GIOVANNI of LYCOPOLIS, saint. – Hermit and wonderworker, called the “Seer of the Thebaid,” born at Lycopolis (present-day Assiut) around 300, died at the end of 394. At about forty years of age he withdrew to the nearby Mountain of the Wolves to lead a solitary life. His wondrous deeds were recorded by Evagrio and Palladio in the Vitae Patrum and the Historia Lausiaca.
Cassiano (De Inst. Mon., IV, 33, 4–6) praises his obedience (the episodes of the dry stick and the huge stone are related by s. Ignazio in his celebrated Lettera to the young Jesuits of Portugal). All the Martyrologies extol the spirit of prophecy that G. possessed after the thirtieth year of his eremitical life; but it is curious that none of the Greek historians relates G. to the emperor Teodosio, whose victories over the tyrant Massimo (388) and Eugenio (394) were foretold by this saint (s. Agostino, De Civit. Dei, V, 26). He died in the desert, praying on his knees, more than ninety years old, shortly before the death of the Emperor himself, likewise predicted by him. He is celebrated by the Copts on 17 October.