Newest Orthodox Saint To Be Canonised in Palestine Sunday (Revised) - St.John the New Chozebite

John the hermit,a twentieth century Romanian-born monk,will be canonised tomorrow as St.John the New Chozebite by His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.Thousands of pilgrims from Romania and a delegation from the Romanian Orthodox Church are expected to attend the Divine Liturgy at the St.George Chozeba Monastery in the austere Wadi Qelt setting.*
John the hermit was born in 1913.In 1937,he journeyed to Palestine,first living in the ancient Mar Saba monastery near Jerusalem,before retreating to a cave near the Wadi Qelt monastery.He died in 1960.Several miracles of healing have been attributed to him.His relics are enshrined in the St.George Chozeba Monastery.John the Hermit's body is well-preserved to this day.*
The name Wadi Qelt refers to a valley with a stream that has its source near Jerusalem and is a tributary of the Jordan River.The St.George Chozeba Monastery,which is under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem,is built along a sheer rock face amid striking geology.It is a well regarded,if somewhat rugged,hiking destination.