To combat the temptations of the flesh, the early Christian ascetics would retreat to remote locations and remain confined in small cells for many years.

However, despite the great dangers, some of the more experienced and virtuous would occasionally undertake a daring endeavor. Breaking their extreme isolation, they would visit prostitutes at their lodgings or in inns to reform them. They apparently believed that if their efforts were successful, they would not only secure the salvation of sinful women but also mitigate the temptations threatening their weaker fellow citizens.

The related accounts provide, among other things, unknown information about the personal lives, motivations, and mental states of women who were led into prostitution.