John the Russian was an Orthodox Christian slave born around 1690 in the Cossack Hetmanate. Captured during the Russo-Turkish War while serving in the army of Peter the Great, he was sold into slavery in the Ottoman Empire. Despite facing mockery and hardship for his refusal to convert to Islam, he gained the respect of his master through his humility and diligence. He lived as a groom in Ürgüp, where he was known for his steadfastness in faith and his kind-hearted nature toward others.
Life in servitude
While serving his master, John maintained a strict life of prayer and fasting. He frequently visited a cave church to pray and receive Holy Communion. He famously refused an offer of freedom, believing his life as a slave was divinely ordained for his salvation. His reputation for holiness grew after a miracle involving a dish of pilau, which supposedly appeared in his master's room in Mecca, leading many to view him as a holy man.
Death and veneration
John died on 9 June 1730 after receiving Holy Communion. His relics were originally kept in Cappadocia but were moved to the island of Euboea following the Greek population exchange in 1924. He is venerated in both Orthodox and Catholic traditions. Devotees often seek his intercession for those suffering from cancer or for the healing of sick children.