In Tsargrad, during the reign of Leo the Great, there lived a wealthy military dignitary, Eutropius, with his wife Theodora. They had three sons, and the youngest, John, stood out among his peers for his intelligence and piety. He spent his time reading holy books and attending church services.
One day, a monk from the monastery of the 'Sleepless Ones' came to him and told him about the life of monks. John, wishing to leave the world and serve Christ, asked the monk to take him with him to the monastery. The monk promised to do so.
John asked his parents to buy him a Gospel, and they, rejoicing in his zeal, gifted him a beautiful copy. When the monk returned, John joyfully agreed to leave but feared that his parents would not let him go. He secretly asked them for gold, saying he wanted to treat his friends.
Having received the money, John and the monk set off on a ship to the monastery. The parents, not finding their son, wept bitterly. In the monastery, John was received with joy, but the abbot, seeing his youth, suggested that he first prove his zeal.
John, excelling in monastic endeavors, faced temptations from the devil, who instilled thoughts of his parents in him. The abbot, noticing his weakening, allowed him to visit his parents. John, praying, set off on his journey.
As he approached the house, he remained at the gate in the guise of a beggar, patiently waiting. The parents, not recognizing him, felt pity for the beggar and sent him food. John, remaining unnoticed, continued to pray and help other beggars.
After three years, seeing John's patience, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and announced his imminent death. John, calling a servant of his parents, asked him to tell his mother to come to him. She, hearing of his death, agreed to come.
When she arrived, John revealed his true identity to her. The parents, embracing him, wept with joy and sorrow. John passed away, leaving a testament to be buried in rags. The parents fulfilled his wish, and a church was built over his grave.
