St. John of Egypt

St. John of Egypt was one of the most renowned hermits of the Egyptian desert in the fourth century, honored as the "Seer of the Thebaid" for his gift of prophecy and discernment. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, but drawn to the solitary life he placed himself under the guidance of an old ascetic and, after years of training in obedience, withdrew to a hermitage on a cliff near Lycopolis, where for the last decades of his life he lived walled up in his cell.

Through a small window he counseled the many who sought him out, and God granted him such insight into hearts and future events that even the Emperor Theodosius sent to consult him about the outcome of his wars, receiving true answers. Though he lived in extreme austerity, fasting and never eating cooked food, he was known for his cheerfulness and gentle wisdom. He died around the year 394, at a great age, and his memory is kept on 27 March.