Thursday, November 12

Byzantine · d. c. 620

St John the Merciful

Patriarch of Alexandria, father of the poor

John was born to a noble family on Cyprus and, after the death of his wife and children, gave himself wholly to God. Though a layman, his renown for holiness led to his election as Patriarch of Alexandria around 610. His first act was to order a list made of his 'masters and lords' — the city's poor, numbering in the thousands — whom he fed and clothed daily. He received all who asked, gave without measuring, and when deceived by impostors only gave again, saying he dared not refuse Christ who asks in the poor. When Persians sacked Jerusalem in 614, he sent shiploads of grain, gold, and workmen for the ruined churches, and welcomed floods of refugees to Egypt. He kept an open door, judged cases of the wronged personally, and lived in utter simplicity. He reposed on Cyprus, having given away everything, even his blanket.

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