John XII of Antioch

John XII Yeshu was the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1208 until his death in 1220.

He became a monk at the Monastery of the Akhsnoye (Stranger Ascetics) on the Sacred Mountain of Edessa where he became known for his asceticism.

Yeshu was elevated to priesthood before 1191 and later moved to the Shiro Monastery to study Syriac and calligraphy.

Yeshu was ordained patriarch on 31 August 1208 and upon which he took the name John and was frequently referred to as John the Stranger Scribe (Syriac:Yuhanon Akhsnoyo Kothubo), referring to his stay at the Monastery of the Stranger Ascetics.

John administered the Syriac Orthodox Church for 12 years until his death in 1220.