Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt. Diaries in 19 volumes (DJVU)

John Ilyich Sergiev, Kronstadt
(1829 - 1908), archpriest, righteous Memory on December 20, June 1 on the day of glorification, in the Cathedrals of Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg and Estonian saints

Born on October 19, 1829 in the family of a poor psalm-reader in the village of Sura, Pinezhsky district, Arkhangelsk province. At baptism he was named John in honor of St. John of Rila, patron saint of Bulgaria. Already in childhood, he was characterized by special sensitivity to manifestations of the spiritual world: at the age of six, John was honored with the appearance of his Guardian Angel. At first, the diploma was given to him with difficulty, like the Monk Sergius of Radonezh, and just like the reverend, through prayer the youth John acquired the ability to teach.

In 1851 he graduated from the Arkhangelsk Theological Seminary, and in 1855 from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. At the same time, he married the daughter of Archpriest Konstantin Nesvitsky Elizaveta and soon became a priest - on December 12, 1855, Father John performed his first priestly service in St. Andrew's Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt. From that time on, Father John began preaching tirelessly in church and in private homes, was constantly involved in charity work, taught at the gymnasium, and established a “House of Diligence” for the poor in Kronstadt.

In January 1899, at the St. John the Baptist Church of the “Society for Religious and Moral Education” on the Vyborg side, the “St. John the Baptist Brotherhood of Temperance” was founded. In the same year, he founded a women's monastic community, which in 1900 was transformed into the Sursky St. John the Theological Convent.

The fame of him as a famous shepherd, preacher and miracle worker (a huge number of healings he performed is known) quickly spread everywhere; Tens of thousands of pilgrims flocked to Kronstadt. The “All-Russian Father” (as Father John was called) himself constantly traveled around the country, visiting its most remote corners. Almost daily, Father John celebrated the Divine Liturgy, calling on his flock to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. His name became known and respected in the Orthodox world also thanks to his publication of his spiritual diaries (his book “My Life in Christ” is most famous).

On November 19, 1907, he was the first among the priests to join the “Union of the Russian People.”

In November 1908, he became seriously ill and began to prepare for his death.
On December 10 of that year, the All-Russian pastor served his last Liturgy and in the following days received communion at home. He died on December 20, 1908 at 7:40 am. His funeral took place with the joint prayer of many bishops, priests and a crowd of one hundred thousand people.

The relics of the righteous man rest in the lower church of the St. John’s Convent “on Karpovka,” which he founded at one time.

The canonization of Righteous John in the Russian Orthodox Church took place on June 14, 1990.

In 2022, his name was included in the list of the Cathedral of Saints of the Archangel Metropolis [1].

Childhood and youth of Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt

There were many priests in the family of John of Kronstadt. He himself was born on October 19, 1829, in the Arkhangelsk province, in the village of Sura, Pinega district, in a Christian family. The family did not have much wealth, but they were distinguished by their zeal for God and piety. John's father, Ilya Sergiev, served as a psalmist in a local church. His wife, Theodora, mother of John, stood out for her simplicity of character and deep faith.

John was born sickly and very weak: so much so that his parents, worried about his life, were forced to rush into baptism. The name was chosen in honor of St. John of Rila. After Baptism, the boy began to recover, gain strength and get stronger.

It is noted that even in childhood he witnessed a miracle: one day John saw a luminous angel in the upper room, who, seeing the child’s confusion, calmed him down and informed him that he was his Guardian Angel and would protect him until the end of his earthly days.

In the sixth year of his life, with the help of his parents, John began to learn to read. His father often took him to church and introduced him to the services and liturgical books. Over time, John became imbued with their spirit and content. They say that from childhood, the villagers noticed in him a special disposition towards God.

When the boy grew up, his parents, having difficulty raising the necessary amount, enrolled him in the Arkhangelsk Parish School. At that time he was about ten years old. At first, learning was not easy: it was not possible to properly understand and remember the material being taught. This greatly saddened young John: on the one hand, he was and was known to be lagging behind, and on the other, he understood how difficult it was for his poor parents to pay for his stay at the school.

