Great-great-cousin of John Olenevsky - about miracles and the life of the saint

Ivan Vasilyevich Kalinin, Olenevsky
(1854 - 1951), priest, confessor Memory May 18 - the day of the discovery and transfer of relics and glorification in 2001 (Penz.), July 24, at the Cathedral of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church

Born on August 5, 1854 in the village of Olenevka, Penza district, Penza province. Mother - peasant Ksenia Ivanovna Kalinina, father unknown; He received his patronymic on behalf of his godfather, probably his uncle Vasily Ivanovich. His birth was foretold by wandering monks who said: “A saint will be born in this place.” From a young age, the boy was different from his peers. He never ate meat, played, baptized, married, buried, buried, sculpted churches, crosses from clay at the spring, about which he said: “I was born and the spring was born.”

He studied at the zemstvo school of his village Olenevka. He had poor health, but earned his living by doing small crafts - knitting scarves and mittens, shoemaking. From a young age he got up at night to pray, prayed with tears, and limited himself in food. He lived with his mother, and then with his widowed sister, in a small old house near the local Vvedenskaya Church, where he helped the priest as an altar boy, from the age of seven he read, sang and canoned in the choir. After the death of his sister, he took care of four nephews.

Even in his youth, Ivan received a blessing for spiritual achievement from the blessed old woman Feoktista. As a young man he led an ascetic life, wandered to holy places, and when, returning, he told people about Kyiv, Athos, the Holy Land, and they, admiring and envious of him, he consoled them: “I am alone, I live like a monk, and you have families.” , children, household. You go to church, here you have both Kyiv and Jerusalem.”

During the First World War, people came to him with the question: is he alive, how should he be remembered?
He, hiding his spiritual gifts, answered briefly or allegorically. To whom he will say: “Remember for the repose,” to whom: “Alive, he will come,” and to whom: “I got lost.” And to one woman, who was coming to him with the same question - how to commemorate, he himself came out to meet him, saying: “Run quickly to the station, meet your husband.” Before the revolution, Olenevka was the richest village with a strong economy. But in a storm of hard times, all this was destroyed. Ivan's old house also burned down. The parishioners themselves built him a new house under an iron roof.

In 1920, at the age of 65, he was ordained a celibate deacon by Archbishop John (Pommer) in the Penza Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

He served outside the staff at the Olenevskaya Church. As a clergyman he was deprived of voting rights. Father John was widely known; many sought to receive spiritual guidance or healing from illnesses from him. In 1924, a slander campaign was launched against him in the local press. As a result, his house was taken away from him, and he lived with relatives or spiritual children in neighboring villages.

In 1930, Deacon John moved to a small cell house built for him by his children.
He lived in it until his death. In 1930, after the arrest of the rector, the Olenevsky Vvedensky Church was closed, and Fr. John began to serve as a deacon in the Trinity Church in the village of Solovtsovka, as well as in the church in the village of Nikolaevka. In June of the same year, he, together with the clergy and parishioners, prevented the capture of the Trinity Church by renovationists, led by renovationist Archbishop Nikolai Rozanov, who arrived in Solovtsovka.

April 8, 1932 Fr. John was arrested. Involved in the group case of the “counter-revolutionary organization of clergy “True Orthodox””

together with a large group of rural clergy of the Penza diocese. He was accused of “campaigning through visiting pilgrims”, of “sowing religious infection and carrying out hidden work aimed at disrupting the activities of the Soviet government.” During interrogation, he refused to determine which direction in the Orthodox Church he belongs to. He stated that during the service he commemorates the Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Peter (Polyansky) and Bishop Kirill (Sokolov) of Penza, but knows nothing about Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) and Bishop Dimitri (Lyubimov) of Gdov.

On May 14, 1932, the Special Troika at the Plenipotentiary Representation of the OGPU in the Middle Volga Territory was sentenced to deportation outside the region for three years, but on May 22 he was released on his own recognizance.

Father John returned to live in Olenevka. Penza clergy used his advice on organizing assistance to the poor, and were interested in his opinion on how to relate to various kinds of self-proclaimed “prophets.”

On January 30, 1934, Father John was detained and placed in prison, but the next day he was released on his own recognizance. During the investigation, he testified: “The people consider me to be a righteous man and a seer, I did not dissuade them from this... To everyone who came to me with complaints or for advice, I gave this advice, reassured them and called for patience.”

