Venerable John, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts

Commemorated on February 23


Saint John, disciple of St Limnaeus (February 22), lived in Syria in the fifth century, and chose for himself the ascetic struggle of "a shelterless life." He settled on a hill, sheltered from the wind on all sides, and lived there for twenty-five years. He ate only bread and salt, and he exhausted his body under heavy chains. When one of the nearby ascetics planted an almond tree on the hill so that St John could enjoy its shade and get out of the vicious heat, the saint told him to cut it down. This he did in order to deny his body any respite.

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