One day, after a heartfelt prayer before going to bed, John, according to his personal confession, felt as if he had been shaken, as if a curtain had fallen from his eyes and his mind had opened; the teacher and the lesson clearly appeared to him; he remembered its contents. In that fervent prayer, he asked God for help, and God answered him. Then his soul was filled with joy, and he fell asleep as peacefully as he had never slept before. At dawn, getting out of bed, John picked up the books and began to read. And, lo and behold, he suddenly noticed that an internal transformation had occurred in him: he easily absorbed and remembered what he read.

Since then, when attending lessons, he both felt and behaved completely differently: he understood the educational material well, answered well. Gradually, John moved from the last disciples to the best. Upon completion of the course, he was transferred to the seminary, and upon completion, in 1851, he entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy at public expense.

While studying at the Academy, his father died. The plight in which the family found itself after the death of the breadwinner weighed heavily on John. Feeling pity and his personal responsibility to his mother, John began to look for possible income and found it. Knowing about his limited circumstances and good handwriting, they met him halfway, offering him a position as a clerk. For this work, John received up to ten rubles monthly. Sending money to his mother, he was sincerely glad that he could support her.

One day, coming home after a walk in the academic garden, John fell asleep and saw in a dream that he was a priest and served in a cathedral, which he had never been to before. Soon what he saw in the mysterious dream came true in reality.

Moscow Sretenskaya Theological Academy

Hierodeacon Pitirim (Anufriev) 07/06/201815776

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, by his own living example, his zeal, desire to live in God and with God, tried to point the direction towards the path of salvation along which all humanity should follow. He strove for a constant, inextricable connection with the people around him, and he passed on all the experience of spiritual life to his flock, for whose members he was more than just a priest.

Contents:
1. Ministry of the Good Shepherd of Kronstadt

2. John of Kronstadt and Russian reality of the late 19th - early 20th centuries.

• Charitable activities of Father John
• About the Church and Salvation
• About the sacrament of the Eucharist
• About the Sacrament of Repentance
• About prayer
• John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy
• John of Kronstadt about Russia and faith

3. Teachings of St. right John: the purpose and meaning of the life of an Orthodox Christian

• Human earthly life as preparation for eternity
• Spiritual life and its necessity in the matter of human salvation

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt is a great spiritual shepherd and teacher of the Church. No other public figure had such an influence on all layers of the Russian people as Saint Righteous John had, such fame as the loving shepherd and philanthropist enjoyed, and they knew about him even outside our country.

Ministry of the Good Shepherd of Kronstadt

The Kronstadt shepherd was born in 1829 in the Arkhangelsk province. He graduated from the Arkhangelsk parish school, then studied at the seminary there, after which he was admitted to the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, which he graduated in 1855. At the same time, he met the daughter of the recently deceased rector of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Kronstadt, Elizaveta Konstantinovna Nesvitskaya. He proposed to her and they soon got married. Kronstadt became the city in which Father John was destined by God's providence to bear his pastoral cross until his death. At that time, all poor and unsettled residents from St. Petersburg, among whom there were many vicious people, were sent to Kronstadt. Poverty and suffering reigned everywhere. But it was these people who were close to Father John.

After fifteen years of his service, Kronstadt became sober, bright, and clean. The transformed city turned into a place of all-Russian pilgrimage. The poor found homes and jobs here. Atheists and skeptics returned as deep believers. From the city of sin, Kronstadt turned into the city of St. John the Righteous —

faithful servant of the Lord. People were drawn to him from all places.

