Keeping faith can sometimes be difficult. But the lives of saints help people understand that even in the most difficult moments one cannot renounce the Lord, and then the Almighty will be kind to them. So, we can see from the example of the righteous life of John the Russian how prayer helps and how to live life with humility, piety and firmness of faith.
History of John the Russian
Preacher John the Russian was born in Little Russia in the 17th century. Taking part in the Russian-Turkish war, he was captured and sold into slavery to the commander of the cavalry. Captured Christians were usually converted to Islam, but Saint John of Russia was steadfast in his faith: “Neither threats nor promises of wealth and pleasures can you turn me away from my holy faith. I was born a Christian, I will die a Christian.”
At first his treatment in captivity was cruel, but over time his righteous life began to earn people's respect. The owner invited him to live as a free man, but righteous John refused. He continued to work in the stable, where he prayed alone at night, strengthening his faith in God.
Three and a half years after his death, his relics were discovered incorrupt and transferred to the church.
Transfer of holy relics to Greece
In 1733, Saint John came in a dream to the priest from whom he received communion and spoke about the incorruptibility of his relics. The confessor’s words were confirmed by the illumination of the grave of Righteous John with an unearthly radiance. After opening the grave, a miracle was discovered - the relics remained incorrupt and fragrant. They were placed in the Church of St. George.
Righteous John did not allow his relics to be divided. Those who secretly took a piece of the relics were threatened by the saint, and they had to be returned. A temple was erected in Prokopion in honor of the holy confessor, to which monks from the Russian monastery on Athos donated funds. In gratitude, part of the saint’s relics, the right hand, was given to the Athonites and transferred to Holy Athos. John the Russian himself did not prevent this.
How do prayers to St. John the Russian help?
The day of veneration of John the Russian is celebrated on June 9.
On this day, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from relatives and those who hold a grudge against you. This is also the time to visit the temple in honor of John the Russian and offer prayers to him.
Sincere prayer to John the Russian will help you:
- forgive offenses;
- gain confidence in everyday activities;
- stop ethnic and religious strife;
- strengthen in the Orthodox faith;
- get rid of diseases.
Miracle-working relics
In 1832, when Ibrahim Pasha revolted against the Turkish Sultan and the enemy entered Prokopion, the city was plundered. Not finding jewelry in the tomb of the confessor John, the soldiers threw the incorruptible relics out of the temple in order to desecrate the Christian shrine and burn them. While they were making a fire, the relics disappeared and ended up back in the temple. They were taken out again and placed on the fire, which did not harm them. At that moment they saw Saint John himself, standing in the fire and threatening his detractors. The soldiers got scared and fled without taking the looted valuables. The holy relics were not damaged by the flame, but only became blacker from the burning, but retained their fragrance.
The relics of the saint are in the Russian Monastery (Mount Athos)
Prayer for work
O all-blessed confessor of Christ and great wonderworker John, treasure of Euboea, praise to the Greek country and kinsman of the Russian people! In the Hagarian captivity, you firmly endured the cruel beatings and burning of hair for Christ, but with your piety, the deeds and miracles of the faithful, you greatly strengthened you, you softened the unfaithful and enlightened them, and after your death you shone with countless miracles and healings. We, O servant of God, have such great boldness towards the Lord, but we, the needy, have such warm compassion, as we do not tolerate and see us in severe illnesses or severe sorrows, and for this reason, even those who are not called upon, quickly come, healing bodies and souls, casting out demons , converting those who have gone astray, and especially driving away all illness and sorrow from small children. Behold, even now our sins are burdensome and our souls have been worn away by debilitating sorrows, our bodily strength has become impoverished, and how can we resist despondency and more painful sadness, if not you yourself, the Holy One of God, rise up for us and take up arms against our enemies with grace! Ask, with your prayers favorable to the Lord, for those suffering from bodily ailments, complete healing, and for all, saving patience and gratitude; turn away sorrows, demonic slander and temptations; However, as much as the Lord allows, teach us to bear it wisely for cleansing; But enlighten us in the darkness of ignorance and oblivion of God’s existing commandments, instruct us to unswervingly do the will of God, resolve spiritual infertility, grant purification, sanctification and enlightenment to our souls; May we, together with you, glorify the All-Good God and the Most Pure Mother of God through your all-powerful intercession forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Saint John the Russian for children
Oh, holy newly-minted servant of God, John the Russian! Having fought a good fight on earth, you have received in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers, servant of God (names), and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that we may be delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil Let us live piously and righteously in this present world and through your intercession we will be worthy, even though we are unworthy, to see good things on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, glorifying God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Prayer to John the Russian for healing
One of the main prayers offered to this saint is the prayer to John the Russian for healing from various diseases. History knows many miraculous cases when requests addressed to this Saint were fulfilled, and the person quickly recovered.
