Venerable John Cassian the Roman

Venerable John Cassian the Roman (c. 360 – c. 435) was a renowned Christian ascetic, theologian and writer, one of the founders of monasticism in the West. He was born, most likely, in the region of Scythia Minor (modern Dobruja). Around 380 he traveled to Palestine, then to Egypt, where he spent about seven years among the desert fathers, absorbing the experience of Eastern monasticism. After the persecution of the Origenist monks he withdrew to Constantinople, where St. John Chrysostom ordained him deacon. Around 415 he settled in Massilia (Marseille) in Gaul, where he founded two monasteries — one for men and one for women — modeled on Eastern communities. He wrote "The Institutes" and "The Conferences," transmitting the wisdom of the Egyptian fathers to Western monks, plus a treatise against Nestorianism. His memory is kept only once every four years — February 29 (Old Style) in leap years, or February 28 in ordinary years — always falling on March 13 New Style.