More than twenty thousand pilgrims visited Kronstadt annually

Up to five to six thousand worshipers gathered in St. Andrew's Cathedral.
More than twenty thousand pilgrims visited Kronstadt every year. Almost every day, Saint Righteous John celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with the exception of those days when he was sick. Listening to his pastoral instructions, many corrected their lifestyle and brought true repentance. There were so many people wishing to confess to Saint Righteous John that this desire was physically impossible to fulfill. Therefore, he held general confessions for all those present. Father John received a huge number of letters. People expressed their love for Father John in various gifts, which very often went to the needs of the poor. In all his trials, he resorted to God and the Most Holy Theotokos. The Lord and the Mother of God never abandoned their servant with Their mercy. When Father John prayed, it seemed to everyone that he saw God before him and boldly spoke to Him. In the last years of his life, the popularity of Father John of Kronstadt reached completely extraordinary proportions. “As soon as he appeared in the capital, -

he was almost torn to pieces, transported from house to house... on the street it was difficult for him to get to his carriage; a crowd was running behind his carriage, clutching the wheels with their hands, ready to expose themselves to all sorts of dangers, just to see Father’s dear face, just to hear his word, catch his gaze”[1].

In the last three years of his difficult life, he was often sick. On December 9, 1908, he served his last Liturgy in St. Andrew's Cathedral. From that day on, he became completely weak and stopped leaving the house. Every day a priest came to him and gave him communion. Therefore, Father John found great consolation in union with the Lord. He had already stopped eating, only drank a little holy water. Fifteen years earlier, during the laying of the foundation stone for a new cathedral in Kronstadt, Father John seemed to predict his death, saying: “When the walls of the new church are brought under the roof, I will no longer exist.” And so it happened. At seven forty minutes in the morning on December 20, 1908, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt peacefully departed to the Lord. Hieromartyr John Vostorgov said in his sermon on December 22, 1908: “When this lamp burned out, when this candle of God went out, —

a general feeling of unspeakable sorrow gripped all hearts. It was as if everyone had lost a loved one, a loved one, as if everyone had suffered a personal, unrequited deprivation! There was not a corner and not a single small settlement on Russian soil where the news of the death of the All-Russian shepherd and prayer book was not greeted with tears of grief and prayer. Cry, Russia! Get sick, orphan! To whom will countless sufferers come for prayer and a word of consolation? To whom will they write and send pleading letters and telegrams? Who will they look to for miraculous prayer? Cry, Russia!”[2]


One of the last photographs of St. John of Kronstadt

John of Kronstadt and Russian reality of the late 19th - early 20th centuries

Charitable activities of Father John

Read also:  Lover of women: the personal life of Prince Vladimir the Great, which you did not know about

At the end of the XIX—

At the beginning of the 20th century, a strong decline in faith and morals was observed in the spiritual life of Russian society. Disbelief reigned everywhere, especially in the educated part of society. The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, in his sermons since the late 60s of the 20th century, speaks of falling away from God. At this time, the traditional foundations of life in Russian society are being destroyed. The intelligentsia gradually ceases to recognize and understand the primary role of Christ in their lives. The difficulty in the ministry of Father John was that Kronstadt was a port city and, as already mentioned, served as a place of deportation for all vicious and incompetent people. There were many drunks in the city, many people begged for alms, and some committed robberies and robberies at night. Poverty reigned everywhere, people lived from hand to mouth.

John of Kronstadt himself visited the houses of the poor and vagabonds, providing them with both spiritual and material support

John of Kronstadt himself visited the houses of the poor and vagabonds, providing them with both spiritual and material support.
He tried not to refuse anyone any help he could. Father John, regardless of the condition of these people, comes to them to fulfill their needs and instruct them on the true path of salvation. Thanks to such selfless activity of the shepherd, the flame of salvation and hope began to kindle among these seemingly completely lost people. John of Kronstadt talked with them while sitting over dinner or tea, thanks to which all barriers between them were finally destroyed. John of Kronstadt himself grew up in a poor family and knew how difficult life was for the poor. Therefore, with great pastoral love, he cared for all the needy and burdened. Gradually, word spread about the charity and compassion for the poor of this wonderful shepherd. Therefore, gradually many beggars and disadvantaged people began to follow him, looking for support. And John of Kronstadt, as the true shepherd of Christ, never refused, and could not refuse them anything. It happened that when returning home late in the evening, a beggar would approach him, but Father John no longer had anything to give him. Therefore, he took off his shoes and outer clothing and gave them to the beggar, and in this form he went on to his home.

