As a monk, he was a companion and disciple of Anthony the Great, who at his deathbed bequeathed to him one of his two sheepskin cloaks (the other went to Athanasius).

[7] Jerome in his work On Illustrous Men noted that Serapion was given the apellation "Scholasticus" (the Scholastic) because of his meticulous scholarship.

[6] These letters, which were written c. 339–359, are considered to be among the earliest Christian texts dedicated exclusively to the Holy Spirit.

[10] In AD 353, Athanasius placed Serapion at the head of a delegation to Emperor Constantius II to plead guilty against the charges of the Arians.

[12] Serapion is said to have paid a prostitute, but instead of engaging in relations with her, prayed all night in front of her and eventually converted her to Christianity.