ABSTRACT
St Joannicius (\Iˆ·ÓÓ›ÎÈÔ )˜ was born in Bithynia in 754.1 He began life as a shepherd, but at about the age of 20 he enrolled in the imperial army. Originally favourable to iconoclasm, he became an iconophile about 795. After 20 years of military service as a sentinel (âÍÎÔ‡‚ÈÙˆÚ), he resigned from the army, becoming a monk on Mount Olympus. However, he did not remain there. He passed his time in peregrination, acquiring the reputation of a miracle worker.2 In old age, he returned to Mount Olympus, where he died a natural death on 3 November 846. His saintly qualities were recognized; he is commemorated in the Byzantine calendar on 3 November,3 or 4 November.4