John of Kronstadt gave out alms and called on all the people around him to do the same. He reproached wealthy people who did not give to the poor and disadvantaged, but spent their huge funds on entertainment. He also reproached shopkeepers who do not do charity work, although they have a huge amount of goods that are not for sale, which they could use for their intended purpose.

However, there were a lot of poor people in Kronstadt. Therefore, Father John wanted them to earn their own bread through their own labor and thereby completely eliminate poverty. In 1881, the House of Industriousness was organized in Kronstadt for the homeless and beggars. Over time, all kinds of workshops, a pharmacy, a library appeared here, a school for the poor was organized, and even an Orthodox church operated. In addition to the House of Industriousness, John of Kronstadt supported other charitable organizations to help and support all those in need.

About the Church and Salvation

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt provided enormous pastoral care and concern to children in whom he saw the future of Russia, because thanks to them, sometimes their parents gradually came to God, if they were far from Him. This was a special way of instruction on the true path of salvation, which was so necessary at that time of general unbelief and spiritual crisis in Russian society.

Throughout his entire pastoral practice, John of Kronstadt spent a huge amount of time traveling to all corners of Russia, everywhere performing prayers and services, thanks to which he brought a huge number of people closer to the true path of salvation.

The All-Russian pastor in his sermons explained the Divine economy of salvation for all Orthodox people, the meaning of worship, prayers, and showed the importance of the personal participation of each person in the matter of his salvation in order to achieve eternal life in unity with God —

The creator of our world and all humanity. John of Kronstadt said only what he himself lived, what he himself experienced in his personal experience. All his words were imbued with pastoral love, cordiality, sincerity, and spiritual unity with his flock. All his sermons penetrated the soul of every listener and were distinguished by deep faith and devotion to the Lord.

John of Kronstadt considered the Church a real school for the salvation of all mankind. He saw in the Church the unity of all people who are inextricably linked with God and considered the Church the guardian of the truth. On the pages of his diaries and sermons, John of Kronstadt constantly warns against Catholicism and Protestant denominations, as well as against all kinds of sects that have spread so widely and multiplied and have stood in the way of the salvation of all mankind and are hindering it. He constantly says that only in the Orthodox Church is dogmatic teaching undistorted and therefore true. John of Kronstadt constantly says that without the Orthodox Church there is and cannot be salvation.

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt believed that worship and liturgical life play a huge role in the Christian improvement and education of every Christian. With the help of the divine service, the All-Russian shepherd lit the saving flame of faith in everyone who came to the temple. Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt made it his duty to celebrate the Divine Liturgy every day, the celebration of which attracted a huge number of believers. The central place in the spiritual life of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt was occupied by public worship and his celebration of the Divine Liturgy, which he treated with special reverence and awe, completely withdrawing into himself. The people around him were greatly impressed by the zeal with which the Kronstadt shepherd served. While reading prayers, he cried, smiled, and exclaimed words from the service. All this zeal of the shepherd, of course, was transmitted to the flock around him, attracting more and more parishioners. Thanks to this, the entire flock began to participate together with their shepherd in this wonderful divine service. As you know, the state of prayer during worship is conveyed through the singing of the choir. Therefore, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt paid great attention and importance to this, thanks to which many people came to the true path of salvation. Ordinary people really liked church singing, especially if it was imbued with great enthusiasm and deep faith. Even John of Kronstadt himself climbed to the choir and began to preside, which gave the service a special character.

