Anchorites

Pietro Annigoni 1910-1988
Anchorites in the Desert
Anacoreti nel Deserto
Tempera on board
Private collection

Anchorite (male)/anchoress (female), is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic and, circumstances permitting, Eucharist-focused life.

As a result, anchorites are usually considered to be a type of religious hermit.

The anchoritic life is one of the earliest forms of Christian monastic living and originated before the religious life in community.