The Holy Martyr John the Warrior lived back in the 4th century. But to this day, Orthodox Christians, both in Russia and in other countries, especially in Ukraine and Poland, offer prayers to John the Warrior for deliverance from all sorts of troubles and misfortunes.
The icon of John the Warrior and his relics are located in Constantinople in the Church of the Apostle John the Theologian. Lists of icons were widely distributed throughout the world. On these icons he is always depicted with his head uncovered, in military attire, and has with him the indispensable items:
- the cross is a symbol of the unshakable faith that he carried through all the trials;
- shield - as a sign of the Lord’s protection from all misfortunes;
- the spear is a symbol of the power given to him by God to fight sin and temptation.
Memorial Day: August 12
Troparion
Tone 4 of the All-Good God and King/ the faithful servant and warrior appeared to John the Wonderworker,/ having suffered courageously for the sake of faith,/ having blissfully passed away,/ seeing the All-Creator Lord in Heaven most brightly./ From the Unworthy we receive the granting of miracles,/ to suffering people in all kinds of you help them in adversity,/ you strengthen the warriors in the army,/ you save them from captivity, wounds and sudden deaths from enemies, and from cruel misfortunes./ Moreover, pray to the Lord Christ, of everlasting memory,/ that He will create in all circumstances mercy will be upon us/ and will not lead us into temptation,/ / but He will save our souls, as He is the Lover of Mankind.
The story of a saint
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There is a double opinion about Saint John the Warrior, because... there are 2 versions of his existence. According to one of them, he was an ardent opponent of Christianity and everything that was associated with this religion. John served in the imperial troops under Julian the Apostate and, together with other soldiers, persecuted people of the Christian faith. With a more detailed study of the chronicles, one can see that the saint sought to help those who found themselves under the yoke of power and suffered persecution. John warned people about upcoming raids and independently organized the escape of Christians so that they could avoid imprisonment.
During his service with Julian the Apostate, the Warrior was able to free hundreds of prisoners. In addition, he secretly visited hospitals and provided all kinds of assistance to people in need. Unfortunately, the supreme ruler soon found out about John’s deeds and gave the order to imprison him. The benefactor was able to free himself from captivity only after Julian died during the battles in the Persian War. He devoted the rest of his life to helping Christians and died at a ripe old age.
Prayers
Prayer 1 O, martyr of Christ, John the warrior! Thou art brave in battle, and a chaser of the enemy, and an intercessor to the offended, to all Orthodox Christians. Oh, great intercessor and servant of Christ, John the warrior! Have mercy on us, sinners and unworthy, and intercede in troubles and sorrows, and in sorrows and in every evil adversity, and from every evil and offending person, for you have been given such grace from God, e Let us pray for us sinners in troubles and the misfortune of those who suffer evil. Deliver us from those who offend and hate, and be a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies. Oh, great champion of John the warrior! Do not forget us, who always pray to you, asking for your help and your endless mercy, and grant us, sinners and unworthy, to receive from God the ineffable goodness that is prepared for those who love Him. For due Him is all glory, honor and worship, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 2 O, martyr of Christ John the Warrior! Brave in battle, and quick intercessor of Orthodox Christians in their troubles and misfortunes, by this grace from God! May our champion be strong against all our visible and invisible enemies. Grant victory to our army against our enemies, so that those who oppose us may humble themselves and come to their senses, and know the true God and His Holy Orthodox Church. Let us, sinners, be worthy to glorify the Lord our Savior in His Kingdom together with you forever. Amen.
Prayer 3 Oh, great Martyr John of Christ, champion of the Orthodox, champion of the persecutor of enemies and intercessor of the offended! Hear us, in troubles and sorrows, praying to you, as grace has been given to you from God to comfort the sad, to help the weak, to deliver the innocent from vain death, and for all those who suffer evil, pray Be quiet. May our champion be strong against all our visible and invisible enemies, so that with your help and struggle all those who show us evil will be put to shame. Pray to our Lord, that He may grant us, His sinful and unworthy servants (names), to receive from Him the ineffable good that is prepared for those who love Him, in the Trinity of the Holy Ones, glorifying God, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayers during disasters and enemy attacks
Troparion, tone 4
Before long, let us not even be enslaved by the enemy who blasphemes Thee and disgusts us, O Christ our God: destroy with Thy Cross those who fight us, so that they may understand, as the Orthodox faith can, through the prayers of the Mother of God, the One Lover of Mankind.
