MEMORIAL: MAY 18
Pope St. John I was born in the 6th century in Tuscany, Italy. At that time the western region was under the rule of the Goth’s whose leader Theodoric was amicable toward Western Christianity even though he supported the heresy of Arianism (stated that Jesus was not divine, but created). When John I became pope, he reunited the Eastern and Western which had split 35 years prior. He also applied the Alexandrian computation of Easter’s date.
When Justin I (Roman emperor of Constantinople) denounced Arianism strongly, creating animosity between the East and West. John I and a delegation was sent to Justin I by Theodoric to avoid war. John I and his group of delegates were generally successful, but upon his return to the west, John I was thrown in prison because he was suspected of conspiring with Justin I. John I died in prison because of his treatment there and was proclaimed a martyr.
