St john cassian biography of rory

Saint John Cassian the Roman was born around , probably in Lesser Scythia (in Dacia Pontica). His pious Christian parents gave him an excellent classical education, and also instructed him in the Holy Scriptures and in the spiritual life.

Saint John entered a monastery in the diocese of Tomis, where his friend and relative Saint Germanus labored as an ascetic. In , desiring to venerate the Holy Places, Saint John went to Jerusalem with his sister and his friend Saint Germanus.

St john cassian biography of rory and dean

The two monks stayed at a Bethlehem monastery, not far from where the Savior was born.

After five years at the monastery, Saints John and Germanus traveled through the Thebaid and the desert monasteries of Sketis for seven years, drawing upon the spiritual experience of countless ascetics. The Egyptian monks taught them many useful things about spiritual struggles, prayer, and humility.

Like honeybees they journeyed from place to place, gathering the sweet nectar of spiritual w