Portal:Brazil/Selected biography/12
João Teixeira de Faria (born June 24, 1942), known also as João de Deus (Portuguese pronunciation: [juˈɐ̃w̃ dʒi ˈdews]; "John of God"), is a medium and so-called "psychic surgeon" in Brazil. He is based in Abadiânia, a small town in the state of Goiás, southwest of Brasília. João de Deus was born João Teixeira de Faria in Cachoeira da Fumaça, Goiás. Not much is known about João's early life.
There are no records save those in the memories of his associates, and they differ widely. Even João himself is a poor source of precise details. His most widely known biography is The Miracle Man, written by, Robert Pellegrino-Estrich, who runs tours to Abadiânia and cannot be considered an unbiased source. João has no medical training and describes himself as a "simple farmer." João completed only two years of education and spent many years travelling from village to village in the states of Goias and Minas Gerais healing people and administering the local herbs to whoever turned up wherever he stopped.