By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
The Church commemorates today Saint Ioannis the Merciful, Archbishop of Alexandria. We also celebrate the memory of New Martyrs Nicholas of Six Marmara († 1732) and Savvas Nigdelis the Samoladan, Venerable Nilus the Faster of Sinai and Venerable Nilus the Myrrh-gusher of Mt. Athos.
Saint Ioannis the Merciful was born in Amathus, Cyprus. “Since I have the opportunity to give to my brothers, he said, so I’m obliged to give. Fortune cannot be higher than the debt to my neighbour.”
Saint Ioannis became Patriarch of Alexandria. On the death of the Patriarch Theodore, the Alexandrians besought Emperor Heraclius to appoint John his successor. He has been an eminent intellectual figure for many years and performed many miracles. Saint Ioannis was called Merciful for giving alms to the poor.
He was so honourable that even the pagans respected him. He fell asleep in the Lord in 619 AD.
SOURCEñ Church of Cyprus