On February 26, the case against Fr.
John was terminated “due to his illness and old age.”
Contrary to government restrictions, Fr. John continued to receive those who sought his advice and guidance. He served in Solovtsovka, and after the church there was closed in 1935, he went to serve in the Assumption Church in the village of Knyazevka.

On October 24, 1936, following a denunciation about the reading of spiritual poems after the service, he was arrested and placed in the district prison of the village of Kondol, then in the prison hospital. On November 28 he was transported to prison in Penza. He was accused of “spreading rumors about himself as a “perceptive old man,” and the visits of his believers to a number of villages served as an opportunity for him to incite distrust in the Soviet system.”
At the trial he said:
“I don’t plead guilty.
People came to me with grief to talk. I didn’t say anything to anyone about Soviet power.” On March 19, 1937, a visiting session of the Special Collegium of the Kuibyshev Regional Court sentenced him to six years in prison. However, on May 26, 1937, at the request of his cousin, Fr. John, People's Commissar of Justice of the Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic G.N. Kalinin, the case was reviewed by a special board of the Supreme Court of the USSR. As a result, the sentence was overturned. The seriously ill elder, released in the summer, lived in Penza with his spiritual children, and by the end of the summer he returned to Olenevka, but for fear of arrest he was not accepted by his cousin. Crying: “Persecution everywhere... and relatives...”, barely moving his legs, he wandered to the village of Elizavetino, taking only a staff and an epitrachelion. Only two years later was Father Deacon able to return to his native Olenevka.

In October 1945, believers achieved a decision to open the previously closed Trinity Church in the village of Solovtsovka. On September 2, 1946, the temple was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Mikhail (Postnikov) of Penza. During the liturgy, the bishop ordained Fr. John as priest.

The last years of his life he was revered as an elder; he received pilgrims every day, showing the gift of insight, spirituality, healing and consolation.
He gave short advice and instructions, full of deep meaning, and healed the sick. Not only Orthodox Christians, but also local Muslim Tatars treated Fr. John with deep respect and often turned to him for advice. Father did not eat fish or meat, he prayed on his knees at night, and slept in a coffin. He continued to serve on holidays in the Solovtsov Trinity Church, which displeased the commissioner of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, who demanded that the diocesan authorities “stop these violations.” On March 26, 1951, the elder was severely beaten by unknown assailants. He foresaw the day of his death.

He died on August 6, 1951, at 7 a.m. Before his death, Fr. John received the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The funeral service in the Solovtsov Trinity Church was served by four priests. Coffin with the body of Fr. John was carried in his arms from Solovtsovka to the cemetery in Olenevka, accompanied by a large procession of believers. Place for his burial. John chose himself during his lifetime.

On August 5-6, 1996 [1], with the blessing of Archbishop of Penza Seraphim (Tikhonov), the opening of the coffin of Fr.
John, then he was transferred to the territory of the Solovtsov church and buried behind the altar. On December 27, 2000, by determination of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the name of Fr. John was included in the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. On May 31, 2001, his relics were transferred to the St. Sergius Church in the village of Solovtsovka. His grave has been preserved in the cemetery of neighboring Olenevka, and in the village itself there is the cell of Fr. John.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 4

Land of the Russian prayer book, / preacher of repentance and life in Christ, / from his youth, in labor and fasting, he was faithful, / in a time of great oppression and hardship from the godless, you endured / and to all You had a merciful heart for the afflicted,/ Our Father John./ / Hasten even now to help us, who honor you with love.

Kontakion, tone 2

Today the land of Penza glorifies John the Most Wonderful,/ in the host of new martyrs of the Russian Church, who has shone forth./ Through His prayers, O Christ God,// save Thy faithful people.

Spanish John (Kalinin), Olenevsky, priest

Prayer to the Hiero-Confessor John, the Wonderworker of Olenevsky Oh, great, glorious confessor of Christ and wondrous miracle-worker, Our Father John! A fair faster, a virgin, a perspicacious, a wise teacher and a quick healer. Look upon us, the orphans and burdened with many sins, heal passions, illnesses and grave sorrows, pacify our lives and protect us with your prayers from the fierce Belial and every adversary who rises up against us. To her, Holiness of God, hear our prayer offered to you with faith and love, and do not despise us who demand your intercession, be the protector and patron of your people, this city, and every city and power of Russia. We place our hope in you, glorious miracle worker, for you yourself proclaimed to your flock: I will not forget whoever comes to me, I will help him with my prayers at the throne of the King of Glory, where you abide with your angels, interceding for our land, glorifying God in the Trinity , To Him be glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen.

