ABSTRACT
Following the death of his relative John Tornike [lovane T'ornik], and after twenty years on Athos.John set out secretly with his son Euthymios [Ep't'wme] and several disciples on the road for Spain, at the other end of the Mediterranean. He sent word to the astonished emperors who opposed his plan: ‘I was a poor layman in the world, bearer of every sin and I wished to go to a foreign land to save my soul and live a simple life. And how it happened I do not know, that T'ornik, my kinsman, came [to stay with me] and hence I found myself [immersed] in great conflicts and [confronted] with worldly mutiny; now I wish to rid myself of all of this and take care of my soul.’ 2
