Ioann (John) was only eight years old at the time. On the evening of June 11th10, when Fr. Mitrophan his father was killed, the Boxers split Ioann's slashed his shoulders and severed chopped off his nose, ears and toes. His brother Isaiah's bride managed to save him from death by hiding him in a latrine. In the morning he sat at the entrance without clothes and shoes, and when people asked "are you hurting?" he answered “it doesn't hurt." Boys scoffed at him, calling him a “child of demons." Shortly thereafter, he reposed.