Saint John Kolobos or the little in the medieval Eastern Christian world

Abstract

The paper presents extant writings about St. John Kolobos or the Little (c. 339 - c. 409), a monk who lived in a lavra in Scetis in the Nitrian Desert in Egypt. Attention is paid to his relics, which were transferred from Clysma near Suez to his monastery in the Nitrian Desert at the end of the eighth century. Basic data about the Monastery of St. John the Little, abandoned at the end of the fifteenth century, are presented. Preserved medieval representations of the saint are listed. Conclusions about his cult and depiction in art follow in the final part.

Keywords

• st. john kolobos or the little
• egypt
• byzantium
• middle ages
• cult
• representation