Together with John the Prophet, they gave spiritual direction and advice to a variety of people in the region through letters, of which over 850 have been preserved and influenced especially Orthodox monasticism.

Born in Egypt, Barsanuphius entered the hilly region of Thavata close to Gaza at some point in the early sixth century and begun to live as a recluse in a cell near the village.

[2] In Thavata, Barsanuphius started to offer advice and spiritual direction to other ascetics who were living in the region, among other to the community of the nearby monastery which became increasingly responsible for the support of the various monks who gathered around the hermit.

[3] The abbot of the monastery, Seridus of Gaza, became the only person who communicated directly with Barsanuphius and acted as mediator for those who wished to be counselled by the hermit.

[13] Though Barsanuphius and John acted as a unified partnership and rebuked those that tried to pose the same question to each Old Men expecting different answers, their distinct personalities and epistographical style are preserved in the letters.

[14] In their letters, the Bible is often adapted allegorically and spiritually in order to respond to the needs of each individual, and the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are evoked frequently as well.

[15] Though Barsanuphius refrained from condemning Origenism, he disagreed firmly with the idea that it is possible to achieve spiritual knowledge (gnosis) as a reward for an ascetic life and thought it dangerous for monks to live as if that was possible.

[16] In general, Barsanuphius and John were averse to give precise prescriptions about progress in spiritual life and did not order their disciples to perform specific number of penitential acts but rather encouraged them to practice the virtues opposing the vices or temptations that afflicted them.

[28] Starting from the 10th century, the saint was also mentioned in many synaxaria in the Orthodox Church[28] and the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos had an office for Barsanuphius and John.

[29] There were also many churches and altars dedicated to Barsanuphius in the Salento, such as in Ceglie Messapica, and his name was popular in the region after due to the translation of his relics to Oria.

In the late twelfth century, a priest composed a Latin vita of the saint which contain certain hagiographical details, including the translation of the relics to Oria.

During World War II, he is said to have spread his blue cape across the sky, thus causing a rainstorm, and preventing an air bombing by Allied Forces.