In 1993 Maxime took monastic vows and climbed the pillar to begin his new life. 'For the first two years there was nothing up here so I slept in an old fridge to protect me from the weather.'
Since then Maxime and the Christian community in the area have constructed a ladder to the top, rebuilt the church, and built a cottage where Maxime spends his days praying, reading, and 'preparing to meet god'. As a result of the interest in the site there is now a religious community at the base of the pillar.