Kontakion, tone 8
Chosen Voivode and Lord, hell to the Winner! Because you have been delivered from eternal death, I will sing praises to You, Thy creature and servant; but as if you have unspeakable mercy, free me from all troubles, calling: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.
Psalm 90
He who lives in the help of the Most High will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God, says to the Lord: You are my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap and from rebellious words: His lashes will overshadow you, and you will trust under His wing: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not fear from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak (1) and the demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness(2) will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you: otherwise(3) look at your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His Angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone: you step on an asp and a basilisk (4), and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will overcome him and glorify him: I will fill him with long days and show him My salvation.
1-From attack. 2-10,0000, countless. 3-But, however. 4-On poisonous snakes.
Prayer to the Holy Cross
Mark yourself with a cross and say a prayer to the Honest Cross:
May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; just as wax melts in the face of fire, so let demons perish from the face of those who love God and signify themselves with the sign of the cross, and who say in joy: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, drive away the demons by force on you of our Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and straightened the power the devil, and who gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Translation:
May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may all who hate Him flee from Him. As smoke disappears, so let them disappear; and as wax melts from the fire, so let the demons perish before those who love God and are marked by the sign of the cross and exclaim in joy: Rejoice, Most Honored and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, driving away demons by the power of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ on you, Who descended into hell and destroyed the power of the devil and gave us You, Your Honest Cross, to drive away every enemy. Oh, Most Revered and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, help me with the Holy Lady the Virgin Mary and with all the saints in all ages. Amen.
Or briefly:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.
Translation:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest (Honorable) and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.
This prayer should be said just before going to bed, protecting yourself and your bed with the sign of the cross.
Troparion, tone 6
Lord of Powers, be with us: otherwise, are not the imams a Helper in sorrows to You (1). Lord Almighty, have mercy on us. All-holy Mother of God, during my life (2) do not leave me, do not entrust me to human intercession, but intercede and have mercy on me. I place all my trust in You, Magi of God, keep me under Your roof,
1-Except for you. 2-Lives.
Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos, tone 8
To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as having been delivered from the evil ones, let us write thanks to Thee, Thy servants, to the Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
Prayers to the Lord
My Savior! You laid down Your soul to save us, You commanded us to lay down our souls for our friends and for our neighbors. Moreover, I joyfully go to fulfill Your holy will and lay down my life for the Fatherland. Arm me with strength and courage to defeat my enemies, grant me firm faith and hope that I will not die, but will live in Your Kingdom. Amen.
Lord our God, who listened to Moses, stretched out his hand to You, and strengthened the people of Israel against Amalek, who raised Joshua in battle and commanded the sun: Even now, Sovereign Lord, hear us praying to You. Strengthen our country and its army with Your power, calm battles and establish peace. Send, O Lord, invisibly Thy right hand, Thy servants interceding in all; and to whom You have judged to lay down your souls in battle for faith and the Fatherland, forgive their sins and on the day of Your righteous reward give crowns of incorruption: for Your power, Kingdom and strength, all help is acceptable from You, we trust in You, and we send glory to You, To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Personal petition
Oh, great Martyr John of Christ! Hear me running to you (name), grant in my sorrow immediate help and intercession (the content of the petition), so that with your help and struggle for me all those who show evil to me will be put to shame. Amen.
Mch. John the Warrior
He saved Christians during persecution
After Constantine, Julian sat on the throne. He is called the Apostate, because his short reign (361-363) was tainted by the persecution of Christians.
On the icons, John the Warrior appears in military armor and with weapons - he was a soldier. He had the privilege of serving in the imperial army during the days of persecution
. But the warrior John did not leave his post; on the contrary, he used his position as a detachment commander to help his fellow believers. Having received the order to persecute Christians, John the Warrior secretly warned them about the impending disaster and helped many to escape.
