35. Mar Yohanan (St. John)

A king had an only son called Yohanan. When the boy was young, he used to enjoy praying with a monk, who used to come to visit from time to time. When the boy grew older, he wanted to leave home and go to live in a monastery with the monk. His parents did not allow it. He left secretly with the monk. They, however, had to return due to a storm. He told his parents that he was determined to leave. His father gave him a book of the Gospel as a parting gift. In the monastery, the boy became ill since he gave away half of his food to beggars. An angel appeared in the dreams of the abbot and of Yohanan giving instructions that Yohanan should return to his parents, since he did not have long to live. When he returned, he did not identify himself to his parents, who did not recognise him. Eventually, his mother identified him through the book of the Gospel he was holding and a birth mark. He requested that his mother build a church in his name when he died.