Saint John Theristus

John Theristus, OSB (Italian: Giovanni Theristis, "John the Harvester"; Sicilian: Santu Juanni (Teristi); 1049–1129 AD) was an Italian Byzantine Benedictine monk. Despite dying almost a century after the Great Schism of 1054, he is notably a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The details of his life have been handed down by legends and popular beliefs. John's father, Arconte di Cursano, a Byzantine farmer near Botterio Signore in the territory of Stylus, was killed in a Saracen raid on the coasts of Calabria. His Calabrian mother was captured by Saracens and brought to Palermo, where she gave birth. He grew up in the Christian faith in a Muslim environment. At the age of 14, he was encouraged by his mother to flee to his native country. He crossed the Strait of Messina in a boat without oars or sail, and reached Monasterace. The inhabitants, seeing him dressed as a Moor, took him to the Bishop, who interrogated him. The boy answered that he was seeking baptism, but the bishop subjected him to harsh trials before giving him his name. Once he grew up, he felt more and more attracted to the life of the monks who lived in the caves around Stylus, fascinated by the example of two Basilian ascetics, Ambrose and Nicholas. After much insistence, despite his young age, he was admitted into the community. He distinguished himself by virtue, so much so that he was later elected abbot. He found in Cursano a treasure that belonged to his family, and following the rule of Saint Basil he distributed it to the poor. Once in June, at harvest time, he went to visit at Monasterace a knight who had provided food for the monastery. He took with him a flask of wine and some bread. When he arrived at two fields, called Marone and Maturavolo, he offered the farmers the bread and wine. A furious storm rose up, risking destruction of the harvest, but through John's prayer the storm held off until the wheat be harvested and gathered in sheaves.