Founded by Seridus of Gaza after whom the monastery was later named, it housed in the first half of the sixth century the well-known hermits Barsanuphius and John the Prophet who attracted many visitors.

[4] On this land a new church, a xenodochium, workshops and an infirmary or hospital were built, attracting many visitors though the primary reason people came was to receive spiritual direction from the "Old Men".

[1] He was assigned as responsible for the monastery's hotel and porter but was asked then, as he had brought his library including some books on medicine, to establish and run the community's hospital.

[3] In 543 the situation in the monastery changed dramatically as abbot Seridus died, followed shortly by John the Prophet, and Barsanuphius withdrew completely and did not write any more letters.

[7] It is unknown what happened to the monastery after the Islamic invasion, it is possible that the monks fled to Sinai as the earliest compilation of the letters of Barsanuphius and John are from there.