St John the Solitary or Silent – Dec 4 I Theologian and Theoretician, living in silence and in solitude for 76 years

Saint John the Hermit, also known as St John the Solitary or Silent or Hesychast (Greek), was an a fifth-century ascetic saint in Palestine.  He was a theologian and theoretician of the spiritual life, who has introduced the discussion of passions in Syriac Christianity and taught the gradual healing from evil passions facilitates one’s moral progress from one stage to another.

He was born into a Christian family at Nikopolis (Nicopolis) in Armenia. His Christian parents, Euphemia and Encratius, who came from a long lineage of government dignitaries, brought John up in the faith and made sure he received a good Christian education. When he was eighteen his parents died and they left a large inheritance for John, which he shared with other relatives. He used his share to build a Church, dedicated to Blessed Theotokos and he also established a small monastery his friends. He and ten other friends then began living their lives as monks, practicing self-denial and mortification.

After a few years, in 481, much against his will he was made Bishop of Colonia, but he continued to live the ascetic life of a monk. The episcopal charge was difficult for John. He was very humble, felt unworthy, and preferred his life as a monk. John still followed monastic life as much as possible in his new position. He prayed fervently and constantly for discernment, wanting only God’s will.

It is said, that one night while in prayer he had a vision of a bright cross in mid-air. He then heard a voice, which said, “If thou desire to be saved, follow this light” The light then moved and stood at a place that John recognized as the Lavre (monastery) of St. Sabas. John immediately knew that God had answered his prayer and so left his episcopal charge, after nine years of service as bishop, discouraged by the worldliness and intrigue around him, he secretly left for Jerusalem to live as a monk. He was divinely guided to the monastery of St Sabas, who received him and, knowing nothing of his rank, assigned him a lowly place among the 150 pious and devout monks.

38-year-old John he was given the duties of fetching water and carrying stones, to serve the workmen who were building a hospital. Through all his chores, John was always silent but joyful. He tried to avoid the sins so often committed by the tongue, and also because he preferred interior recollection and prayer, he rarely spoke. His brother monks had high regards for him. The abbot of the monastery noticed John was remarkably proficient and dedicated in the monastic life, hence gave him a separate hermitage to continue in his meditations and spiritual growth. For three years John stayed alone in his cell, only coming out in public to attend Church on weekends. John again lived alone in his cell, for about seven years never speaking to anyone except a few words to those who brought him food and necessities. Thus, John came to be known as John the Silent.

John also left the monastery and went into the wilderness where he stayed for the next several years in complete silence, conversing with God only. Abbot Sabas sought out John and pleaded him to come back. John did return, but he had become so accustomed to communication only with God that he confined himself to his cell and spent the next forty years in silence, living only on thin porridge,

The holy Elder often visited the holy places of Jerusalem, and Mount Sinai, and he went to pray at the graves of the holy martyrs and ascetics. Whenever he went out, the saint left the lampada (lamp) burning before the icon of the Queen of Heaven and he asked her blessing for the journey. When he returned after a month, or even after six months, the Elder found the lampada burning and filled with oil. The uncovetous ascetic had only an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, before which a lampada was always lit.

Once, he happened to go on a narrow trail, with two sides so overgrown with bushes, that it was impossible for two people on foot to pass each other. Suddenly, the saint saw a lion coming toward him. The beast stood up on its hind legs and cleared the way for the saint. Then once, a monk came to the cave to visit St John. Since he did not notice even the bare necessities, he asked Abba John why he lived in such poverty. The holy Elder said that his cave contained spiritual riches greater than any earthly treasures. He passed his days in fasting and prayer in the cave.

John the Solitary sees creation as a wondrous manifestation of the glory of God. John the Solitary presents an early synthesis of theology and spirituality founded primarily on the Incarnation and based on Scripture. Created in the image and likeness of Christ, humans can only reach fulfillment in Christ. The Incarnation as Word become ‘Voice’. Humans went astray by choosing the material world and ignorance over wisdom. The Invisible Word became the visible Christ to be teacher, exemplar, and redeemer. Christ was sent as a messenger and came as a physician, as a brother and spoke as a teacher. He was poor with the poor, tempted with those who are tempted and liberated his friends from captivity, while he was led to death. His lowliness is seen in the body he took from us, while his human actions are attributed to his divinity to which he is indivisibly united. The wisdom of Christ gives hope for the future resurrection.

Nearing his old age, he once asked God for a sign revealing whether he would be granted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Taking a fig-seed, he placed it on a bare rock outside his cell. Without soil or water, the seed brought forth a plant, put forth leaves and flowers, and produced three figs, which St John shared with his disciples. The Saint then made ready for death. St John the Hermit reposed in the sixth century at the age of 104, living silently and in solitude for 76 years, and was numbered with the saints. His memory is commemorated on 3rd/4^th December.