John the Iberian
John the Iberian was a Georgian monk, who is venerated as a saint. His name refers to his origins from the Kingdom of the Iberians.
A member of the Georgian nobility, he was married and served as a military commander. However, he later became a monk in Bithynia and then traveled to Constantinople to rescue his son, Euthymius the Illuminator. Euthymius had been held as a hostage by the emperor.
John and his son attracted many followers, so they both retired to the monastery of Saint Athanasius on Mount Athos. They founded Iviron monastery with the help of John’s brother-in-law, John Thornikos, a retired general. John served as the first abbot of Iviron. Died in 1002.
