David the Dendrite (Greek: Δαυίδ ό Δενδριτής, c. 450–540), also known as David the tree-dweller and David of Thessalonika, is a saint of Thessaloniki. David became a monk at the Monastery of Saints Merkourios and Theodore outside Thessaloniki. Famed for his sound advice, he was hounded by crowds seeking words of wisdom and prayer. Wishing a quiet, contemplative life, David fled to the seclusion of an almond tree, where he lived for three years.
He left the tree to petition the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great in Constantinople to send soldiers to defend Thessaloniki from attack. David died in 540 as his ship was en route to Macedonia.
David is commemorated on June 26 (by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church).
Parry, Ken (1999). David Melling (ed.). The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity. Malden, MA.: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-23203-6.
Velimirovic, Nicholas. The Prologue from Ochrid, vol. 2. Birmingham: Lazarica Press, 1986
God's Foolishness, a discussion of holy fools, including David the Dendrite