Saint Giovanni Theristi, also known as Giovanni the Reaper or Giovanni the Harvester, was born between 995 and 1049 in Palermo, Italy. His mother was taken as a slave to Palermo by Saracen raiders while she was pregnant with Giovanni. Unfortunately, his father, Arconte di Cursano, a farmer, was killed during the raid. Despite the Saracen-controlled area lacking churches or clergy,...