Venerable (Monastic)6th century

Venerable Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet

6th century

Also known as Barsanuphius of Gaza · John the Prophet of Gaza

Two recluses of a monastery near Gaza in the sixth century whose written answers to questions of monks and laymen form a treasured guide of spiritual discernment.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Fathers Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet

Life

Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet were two recluses associated with the cenobitic monastery of Abba Seridus in Palestine, near the city of Gaza, during the sixth century. Though they lived in near-total seclusion, they became among the most sought-after spiritual guides of their age, answering the questions of monks, clergy, and laypeople almost entirely in writing.

Barsanuphius was born in Egypt; the year of his birth is unknown. He arrived in the region of Thavata near Gaza in the early sixth century as an experienced ascetic and settled in a small cell outside the monastery, where by tradition he maintained solitude for roughly fifty years. John, who arrived to become his disciple, lived in a cell there for eighteen years until his death and imitated his teacher in silence and ascetic discipline.

Their surviving correspondence, comprising over 850 letters of spiritual direction, was gathered into a single collection that became a treasured guide of monastic discernment. Among those who received and recorded their counsel was Dorotheus of Gaza, himself later venerated as a teacher of the spiritual life.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 1

Mystical tongues of the Holy Spirit
rational harps of grace
sounding forth sweet hymns of discernment
which soothe and rejoice men’s souls,
you moved them to cast off the yoke of passion
and to trample on Satan’s head.
Therefore, God-like Barsanuphius and wise John,
deliver those who sing to you:
Glory to Him who has given you grace!
Glory to Him who has blessed you!
Glory to Him who has saved many through your holy words of counsel!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

early 6th c.Arrival near GazaBarsanuphius, an Egyptian-born ascetic, settled as a recluse in a cell near the village of Thavata, beside the monastery of Abba Seridus, and began to counsel ascetics of the region.
c. 525–527John becomes his discipleA hermit named John arrived to join Barsanuphius. Barsanuphius gave John his cell and withdrew nearby; the two came to be called 'the Great Old Man' and 'the Other Old Man,' John also being named 'the Prophet.'
c. 543–544Deaths of Seridus and JohnAccording to Wikipedia's account, Abbot Seridus and John died within two weeks of each other. After John's death Barsanuphius embraced complete silence and ceased to give answers.
c. 850Translation of relics to ItalyBy tradition the relics of Barsanuphius were brought to Oria, in southern Italy, around the middle of the ninth century.

Contributions & Legacy

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Reclusion and Spiritual Direction

Barsanuphius and John chose to dwell in complete isolation, seeing almost no one directly. Their counsel reached the world chiefly through intermediaries: Abba Seridus, abbot of the monastery, recorded Barsanuphius's answers in Greek, and Barsanuphius would also respond through John, sometimes directing John to give the answer himself.

Because of his gift of clairvoyance John came to be called 'the Prophet,' while Barsanuphius was known as 'the Old Man' or 'Great Old Man.' The synaxarion ascribes to Barsanuphius the gifts of discernment, clairvoyance, and wonderworking. After John died, Barsanuphius withdrew into total silence and refused to give further answers, dying some time afterward.

The Letters

The two ascetics produced a large body of correspondence—over 850 letters in the accounts that survive—offering spiritual direction to hermits, priests, bishops, monks, and laypersons. The letters address practical questions of the ascetic life alongside theological topics, drawing on allegorical interpretation of Scripture and the sayings of the Desert Fathers.

This correspondence was compiled into a single work, known in English under titles such as 'Guidance Toward Spiritual Life: Answers to the Questions of Disciples.' It is for this collection that the two are chiefly remembered.

Relics and Veneration

The relics of Barsanuphius are recorded as having been translated to Oria, in southern Italy, around 850. The two ascetics are commemorated together on February 6 in the Eastern Orthodox calendar; Barsanuphius is also venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, where his feast falls on April 11.

Works & Further ReadingReadHide