Saint John the Almsgiver
Patriarch of Alexandria who called the poor his masters
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Bishop
- Life
- d. 619
- Era
- 7th century
- Feast
- 12 November
- Countries
- Cyprus, Egypt
Life story
John was born at Amathus on Cyprus, the son of Epiphanius, governor of the island. The birth date is uncertain: some sources say about 552, others about 560. He became patriarch of Alexandria in the early seventh century; sources give either 606-616 or 610-619, and differ on whether the emperor Phocas or Heraclius appointed him. He followed the Chalcedonian line.
His life was written by Leontius, bishop of Neapolis in Cyprus and his contemporary. According to it, John compiled a list of several thousand needy people and called the poor his lords and masters. He reorganized weights and measures to benefit the poor, and is said to have helped a shipwrecked merchant three times; the third time he sent him to Britain with a cargo of wheat. Stories like these belong to hagiography and cannot be checked detail by detail.
He opposed simony, promoted religious education, and, according to his biographer, raised the number of churches in Alexandria from seven to seventy. After the Sassanid Persians sacked Jerusalem in 614, he sent food, wine and money to Christians fleeing the city.
When the Persians occupied Alexandria he fled to Cyprus in old age and died at Amathus, his birthplace, between about 616 and 620 (the Catholic Encyclopedia gives 616). The Orthodox Church keeps his feast on 12 November; some Catholic calendars give 23 January.
Works and witness
- Compiled a list of several thousand needy people in Alexandria
- Reformed weights and measures for the benefit of the poor
- Sent food and money to refugees after the sack of Jerusalem in 614
- Fled to Cyprus before the Persian occupation and died there
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "St. John the Almsgiver" (newadvent.org/cathen/08486a.htm)
- Leontius of Neapolis, Life of John the Almsgiver (as summarised in Orthodox synaxarion notes, johnsanidopoulos.com)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.