About the sacrament of the Eucharist

The central place in the life and pastoral practice of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt was occupied by the Sacrament of the Eucharist, about which he wrote so much of his experiences and reflections on the pages of his diaries and about which he spoke in his sermons. People believed that one should take communion no more than once a year. Therefore, the Sacrament of the Eucharist ceased to occupy a central place in the life of every Orthodox Christian.

At the end of 19 —

At the beginning of the 20th century, all officials, military personnel and students were required to partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ once a year.
Therefore, Communion for some part of Russian society was forced, and sometimes purely legal in nature. Thanks to his liturgical practice, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt broke the established order of infrequent communion. In his sermons and teachings, he calls everyone to frequent and regular Communion, to Eucharistic communion. The pastoral activity of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt is liturgical progress, a transformation in the life of the Church, a revival of the liturgical life of Russian society of the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. This is the enormous merit of the Kronstadt shepherd.

About the Sacrament of Repentance

Saint John of Kronstadt attached great importance in the spiritual life of Russian society to the celebration of the Sacrament of Repentance, on which much depends on the spiritual prosperity and improvement of every Christian walking along the path of salvation. When John of Kronstadt confessed, he strove for the confession to be fruitful. He tried to confess as deeply as possible to everyone who came and avoided formal and very short confession. The Kronstadt pastor insisted that everyone who came to confession repented with all their soul, reflecting on their entire life. Very often he accepted the confession of one penitent for several hours.

Gradually, word of this began to spread throughout the country. Over time, a huge number of penitents began to come to this wonderful shepherd, whom he simply could not confess due to lack of time. Therefore, with the blessing of the highest church authority, he resorted to the practice of general confession, which was accompanied by all kinds of teachings and instructions in spiritual life. For this general confession, several thousand penitents gathered at St. Andrew's Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt, who, without being embarrassed by the people around them, shouted out all their sins. The conduct of such a general confession left a very great impression both on John of Kronstadt himself and on all those confessing, thanks to which the barrier between the shepherd and the penitents was broken.

About prayer

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt considered prayer to be the basis of spiritual life. In his diaries, he gives instructions on how to pray and shows what invaluable benefits it brings in the spiritual life of every Christian seeking salvation. John of Kronstadt does not recommend in spiritual life during the feat of prayer the practice of imagining the bodily appearance of the Savior, the Mother of God and the saints. Thanks to the feat of prayer, the spiritual life of every Christian is transformed. Prayer is a tool that helps you get closer to God —

to our Creator. Therefore, prayer to God should form an integral part of the life of every Christian walking along the path of salvation. John of Kronstadt himself showed by his example how it is necessary to go through the feat of prayer. Through the prayers of this wonderful shepherd, in front of the people around him, by the grace of God, all kinds of miracles and healings were performed, many took the true path leading to salvation.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt called on everyone to love and be lenient towards the people around them, to endure all kinds of insults and insults that are so often found in the world around us. He called for all efforts to be directed toward acquiring spiritual peace, which is so necessary for everyone walking along the path of salvation.

John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy

Read also:  Life of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of Stavropol and Caucasus

When Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy appears on the arena of public life with his false teachings, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt directs all his efforts to denounce him, as well as to denounce the educated intelligentsia, which had a negative impact on the spiritual life of Russian society.

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy completely distorted the meaning of the Gospel and all Holy Scripture; renounced the Church, which was founded by the Savior Himself; He seduced many after himself and destroyed them. He completely trampled the grace of Communion, Repentance and all the sacraments. Tolstoy, through his activities, destroyed the foundations of the spiritual life of Russian society that had been established and existed for several centuries. He completely denied the Church, invented his own teaching about God, and distorted all of Christianity. Leo Tolstoy opposed the Church and God, denied the Resurrection of Christ. Tolstoy's followers insisted on preventing school-age children from going to church —

future generation of Russian society. Leo Tolstoy had many followers. Tolstoy's followers stopped going to the Orthodox church, confessing and receiving communion. They said that it is necessary to live according to your carnal life and satisfy all the needs of your flesh. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, or the Judgment of God.