O great servant of God, holy righteous John the Russian, who shone forth in the lands of Assia through your life equal to the angels, through your zeal for the Lord and your deeds in confessing the faith of Christ, the city of Neoprocopion and the whole land of Hellas is a bright adornment, a God-protected country of ours, its people and all over the world living as an Orthodox Christian. help and strong intercession! We thank the Lord, who is marvelous in His saints, who unshakably confirmed you in the true faith, who strengthened you in standing for its confession and gave a good end to your laborious feat, and who showed many and great miracles to us through the multi-healing cancer of your relics. Now, standing before the Heavenly King, ask Him to deliver all the cities and villages of our country and the land of Hellas from famine, cowardice, filth, fire, deadly diseases, from foreign invasions and internecine wars. Help everyone who travels, who is sick, who is in captivity, who suffers in sorrow and persecution for the holy Orthodox faith. Unite all Orthodox people with love for Christ our God and the Church of His Saints, grant us the spirit of love and peace for the fraternal unity of all the faithful. Pray to the Lord to give us the spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins and with His omnipotent grace to help and strengthen us in the fight against passions and lusts, to grant us the spirit of humility and meekness, the spirit of brotherly love and kindness, the spirit of zeal for God and the salvation of our neighbors. Remember us, sinners, who pray to you: heal the suffering and sick, comfort the grieving, give quick help to the needy, and ask for a Christian end of life that is painless, non-shameful, peaceful and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ for all who honor and love you. Be our helper and protector for salvation, so that through your prayers we may be honored in this and the future to glorify God in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
During the journey, John's master was surprised by the miracle he performed
Soon his owner became one of the richest people. And this was due to the fact that a righteous man began to live in his house. Then Agha began to perform the Hajj. Hajj is a pilgrimage that involves visiting Mecca and its surrounding areas at a specific time.
During this trip, the owner's wife began inviting all his relatives and friends for dinner. A dish of pilaf was served as lunch. This was the owner's favorite dish. Then the saint, having tasted the pilaf, asked to be sent to Mecca. This request was fulfilled, but they thought that John decided to eat everything himself or give it to the poor.
Aga was surprised at the miracle that John performed. In the room he saw steaming pilaf, on which the name of his owner was engraved. Photo: prodromos.by
When Aga returned, he began to tell everyone about the miracle that happened to him. When he was in Mecca, he saw that in the locked room where he was staying, he saw steaming pilaf on which his name was engraved. And also on all the dishes in this house.
Troparion and Kontakion to Righteous John the Russian
Troparion, tone 4
From the land of your captivity / calling you to the heavenly villages, / the Lord will keep your body safe and healthy, / righteous John, / for you, caught in Russia and sold to Asia, / in the middle, aha You lived piously in spite of the Ryan’s wickedness in a lot of patience/ and, having sowed here with tears,/ reap there with unspeakable joy.// Moreover, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Translation:
From the land where you were in captivity, the Lord, who called you to the Heavenly settlements, preserves your body unharmed and gives healing, righteous John, for you, taken from Russia and sold to Asia, lived piously in the midst of the Muslim heresy with much patience and, having sowed here with tears, you reap there with unspeakable joy (Ps. 126:5). Therefore, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Troparion, tone 4
He who called you from the earth to the heavenly abodes/ preserves your incorruptible body even after death, holy one,/ for you were brought like a captive to Asia,/ to become like Christ.// For this reason, pray to Him to save to our souls.
Translation:
He who called you from earth to the heavenly abodes preserves your body incorruptible even after death, holy one, for you were brought as a captive to Asia, where you became like Christ. Therefore, pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Troparion, tone 4
In Heaven stands the Holy Trinity, / righteous blessed John, / earthly angel, God’s man, / with the disembodied faces, glorify unspeakable love, / in the Church of the firstborn from the holy By your presence, / for us who exist on earth, offer prayers / to the Creator of all and the Savior ,/ may he give peace to the whole world,/ to the churches on earth, prosperity and unity of all,/ who honor the Son of God who came in the flesh,/ in the holy Body of Christ Jesus,/ which is the Church of the Living God,// in salvation of the human race.
Translation:
Standing in Heaven to the Holy Trinity, righteous blessed John, earthly angel and man of God, in the assembly of the Ethereal (angels) you glorify ineffable love, in the Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23) with the saints, you offer prayers for us living on earth to the Creator of all and the Savior, may peace give to the whole world, to the Churches on earth, firmness and unity of all who honor the Son of God, who came in the flesh, in the holy Body of Christ Jesus, which is the Church of the Living God, for the salvation of the human race.
Kontakion, tone 8
In honor of your memory, holy one, Russia rejoices in you, having raised you in piety, and Asia rejoices in your healing power, even though the narrow path has passed through suffering captivity and fasting deeds “Thou hast appeared an honest vessel of God’s grace, / for which thou hast asked and to us, your admirer, let us call you: Hail, John, name of grace.
Translation:
On the day of your revered memory, holy one, Russia, which raised you in piety, rejoices over you, and Asia rejoices in your healing relics, where you walked the narrow path (Matthew 7:14) of suffering captivity and fasting exploits, you appeared as a venerable vessel of God’s grace, Ask it also to us who honor you, so that we cry to you: “Rejoice, John, who is of the same name with grace.”
Kontakion, tone 4
Now the memory of your glorious deeds, holy father, has come, / joyful pious souls, / faithfully honoring you, John.
Translation:
Today has come the day of remembrance of your glorified deeds, Father, bringing joy to pious souls who honor you with faith, John.
Life says that after captivity, Blessed John fell into slavery
After his captivity, Blessed John was sent to Constantinople. After which he was sold into slavery to one boss. The life of this leader says that he had the name or title “Aha.”
Aga brought the saint to his land, which was located in Asia Minor, in Cappadocia. Since John was an Orthodox man, he refused to convert to Islam. For this act he was humiliated by the Turks; they constantly tortured him.
But soon the firmness in his faith, meekness and hard work of the saint helped him gain respect from his master and household members. After which the bullying stopped.
John was no longer asked to convert to another faith. By order of his master, he began to work in the stables. He did all his work diligently. The other slaves laughed at him, but John took it completely without any malice.
Gradually, John was able to gain the love and trust of his master Aga. After which Aga invited John to live in a separate room and become free. But he refused. During the day he worked, observed fasts, and at night he went to the Church of St. George. He read prayers on the porch. Every Saturday he went to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
