 He entered a monastery at the age of 16, but he was soon judged to be unsuited for cenobitic life due to his extravagant asceticism.Following the example of Saint Anthony, he attempted to live the life of a hermit ascetic in the wilderness, but his feats of physical endurance and self denial attracted pilgrims seeking religious instruction and other devout admirers.In an effort to escape from such distractions, he resolved to live on a small platform atop a 3-meter column.