Saint John the Merciful
Saint John the Merciful (born c. 560 AD in Amathus, Cyprus; died November 11, 619 AD in Amathus, Cyprus) was the Patriarch of Alexandria from about 606 to 616 AD and one of the most celebrated examples of radical Christian almsgiving in history. Known in Greek as Ὁ Ἐλεήμων (ho Eleemon, the Merciful or the Almsgiver), he was said to have distributed the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of gold coins to the poor, ransomed prisoners from Persian captivity, and personally sought out the destitute of Alexandria. He is also known as Saint John the Almsgiver. His feast day is November 12 (West) and November 12 (East).
See also: Saint John the Almsgiver — the same saint, known by a variant title.
Stored in Cargo: Saint John the Merciful
| Saint John the Merciful | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 12 |
| Profession | Patriarch; almsgiver; social reformer; bishop |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church (Coptic and Greek); Patriarch of Alexandria c. 606–616 AD; the Merciful / the Almsgiver |
| Patronage | Alexandria; Cyprus; the poor; those who give alms; ransomed prisoners; hospitals; social charity |
| Attributes | Patriarch's vestments (Eastern style); open hand distributing coins (almsgiving); beggars (his charity); Cyprus |
| Birthplace | Amathus, Cyprus |
| Death Place | Amathus, Cyprus (returned to die in his homeland) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died in Amathus, Cyprus, November 11, 619 AD, after returning from Alexandria ahead of the Persian conquest |
| Primary Shrine | Church at Amathus, Cyprus — the site of his death; also venerated at Saint John the Almsgiver Church, Limassol, Cyprus |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast November 12; observed in Cyprus, Eastern Churches, and in some Western martyrologies |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in Eastern tradition |
Biography
John was born around 560 in Amathus on the south coast of Cyprus. He was widowed early and had lost his children; thereafter he lived a life of increasing simplicity and prayer. He was known for his holiness even before the patriarchate was offered to him.
Around 606 AD Emperor Heraclius appointed him Patriarch of Alexandria — one of the great sees of the ancient world. Alexandria was a city of wealth and extreme poverty side by side. John's response was systematic: he registered the poor of the city (reportedly 7,500 persons) and gave each a monthly stipend. Beyond this, he gave to anyone who asked — money, food, clothes, blankets. He ransomed prisoners from the Persians. He sheltered the destitute in the patriarchal residence.
His biographer Leontius of Neapolis (a near-contemporary) records dozens of anecdotes illustrating his liberality and humility. He was known for personal poverty — giving away gifts as quickly as they arrived — and for bearing insults with exceptional patience.
When the Persian army of Khosrow II invaded Egypt in 616 AD, John evacuated Alexandria by sea. He returned to his native Cyprus, where he died on November 11, 619 AD.
Note: He is also venerated under the title Saint John the Almsgiver — the two names refer to the same saint.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Amathus, Cyprus
Death location: Amathus, Cyprus (returned to die in his homeland)
Notable location:
Notable location: His birthplace and the place of his death; he returned to Cyprus ahead of the Persian invasion and died there in 619; the Church of Amathus (near modern Limassol) preserves his memory; his biography was written by his contemporary Leontius of Neapolis (Cyprus) (Amathus, Cyprus)
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Feast day
November 12
Veneration
Saint John the Merciful (also known as Saint John the Almsgiver) is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Churches on November 12.
Prayers
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