John I, pope and martyr - May 18th
St John I (d. 526, Ravenna, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
First Class Relics
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*St John I reigned as pope for less than three years. During his brief papacy he ardently supported orthodoxy despite intense pressures exerted by the Arian ruler of Italy, King Theodoric. Eventually the king had him arrested. Due to the poor treatment that he received while imprisoned he passed away in 526 AD. His body now rests in the crypt of this basilica.
