The Departure of St . John, of the Golden Gospel .

On this day, St . John, the owner of the Golden Gospel, departed . This saint was born in the city ofRome . His father was a rich man whose name was Atrofius (Trabius) . His father gave him a copy ofthe Gospel of St . John written in letters of gold and bound with a golden cover and from this he wasgenerally known as "John of the Golden Gospel ." John rejoiced exceedingly with this gift .A monk, who was on his way to Jerusalem, came to visit his father's house . John asked the monk totake him with him . The monk told him that he was going to Jerusalem and not to the monastery . Healso told him that he was young and could not endure the rough life that the monks practiced .Nevertheless, John was sincere in his intention, so he embarked on a ship, without telling anyone, to themonastery of that monk . When the Abbot saw him, he refused to accept him because of his young age,and explained to him that the monastic life was difficult for one like him . John pleaded with him, andwhen the Abbot saw his firm intention and strong conviction, he accepted him . He shaved his head, andarrayed him in the holy garb of the monastic life . John devoted himself to the ascetic life with manyworships . The Abbot often advised him saying, "Have pity on yourself, and do as the rest of thebrethren ." But John used to answer, saying, "The power of God and your prayers support me ."Seven years later, he saw in a vision, who told him, "Rise, and go to your parents, that you mightreceive their blessings before your departure from this world ." This vision was repeated on threeconsecutive nights, and he told the Abbot about it . The Abbot told him that this was from God, andadvised him to go to see his parents .When he left the monastery, he found a poor man wearing ragged garments, he took them from him,and gave him his own monk's garb . When he arrived at his father's house, he lived for three years, nearthe door of the house, in a small hut made of straw . He ate, during this time, the fragments from hisfather's table which the servants threw to him . Whenever his mother passed by him, she was disgustedby his smell and the appearance of his clothes .When his departure drew near, the Lord made it known to him that after three days he would departfrom this world . St . John sent and called his mother . Without telling her that he was her son, he madeher swear to bury him in that hut with whatever clothes he had on . Then, he gave her the goldenGospel and said to her, "Whenever you read in it, remember me ." When his father returned to the431house, she showed him the Gospel, and immediately he recognized that it was the Gospel of his sonJohn . They came in haste to St . John and asked him about the Gospel and about their son . He askedthem to assure him that they would not bury him except in the clothes that he had on, and then he toldthem that he was their son . They wept with a great weeping . When the nobles of the city of Romeheard that, they gathered to see this righteous monk . After three days, he departed and his motherclothed him with the clothes that she had prepared for his wedding day before he went to themonastery . Thereupon she fell sick, and her husband remembered the oath that they had given .Immediately he removed the clothes of his son and clothed him with the old ragged cloth that he hadon and buried him in the hut in which he had lived . Many miracles were manifested from his body .Then they built a church in his name and placed his body in it .May his prayers with us . Amen .