As a young man he moved to Taranto where he asked for hospitality and work from the Basilian monks of the Island of San Pietro.

[1] Due to some misunderstandings with the monks, he left the islet and went to Calabria and then to Sicily, continuing to live a life of penance and renunciation.

He founded a small monastic community in Ginosa,[2] where he made himself known as a preacher in the area and attracted the admiration of many.

He was rescued from prison by Grimoald, Prince of Bari, who ordered him to give an account of his theology to prove his orthodoxy.

The monastic congregation known as the "Scalzi" grew in size, receiving bequests and land, so another house was opened near the church of St. James in Foggia and then a monastery in Meleda in Dalmatia opposite the coast of the Gargano.