Our Church commemorates today Venerable Paul of Thebes, Venerable Ioannis Calabytes, and Monk-martyr Pansophius.
Saint Ioannis, who was called Calabytes (hut-dweller), was born in Constantinople in the middle of the 5th century AD and was the son of rich and illustrious parents, Senator Eutropius and Theodora. Ioannis did not want to follow the path of his two older brothers, who occupied brilliant offices. So he dedicated himself to the Christian faith. However, due to his parents’ insistence not to follow that path, he left his father’s home and went to the Monastery of the Akoimitoi (“the Ever-Vigilant”) in order to become a monk. Later, when he remembered what sorrow he caused to them, he decided, with the consent of the abbot of the monastery, to return to his parents.
He entered his house as an unknown monk. His parents did not recognize him. His courtesy and graciousness were so great that they begged him to visit them daily. He agreed to visit them every day, provided that they build a hut for him in the garden of the house. Saint Ioannis set up his hermitage there. Within three years, by the grace of God, he preached the Gospel to his parents. On the day he told them that he was their son, he fell asleep in the Lord.
Source: Church of Cyprus
