John the Harvester

Venerable John the Harvester of Calabria.

St. John was born in Sicily to a Christian mother held captive by the Saracens and escaped to Calabria, where he became a monk in the Greek monastery of Stilo. Tradition relates that he miraculously harvested a field for the peasants during a storm, earning the name Harvester.

He reposed in peace in the eleventh century, and his monastery in Calabria is still called by his name.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John the Harvester is commemorated on February 24. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 9 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on February 24

• 

  Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist

  Great Feast, Εύρεσις Κεφαλής Προδρόμου

  First and Second Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Forerunner.

  Name days: John, Ioannis, Yiannis, Prodromos

• Erasmus of the Kiev Caves

  Venerable, Έρασμος

  Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves.

  Name days: Erasmos, Erasmus

• Ethelbert of Kent

  Saint, Εθελβέρτος

  St. Ethelbert, King of Kent, first Christian king of the English.

• Boisil of Melrose

  Venerable, Βοϊσίλος

  Venerable Boisil, Abbot of Melrose in Scotland, teacher of St. Cuthbert.