John of the Sedre was a 7th-century Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch who led his church from 631 until 648. Born in the village of Beth ‘Ellaya, he was trained in theology, Syriac, and Greek at a monastery. He is widely recognized for his diplomatic efforts to reunite non-Chalcedonian Christians across the Roman and Sasanian empires. Known for composing various prayers of supplication, he earned his distinctive epithet. He served his community during the significant period of the Muslim conquest of the Levant.