Changes

He is sometimes referred to as "[[John of Antioch]]," but that name more properly refers to the bishop of Antioch in A.D. 429-441, who led a group of moderate Eastern bishops in the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] controversy.

== Life ==

He was born in Antioch of noble parents: his father was a high-ranking military officer. His father died soon after his birth and so he was brought up by his Christian mother. He was [[baptism|baptized]] in 370 and [[tonsure]]d a [[reader]] (one of the [[minor orders]] of the Church). He began his education under a [[paganism|pagan]] teacher named Libanius, but went on to study [[theology]] under [[Diodore of Tarsus]] (one of the leaders of the later [[Antiochian School]]) while practising extreme asceticism. He was not satisfied, however, and became a [[hermit]] (circa 375) and remained so until poor health forced a return to Antioch.