Saint John was a native of Iberia and served as a counselor to the regional ruler, David the Curopalate. Moved by a deep love for God, he renounced the world and embraced the ascetic life, dedicating himself to the spiritual welfare of the monasteries of his homeland. He first joined the brotherhood of a monastery near his native region, later moved to a monastery on Mount Kolpa, and eventually settled on Mount Olympus, where he lived in silence and unceasing prayer. The holy and radiant figure of Saint Athanasius the Athonite inspired him to move to the Athonite peninsula, where he became a devoted disciple and close friend of the saint. After leaving the Monastery of Great Lavra, and with the support of Basil, son of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos, Saint John founded the glorious Holy Monastery of Iviron on the site of the smaller monastery of Clementine.
