BARSANUFIUS and GIOVANNI, ascetics. — B., also called Barsanuphius or Barsanorius, but not to be confused with the namesake leader of the Barsanian heresy (v.), was a holy monk who lived between the 5th and 6th centuries and died around the year 540. Originally from Egypt, he settled near Gaza in Palestine, where he led an ascetic life with other renowned monks, including Giovanni “the prophet,” who closely followed in his footsteps. Their works, along with those of the aforementioned disciple Giovanni, were edited by Nicodemus the Hagiorite and printed in Venice in 1816. No fewer than 369 letters of B. and 446 of Giovanni are preserved.
B. is venerated on April 11 in Oria (Brindisi), where his relics were translated around 850; on February 6 among the Eastern Churches.
Even fewer biographical details are known about G. (called TOU Σεφίδου from the name of the monastery where he lived, but also called ό άλλος γέφυρ to distinguish him from the master B., who was called ό μέγας γέφυρ). G., along with others, had Dorotheus as a disciple and seems to have died around the year 530.
However, neither B. nor G., though ascetics and illustrious guides of spiritual life, were priests.