SAINT JOHN THE ALMONER

St. John the Almoner


Feast day: January 23
552 - 616


Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, called “the Almoner” because of his generosity to the poor. He was born into a noble family of Cyprus and was briefly married. When his wife and

child died, he entered the religious life, and in 608 was named patriarch of Alexandria. He aide
d refugees from the Persian assaults on the Holy Land and built charitable

institutions. John predicted his own death. He had to leave Alexandria when a Persian invasion troubled the region and had a vision of his demise. John went to Amathus, on

Cyprus, where he died on November 11.





HE received his surname from his profuse almsdeeds: was nobly descended, very rich, and a widower, at Amathus in Cyprus, where, having buried all his children, he employed the whole income of his estate in the relief of the poor, and was no less remarkable for his great piety. The reputation of his sanctity raised him to the patriarchal chair of Alexandria, about the year 608, at which time he was upwards of fifty years of age. On his arrival in that city he ordered an exact list to be taken of his Masters. Being asked

who these were, his answer was, “The Poor:” namely, on account of their great interest in the court of heaven in behalf of their benefactors. 1 Their number amounted toseven thousand five hundred, whom he took under his special protection, and furnished with all necessaries. He prepared himself, by this action, to receive the fulness of

grace in his consecration. On the same day he published severe ordinances, but in the most humble terms, conjuring and commanding all to use just weights and measures, inorder to prevent injustices and oppressions of the poor. He most rigorously forbade all his officers and servants ever to receive the least presents, which are no better than bribes, and bias the most impartial. Every Wednesday and Friday he sat the whole day on a bench before the church, that all might have free access to him to lay their

grievances before him, and make known their necessities. He composed all differences, comforted the afflicted, and relieved the distressed. One of his first actions at Alexandria was to distribute the eighty thousand pieces of gold, which he found in the treasury of his church, among hospitals and monasteries. He consecrated to the service of the poor the great revenues of his see, then the first in all the East, both in riches and rank. Besides these, incredible charities flowed through his hands in continual

streams, which his example excited every one to contribute according to their abilities. When his stewards complained that he impoverished his church, his answer was, that

God would provide for them. To vindicate his conduct, and silence their complaints, he recounted to them a vision he had in his youth of a beautiful woman, brighter than the

sun, with an olive garland on her head, whom he understood to be Charity or compassion for the miserable; who said to him: “I am the eldest daughter of the great king. If you enjoy my favour, I will introduce you to the great monarch of the universe. No one has so great an interest with him as myself, who was the occasion of his coming down from heaven to become man for the redemption of mankind.”
  When the Persians had plundered the East, and sacked Jerusalem, St. John entertained all that fled from their swords into Egypt; and sent to Jerusalem, for the use of the poor

there, besides a large sum of money, one thousand sacks of corn, as many of pulse, one thousand pounds of iron, one thousand loads of fish, one thousand barrels of wine,and one thousand Egyptian workmen to assist in rebuilding the churches: adding, in his letter to Modestus the bishop, that he wished it had been in his power to have gone in

person, and contributed the labour of his hands towards carrying on that holy work. He also sent two bishops and an abbot to ransom captives. No number of necessitous objects, no losses, no straits to which he saw himself often reduced, discouraged him, or made him lose his confidence in divine providence, and resources never failed him in the end. When a certain person, whom he had privately relieved with most bountiful alms, expressed his gratitude in the strongest terms, the saint cut him short saying:

“Brother, I have not yet spilt my blood for you, as Jesus Christ my master and my God commands me.” A certain merchant, who had been thrice ruined by shipwrecks, had as

often found relief from the good patriarch, who the third time gave him a ship belonging to the church laden with twenty thousand measures of corn. This vessel was driven by

a storm to the British Islands, and a famine raging there, the owners sold their cargo to great advantage, and brought back a considerable value in exchange, one half in money,

the other in pewter.
  The patriarch lived himself in the greatest austerity and poverty, as to diet, apparel, and furniture. A person of distinction in the city being informed that our saint had but one

blanket on his bed, and this a very sorry one, sent him one of value, begging his acceptance of it, and that he would make use of it for the sake of the donor. He accepted of it,

and put it to the intended use, but it was only for one night; and this he passed in great uneasiness, with severe self-reproaches for being so richly covered, while so many of

his masters (his familiar term for the poor) were so ill accommodated. The next morning he sold it, and gave the price to the poor. The friend being informed of it, bought it for

thirty-six pieces, and gave it to him a second, and a third time; for the saint always disposed of it in the same way, saying facetiously: “We shall see who will be tired first.” He

was very well versed in the scriptures, though a stranger to the pomp of profane eloquence. The functions of his ministry, prayer, and pious reading, employed his whole time.

