Egeria, Spanish pilgrim who traveled to Egypt, Sinai and the Holy Land c.384, and kept a Diary on her travels.

Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus in Syria (393-c.460). Wrote Lives of many Syrian holy men, including Simeon the Stylite. Also wrote an Ecclesiastical History. Member of the Antiochene theological faction, sympathizer with Nestorius; condemned at the "Robber Council" of 449 and rehabilitated at Chalcedon in 451.

Rabbula, bishop of Edessa in Syria (412-435). A convert from paganism, he lived briefly as a monk before his election as bishop. A supporter of Cyril of Alexandria, he was adopted by the Monophysite faction after his death. The Life of Rabbula was written by one of his disciples during the episcopacy of Ibas.

Ibas, bishop of Edessa (435-457). A member of the Antiochene faction, resented by the followers of Rabbula and the Monophysites, who bring misconduct charges against him at the "Robber Council" of 449. Ibas is condemned but rehabilitated later at Chalcedon.

Simeon the Stylite ("pillar saint") c.390-459. A young monk expelled from the monastery for ascetic extremism, Simeon climbed his first pillar in 423 and never came down. Ruins of the church built around his pillar can still be seen today at Qalat Sim’an, Syria. We have several Lives of Simeon, including one by Theodoret of Cyrrhus. Simeon inspired many imitators, including Daniel the Stylite, who set up his pillar near Constantinople between 460-493.

Daniel the Stylite, d. 493. Imitator of Simeon. Set up his pillar near Constantinople in 460; his advice regularly sought by emperors.

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, wrote c.500. Mysterious author of a variety of philosophical and mystical texts, including the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, which attempts to find symbolic meanings in the sacraments. The author pretends to be Dionysius the Areopagite, a character in the New Testament (Acts 17:34), hence the name.