Akathist to the Holy Confessor John, the Wonderworker of Olenevsky

Kontakion 1

Chosen servant of Christ, warm prayer book and wonderful confessor, Our Father John. Having loved from a young age an undefiled life, he conquered the sadness of our land, and confessed the faith of Christ without fear before the atheists. The most wonderful miracle worker appeared, giving healing and consolation to all who suffered. We offer unworthy songs of praise to touch our hearts: Rejoice, our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Ikos 1

You desired a life equal to the angels from your youth, preparing everything for yourself to serve the Lord with fasting and prayer. Revealing your soul as a holy abode for sad orphans and widows, interceding and instructing those who come to you on the path of salvation: Rejoice, foretold before birth by the wandering monks; Rejoice, prophecy: This one is truly great among the faithful, revealed by his life. Rejoice, having prepared your soul through fasting and prayer as a holy abode for those who mourn; Rejoice, thou who loves spiritual poverty more than the sweets of the world. Rejoice, you who spent the youth day and night in prayer to the Lord; Rejoice, thou that negligent Christians may go to the holy temple with understanding. Rejoice, having served diligently as a church clerk from a young age; Rejoice, you who have given endless mercy to orphans and widows. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 2

Having a mind enlightened by grace, you are a child who invites people to go to the Church of God. Remembering immutably the Divine words of the Savior: Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them. We all call to him with tenderness: Alleluia. Ikos 2

The power of the Most High enlightened your soul, and you humbly knew the will of the Lord, learning from a young age to live a strict life, leaving the charm of this world and incessantly thinking about heavenly things. We thank God and praise you: Rejoice, you who have acquired humility from a young age; Rejoice, imitating the great saints with constant feat. Rejoice, having humbly recognized the Will of the Lord within yourself; Rejoice, for the sake of the Lord you have tasted no more meat or sweets. Rejoice, all the red of the world, imputed to nothing; Rejoice, you who as an orphan placed all your hope in God. Rejoice, you who have shown good love for the temple of God; Rejoice, you who delight those who pray with the euphonious voice. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 3

Seeing your holy life as the fierce enemy of the human race, Our Father John, you constantly do dirty tricks to make your relatives angry at you, and you drive you out and don’t give you shelter, but you are like the wonderworker of Sarov, praying for those who offend you, chanting thanks to God: Alleluia. Ikos 3

Hungry for the zealous feat, you went through the whole path of a mournful ascetic life: fasting, night vigil, shedding tears endlessly. He himself was strange and received the orphan boy, instructing him and feeding him with his labors. In the same way, we all, marveling at your mercy, cry out to you: Rejoice, victorious through the love of Christ the wiles of the devil; Rejoice, you who pleased God with your glorious life. Rejoice, you who healed the mortal wound with the sign of the cross; Rejoice, you who earnestly prayed for those who offend and persecute Him. Rejoice, for those who inflict wounds on you: God is with them, constantly answering; Rejoice, you who shed flaming tears in prayer for the whole world. Rejoice, having shown unfailing mercy to the orphan boy; Rejoice, having generously given from your labors to the poor. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 4

Having acquired the love of Christ with all your heart, raising your mind to the heights, you loved sweetness and peace in prayer, and directed your path further into the wilds of the forests, so that there you could continually cry out in silence to the Creator God: Alleluia. Ikos 4

The land of Penza preaches your deeds and miracles, Our God-bearing Father John. I hide your holy life from the eyes of men and rush into the desert, looking for the priceless beads of Christ, you suffered from evil wounds, for I eat you and knit to the tree. You earnestly pray for them and answer meekly: God is with them. With the same radiance of your deed, we magnify you with joy and reverence: Rejoice, you who have made our land fragrant with your labors; Rejoice, you who have acquired the grace of Christ with all your heart. Rejoice, imitating the Sarov wonderworker by your life; Rejoice, you who most ardently sought the sweetness of heaven in prayer. Rejoice, diligently directing your mind to heaven; Rejoice, hiding your deeds from human sight. Rejoice, you who constantly cried out to God in temptations; Rejoice, having placed all your trust in Him in troubles and sorrows. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 5

Great in life and great in miracles, you appeared like the thorn of paradise, fragrant with your wondrous deeds throughout our entire land, giving endlessly suffering consolation and healing to the sick, singing with gratitude to God: Alleluia. Ikos 5

