick Jensen is a retired Australian Anglican archbishop, theologian and academic Principal of Moore Theological College (1985-2001). Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of the Province of New South Wales in the Anglican Church of Australia (2001-13). Founding member of Global Anglican Future Conference(GAFCON) (2007) and former General Secretary. Peter was born in Sydney, Australia on 11th July 1943. He was educated at Bellevue Hill public School and The Scots College. He studied law for 2 years and worked as an article clerk before teaching in a primary school. In the 1960s he entered Moore Theological College. He was ordained in the Anglican Church of Australia as a deacon in 1969 an as a priest in 1970. He was a curate at St. Barnabas, Broadway (1969-76). While at Oxford(1976-9), studying for his D.Phil, he was allowed to officiate in the Diocese. He has an MA (1976) from Sydney. BD from London and D. Phil from Oxford (1979 Peter lectured on systematic and biblical theology at Moore Theological College between (1973-6) and 1980-4). He was appointed principal (1985-2001 On 5th June 2001 Peter became the 11th Archbishop of Sydney. He gained a reputation as a gifted preacher. He encouraged an increase in church planting. 136 new congregations were planted between 2002-8. The number of ordination candidates rose from 20-30 to 40-50. He has the reputation with the Australian media for being an outspoken advocate for evangelical Christianity. He opposed to having women as bishops. He is for the lay person to be licensed to preside at Holy Communion Read - ‘Views’ for more information ) Peter retired as bishop on his 70th birthday - 11July, 2013. He retired as General Secretary of GAFCON) at the beginning on 2019. As of 2014 he is co-editor of the Reformed Theological Review, He has written several books. He authored the Lenten study *Power and Promise *in late 20i4. Sources used GAFCON Wikipedia

Saint Ambrose was fast tracked from being an unbabtized layman to a bishop in 8 days. The bishop of Milan suddenly died and there was an argument who should succeed him. Ambrose made a speech in church to calm the excitement caused by the election. The crowd cheered him and a child shouted Ambrose is bishop. The people took up the cry, he was baptized, ordained priest and consecrated bishop of Milan. This had not been his intention. He had studied law and had been appointed governor of a district in northern Italy. He gave all his possessions to the church, studied religion and became a very learned writer. As bishop of Milan he was able to dominate the culture and political life of Italy. He challenged the authority of the Roman emperor, through his ability as a diplomat, on more than one occasion and provided a model for medieval concepts relating to church-state relations. His writings have been acclaimed as masterpieces of Latin eloquence and his musical accomplishments are remembered through his hymns. He is one of the original 4 doctors of the church. He is also remembered as the teacher who converted and baptized Saint Augusto of Hippo. Sources used Britannica, wikipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.

Samuel Rodriguez Jr. ( born 29th September 1969) is an Evangelical Christian evangelist. He is a pastor, author, television personality, civil rights activist and movie producer. He is the founder and pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center. He is president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC. His parents are Puerto Rican but he was born in the USA. Aged 16 he delivered his first sermon and quickly grew to be a leading and acclaimed evangelical preacher. He gained a MA for Organization Leadership form Northwest University. In 1992 he became an ordained minister in the assemblies of God, a Pentecostal fellowship. In 2000 he founded and is currently the president of NHCLC. NHCLC is the largest Hispanic Evangelical organization in the world with 40,118. Latino Evangelical churches as members. It helps to cultivate a network of Latino leaders in the Christian community. As a spokesperson for the Hispanic evangelicals he has featured as a speaker in the White House and congressional meetings. In 2017 as president of NHCLC he was pleased to release the statement that the organization was pleased President Trump had decided ’ to return power to states to withhold federal funds from abortion providers’ ( Read statement) Samuel currently serves on the board for the National Association of Evangelicals He is an author and his book You Are Next (2019) is a publishers weekly bestseller. In 2019 he was the executive producer of the film Flamin Hot. In 2013 he was nominated for Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People. In 2015 he was named as one of Newsmax’s Top 100 Christian leaders in America. In 2020 he was recognized as one of Israel’s Top 50 Christian Allies. Samuel is now in his early 50s and still has a great deal to offer to the Latino Christian Community and beyond. Sources NHCLC Wikipedia

