CAVE SAINT JOHN

I would like to introduce the hermit:

ST. JOHN HERMIT 

He was born in Egypt. To love God, as the most powerful good! – Love for God has defined his life, therefore he lived a self-restrained life: in asceticism.

The asceticism: penance, for the perfection of the soul. Systematic curbing and suppression of forces and desires considered inferior in the human.

– He, with 35 like-minded pious people together arrived in Cyprus, that to live in asceticism.

– He cured diseases

– the stories about him reached the other ascetics of the island

– the community expanded with 39 ascetics

– together they continued their journey to Turkey: Attalia (now Antalya)

– 24 joined the community

– God must be worshiped and glorified! – but the people glorified them, therefore the ascetic community of 98 people prayed to God. They asked God to show them a place, where they can live a restrained life in asceticism.

– 1300 – the ascetic community started from Turkey to Crete by ship

– they could not reach Crete due to a severe storm, so they docked on the island of Gavdos

– the storm passed after 24 days, when the ascetics continued on their way to Crete

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″]– God made John invisible, so they left the island without him.

– when the ascetics arrived in Crete: then they saw, that John was not with them

– the ascetics called to the hermit of St. John, from the coast of Crete: “to come, follow us!”

– John heard their call, and he prayed to God! He threw his cloak into the water, and after three hours he arrived in Crete. The cloak was his ship.

With his unique way of traveling, he showed: faith in God is stronger than anything![/swpm_protected]

They first settled near the village of Azogires Paleochoras: in the caves of Zoures and Characas

The caves are very difficult to reach.

Zoures Cave:

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″]  –  Located at an altitude of 535 meters

– rock wall is completely vertical

– people can only get up by climbing a few irons ladders[/swpm_protected]

Characas Cave:

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″] – Located at an altitude of 250 meters

– there is a ladder in poor condition for the last 20 meters[/swpm_protected]

WARNING!

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″]Approaching both caves is very dangerous right now!

– They preached the gospel to the inhabitants of Crete, from these caves

– John wanted to dedicate his life entirely to God. He wanted to live in prayer.

– therefore, he left the community, and started to look for a place, where he can be alone

– the others accepted his decision, and they prayed to God to give him a peaceful life[/swpm_protected]

– After then wandered on and settled in the cave of the Avlaki Gorge.

– He lived with fasting and prayer. It was in this cave that he found the coveted relationship with God that he was constantly seeking.

– the years, which he spent in asceticism weakened him, he was no longer able to straighten up

– on October 6 – when he crawled out to pick wild herbs, a hunter confused him with a beast. The hunter with his bow, wounded him to death.

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″]– John pulled himself back into his cave. The hunter followed, because he wanted to get his “booty”. He climbed into the cave: where to his great surprise, he saw John.

– John lay with his arms crossed.

– The hunter begged for his forgiveness! – He prayed for God’s forgiveness.

– The hermit of St. John forgave the hunter. He entrusted his soul to God, whom he had served for so many years.[/swpm_protected]

– in the pre-Christian era the cave already served as a sanctuary, signs of this were found:

– a marble altar preserved in the museum of the parish of Spilia

– a marble children’s head

– the cave, richly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, has a unique atmosphere

– if we enter the great hall, the church from the 15th century unfolds before us- services are held in the cave to this day

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″]– October 6. & 7. – Feast of St. John the Hermit

– on Christmas Eve, the birth of Christ is depicted, with real animals

– the basics of the old cells in 17-18. century

– on the left side of the cave is the crypt: this is where the saint hid from frequent visits by shepherds and farmers

– the small room is connected to this: this place was used as a secret school in the Ottoman era[/swpm_protected]