John

Also known as: Abbot John · Family: Roman Church · Role: archbishop of Arles · First appears: Book IV · Chap. I

John, also known as Abbot John and identified as archbishop of Arles, received Vitalian’s letters of recommendation for Theodore and Hadrian, but detained them until Ebroin gave them leave to go. Around 678, Pope Agatho commissioned him to investigate the state of the Church in Britain. With Benedict, he taught singing and reading at a monastery and recorded the yearly liturgy: “The Abbot John did as he had been commanded by the Pope.” On his return, he fell sick soon after crossing the sea and died; his friends carried his body to Tours, where he was honourably buried.

Around 684, after the death of Bosa, John was appointed bishop of York. At the monastery of Heriburg, he prayed over and blessed Quoenburg, after which she was found in better health. Hilda’s monastery also produced John among the men who later became bishops. In the account of Wilfrid’s appeal, John is named as an Apostolic Pope who heard his defence and wrote to Ethelred and Aldfrid seeking Wilfrid’s restoration to his bishopric.

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 678 · Pope Agatho commissioned John to investigate the English Church’s faith and report to Rome.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII · 📍 Britain)
  • With: Pope Agatho
  • “gave this matter in charge to the most reverend Abbot John, then appointed to go to Britain.”
• c. 678 · John taught singing and reading to the monastery’s singers and recorded the yearly liturgy.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII)
  • With: Benedict
  • “The Abbot John did as he had been commanded by the Pope, teaching the singers of the said monastery the order and manner of singing and reading aloud, and committing to writing all that was requisite throughout the whole course of the year for the celebration of festivals”
• c. 678 · John fell sick and died while returning to his own country.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII)
  • “But in his return to his own country, soon after crossing the sea, he fell sick and died”
• c. 678 · John’s friends carried his body to Tours, where he was honourably buried.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII · 📍 Tours)
  • “his body, for the sake of St. Martin, in whose monastery he presided, was by his friends carried to Tours, and honourably buried”
• c. 684 · John was appointed bishop of York after Bosa’s death.(Book V · Chap. III · 📍 York)
  • “upon the death of Bosa, a man of great sanctity and humility, was, in his place, appointed bishop of York”