The martyr John lived in the 4th century and suffered for the Christian faith in the city of Merv, located in what is now Turkmenistan. In the 4th century, Merv was an important cultural and religious center, where Christianity continued to spread actively despite persecution. John received a martyr’s death together with other Christians during the Persian invasion, when the Persians were waging war in Central Asia.
His name was not originally recorded in the Church, but is first mentioned by Muslim writers and historians. Metropolitan Vladimir (Ikim) of Tashkent and Central Asia studied this question for a long time and carried out thorough research to confirm the historical existence of this saint. He appealed to the Commission for the Canonization of Saints in Moscow, asking that John be included in the Orthodox calendar. Now the Church honors the memory of John of Merv.
