Saint John was born John Maximovitch in 1651 in the city of Nezhino. He was the eldest of seven sons born to his father and mother, Maksim Vasilevich and Evphorosynia Maxsimovitch. He attended the Kiev-Mohyla Collegium. After graduating with honors from the academy, he remained there as a teacher of Latin. In 1680, he entered the Kiev Pechersk Lavra where he was tonsured a monk with the name John. Displaying a distinct ability in speaking, the brotherhood entrusted the young John with the obedience of preaching, as he revealed an exceptional talent of eloquence and graceful abilities in which he attached an especial significance to inward religious self-knowledge.