John the Iberian

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John the Iberian
John Ivir fresco, Iviron.jpg
Fresco of John the Iberian at Iviron on Mount Athos
Athonite Father
BornKingdom of the Iberians
Died~1002 AD
Mount Athos
Venerated inGeorgian Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
FeastJuly 12
PatronageGeorgia
Mount Athos

John the Iberian[a] (Georgian: იოანე მთაწმინდელი; died c. 1002) was a Georgian monk, who is venerated as a saint. His name refers to his origins from the Kingdom of the Iberians.

A member of the Georgian nobility, he was married and served as a military commander. However, he later became a monk in Bithynia and then traveled to Constantinople to rescue his son, Euthymius the Illuminator (Euthymius Opplyseren). Euthymius had been held as a hostage by the emperor.[1]

John and his son attracted many followers, so they both retired to the monastery of Saint Athanasius on Mount Athos. They founded Iviron monastery with the help of John’s brother-in-law, John Thornikos, a retired general. John served as the first abbot of Iviron. Died in 1002.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ also known as John the Georgian, John the Hagiorite, and John Iweron.
  1. ^ Butler, p. 86
  2. ^ Butler, p. 87

Bibliography[]

  • Butler, A. (1995) Butler's Lives of the Saints, Volume 7, Liturgical Press

External links[]

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