John Lampadistis

Venerable John Lampadistis is a saint venerated in Cyprus, whose name is borne by the Lampadistis monastery at Kalopanagiotis. His commemoration is on 4 October.

He came from Lampadou, in Solia, a village near Galata, of a pious and wealthy family. His father was a priest named Kyriakos, and his mother was named Anna. The sources do not tell the end of his life in the same way. According to the Greek source, he suffered for Christianity at the age of twenty-⁠two. According to the Serbian source, from childhood he devoted himself to Christianity and refused his parents' urging to marry. In his youth he went blind, but said that though he had lost the eyes of the body, he had the eyes of the soul with which to see the glory of the Lord. Though blind, he withdrew with his disciple, also named John, into solitude, to severe ascetic labours, and spent twelve years so, receiving also the gift of working miracles. He foresaw his death three days before and died in peace.

The village of Agios Ioannis in Pitsilia took its name from the saint. The skull of the saint is at the Holy Monastery of Kykkos in Cyprus. Parts of the saint's relics are at the monasteries of Kykkos and Stavrovouni in Cyprus. The Monastery of Saint John Lampadistis at Kalopanagiotis is dedicated to him, as is a church in the village of Pelendri.

The chronicler of Cyprus, Leontios Machairas, writes of him in his chronicle that the Great John Lampadistis, in Marathasa, drives out demons. His wonderworking grace continues abundantly today for those who ask his help with faith and reverence.