The Church commemorates today Saint Ioannis the Merciful, Archbishop of Alexandria.
We also celebrate the memory of New Martyrs Nicholas of Six Marmara († 1732) and Savvas Nigdelis the Samoladan, Venerable Nilus the Faster of Sinai, and Venerable Nilus the Myrrh-gusher of Mt. Athos.
Saint Ioannis the Merciful was born in Amathus, Cyprus. “Since I have the opportunity to give to my brothers, he said, so I’m obliged to give. Fortune cannot be higher than the debt to my neighbor.”
Saint Ioannis became Patriarch of Alexandria. On the death of Patriarch Theodore, the Alexandrians besought Emperor Heraclius to appoint John his successor. He has been an eminent intellectual figure for many years and performed many miracles. Saint Ioannis was called Merciful for giving alms to the poor.
He was so honorable that even the pagans respected him. He fell asleep in the Lord in 619 AD.
Source: Church of Cyprus