John the Iberian

John the Iberian[lower-alpha 1] (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.


John the Iberian
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

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
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