EN
In light of the available Polish literature, the author presents selected essential elements of hermit spirituality from the first centuries of Christianity in Palestine, Syria and Egypt. First, he deals with the issue of anachoresis dividing it into external and internal one. Then, he describes the prayer and work of monks in the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries. He also presents the issue of ascetism and solitude. In the article, you can also find information about some monks’ selected misconceptions about prayer, work and ascetism which were eradicated by the orthodoxy.