John Kolovos

Venerable John the Short of Scetis, disciple of Abba Ammoes and teacher of obedience.

Saint John Kolovos, called the Short or the Dwarf, was one of the great Desert Fathers of Scetis in Egypt in the fourth and fifth centuries. He was a disciple of Abba Ammoes and later the spiritual father of many monks.

The best-known story of his obedience relates that he watered a dry stick daily at his elder's command until it bore fruit. Many of his sayings are preserved in the Apophthegmata.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John Kolovos is commemorated on November 9. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 22 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on November 9

• Onesiphoros the Apostle

  Apostle, Ονησιφόρος

  Holy Apostle Onesiphoros.

  Name days: Onisiforos

• 

  Nektarios of Aegina

  Hierarch, Νεκτάριος

  St. Nektarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentapolis, wonderworker.

  Name days: Nektarios, Nectarios, Nectarius, Nektaria

• Matrona of Constantinople

  Holy Woman, Ματρώνα η Οσία

  Venerable Matrona of Perge, who lived disguised as a monk and later founded a convent in Constantinople.

• Theoktiste of Lesbos

  Holy Woman, Θεοκτίστη η Λεσβία

  Venerable Theoktiste of Lesbos, who lived alone for thirty-five years on the island of Paros.

  Name days: Theoktisti, Theoktiste, Theoctista

• Eustolia and Sopatra

  Holy Woman, Ευστολία και Σωπάτρα

  Venerable Eustolia and Sopatra, nuns of Constantinople.

• Symeon Metaphrastes

  Venerable, Συμεών ο Μεταφραστής

  Venerable Symeon Metaphrastes, compiler of the lives of the saints.

• Euthymios and Neophytos of Docheiariou

  Venerable, Ευθύμιος και Νεόφυτος οι Δοχειαρίτες

  Venerable Euthymios and Neophytos, founders of the Docheiariou monastery on Mount Athos.