John of the Old Lavra

Venerable John of the Old Lavra was a hermit of the Old Lavra of Saint Chariton, near Jerusalem, in the desert of Palestine.

Wounded from youth by divine love, he clung to God, according to the word: "But it is good for me to cleave to God." He disregarded the pleasures of the world and pride, left his homeland, took up the cross of monastic life and went to a foreign land for the Lord. Arriving at Jerusalem, he venerated the Honoured Cross and the Tomb of Christ, then went to the lavra of Chariton and, for his virtuous life, was found worthy of the priesthood. He showed himself a follower of the hermits of old, subduing the passions of the body with great self-⁠restraint, all-⁠night vigils, remembrance of death and various struggles, thinning his body until he became an earthly angel. After a long life perfect and pleasing to God, he departed to the Lord, and his soul was carried by angels to the heavenly dwelling.

Some call him "of the Old Cave" instead of "of the Old Lavra", because the lavra of Venerable Chariton was at first a robbers' cave, where Chariton, bound by the robbers, was freed miraculously, since the robbers died all at once drinking poisoned wine. Saint Chariton then gathered the brothers in the same cave and built the monastery above it. John lived in that old cave, serving in the church, and so was called "of the Old Cave". He is commemorated on 19 April.