BARSANUFIO and GIOVANNI, ascetics. - B., also called Barsanupio or Barsanorio, but not to be confused with the namesake leader of the Barsanians (v.), was a holy monk who lived between the fifth and sixth centuries and died around the year 540. Originally from Egypt, he settled near Gaza in Palestine, where he led a penitential life with other celebrated monks, among them Giovanni “the prophet,” who followed his footsteps more closely. His works, together with those of the aforementioned disciple Giovanni, were edited by Nicodemo l'Agiorita and printed in Venice in 1816. No fewer than 369 letters by B. have been preserved, and 446 by Giovanni.
B. is venerated on 11 April in Oria (Brindisi), where his relics were transferred around 850; among the Easterners, on 6 February.
Even scantier are the biographical notices concerning G. τοῦ Σερίδου, so called from the name of the monastery in which he lived, but also called ὁ ἄλλος γέρον in order to distinguish him from his master B., styled ὁ μέγας γέρον. Along with others, G. had Doroteo as a disciple and seems to have died around the year 530.
Yet neither B. nor G., although ascetics and distinguished guides in the spiritual life, were priests.