Saint of the Day – 15 January – St John Calabytes (Died c450) Beggar Hermit, Monk. Born at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) and died in c450 in Rome of natural causes. Also known as – John Calybita, John Calabites, John Calibita, John Chalybita, John Kalabytes, John the Hut-Dweller, Giovanni… There are many versions of our Beggar Saint’s life, some more romantic than others. However extreme some versions might seem, the facts remain the same as does the approximate year of his death. He is our friend and waits to intercede in Heaven, on our behalf.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, St John Calybita. For some time living unknown to his parents in a corner of their house and later in a hut on an island in the Tiber, he was recognised by them only at his death. Being renowned for miracles, he was buried where he had died and, a Church was subsequently erected in his honour in the same place.”

John was the 3rd son of the Senator and General Eutropius in Constantinople and lived at the beginning of the 5th Century. His mother, Theodora, was also of high birth. His parents were Christians but they sadly believed in their own greatness too. While his older brothers competed for excellent careers, John was allowed to cultivate piety above all.

After completing his studies of rhetoric, his parents allowed him to visit the Monastery of the Ecoimetes, or “sleepless ones” in our language because the Monks used the night for prayer. John chose a spiritual guide among the Monks who advised him to study Sacred Scripture and thus discover his vocation.

His parents were happy to oblige and bought him the Holy Scriptures, the most beautiful copy, decorated with gold and precious stones. As he read the Book of Books, John’s joy grew visibly. He was drawn to devote himself entirely to God in the monastic state. But his parents would not allow this. He left this Monastery in the Bosporus and asked to be accepted into another at Ireneon, today Chiboukli. After passing the test, he was accepted among them. Night prayer was a real delight to him.

But, after six years, he felt a deep sense of homesickness. He told the Abbot: “The desire to see my parents does not give me peace for a moment. I ask permission to return to them. The tempter thinks that he will thus turn me away from God but I trust in your prayer and in Christ, Who is at war beside me, that I will be victorious, even if I return to my parents.” The Abbot recommended the tried brother to the monastic family for prayer and allowed him to leave.

When he arrived home, he was not recognised because of his poor clothing and ascetic appearance. They accepted him as a holy beggar and even allowed him to set up a hut in a corner of the garden and brought him modest food every day. After three years, he fell seriously ill and asked to visit his mother. Then the beggar revealed himself to his parents. They recognised him from the Gospel book he showed them. He breathed his last in their arms shortly afterwards.

He was buried next to the hut and in 468, a Church was built on his grave, to which pilgrims from near and far came and venerated John Calabytes as a Saint.

In Constantinople, Saint John the Calabytes, who, as is reported, lived for some time in a corner of his father’s house, then in a ‘kalyba’ (hut), completely devoted to contemplation and hidden from his parents, who only recognised him as he lay dying, through the golden scroll of the Gospel, which they had given gave to their son.