John of Egypt, St.

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JOHN OF EGYPT, ST.

Hermit of Lycopolis, b. Lycopolis (modern Asyut), c. 300; d. near Lycopolis, 394. A carpenter, he entered a monastery between the ages of 25 and 30, and after several years there he became a hermit in a cave on Mt. Lykos, where he remained until his death some 40 years later. John, who communicated with visitors only through a window, was sought for spiritual advice and was reputed to have the gift of prophecy, so that he was known as the Seer. Legend credits him with having foretold the victories of the Roman Emperor theodosius i over Maximus and Eugenius, as well as the death of the Emperor himself (395).

Feast: Mar. 27; Oct. 17 (Coptic Church).

Bibliography: palladius of helenopolis, Historia Lausiaca, Patrologia Graeca 34:110715, new ed. by a. j. festugiÈre in Historia Monachorum in Aegypto (Subsidia hagiographica 34;1961) 935. Bibliotheca hagiographica Graeca 3:34.

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