Saint John Calabytes

Also known as

• John Calabites
• John Calibita
• John Kalabytes
• John the Hut-Dweller

Memorial

• 15 January

Profile

Born wealthy. Ran away from home as a child, and became a monk at Gomon on the Bosphorus at age 12. When he finally returned home as a beggar at age 18, his family did not recognize him. However, the did recognized that he was a holy man, and the family allowed him to live as a hermit in a small hut (a calybe in Greek) near their front door. Only on his death were they were informed of his real identity. His story has led to his being a symbol of homelessness, and how we may not recognize the humanity in the poor and homeless in our midst.

Born

• at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)

Died

• c.450 of natural causes

Representation

• beggar with a Gospel in his hand
• beggar revealing his identity to his parents on his death bed

Additional Information

• Abbé Stéphane Ansart
• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint John Calabytes“. Saints.SQPN.com. 14 January 2013. Web. 18 May 2013. <>