Useful materials
But his service to his neighbors could not last long: John was captured. In prison he suffered hunger and beatings, but remained alive. Offering prayers in prison, John was ready for martyrdom
, but when the guards came for him, they came with the intention of freeing the warrior.
During the time that John was in prison, the Apostate died in battle with the Persians. His successor was a Christian and ordered the release of everyone who was languishing in prison.
John no longer served in the army. He led a life full of helping others and lived to an old age.
“You, the pious servant and warrior of the All-merciful God and King, appeared to John the Wonderworker, having suffered courageously for the sake of faith, and having blessedly passed away, you saw the All-Creator of the Lord in the brightest heavens” (from the Troparion to the martyr John the Warrior).
After his death, his good deeds were not forgotten, but his burial place was lost. Then one Christian woman had a vision: John the Warrior himself showed where to look for his relics.
They pray to the saint from evil people for the return of debt and for the recovery of lost things.
The veneration of St. John the Warrior is great among the people, which is why believers ask for his help in many everyday problems. They pray to him:
- about health;
- about strengthening in faith;
- unjustly convicted;
- persecuted and suffering insults;
- victims of theft;
- military personnel;
- employees in law enforcement agencies;
- about the conversion of the lost and those who have apostatized from the faith.
Interesting fact
Not one, but two icons and a particle of the relics of John the Warrior are in the Church of the Prophet Elijah, in Obydensky Lane (Moscow).
The robbers returned the stolen goods and repented
John the Warrior helps in many needs, and often people turn to him with requests to repay a debt, to find lost things, or to somehow return stolen things. This is due to a miracle that occurred after John's death.
The very widow to whom we owe the discovery of the martyr’s grave almost suffered from theft: the villains broke into her house to take away the last property from the poor woman. But the crime did not take place - the attackers fled from the house in fear, frightened by a formidable warrior dressed in armor. To the widow's surprise, the next morning the thieves came to her and repented. And they pointed to the image of John as the one who appeared to them that night.
30
July
1912
We celebrated the bicentennial of the Church of St. John the Warrior on Yakimanka (Moscow). From the moment it was founded by Peter I until the present day, this temple has never been closed for service.
About how a saint helps people
From chronicle sources we know about a miracle that was witnessed during the Tatar invasion of Rus'. In the devastated Serpukhov monastery, one Tatar saw the image of John the Warrior. It is not known why he aroused such rage, but the Tatar grabbed his saber. Having struck three times, he was horrified to see how first blood flowed from the board with the image, and then the icon itself was restored right before his eyes. After this, the foreign warrior believed in the Christian warrior, and then in Christ.
Since ancient times, the saint has not abandoned help to those who ask. There is a well-known story about a family that had the only valuable thing - a Persian carpet that was inherited. And then it was stolen. The owners prayed to John the Warrior - and soon the thief brought the stolen goods. Moreover, he asked: let the owners forgive him - maybe then some military man with a stern face will stop pursuing him.
John also helps those who have lost valuables, lost keys or documents.
One elderly woman was getting ready for a long trip, and the day before she unexpectedly lost all her documents and tickets along with her bag. The trip was canceled, all that was left was to hope for a miracle and pray to John the Warrior. And the miracle did not slow down: soon the hostess heard the doorbell. A stranger brought her a bag that had been absent-mindedly left at a bus stop.
***
John the Warrior always appears with a spear, cross and shield. But these are not instruments of suffering, as one might think, and not accessories of military craft, but symbols of the saint’s valor, his faith and the protection that the Savior gives to his soldiers.
How do prayers to Saint John the Warrior help?
Since John helped all those in need during his lifetime, they pray in front of his icon for special everyday issues for which this particular Saint helps. For example, there is a prayer to John the Warrior for deliverance from an offender or enemies. She helps, without wishing harm to the hater, to create circumstances in which he cannot cause trouble. Or is given the opportunity to reconcile with him. That is, the issue is resolved in a Christian way, without hostility and hatred.
They also bring prayers to John the Warrior for the recovery of a lost item or the return of something stolen. This is especially important for unlucky tourists and inattentive pilgrims who are attacked by pickpockets in crowded places.
The veneration of this saint, as a protector and intercessor, is very important for those who do not want to fight, quarrel and want to resolve all issues peacefully.