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt devoted a lot of energy and time to exposing the teachings of Tolstoy and his false Christianity; to guide all those who have succumbed to this temptation to the true path. John of Kronstadt calls Tolstoy an enemy not only of Orthodoxy, but of all of Russia and society. The Kronstadt shepherd constantly says that everyone needs to pray to God that He will open the eyes of the entire Russian people and everyone who follows Tolstoy.

John of Kronstadt about Russia and faith

In 1881, the assassination of Alexander II occurs, which shows the severe spiritual crisis of Russian society at the end of the 19th century. Terror reigned everywhere. Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt called everyone to repentance and change their lives, moral transformation. He saw the spiritual crisis of Russian society in the government itself, which largely contributed to various unrest.

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, in one of his sermons for 1907, said that the Russian Kingdom is wavering, vacillating and close to falling, and if things continue to go like this in Russia and it does not cleanse itself of all this, it will become desolate as if wiped off the face of the earth by God justice to the ancient kingdoms and cities for their godlessness and for their immoral life. But the Lord, in His mercy and love, leads Russia on the path of revival and does not leave it in a disastrous state.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt tried with all his might to transform Russian society and direct it to the true path of salvation. He denounced all the time, spoke only the truth, regardless of the life of society, fearing no one. The holy righteous John of Kronstadt saw the revival of Russia and modern society only in life with God, being in the Church, as well as in love for the Tsar and, of course, his Fatherland.

Teachings of St. right John: the purpose and meaning of the life of an Orthodox Christian

Human earthly life as preparation for eternity

If we look at our modern world, we will see the most diverse understanding and understanding of human life. For some, the goal is her material development, the achievement of fame and honors. Others believe that happiness lies in acquiring earthly riches. Due to addiction to earthly goods, the human heart becomes empty.

John of Kronstadt said: “This is all the wisdom and merit of a Christian, to reject all earthly passions, to despise sweets, self-interest, earthly beauty, earthly glory, for, having despised all this, we conveniently love God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves, and not We will have occasions to be indignant, oppressed, and despondent”[3].

Through our daily activities, the attachment to earthly goods grows and strengthens and the love for the people around us cools. “Why are we often seduced by earthly things? Because we love the flesh and the world very much and are careless about the immortal soul, because we love to eat sweetly, drink, and dress elegantly, but do not engage in the thought of God and spiritual contemplation”[4].

“Consider earthly blessings so unimportant and insignificant that because of them never even think of losing spiritual blessings.” —

love, which there is nothing higher in the world, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; never change the latter for the former. Having the latter, one can be happy and blissful without the former, but having the former without the latter, one can never be happy. Always remember this."[5].

“If we leave passion for ourselves and for earthly goods, then our hearts will be ours, and we will save our souls; and if we do not give up our addiction to earthly goods and to ourselves, then our hearts will be in the hands of the devil, and we will perish... A great loss for piety —

addiction to earthly things and destruction of mental and physical energy”[6].

“For there is no other way for the enemy to sow evil in our hearts than through addiction to earthly things, and no other way to ensnare us into destruction than through addiction. A person addicted to earthly goods is subject to pride, and malice, and envy, and luxury and intemperance, and fornication temptations, and murmuring with impatience, and blasphemy, and hardness of heart, which is so fatal, especially in a Christian, and unbelief, and despair, and others countless sins. And he who despises earthly goods has all the opposite virtues. Addiction to earthly things serves as an extreme obstacle for a Christian to Christian perfection.”[7]

Too many people view their lives and the world around them incorrectly. They forget about the perishability, impermanence and disappearance of all material goods and practically do not think about the purpose of their life. “The purpose of our life (and our creation) is union with God, from Whom we have fallen and are falling away through sin. Union with God and experiencing heartfelt peace in Him begins here, —

All church services and sacraments are directed towards this, especially Baptism, Repentance and Communion, the sacred rites of the Church,
and
will be completed finally in the next century. This is why we now have fasting, fasting, going to services and intense feats of prayer, Repentance, Communion”[8].

