Saint John the Hermit and the 98 Fathers of Crete commemorated October 7

The post commemorates Saint John the Hermit and the 98 Fathers of Crete on October 7. These 14th-century ascetics came from Egypt, Cyprus, and Asia Minor to live a life of prayer and solitude on the Greek island of Crete. Led by Saint John, the group traveled together by sea toward Crete. When a bad storm forced them to stop on the nearby island of Gavdos, a miraculous event occurred.

Saint John was left behind by mistake when he became temporarily unseen. He then crossed the open sea to Crete by standing on his cloth tunic. Once they arrived safely on Crete, the ascetics settled into caves near the village of Azogires.

Saint John later moved to a more remote cave in the Akrotiri peninsula. The rest of the fathers stayed together in Azogires under a large plane tree, building a life of deep quiet and continuous prayer. Tragedy struck when a local farmer or hunter mistook Saint John for a wild animal and shot him with an arrow.

According to tradition, the other 98 fathers in Azogires died at that exact same moment. Their shared death reflected their deep spiritual bond and life of prayer. Visitors can still travel to Azogires to see the Holy Fathers' Monastery and the caves where these remarkable men lived and prayed.