Venerable Xenophon, his wife Mary and their sons Arcadius and John

Xenophon and Mary were wealthy and noble citizens of Constantinople in the fifth century, known for their simplicity, kindness and generous almsgiving. They sent their sons John and Arcadius to study in Berytus (Beirut), but the ship was wrecked in a storm; the brothers were cast ashore in different places, each believing the other dead, and both became monks.

For years the parents had no news; when they learned of the shipwreck, Xenophon, already an old man, kept his hope in God and consoled his wife. On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they found both sons living in different monasteries, and the family was reunited. Thereafter Mary entered a convent and Xenophon, according to St Dimitry of Rostov, sold his property in Constantinople, gave the proceeds to the poor, freed his slaves and lived as a hermit. John and Arcadius withdrew into the desert and became known for wonderworking and discernment, and their parents too received the gift of miracles. The family is commemorated on 26 January (8 February, New Style).