Celebration date: 12/11/2021
Saint John the Merciful was born in Amathus, Cyprus (Amathus was today’s Old Limassol). He was the son of the lord Epiphanios and Eucosmias and lived in the years of King Heraklion (615 AD). When he grew up, he married and had children, whom he and his wife brought up like true Christian parents. Soon, however, his wife and children died. Ioannis had a large fortune and many proposals were made for him to start a new family.
But he rejected them all, answering: “I think, I am a debtor to everyone. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. I am. Because we Christians have solidarity. Doesn’t Paul say that? We are members of others. Since, then, I have the ability to give to my brothers, therefore I am also obliged to give. This is why I work and I will not stop doing it.
My property cannot be higher than these debts of mine.” For the brilliance of his life, John became the archbishop of Alexandria. He excelled as a spiritual lamp in the patriarchate for many years and performed many miracles. Because he did not lavishly distribute alms to the poor, he was called Merciful. He had become so revered that even these pagans respected him. Finally, he peacefully surrendered his blessed soul to God in 620 AD.
And blessed is his soul, because the Lord says: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy” (Gospel of Matthew, v. 7). Blessed, in other words, are those who are merciful to their neighbor’s misfortune, because they will be shown mercy by God.
