David became a monk at the Monastery of Saints Merkourios and Theodore outside Thessaloniki.

Famed for his sound advice, he was hounded by crowds seeking words of wisdom and prayer.

Wishing a quiet, contemplative life, David fled to the seclusion of an almond tree, where he lived for three years.

[1] He left the tree to petition the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great in Constantinople to send soldiers to defend Thessaloniki from attack.

David died in 540 as his ship was en route to Macedonia.