John Cassian

Who they were

John Cassian, son of wealthy parents, became a monk at Bethlehem with his friend Germanus and then spent years among the holiest hermits of Egypt.

Settling near Marseilles, he was the first to bring the rules of Eastern monastic life to the West, and his writings did much to spread monasticism. He died about 435.

The miracles

He was never formally canonised, but St Gregory the Great regarded him as a saint and his feast is kept at Marseilles.

Why that counted as sanctity

A monk who brought the wisdom of the desert to the Western Church.

Connected on this site

• Evagrius Ponticus Saint Teacher
  “He was a teacher of many others, including John Cassian and Palladius of Galatia.” — Wikipedia
• Faustus of Riez Saint Pupil
• Benedict of Nursia Saint
  “Heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian (c.” — Wikipedia
• Caesaria of Arles Saint
  “She was born in a Gallo-Roman family and was trained at John Cassian's foundation in Marseilles.” — Wikipedia
• Caesarius of Arles Saint
  “Among those who exercised the greatest influence on Caesarius were Augustine of Hippo, Julianus Pomerius, and John Cassian.” — Wikipedia