Saint John the Short

Saint John the Short — "El-Qasir" in Arabic — was born around 339 AD near Lycopolis in Upper Egypt. He was small in stature and apparently not impressive to look at. He went to Wadi El Natrun as a young man to become a monk under the guidance of Abba Ammonas, a disciple of St. Anthony the Great.

The stories about John the Short are among the most charming and instructive in all of Coptic hagiography. His teacher once planted a dry stick in the sand and told John to water it every day — and John faithfully carried water from the river, a distance of several miles, every day for three years until the stick finally sprouted and became a tree. This was a lesson in obedience without question.

John became known for his complete self-forgetfulness and humility. When asked how one could make progress in the spiritual life, he said, "A man cannot see his own face in troubled water — but when the water is still, it becomes a mirror." His heart was so peaceful and so focused on God that it became clear and reflective of His presence. He was also known for his great love of hospitality — he once said he envied the angels not for their power but because they could serve God without ever sleeping.