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, on the pages of his diary, is surprised at the lack of understanding many people have of human life. "Strange affair. Most people, caring very little or not at all about achieving the Kingdom of Heaven, about cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, think that the Kingdom of Heaven will come to them by itself; don't care about Christ —

in communion, and then
-
out of blatant necessity, and then
-
as if according to a custom accepted by others”[9].

Unfortunately, many people throughout their lives never find Christ and do not understand their true purpose, both in this life and in the eternal one. “Those who have not found Christ live in this life without heartfelt faith, they think and care more about everyday things: how to have fun, drink sweets and eat; how to dress more elegantly, how to satisfy their lusts with which they burn day and night; as if to kill time, which they don’t know what to do with, although time is looking for them and, not finding them, quickly rushes in their eyes: days after days fly by, nights after nights, months after months, years after years, until finally the last one strikes , a terrible hour and they will say to him: stop, your course is completed, your time is measured, and your sins and iniquities have all come before you, and with all their strength they will fall on you, and with their weight they will forever suppress you.”[10].

“From time to time we need to grieve our earthly life, so that, due to constant enjoyment of it, we do not become attached to this life and forget about the future. For this purpose, the Lord allows us to be upset by human untruths, illnesses, misfortunes, losses, and temptations.”[11]

“Know, man, your greatness and insignificance. Know that you are born into the world with a nature corrupted by sin and you will have to struggle with sins all your life. Know that you have to give an account to God, who created you, throughout your life; remember that you will die and that death is now subject to private judgment.”[12]

If we look, we can see that no luxury, no pleasure can make a person truly happy. Having achieved one, a person does not calm down and begins to look for another, and so on. If a person does not find complete happiness in this world, then there must be another unearthly happiness. And this unearthly happiness lies in life with God, the Creator of our world. Therefore, the main goal for man is life in God. This life with God is what a person should strive for.

Spiritual life and its necessity in the matter of human salvation

A prerequisite for salvation is the spiritual life of every Christian. “The life of a true Christian cannot be imagined otherwise than by constant vigilance over oneself, attention to oneself, and the fight against the old man, inherited from our forefathers, which is decaying in the lusts of the deceitful. Yes, the life of a Christian is a constant struggle with passions and lusts, with a world lying in evil, with the principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spirits of wickedness in high places. The life of a Christian is a constant spiritual war... Then, the life of a Christian is a constant exercise in self-sacrifice, mercy, cleansing oneself from all worldly addictions, exercise in contemplation of Divine beauty and goodness...”[13]

“Who among people is worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven? One who tries with all his might to become like God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in holiness, goodness, mercy towards his neighbor, who tries to become like the saints in repentance, prayer, abstinence, patience, meekness, quietness, obedience, humility, unfeigned love. In the sky —

a place only for holiness, love, like-mindedness, one holy and immaculate will”[14].

“A person’s heart energy should be directed towards God, towards His love, towards fulfilling the holy commandments, towards the fight against evil or sins of all kinds, towards preserving spiritual peace, meekness, humility, freedom of spirit, sympathy for humanity in its weaknesses. Meanwhile, the enemy intensifies to direct all the energy of our heart and will towards vanity, towards the passions of the flesh and spirit, towards the love of the world and everything in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and, thus, constantly steals the most precious good of man —

salvation of the soul"[15].

