John
of Egypt was born in present-day area of Asyut and was trained as a
carpenter. At the age twenty-five he submitted himself to the direction
of a hermit who spent several years training him in the virtues of
obedience and self-denial.
John
came to love obedience and obeyed unquestioningly no matter how
unreasonable the task thrust upon him. At the command of his spiritual
director, he once spent an entire year watering a dry stick, thrust into
the mud, as if it were a flowering plant.
As a reward for his
humility and prompt obedience the Lord granted John extraordinary gifts
such as the gift of prophecy, the power of reading thoughts, and
miracles.
After spending four or five years visiting various
monasteries, John retired to the top of a steep hill in which he opened
three small cells: one for a bedroom, one for a workroom and living
room, and another for an oratory. He then walled himself in leaving a
small window through which he received necessaries and spoke to
visitors.
During five days of the week he conversed with God, but
on Saturdays and Sundays he received visitors, men only – no women –
who wished to consult him on spiritual and temporal matters. He
predicted future military victories to Emperor Theodosius the Great.
Though he founded no religious community he is considered as a father of ascetics.
Shortly
before his death he was visited by Palladius to whom he prophesied that
he would become a bishop. Palladius left an interesting account of
their meeting.
The holy recluse died at the age of ninety. Three
days before his death he shut the small window to his cell, and demanded
to be left alone. He was found dead in a position of prayer.
Saturday, March 27, 2021
St. John of Egypt
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