He studied with great circumspection to avoid the least idle word, and never chose to speak about temporal affairs, unless compelled by necessity, and then only in very few

words. If he heard any detract from the reputation of their neighbour, he was ingenious in turning the discourse to some other subject, and he forbade them his house, to

deter others from that vice. Hearing that when an emperor was chosen, it was customary for certain carvers to present to him four or five blocks of marble, to choose one out

of them for his tomb, he caused his grave to be half dug, and appointed a man to come to him on all occasions of pomp, and say: “My lord, your tomb is unfinished: be pleased

to give your orders to have it completed; for you know not the hour when death will seize you.” The remembrance of the rigorous account which we are to give to God, made

him often burst into the most pathetic expressions of holy fear. But humility was his distinguishing virtue, and he always expressed, both in words and actions, the deepest

sentiments of his own nothingness, sinfulness, miseries, and pride. He often admired how perfectly the saints saw their own imperfections, and that they were dust, worms,

and unworthy to be ranked among men.
  The saint regarded injuries as his greatest gain and happiness. He always disarmed his enemies of their rancour by meekness, and frequently fell at the feet of those who

insulted him, to beg their pardon. Nicetas, the governor, had formed a project of a new tax, very prejudicial to the poor. The patriarch modestly spoke in their defence. The

governor in a passion left him abruptly. St. John sent him this message towards evening:—“The sun is going to set;” putting him in mind of the advice of the apostle: Let not the

sun go down upon your anger. This admonition had its intended effect on the governor, and pierced him to the quick. He arose, and went to the patriarch, bathed in tears,

asked his pardon, and by way of atonement, promised never more to give ear to informers and tale-bearers. St. John confirmed him in that resolution, adding, that he never

believed any man whatever against another, till he himself had examined the party accused; and that he punished all calumniators and tale-bearers in a manner which might

deter others from so fatal a vice. Having in vain exhorted a certain nobleman to forgive one with whom he was at variance, he soon after invited him to his private chapel to

assist at his mass, and there desired him to recite with him the Lord’s prayer. The saint stopped at that petition: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass

against us. When the nobleman had recited it alone, he conjured him to reflect on what he had been saying to God at the hour of the tremendous mysteries, begging to be

pardoned in the same manner as he forgave others. The other feeling himself struck to the heart, fell at his feet, and from that moment was sincerely reconciled to his

adversary. The saint often exhorted men against rash judgment, saying: “Circumstances easily deceive us: magistrates are bound to examine and judge criminals; but what have

private persons to do with others, unless it be to vindicate them?” He used to relate many examples of persons who were found innocent and eminent saints, though they had

been condemned by the world upon circumstances; as that of a certain monk, who brought to that city a Jewess whom he had converted, but was accused as guilty of

lewdness with her, and cruelly scourged; for he said nothing to justify himself, out of a desire of humiliation and suffering. But his innocence and sanctity were soon after

brought to light. St. John employed Sophronius and John Moschus in reducing to the faith the Severians and other heretics. Observing that many amused themselves without

the church, during part of the divine office, which was then of a very considerable length, he followed them out, and seated himself among them, saying: “My children, the

shepherd must be with his flock.” This action, which covered them with confusion, prevented their being guilty of that irreverence any more. As he was one day going to

church, he was accosted on the way by a woman who demanded justice against her son-in-law who had injured her. The woman being ordered by some standers-by to wait

the patriarch’s return from church, he overhearing them, said: “How can I hope that God will hear my prayer, if I put off the petition of this woman?” Nor did he stir from the

place till he had redressed the grievance complained of.
  Nicetas, the governor, persuaded the saint to accompany him to Constantinople, to pay a visit to the emperor. St. John was admonished from heaven whilst he was on his

way, at Rhodes, that his death drew near, and said to Nicetas: “You invite me to the emperor of the earth; but the king of heaven calls me to himself.” He therefore sailed for

Cyprus, and soon after died happily at Amathus, about the year of our Lord 619, in the sixty-fourth of his age, and tenth of his patriarchal dignity. His body was afterwards

carried to Constantinople, where it was kept a long time. The Turkish emperor made a present of it to Matthias, king of Hungary, which he deposited in his chapel at Buda. In

1530 it was translated to Tall, near Presbourg; and, in 1632, to the cathedral itself of Presbourg, where, according to Bollandus, it still remains. The Greeks honour this saint on

the 11th of November, the day of his death; but the Roman Martyrology on the 23rd of January, the day marked for the translation of his relics. His life written by his two vicars,

Sophronius and Moschus is lost; but we have that by Leontius, bishop of Naplouse in Cyprus, from the relation of the saint’s clergy, commended in the seventh general

council. It is published more correct by Rosweide and Bollandus