Great sanctuary, blazing and shining with spiritual gifts, you were a most remarkable miracle worker. When, with the touch of your hand, the demoniac was healed and the holy water and oil left the ulcers of the sick. Marveling at this God's favor for you, we sing to you: Rejoice, quick healer and wonderful helper in troubles; Rejoice, having driven out the spirit of malice with the touch of your hand. Rejoice, by anointing the wounds of the afflicted with oil; Rejoice, having glorified the Lord through many miracles in your life. Rejoice, you are an unquenchable sanctuary through fasting and prayer; Rejoice, guided by the Holy Spirit all the days of your life. Rejoice, before the throne of the Almighty I warmly intercede for us; Rejoice, vigilant prayer book to God for us. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 6

Grace from God has been given to you: the power to trample upon the enemy and heal every ailment and illness in people, to reveal to those who come to you the thoughts of the heart and to proclaim the things to come, wondrous miracles and the signs of God in the Trinity, singing to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 6

In zeal for God, you labored gloriously, becoming like the holy saint of God, the great wonderworker Saint Nicholas and the Venerable Seraphim. Truly and affirming this, the Lord reveals to people that in a vision we will glorify you in your cell, standing with them in the robes of equals. We, rejoicing in God’s thought for you, cry out to you with love: Rejoice, jealous of the great wonderworker in your wondrous labors; Rejoice, in the vision standing with the saints of God in the robes of equals. Rejoice, you who zealously care for the Penza flock with love; Rejoice, for those who seek the future as if the present one foretold. Rejoice, you who guide those who come to you on the path of salvation; Rejoice, you who saved those perishing in the abyss of sin through prayer. Rejoice, you who affirmed faith in the Providence of God for the faint-hearted; Rejoice, you who revive sinners to correction and repentance. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 7

The enemy of our salvation has raised a storm of evil, to persecute the faith of Christ in times of trouble and to torment the faithful people of the Orthodox Church from the atheists. Exactly and clearly, for the sake of the weak, the Lord is unshakable, like a pillar and confirmation, having come to earth to confess God in the flesh, singing to Him with thanksgiving: Alleluia. Ikos 7

Enduring tribulations and hardships with your beloved flock, you undauntedly confessed your holy faith, even to the point of prison bonds, our holy confessor Father John, revealing the image and rule to your flock. In the same way we pleasingly cry out to you: Rejoice, persecuted in this time of trouble for the faith of Christ; Rejoice, you who joyfully endured the bonds of prison for Christ. Rejoice, thou who humbly endured wounds and strangulations; Rejoice, confessor of Christ, God-wise and perspicacious. Rejoice, having destroyed the power of the enemy with your meekness; Rejoice, indestructible adamante of faith. Rejoice, fearless priestly confessor; Rejoice, unshakable pillar of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 8

People are possessed by malice, having seen your praiseworthy deeds, they raised up a fight against you and put you to the test, when the guards came to your cell to take you away. You told one of them: In the morning they will bury you, and so it was. We glorify God with joy and sing to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 8

Without realizing godlessness, the great wonderworker appeared before them, and when he aimed fiery arrows at you and shot you, you were unharmed and unharmed, glorifying God. For this sake, we cry to you, the glorious saint of God and the wondrous miracle worker: Rejoice, you humbly accepting fierce warfare from evil people; Rejoice, you who strengthen weak people in captivity. Rejoice, you who meekly answered the questions of the executioners; Rejoice, you who suddenly indicated the death of one guard. Rejoice, striking the atheists with your wondrous patience; Rejoice, you who showed a great miracle during the fiery torment. Rejoice, preserved unharmed by the Lord in torment; Rejoice, you who gave glory to God in struggles and persecutions. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 9

The disembodied face, marveling at the height of your service, at the dawn of godlessness, you arose and became for us an unstoppable light, illuminating our land with many miracles. You accepted martyrdom, shame and humiliation, singing to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 9

Every kind of orgy of earthly beings cannot adequately praise you, Our Father John, for you have given everything to yourself to serve everyone who comes to you, and for this reason we are fiercely tormented by evil people, when I throw you in shrouds and throw you from the shore to the word of the night, and the Lord is in good health you are saved. From here we bring worthy praise to you: Rejoice, having driven away the storm of evils with the rays of your miracles; Rejoice, you who bravely endured the hardships of prison. Rejoice, you who offer up prayer for your enemies day and night; Rejoice, shame and humiliation, as if you have received the sweetness of heaven. Rejoice, you who revealed martyrdom for the Lord’s sake; Rejoice, you who did not retreat from God in times of depletion of faith; Rejoice, thou temple of the soul not desecrated by any heresy; Rejoice, thou who teachest to preserve faith in the abyss of trials. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 10