Rodney Lee Parsley (born 13th January 1957) is a prominent American Christian minister, author, television host and evangelist. He is the senior pastor of World harvest Church, a large pentecostal church in Canal Winchester, Ohio, Columbus. He is the founder of a number of organizations. Rodney’s Breakthrough -a media ministry -covers 8 areas of ministry ( in alphabetical order) Bridge of Hope Center for Moral Clarity started 2004 founder and president City Harvest Network started 2017 Harvest Preparatory School founded 1986 Joni’s Journal written by his wife Valor Christian College founder and chancellor World Harvest Church Columbus started 1977 with 17, now 12,000 members World Harvest Church Elkhart (See separate sheet for further information on each heading) This is besides The Women’s Clinic of Columbus His television program Breakthrough with Rod Parsley is aired daily on the several networks. RODPARSLEY. TV is a 24/7 online streaming channel. Brief biography of Rod. Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised as a Free Will Baptist. Enrolled at Circleville Bible college- left after 2 years. As youngster influenced by Lester Sumrall who became his mentor and traveling companion. Became pastor at World Harvest Church (1977-present. Married Joni Parsley in 1986. Children - boy & girl- now adults. (See separate article on Lester Sumrall) In 2015 Rod was treated for cancer of the throat, but has since recovered. I have concentrated on Breakthrough. I have included information from Wikipedia about World harvest Church, Political activism, Writings and Criticism of Parsley Breakthrough is a worldwide soul winning ministry that is reaping the end time harvest and reviving the life of God in the hearts of humanity, With a fresh anointing on Rodney in this new millennium of ministry 1000s all across the world are being healed, saved and delivered by the power of God. Sources Breakthrough now daystar.com Ministries The center for Moral Clarity Wikipedia

Phillip Jensen is an Australian cleric of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney and the former Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He founded the Australian Christian publishing house Matthais Media. He founded the Christian magazine The Briefing in 1988. He authored the Gospel tract The Two Ways of Living. He also created the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS). He was chairman of the Katoomba Youth Convention (KYC) (1974-1991) & Convention Council (1983-91). Phillip spent his early years living at Bellevue Hill, a suburb of Sydney. His first public statement of faith came at a Billy Graham crusade in 1959. From 1967-70 he studied theology at Moore Theological College. He married his wife Helen in 1969. On graduation he worked at St. Matthew’s Manley and at the Department of Evangelism (now Evangelism and New Churches). In 1975 he became Anglican chaplain to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) In 1977 or8 he became rector of St. Matthias’ Centennial Park. His university ministry was based around expository preaching and ‘walk-up evangelism’. There were many conversions and large student gatherings at UNSW. The congregation at St. Matthias grew from 20-30 in 1977 to over a 1,000 by the mid 1990s. His work at UNSW included the creation of the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) which trained young people in practical ministry skills, preparing them for church ministry, ordained or otherwise. After over 30 years he resigned as Chaplain for the UNSW in 2005. From 1974-91 he led the reinvigoration of the Katoomba Christian Convention - an interdenominational ministry providing evangelical Biblical preaching to Christians. ( See notes on ’ Katoomba Christian Convention’) 1988 founded *The Briefing* an evangelical Christian magazine published by Matthias Media . It had a distinct Sydney Anglican slant. (See notes 'The Briefing' - closed in 2014 He promoted lay administration of the Lord’s Supper and is an opponent of the ordination of women. In 2003 he was appointed Dean of Sydney’s St. Andrews Cathedral and Director of the Sydney Diocesan Ministry Training and Development (MT&D)(2003-12). During his time there he changed many things. Peter Phillips, the Tallis Scholars’ director, accused him of ‘vandalising’ Anglican culture, ( Read 3rd para on ‘Views’) In 2014 he announced he was resigning as Dean at the end of the year. Phillip commenced work on Two Ways Ministries* (TWM) at Moore Theological College. TWM seeks to serve people by proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus through teaching people the Bible Phillip currently accepts invitations to preach and to speak at inter/national conferences. Sources twowayministries

Charles Frazier Stanley is Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church (FBC) in Atlanta, Georgia, having been senior pastor for 50 years. He is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries (ITM) which broadcasts his sermons through television. He has served 2 one year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from 1984-6. Charles was born in Dry Fork, Virginia on 25th September 1932 His farher died 9 months after he was born. He grew up in Dry Fork. Aged 12 he became a born again Christian. 2 years later he began his life’s work in Christian ministry. Degrees BA from University of Richmond MD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Fort Worth MT & DrTh. Luther Rice Seminary in Florida (now in Lithonia) He joined the staff at FBC in 1969 and became senior pastor in 1971. The book Think and Grow Rich served as a motivational book over many years. In 1972 launched a half hour religious television program The Chapel Hour The Christian Broadcasting Network began televising it in 1978. In 1982 he founded In Touch Ministries . It uses tools like radio, television, magazines and digital media to advance the Gospel as quickly as possible. Television *The Breakfast Club 1983-5. In Touch with Dr Charles Stanley 1990-present * 1989 ’ In Touch’ named by NRB as Television Producer of the Year 1999 ‘In Touch’ named radio program of the year In the USA it is broadcast on approximately 500 radio stations, 300 television stations and several satellite networks. He is a an avid photographer and many of his photographs appear in the In Touch magazine, ( Called In Touch becomes it comes from a Living Bible he owned) In 1984-6 he was elected president of the SBC. He has authored more than 60 books and has hit the New York Times Best Seller’s List several times. He developed 30 Life Principles that have guided his life and helped him grow in his knowledge, service and love of God. His grandfather gave him this principle - Obey God and leave all the consequences to him. He was married to Anna J. Stanley for more than 40 years. They had a son, Andy and a daughter Becky. They divorced on 11th May, 2000. Anna died on 10th November 2014. On 13th September 2020 he announced his retirement as senior pastor. He is now pastor emeritus. Charles does not believe in retirement so he continues to work, now aged 88, at In Touch ministries *It is the Word of God and the work of God that changes people’s lives * Dr Charles F. Stanley Sources used Meet Dr. Charles Stanley Wikipedia

