The Monk John, Hegumen of the Katharoi Monastery

Commemorated on April 27

The Monk John, Hegumen of the Katharoi Monastery, was born at Eirenopolis in the year 778. He was a monk at Constantinople, and afterwards at Dalmatia monastery. Under emperor Nicephoras I (802-811), he became hegumen of the monastery of the Katharoi (chistikh or pure), – which had been founded under the emperor Justin (518-527) near Nicea. The monk underwent persecution for venerating holy icons under the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820), and was banished to the island of Athusia, where he died in about the years 832-839.