John the Good (bishop of Milan)
John the Good | |
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Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
John the Good (
and his feast day is on January 2.Life
The reign of John the Good is remembered for the return of the bishop to the town of Milan after an exile of more than 70 years. Actually in 569, the Lombards invaded Northern Italy and conquered its center, Milan, which was recovering from the terrible Gothic War. The bishop of Milan, Honoratus escaped to Genoa and Honoratus' successors remained in Genoa.[2] Genoa was then a suffragan diocese of Milan but still under the control of the Byzantine Empire.
John the Good was born in the diocese of Genoa in the village of Recco (also the nearby town of Camogli claims the birth of John). It is not exactly known when he became bishop of Milan, but it is believed that his election was in consequence of the 641 conquest of Genoa by the Lombard's King Rothari.[1] John as bishop returned to reside in Milan. [3]
In 649, John was invited to participate to the Lateran Council, but he arrived in Rome when the council had already ended. He however subscribed all the documents issued by the council.[2]
Two are the main sources for John's life: the Catalogue of the Bishops of Milan (dated on about the 10th century) and a poetry in his honor (in
John died on 2 January according to the catalogue, or on 10 January according to the carme. The latter date became his
The body of John was initially buried in the little church of
Notes
- ^ ISBN 88-7030-891-X.(in Italian)
- ^ ISBN 88-7023-102-X.(in Italian)
- ISBN 978-0-7661-7269-2.
- ^ Biblioteca Ambrosiana, codex S 89 sup