Andrew Purves is a Scottish theologian in the Reform tradition through the church of Scotland and later the Presbyterian Church USA. He is the Jean and Nancy Davis Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Pittsburgh Seminary Andrew was born in 1946 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1978 he moved to the USA and ordained by the Philadelphia Presbytery in 1979. Degrees Philosophy and Divinity at University of Edinburgh Master of Theology form Duke Divinity School Doctor of Philosophy from University of Edinburgh He served as pastor at the Hebron Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Pennsylvania until 1983 when he began teaching at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS). He retired from PTS after 32 years (2015). In addition to his academic work he has served the church and wider community though his work with the PC(USA) and lectureships around the world. He has written a number of publications, both books and articles, academic and popular. His primary concerns surround Christology - the branch of Theology concerned with the person, attributes and deeds of Jesus Christ. Recontructing pastoral Theology; A Christogical Foundation and Exploring Christology and Atonement:Conversations are two of his books. ( See Amazon sheet and ‘Purves has along list of publications’) He has become a leader of evangelical renewal in the Presbyterian Church of the USA (PC(USA) and is known for his conservative Christian views concerning the person and work of Jesus, ( See notes on PC(USA) ) He agrees with the withholding of ordination of self-avowed, practicing, unrepentant gays and lesbians. Andrew is married to Catherine (Cathy) Purves. They had 3 children.

Mark Dever is the senior pastor of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington D.C. He is the co-founder and president of 9Mark which was created to build biblically faithful churches in America. He earned a B.A. at Duke University, a M.A. in Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a M.A, in Theology form Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Dr of Philosophy from Cambridge University. Mark grew up in rural Kentucky and was an avid reader, reading sections from encyclopedias by the age of 10. Based on his reading and thoughts he considered himself an agnostic. Later he reread the Gospel and seeing the change in the life of Jesus’ disciples led him to becoming a Christian. In 1994 he became the senior pastor of CHBC. CHBC is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Mark believes that Baptist churches should be led by a plurality of congregational elders as opposed to a single elder. In 1998 Mark founded The Center for Church Reform which eventually became*9Mark The aim of 9Mark is to help Bible believing churches become more healthy by recovering a Biblical view of the church. The 9 marks are:- Expositional preaching Biblical Theology '' understanding of the gospel '' '' '' '' conversion '' '' '' '' evangelism '' '' '' '' membership '' church discipline Promotion of Christian discipleship and growth 9 .Biblical Understanding of church leadership ( See About 9Mark) Mark and CHBC also train church leaders an a small scale. Every year 12 interns pass through the church’s internship program that centers around ecclesiology. (See Notes for definition) He is a member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE) where he leads the Alliance Forum. The ACE promotes the traditional doctrines of the Protestant Reformation especially Calvinism. (See Notes for more ACE info.) Mark has become more widely recognized among conservative evangelicals as he has appeared at large nationwide conferences. He co-founded the Together for the Gospel conference. Notes on Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Ecclesiology - definition of Sources Wikipedia

Saint Francis was a friar and founder of Order of Minims. His parents were pious: they prayed for years, through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, for a son. As a child he showed a preference for abstinence and prayer. Aged 13 he was placed in a convent and was taught to read. He abstained from wearing linen or eating meat. Aged 14 he went on a pilgrimage with his parents to the Portiuncula at Assisi and then on to Rome. Aged just 15 he became a hermit. He made a cave and stayed alone for 6 years devoting himself to prayer and self-mortification… In 1436, aged now 20, he was joined by 2 other devoutly inclined persons. 3 cells and a chapel was built by local people. The 3 sang divine prayers every day in the chapel. A priest from the village celebrated mass with them. This marked the beginning of the order Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi. Within 17 years the numbers had grown. In 1454 a large monastery and church were sanctioned by the Archbishop of Cosenza. Francis and his companions sought to live unknown and hidden from the world. To the 3 rules of Evangelical council - poverty, chastity and obedience they added fasting for Lent. On May17th 1474 Pope Sixtus IV gave his approval to the order. On July 28th 1506 Pope Julius 11 simplified the name of the community to Order of the Minims. Saint Francis died at Piessis on April 2nd aged 91 The order soon spread to France, Germany and Spain and continues to exist today. minims -meaning - least of the faithful – many at the beginning were laypersons not priests Sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton