John the Warrior

John the Warrior
Saint, Martyr
Born	4th century
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox
Major shrine	According to a legend somewhere in Constantinople
Feast	30 July (Julian) 12 August (Gregorian)

John the Warrior (Greek: Ιωάννης ὁ στρατιώτης, Russian: Иоанн Воин, Ioann Voin) was a Christian saint and martyr. He was born in the 4th century and lived until his death in the Byzantine Empire. Forced by Julian the Apostate to serve as a warrior against Christianity, he was imprisoned after being caught helping people in need or defending Christians, and awaited there his death penalty. However, John the Warrior was released after the death of the emperor during a war.

The Warrior is always depicted as having dark hair and a beard, as well as weaing an weskit, trousers, boots, scale armour and a cape. Three symbols characterizes him; cross, spear and shield.

Biography

During the reign of Roman emperor Julian the Apostate in the last era of persecution towards Christians, John the Warrior served as a soldier in the army, and was forced by Julian to participate on Christian persecutions. However, as a Christian he warned other against attacks or possible imprisonments, and he sometimes visited prisoners. John was not only good towards Christians, but also towards the poor and people in need. He visited invalids and comforted the suffering. When Julian saw John supporting the Christians, he imprisoned him, where the warrior awaited his death penalty. However, in 363 BC Julian died during the Battle of Samarra, and subsequently John was released from the prison.^[1][2]

The exact date of death is unknown, but it is known that he died of very old age. According to a legend, he ordered the place of his funeral and subsequently a devout woman appeared. His relics were preserved in a church in Constantinople dedicated to John the Apostle. It is believed that his relics perform miracles. Believers ask the Saint for intercession and solace for casualties and bereaved people.^[1][2]

Veneration

In the Russian Orthodox tradition, John the Warrior is regarded a helper in sorrow and poverty. Veneration was more common in Little Russia. According to Legends of the Saints (Сказании о святых), the saint was required to pray a special prayer to reobtain stolen things and escaped servants. In the prologs about the Warrior it is said that he "better prevents servants from fleeing, warns about theft and makes evident revelation". There is an icon in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev depicting John the Warrior with prayers and kontaktions to the saint. The first verses are,^[3][2]

"О великий заступниче и угодниче Христов Иоанне Воинственниче! Помилуй раба твоего, сущаго в бедах, и скорбех, и во всякой злой напасти, и сохрани от всякаго зла, заступи от обидящаго человека. Тебе бо дана бысть таковая благодать от Бога".
"O mighty intercessor and saint of Christ, John the Warrior! Have mercy upon thy servant who suffers misfortunes, affliction, and all types of adversity. Save him from all evil and protect him from offenders, for thou hast been granted such grace from God".^[4]

Next is written:

"О великий и всемилостивый страдальче Иоанне, дивный и страшный, небеснаго Царя воине! Приими моление от раба твоего и от настоящия бедя, от лукаваго человека, от злаго хищения и будущего мучения избави мя, верно вопиюща Ти аллилуйя".
"O mighty and all-gracious martyr John, glorious and terrifying, warrior of the Heavenly King. Accept the supplication of thy servant and from present misfortunes, from those who plot, from evil plunder and from ordeals yet to be, deliver me who cry faithfully unto to thee Hallelujah".^[4]

Also, people imprisoned in dungeons or jails pray for John the Warrior.^[4][2]

Troparion

A troparion is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas.

Source:

Orthodox icons depicting John the Warrior

Иоанн Воинственник (Ioann Voistvennik); unknown artist (possibly made by members of the school); Palekh; early 19th century; on wood, primer, egg tempera, gold; 31.5×26.5; State Palekh Art Museum, Palekh, Russia; January 322  Преподобный Симеон Столпник и мученик Иоанн Воин (Prepodobnij Simeon Stolpnik i muchenik Ioann Voin); from the Simeon Stolpnik church in Yaroslavl; late-17th century – early 18th century; on wood, tempera; 31.5×27; Yaroslavl Art Museum, Yaroslavl, Russia; Инв. И-501; Restoration in 2005 by А. Н. Klyachina

Iconography

John the Warrior is always depicted with an uncovered head. His face is framed by dark hair and a beard. He wears an weskit, trousers, boots, scale armour (suggesting he was a horseman) and a cape. The three major attributes of John the Warrior are the cross (symbolizes his faith; defended by all available means), spear (strength; given by God in the name of the war against sin and unfaith) and shield (God's protection from all misfortunes).^[3]

The feast day is on 30 July (Julian calendar), or 12 August (Gregorian calendar).^[1][2]

Further reading

• Detailed encyclopedia about John the Warrior

References

• Oprishko, Nadezhda Alexandrovna (2002). Православные святые. Почитание и прославление [Orthodox saints. Veneration and Doxology]. Olma Media Group. ISBN 978-5-224-03372-0.