Monk Biographies

Modern era

Swami Vivekananda

January 12, 1863 – July 4, 1902

Indian Hindu monk and philosopher (1863–1902)

Medieval era

Andrei Rublev

c. 1360 – October 17, 1428

Medieval Russian artist (1360s-1428)

Medieval era

Boris I of Bulgaria

827 CE – May 2, 907 CE

Bulgarian ruler

Medieval era

Alexander Peresvet

c. 1301 – September 8, 1380

Russian Orthodox monk warrior, later canonizated.

Jacques de Molay

d. March 18, 1314

Grand Master of the Knights Templar

Medieval era

Columba

December 7, 521 CE – June 9, 597 CE

6th‑century Gaelic Irish missionary monk, Christian saint, pioneer of Celtic Christianity in Scotland and “Apostle of the Picts”

Medieval era

Columbanus

540 CE – November 23, 615 CE

Irish missionary and saint (540-615)

Medieval era

Gildas

500 CE – January 29, 570 CE

6th-century British monk, writer and saint

Medieval era

Fra Mauro

1385 – 1459

Italian cartographer and monk

Medieval era

Suger of Saint-Denis

1080 – January 13, 1151

French abbot-statesmen, historian and the influential first patron of Gothic architecture (1080-1151)

Ancient era

Pachomius

292 CE – May 9, 348 CE

Egyptian saint

Ancient era

Simeon Stylites

389 CE – September 2, 459 CE

Christian ascetic saint

Modern era

Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera

January 20, 1827 – April 29, 1911

Monk (1827–1911)

Ancient era

Bodhidharma

483 CE – 540 CE

Indian-Chinese philosopher and Buddhist Monk