Yeshu was born in the early 11th century at
Melitene, where he studied philology, philosophy, and religion, and later became a monk at a nearby monastery. He studied under Patriarch
John IX bar ʿAbdun, and served as his
syncellus (secretary). After the death of the patriarch John bar Abdun in 1057, Yeshu was elected and consecrated as patriarch of Antioch at
Amid by eastern bishops under the jurisdiction of the
maphrian, upon which he assumed the name John. Western bishops, who outnumbered the eastern bishops, disputed John's election, and elected Athanasius V as patriarch instead, and brought the issue to the Muslim rulers. John subsequently abdicated, allowing Athanasius to serve as patriarch until his death in 1063/1064, after which John was restored to the position. For most of his tenure as patriarch, John made his residence at Amid, and also resided for a time at
Harran and
Maypherqat, which were under Muslim control, as opposed to Melitene, so to avoid
eastern Roman persecution. Relations with the other
non-Chalcedonian religious leaders were strained during John's reign as the church came under criticism for its practices, and John sent a treatise to the
Armenian Catholicos Gregory II the Martyrophile in its defence. John also sent a letter to the
Coptic Pope Christodoulos of Alexandria to refute criticism of the practice of mixing of salt and oil with the
sacramental bread. He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death at Amid on 6 or 27 November 1072/1073. ==Works==