St. John the Owner of the Golden Gospel
St. John was born in the city of Rome to a wealthy family. His father’s name was Atrofius (Trabius). His father gave him a copy of the Gospel of St. John written in letters of gold with a golden cover: That is the reasoning for his name.
There was a monk, visiting from Jerusalem, who came to visit his father’s house. St. John asked if he could come with him, but the monk told him that he was returning to Jerusalem not the monastery. The monk emphasized the point that St. John was too young, and the life of monasticism would be hard on him. Nonetheless, St. John’s desire was very strong, so he got on a ship without telling anyone to go to that monk’s monastery. Upon arrival, the abbot refused to accept him because of his young age, reasoning that it would be too difficult for one like him. St. John did not give up, and kept asking; thus, when the abbott saw his persistence he accepted him, shaved his head, arraying him with monastic garments.
St. John’s worship increased, and he devoted himself to strict ascetic worships. The abbot always advised him to take it easy, doing as the rest of the brothers; however, St. John refused holding that “the power of God and your [the abbot’s] prayer [support] me.”
A few years passed, and he was told–in a vision–to go see his parents, so that he may receive their blessings before his departure. The vision was repeated on three consecutive nights. When it was narrated to the abbot, the abbot agreed that it was from God, letting St. John depart. On his way home, he found a man wearing ragged clothes, so he exchanged his garments with the man. Upon arrival to his father’s residence, he lived in a small hut (out of straw) near the entrance of the house. He lived off of the remnants of food from his father’s table, which the servants threw him. When his mother passed by, she was greatly disgusted by his appearance and smell.
The Lord revealed to him the time of his departure three days in advance. Without revealing his relationship, he called his mother, and made her swear to bury him in whatever clothes he had on. Later, he gave her the golden gospel. She took it home, and when the Father returned from work, he immediately recognized that it was his son’s. They hastily went to St. John asking about the gospel and their son; however, he only spoke to them after they swore to bury him in his clothes. When they agreed, he revealed to them that it was he, their son. They wept a great deal. The nobles of the city of Rome gathered to see this righteous monk.
Three days after his departure, his mother clothed him with the clothes she had prepared for his wedding day. She fell sick, but her husband remembered the oath, so he switched his son’s clothes to the old ragged ones he had in his hut. There were many miracles that the Lord allowed to happen through St. John’s body. A church has been built in his name, and his body is placed there.