The monks of Monte Santo (Mount Athos) never touched animal food, but lived on vegetables, olives, end cheese.

In 1806 one of them at the age of one hundred and twenty was healthy.
Sometimes in the older writings we find records of incredible abstinence.

Jonston speaks of a man in 1460 who, after an unfortunate matrimonial experience, lived alone for fifteen years, taking neither food nor drink.

Petrus Aponensis cites the instance of a girl fasting for eight years.

According to Jonston, Hermolus lived forty years on air alone.