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Little is known of John's early life. He was born in Alexandria to Christian parents but the date of his birth is unknown. He became a [[monk]] at the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great in the [[monasticism|monastic]] area of northern Egypt known as the Nitrian Desert.
After the repose of Patr. [[Athanasius II of Alexandria|Athanasius II]] on [[September 29]], 496, John was elected his successor against his wishes as [[Pope]] and Patriarch of Alexandria. He was the first [[bishop]] for the [[see]] of Alexandria to be chosen from among the monks of the Egyptian desert monasteries rather than from the educated [[clergy]] of Alexandria. While he was patriarch, John was able to obtain gifts of wheat, wine, and oil from the emperor for his former [[monastery]].
He was an opponent of the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon and held [[communion]] with those who accepted the [[Henoticon]] of emperor [[Zeno (emperor)| Zeno]] without having formally imposed an [[anathema]] on decisions of Chalcedon. Through such a maneuver he kept the church of Alexandria in peace although the schism with those who opposed both the Chalcedon Council and the Henoticon continued to grow.
