SPEAR: Syriac Persons Events and Relations

John of Ephesus, who was a monk in the Convent of John Urtaya, observed Thomas's ascetic practices and had many enlightening conversations with him. See factoid page

John of Ephesus found Thomas and Zota years later in the desert of Mendis by Mar Menas. Thomas's body was frail and sunburnt. He had dedicated his life to fasting, praying, so that by depriving the body he would purify the soul. See factoid page

John continued to ask the old man for his teaching. In frustruation, the old man left Amida. See factoid page

John of Ephesus reports that Bassian and Romanus both died in the household of a certain great and believing man. See factoid page

Abraham comes to Constantinople to petition John of Ephesus to become a monk. He experiences a period of probation before being accepted. See factoid page

After the death of John, Sosiana gave expensive clothing and textiles as well as silver dishes and chalices to John of Ephesus for the adornment of church altars. She gave the rest of her possessions to the poor. See factoid page

The story of Kawad's invasion was related to John of Ephesus years later when he was a white haired man, living in the monastery at Beth Gubrin. See factoid page

Another old man, named Paul of Arzen, related the history of the Convent of John Urtaya to John of Ephesus. See factoid page

Sosiana predicted her death to John of Ephesus, and she died just as she said. See factoid page

Mar Samuel gained distinction in the conflict of persecution. Mar Samuel went into exile in the district of Claudias where he took up residence in the Convent of the Huts. He related the story of the establishment of the Convent of John Urtaya to John of Ephesus. This occurred 536/7 A. Gr. 848 See factoid page

Leontius grew up with John of Ephesus from childhood. See factoid page

John prophesied that Christians would not be able to find ordaining bishops throughout the empire.After 529, John observed that potential priests could go to Alexandria,Constantinople without gaining ordination. See factoid page

John's mother and father visited the holy Maro and asked him to save John's life, as all of his brothers and sisters died in infancy. See factoid page

the monk who stole narrated his story, in great sorrow and humility, to John of Ephesus. And John comforted him, and advised the monk to go with him to the blessed man to ask for his repentance. See factoid page

While John was ordaining priests in the Church at Tralles , John of Ephesus administered the eucharist during the ordination service. John also accompanied John to an ordination service in Mar John in Ephesus. See factoid page

Abraham, Cyriac, Barhadbshabba, and Sergius helped John of Ephesus build ninety-two churches and ten monasteries in four provinces with the help of the heavenly power. See factoid page

John of Ephesus visited Harfat to learn about his asceticism and to urge him to moderate its severity, especially his use of heavy chains. See factoid page

John of Ephesus convinced Harfat that he did not need to wear chains as an act of penitence. He removed them and instead committed himself to double labors, a practice he continued until his death seven years later. See factoid page

John visited Theophilus and Maria in Egypt outside of Thella and received a blessing from them. See factoid page

Maro bid a certain brother to fetch lentils for the baby John to eat. See factoid page

John of Ephesus visited Sergius in his later years and received a blessing from him as he wept over what he stated was his unworthiness to serve Christ. Sergius continued to receive visitors in his old age, despite his illness. See factoid page

After his ordination Kashish traveled around Chios with John of Ephesus converting pagans to Christianity. See factoid page

John of Ephesus attempted to provide financial assistance to the poor holy man Priscus by sending a certain gentlemen to give a tremissis (gold coin). Priscus refused and ran away but finally relented and took one follis. See factoid page

Abraham gratified the spirit of John of Ephesus. See factoid page

John, who appeared dead, was revived by eating the lentils provided by Maro. See factoid page

Maro made John's mother and father promise to bring him back in two years to be raised in the monastery See factoid page

After two years, John's mother and father brought him to Maro to be raised in the monastery. See factoid page

While traveling in Asia Jacob Baradaeus, Eugene, and Conon ordained John as bishop of Ephesus. See factoid page

John of Ephesus attempted to provide assistance to the poor holy man Priscus by sending a certain gentlemen to give him a tunic and a cloak. See factoid page

Though Addai remained reclusive, John and one of the brothers discovered where he would be. As the men approached, Addai fled. John returned to the monastery to rest. They met Addai the next day. Perceiving that Addai wanted his privacy, John stopped pestering him, but simply asked for a blessing and a prayer. See factoid page

John describes the lengthy process by which men enter the monastery of Anonymous 3762. After one month of testing they may become penitents, after three months they many be partially tonsured and wear a limited monastic habit. Only after three years they may become monks, fully tonsured and wearing the complete habit. See factoid page

Caesaria requests to become anchorite. John of Ephesus denied her request due to old age and feebleness. See factoid page

Abbi warns John of Ephesus about purity and chastity. See factoid page

After many years of wandering, Leontius and Qashish joined the company of John of Ephesus at the Monastery of Yoḥannan Urṭaya and lived there for about twenty years until his death. See factoid page

Anonymous 3720 returned to Priscus and they discussed his mode of life: his poverty and his apparent madness. Priscus explained that he did these things to be left alone in order to pursue God. Anonymous 3720 promised only to reveal his secret to John of Ephesus. See factoid page

John of Ephesus was involved in bringing about the conversion from paganism to Christianity of eighty thousand people in the provinces of Asia, Caria, Phrygia, and Lydia. This involved the founding of ninety-eight churches and twelve monasteries and the conversion of twelve synagogues to churches. See factoid page

The old man continuously asked the archimandrite of the Amida convent for a dismissal. Curious, John asks the man about his eating, sleeping, and prayer habits. He eats and prays the way he does out of recognition of human sinfulness. See factoid page

Sworn to secrecy by Zacharias, John of Ephesus did not reveal his ascetic practices to others until after the saint had died. See factoid page

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