Born in 525 in Palestine, St. John obtained at a very young age the surname Scholastic. At age sixteen he renounced all the advantages which the world promised him to dedicate himself to God in a religious state. He retired to Mount Sinai which from the time of the disciples of St. Antony and St. Hilarion had been always peopled by holy men. He received an extraordinary grace of healing the spiritual disorders of souls. Among others, a monk called Isaac was brought almost to the brink of despair by most violent temptations of the flesh. He addressed himself to St. John who perceived by his tears how much he underwent from that conflict and struggle. They prostrated themselves together on the ground in fervent supplication and from that time Isaac was left in peace. At age seventy five, forty of those years living in a hermitage, he was chosen abbot of Mount Sinai and superior-general of all the monks and hermits in the country. The people of Palestine and Arabia in the time of a great drought and famine made their application to him begging intercession with God in their behalf. His prayer was immediately recompensed with abundant rains.