A Romanian orphan, Saint John became a monastic at the prompting of the Lord Himself who promised to be with the young boy as he wept at the grave of the grandmother who raised him. The grace of God enlightened his intelligence and he served the Church by translating spiritual books from Greek into his native language for the benefit of his countrymen. After serving as abbot of the Romanian monastery in the Jordan Valley during the Second World War, the Saint was finally allowed to seek hesychia in a cave where Saint Anna, the mother of the Theotokos had prayed. For seven years he devoted himself to ceaseless prayer, the composition of hymns, and spiritual reading. His way of life being a threat to the demons, they attacked him mercilessly with the hope of driving him from his cave, but he easily repulsed them by quoting the services of the Church. Being made aware of the date of his departure in a vision, Saint John peacefully gave his soul into God’s hands in his cave. During his funeral, his body was adorned by a flock of wild birds who lamented his passing with their song. 20 years later, his body was found to be incorrupt. His relics were translated to the Monastery of Chozeba where they are venerated to this day.
Category: Hymns
Indicates saints who defeated the demons through praying the hymns of the Church.
Peter of Korisha
Putting aside childish things for the things of God as a young boy, Saint Peter sought to embrace the eremitic life as soon as he was able. Delayed from doing so after the death of his parents by the responsibility of caring for his younger sister, he achieved his aim when she agreed to enter the monastic life as well. Searching for hesychia, he journeyed to a deserted place where he lived in alone in a cave for many years in fasting and prayer. His only companions were the wild animals who dwelt with him as in an outpost of Paradise. While there, he was continuously assailed by demons who sought to sow despair, but the saint confidently drove them off by chanting psalms and hymns. Seeking yet again to wound the heal of man, the Saint was set upon by a snake, but the Holy Archangel Michael appeared and repulsed the snake with his sword. In thankfulness for this protection, Saint Peter increased his ascetic efforts. This resulted in such a deeply Christ-like transformation that he was able to discern the pits the demons continuously dug for him, avoiding them with prayer and humility. He continuously reminded himself that he had been created from the dust of the earth and that he could do nothing without God’s help. The prince of the power of the air, however, would not relent, attacking him with a flock of crows that tried to bend him by pecking out his eyes. This time, the Saint again put him to flight by prayer, specifically the recitation of the Creed. In the end, his victory was proclaimed by the Lord Himself, the uncreated light filling his cave for a number of days. This abundant grace led to his discovery by other monks. He handed down to them his teaching on the ascetic life before falling asleep in peace, having recapitulated the life of mankind in salvation as a co-worker with Christ.