John Theristus
Encyclopedia
John Theristus was an Italian Benedictine
monk, called Theristus or “Harvester”.
He was of Calabrian
lineage, born in Sicily
. John's Calabrian
mother had been captured by the Saracens and brought to Sicily
. He contrived to escape to Calabria
while still a child, and there he became a Benedictine
. He helped to miraculously harvest a large crop ahead of destructive weather, saving the locals from starvation, and gaining the title attributed to him. There he remained until his death of natural causes, in 1129.
The monastery of San Giovanni Theristis is entitled to him.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk, called Theristus or “Harvester”.
He was of Calabrian
Calabrian
Calabrian may refer to:* Calabrian languages, the languages and dialects spoken in Calabria* Calabrians, the people of Calabria, southern Italy...
lineage, born in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. John's Calabrian
Calabrian
Calabrian may refer to:* Calabrian languages, the languages and dialects spoken in Calabria* Calabrians, the people of Calabria, southern Italy...
mother had been captured by the Saracens and brought to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. He contrived to escape to Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
while still a child, and there he became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
. He helped to miraculously harvest a large crop ahead of destructive weather, saving the locals from starvation, and gaining the title attributed to him. There he remained until his death of natural causes, in 1129.
The monastery of San Giovanni Theristis is entitled to him.