Hieromartyr
John VII of Jerusalem
Patriarch of Jerusalem
Patriarch of Jerusalem, killed during an uprising in 966.
Uncertain source. We are looking to verify this information as soon as we can.
- Reposed
- 96610th century
- Place
- Jerusalem
- Order
- Martyrs
Life
John VII of Jerusalem was patriarch of Jerusalem from 964 to 966, elected after the death of his predecessor, Agathon. He is believed to have died as a martyr, killed by Muslim mobs in 966. Two accounts of his end survive.
In the first, the governor Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn al-Sanaji demanded heavy gifts from the patriarchate; John complained to the governor of Ramleh, and Muhammad stirred up the crowd. The mob set fire to the church of the Holy Sepulchre and the church on Mount Zion, found him hiding in an oil cistern, killed him, and burned his body in the church courtyard.
In the second, he was burned at the stake after writing to Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, begging him to rescue Palestine from the Fatimid caliphs. The sources consulted give no feast day.