Sophronius was educated in Damascus, and worked as a teacher of rhetoric. In about 580 AD he became a monk at St. Theodosius� near Jerusalem with his companion John Moschus. Later they both moved to Sinai, but returned to St. Theodosius�. Eventually, Sophronius left for North Africa and returned to become Patriarch of Jerusalem in 633/4 CE. Sophronius wrote poems (Anacreontica), expressing his longing to return to the Holy Places.