113 years since the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the Romanian ascetic who sanctified the Holy Land

Thursday marks the 113th anniversary of the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the New Chozebite, who continued the tradition of ascetic life in the Holy Land at the very places where the Prophet Elijah, St. Anne, the Mother of the Theotokos, and St. George of Chozeba had lived as hermits.

Born on July 23, 1913, in the village of Crăiniceni, Botoșani County, Romania, the future saint received the name Ilie (Elijah) at Baptism. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by his grandmother, Maria, who nurtured in him a love for prayer and for the life of the Church.

In 1933, he entered the brotherhood of Neamț Monastery, where he learned the discipline of monastic life.

He completed his military service between 1934 and 1935 in Dorohoi, where he served as a medical orderly. The assignment reflected the obedience he had already undertaken at Neamț Monastery, where he had worked in the infirmary and learned to care for the sick under the guidance of Schema-monk Iov.

He was tonsured a monk at Neamț Monastery during the night of April 7-8, 1936, receiving the name John in honour of St. John the Baptist. The service was officiated by Bishop Nicodim Munteanu of Huși, who later became…