St. John the Almoner: The Patriarch Who Gave Everything to the Poor
Quick answer
St. John the Almoner (about 550–619), also called John the Merciful, was a widower from Cyprus who became patriarch of Alexandria around 610. He gave away the Church's wealth and his own to the poor, ransomed captives, welcomed refugees fleeing the Persian invasion of the Holy Land, and fought corruption. He called the poor his "masters." He died in his native Cyprus. His feast is January 23 in the Roman Martyrology and November 12 in the Eastern Churches.
Key takeaways
- He was a married layman, a father and a widower before becoming a bishop.
- He ordered a list of the poor of Alexandria, numbering in the thousands, to be fed daily.
- He sent aid to Jerusalem after it was sacked by the Persians in 614.
- He insisted on honest weights and measures to protect the poor.
Many saints were generous. St. John the Almoner was generous to a degree that alarmed his staff. He believed that the poor were Christ’s own, and that a bishop’s treasury existed to serve them.
From Cyprus to Alexandria
John was born around 550 in Amathus, on the island of Cyprus, to a noble family. He married and had children, but his wife and children died. He lived from then on in prayer and generosity.
Around 610, the emperor and the people chose him as patriarch of Alexandria, one of the most important cities in the Christian world.
His “Masters”
Soon after arriving, John asked his staff to make a list of all his “masters.” They were puzzled. He explained that he meant the poor, who would one day plead for him before God. The list numbered in the thousands, and he provided for them every day.
He held open audiences twice a week so that anyone, rich or poor, could come to him with a complaint, and he punished officials who took bribes. He also ordered that honest weights and measures be used in the markets, to protect the poor from cheating.
Stories of His Charity
His biographer, Leontius, records many stories. When a man who had lost everything asked for help, John gave him far more than he asked. When a rich man gave him a costly blanket, John sold it for the poor. The man bought it back and gave it to him again. John sold it again, saying they would see who would tire first.
He said that if we give generously, God is always more generous with us.
Refugees from Jerusalem
In 614 the Persians captured Jerusalem, burned churches and took many captives. Refugees poured into Alexandria. John welcomed them, housed and fed them, and sent money, food and workers to help rebuild Jerusalem’s churches. He ransomed captives.
His Last Days
When the Persians advanced on Egypt in 619, John sailed home to Cyprus. He died there at Amathus around 619. In his will he wrote that he had found a great deal of money in the patriarch’s treasury, and that he had given it all back to Christ through the poor, keeping only a small sum, which he left to them as well.
A Prayer for Generosity (Original Prayer)
St. John the Almoner, you saw your masters in the poor. Make me generous with what God has given me. Help me be honest in business, welcoming to refugees, and quick to help those in need. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read about St. Vincent de Paul, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, or St. Nicholas.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. John the Almoner?
January 23 in the Roman Martyrology. The Eastern Churches celebrate him on November 12.
What does "almoner" mean?
An almoner is a person who distributes alms, that is, gifts to the poor.
Is the Order of St. John connected to him?
The Knights Hospitaller, who began with a hospital in Jerusalem, are often said to have taken him as an early patron before adopting St. John the Baptist.
Sources
- Leontius of Neapolis, Life of St. John the Almsgiver (seventh century)
- Roman Martyrology, January 23
