Alexius of Rome was a fourth-century monk and hermit who lived an anonymous life of extreme asceticism. According to Greek tradition, he was the son of a wealthy Roman senator who abandoned his inheritance and an arranged marriage to live as a beggar. He spent years in Edessa before returning to Rome, where he lived unrecognized by his own family for seventeen years. He is remembered for his total devotion to Christ and his commitment to poverty, living in seclusion while praying and teaching.