Changes

John stayed in Pepleu for a number of years until he felt within himself that it was time to confess his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ publicly by petitioning the Ayyubite king to grant him a pardon to officially return to his Christian faith. So he sold what he had and gave it to hischildren, whom he entrusted to the care of people from his village before leaving to Cairo.

On the his way to Cairo, he visited a [[priest]] who advised him to first confer with the Coptic [[Pope]] at first. But he John instead went to Abu-Shaker, the Coptic physician of the King, El-Kamel, son of King El-Adel. Abu-Shaker, tried to persuade him not to go to the king, but rather flee to another country where he can practise his faith freely. He told the saint, "these people are very evil and if you reveal a word in this manner before them and perhaps you did not endure in some trials, then we shall be inshames." But our saint quietly continued on his way with the same determination. He stayed in Cairo, writing letters to the king, asking for his pardon or the sword's blade if he would not grant such pardon. Of course, no one answered his letters. He later attended a festival for St. George outside of Cairo in a village called Ponmonros. Upon meeting the priest of the [[church]], he received the first encouragement for what he was about to do.

On But our saint quietly continued on his way with the following day he met same determination. He stayed in Cairo, writing letters to the king as he was riding , asking for his horse in public. He asked El-Kamel publicly for the pardon or to be purified by the edge of the sword's blade if he would not grant such pardon. Such words at that age seemed to the king to be that of Of course, no one answered his letters. He later attended a drunkard. So he ordered him to be jailed festival for three days to sober upSt. The news George outside of his petition and arrest spread Cairo in the countryside like wild firea village called Ponmonros. The Coptic government officials were alarmed and asked Abu-Shaker to meet the saint. This second Upon meeting with Abu-Shaker occurred on the first day priest of his detainment. A similar conversation occurred, with Abu-Shaker offering the possibility of a conditional pardon from the king. But St. John quietly persisted in his determination. As Abu-Shaker was leaving[[church]], he gave his guards some money to protect received the saint. At that first night, encouragement for what he was also summoned by the king. There he was offered riches and safe haven out of the country where he can freely practise Christianity. All this was contingent on him confessing publicly that he is a Muslim. This was also not acceptable about to the saint. So he was put back in jail for the remainder of the three daysdo.

On the morning following day he met the king as he was riding his horse in public. He asked El-Kamel publicly for the pardon or to be purified by the edge of the sword. Such words at that age seemed to the king to be those of a drunkard. So he ordered him to be jailed for three days to sober up. The news of his petition and arrest spread in the fourth countryside like wild fire. The Coptic government officials were alarmed and asked Abu-Shaker to meet the saint. This second meeting with Abu-Shaker occurred on the first dayof his detainment. A similar conversation took place, with Abu-Shaker offering the possibility of a conditional pardon from the king. But St. John quietly persisted in his determination. As Abu-Shaker was leaving, he gave his guards some money to protect the saint. At that first night, John was also summoned before by the king in . There he was offered riches and safe haven out of the marketplacecountry where he can freely practise Christianity. There All this was contingent on him confessing publicly that he is a Muslim. This was also not acceptable to be tried the saint. So he was put back in jail for the sin remainder of wanting to be a Christian again!the three days.

The day On the morning of the trial coincided with a major event. It seems that a naval parade was under way. This brought people from nearly every known nation, rankfourth day, and profession. John he was brought summoned before the king amid in the customery noise that one would expect from such a gatheringmarketplace. There, the king made another attempt to dissuade the saint from his intentions by such lucrative offers as royal gifts, money, and high government appointment. The reponse he was made in the same polite way that the saint had done before: either to give him back his faith or purify him by be tried for the edge "sin" of the sword.wanting to be a Christian again!

The day of the trial coincided with a major event. A naval parade was under way and this brought people from nearly every known nation, rank, and profession. John was brought before the king amid the customery noise that one would expect from such a gathering. There, the king made another attempt to dissuade the saint from his intentions by such lucrative offers as royal gifts, money, and high government appointment. The reponse was made in the same polite way that the saint had done before: either to give him back his faith or purify him by the edge of the sword. The king took the advice of his chief justice and his Elder of Elders, the chief religious cleric. The latter suggested, on religious grounds according to Islamic Shari'a law, the punishment of beheading; and the king agreed. However he drafted the services of a mamluke Mamluke [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluk] knight, named Philim, to use undeadly force to persuade the saint to abandon his firm stand. This Philim, a European Christian who had converted to Islam, failed in his mission. He eventually was ordered by the king to carry on the Elder of Elders ' sentence. The gallantry of the saint apparently made Philim nervous enough to fail to completey sever the head from the body.