St John The Short
On the 20th day of the Coptic month of Paopi, which is usually on November 9th, we celebrate the life of St John the Short.
Born John Kolobos (which means the “little” or the “dwarf”, in 339 AD in Upper Egypt to a poor but holy family. His desire for a monastic life from his early years led him to remote places where he trained himself for this austere lifestyle. Led by Divine inspiration when he was only eighteen years old, he went to the wilderness of Skete and devoted his whole heart to put on the spirit of Christ.
He went to become a disciple of the old hermit, Abba Pemurah (who was also the teacher of Saint Pishoy - the perfect man). Abba Pemurah tried to deter John from this harsh monastic life. But that night an angel appeared to him asking him to accept the young John as a monk. After three full days of fasting and prayers, the master and the disciple witnessed an angel blessing the new cloths John was to put on.
John renounced all distraction and entertainment; and since monasteries were not built at that time, only hermits were populating the desert. He endured all the difficult tests as an experienced master rather than a bright disciple. Abba Pemurah led him to perfect watchfulness, solitude, subduing the body, meekness, silence, humility, simplicity and obedience.
Abba Pemurah taught John about silent obedience saying to him, ``My son, be silent lest evil thoughts overtake your mind and lose your soul. Particularly in church, we ought the most to be careful in order to be worthy of the presence of Holy Mysteries."; Pemurah told John to plant in the ground a walking-stick and water it every day till it should bring forth fruit. John did so with great simplicity, though the river was about 12 miles away from the stick. When he had continued his task, diligently and without protest, the stick in its third year had taken root, sprouted leaves and produced fruit. John gathered the fruit, carried it to the church, and giving it to some of the brethren, said, “Take, and eat the fruit of obedience''.
John believed that the perfection of a monk consists in his keeping to his cell, watching constantly over himself and having God continually present to his mind. He never discussed worldly affairs and never spoke of “News'', the ordinary amusement of the superficial.
He stressed the importance of “quietness” saying, “The longer quietness prevails, the weaker the pains of lusts become, and the healthier the mind becomes until it reaches peace.'' His mind dwelt constantly on Divine issues; he used to take one of the commandments each day and work hard to perfect it. He was so intent on the things of God that he became very absent-minded avoiding the words of men and their discussions and so to cultivate the thoughts of peace.
In 374, Abba Pemurah departed after suffering 12 years of illness during which John tended to him. At his last moments, Pemurah called John “the angel of God on earth'' and instructed him to make his abode next to the “Tree of Obedience''.
John left and then dug a cave to worship in solitude. His virtues were spreading quickly and many monks, came to him to learn about and follow his angelic life. He was then leading by example; he surpassed all the elders in their self-control. When he had made a comment to a non-obedient brother during harvest, he begged him to forgive him and spent the whole year fasting (eating only bread and salt every third day) praying, “Forgive me, O Lord, for I angered your creation''.
John's disciples were increasing in number and came from everywhere to his abode by the “Tree of Obedience'' where a monastery was later built and remained open until the 17th century. When he drew near his end, his disciples entreated him to leave them some final lesson of Christian perfection. He sighed, that he might avoid the air of vanity alleging his own doctrine. He said, “I never followed my own will; nor did I ever...