You, the sufferer, achieved a considerable feat of salvation before your honorable death, when during Great Lent you ate only one prosphora a day and only drank a little holy water, and the devil took revenge on you, bringing the people against you who unlawfully tormented you and left you alive. You, like a gentle lamb, have endured everything, praying to God for those who offend you, singing: Alleluia. Ikos 10

You are a wall to all Christians who come to your intercession, Our Christ-loving Father John, help us sinners, so that we may bear the fruit of repentance and teach us to remember all the days of our last, when he himself foresaw his death and went to his grave with many children and departed on his own what? We struggle with love, we dare to sing to you: Rejoice, thou who hast revealed the angelic life in this mortal body; Rejoice, great faster, having served God from youth. Rejoice, most praiseworthy virgin, surprising us with your fragrance; Rejoice, you who walked until your departure to the funeral grave. Rejoice, St. Seraphim deigned to visit your cell in a vision; Rejoice, many people have turned away from this disastrous path. Rejoice, you who tearfully prayed to God for the salvation of Russia; Rejoice, you who illuminated the land of Penza more than the sun. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 11

You continually offered up songs of thanksgiving to the Creator, O servant of God, through all your life and confession for Christ the great wonderworker appeared, and after your death the sun burst forth and the heavens covered the sheets of your glorious relics with a rainbow, sealing the appearance. We cry out to God with joy, kissing them: Alleluia. Ikos 11

The luminous luminary in the land of Penza shone with grace and miracles, and again your honest relics exude many miracles and healings to this day for everyone who flows to you with faith and love. Moreover, we cry out to you as a warm representative and wonderworker for us: Rejoice, inexhaustible storehouse of miracles; Rejoice, you who do not fail in prayer to the Lord. Rejoice, inimitable image of meekness; Rejoice, our indefatigable prayer book. Rejoice, constantly adorned with virtues; Rejoice, wonderworker, praised by the angels. Rejoice, you who are the source of grace for us; Rejoice, thou who fillest hearts with love. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 12

Saving grace and your great intercession before God leading, righteous elder, we pray diligently, pray for us unworthy to the All-Merciful Savior, may He rule His Holy Church from schism and heresy and preserve the Russian land from troubles and misfortunes, may we glorify God, who benefits us: Alleluia . Ikos 12

Singing your wondrous glorification, we magnify you, holy confessor, Our Father John, we worship your multi-healing power, we bless your holy memory, and we know you as our shield and defense from the evil adversary, and the prayer book is multi-powerful before the throne of the Lord. For this reason, with love, we exclaim to you: Rejoice, praise and affirmation to our city; Rejoice, wonderful adornment of the Russian land. Rejoice, strong intercession for the Orthodox; Rejoice, quick healing for those who suffer. Rejoice, reliable consolation for those who mourn; Rejoice, you who ask for inexhaustible help. Rejoice, our unshakable hope for salvation; Rejoice, our indestructible fence. Rejoice, Our Father John, warm prayer book and wonderful miracle worker. Kontakion 13

Oh, great servant of Christ and wonderful confessor, Our Father John, quick helper to all who come to you in need and illness. Accept from us, the unworthy, the singing of praise offered to you with faith and love. Protect us with your prayers from enemies visible and invisible. Let us glorify the wondrous God in our saints, who has shown great mercy in you, singing the victorious song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. (This kontakion is read three times) According to this, Ikos 1: “Equal to the Angels’ Life...” and Kontakion 1: “The Chosen Servant of Christ...”.

Used materials

• “May 31 is the day of the discovery of the relics and glorification of the holy confessor John of Olenevsky,” page of the official website of the Penza diocese:
• “In the Penza region, the house-cell of the locally revered Saint John of Olenevsky was taken under state protection,” page of the Pravoslavie.Ru
  (06/27/2005):
• A brief biography of the holy elder John of Olenevsky, page of the website of the Church of John of Olenevsky in the village. Olenevka, Penza region:
• Troparion and Kontakion to Hiero-Confessor John Olenevsky (Kalinin) // Official website of the Russian Orthodox Church:

[1] Brief biography of the holy elder John of Olenevsky, page of the website of the Church of John of Olenevsky in the village. Olenevka, Penza region,