“But don’t think that if you are called Christians, if you go to church and take communion —

that’s how you’ll be saved: that’s not the case!
If you do not correct yourself and do not repent, then you are falsely called Christians and you
will perish.
Do you want to be saved? So correct yourself, make humble from the proud, good from the evil, chaste from the adulterous, generous from the money-loving; be merciful, wish -
it would be good if you created!
-
give alms and do it as much as possible.”[16]

Every Christian must be sure that God is constantly concerned about his salvation, that he is not left for a minute by God without concern for the salvation of his immortal soul. “A Christian must maintain peace of mind in the face of all human temptations and untruths. What am I saying? Even if the world begins to collapse, then he should be majestically at peace in his spirit, being confirmed in his heart in Christ. The sign of a truly Christian soul —

constant inner peace and tranquility. What are we like? We worry about everything, and we ourselves give space to restless thoughts in our hearts: grow and multiply to the misfortune of your soul.”[17].

The main goal of human life on earth is to achieve mental peace and tranquility. “There are moments in the life of a Christian when not a single bright thought shines in your head and does not respond to the call of your soul, and you feel only terrible darkness and confusion in your soul. At this time, a dark force covers the soul. Here we learn from experience that we ourselves —

not our own, but God’s, and from Him we receive strength.”[18]

“What is the sign that a Christian person is close to Christ? A person close to Christ often turns to Christ with faith and love, often pronounces His sweetest name, often calls on Him for help, often turns his eyes to Him, because he cannot help but pronounce, turn his eyes and call on: filling his thoughts and heart , Christ God naturally appears on his tongue and in his eyes, because without Christ he is weak, powerless, joyless. A person who is far from Christ rarely, rarely turns his thoughts to Christ, and then not with heartfelt faith and love, but —

only out of some necessity, and then as to a Person who is little known to his heart, who does not please or delight his heart, and has no attraction for him”[19].

Concluding the conversation about the life and some teachings of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, one cannot help but note one thing: it is surprising that throughout his life John did not have a spiritual father. Throughout his life, he was completely guided by the Holy Scriptures and the patristic heritage and lived by them, constantly seeking in them the path to salvation. It is also surprising that the Kronstadt shepherd spent his pastoral feat in the world with its all kinds of temptations and temptations. Many were surprised at this high pastoral dedication in everyday life. The whole life of John of Kronstadt was in Christ and only in Him, it was the fulfillment of His commandments. This is the main reason for his all-Russian popularity and people’s devotion to this wonderful shepherd. Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt, by his own example, showed those paths of salvation that are necessary for every Christian who wants to inherit eternal life with God —

Read also:  Valentin Amfitheatrov: why the miracle worker has 2 graves

Creator of the world and all humanity.

Hierodeacon Pitirim (Anufriev)

Keywords:

John of Kronstadt, shepherding, sacraments, Church, repentance, history of Russia, churching

[1]Albitsky Peter, Archpriest.

O. John of Kronstadt as a shepherd and public figure / In the world of prayer. - New York, 1987. - P. 125.

[2] Word spoken on December 22, 1908 in Moscow in the Church of the Diocesan House at a memorial service performed by Metropolitan Vladimir in the concelebration of five bishops // Source: Vostorgov I., Prot.

Full composition of writings. — T. III (in two issues): Sermons and instructive articles on religious and moral topics. 1906-1908 - M.: Printing house “Russian Printing” B.V. Nazarevsky, 1915. - P. 773-781. // URL: https://pravoslavie.ru/50690.html (access date: 06/18/2018).

[3] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 15. 1870-1871. // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-15-1870-1871-gg/9 (access date: 06/18/2018).

[4] John of Kronstadt, right.

The path to God // URL: https://www.litres.ru/svyatoy-pravednyy-ioann-kronshtadtskiy/put-k-bogu-11828170/chitat-onlayn/page-2/ (access date: 06.18.2018).

[5] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 3. 1859-1860 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-3-1859-1860/2 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[6] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 15. 1870-1871 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-15-1870-1871-gg/10 (access date: 06/18/2018).

[7] Ibid.

[8] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 4. 1860-1861 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-4-1860-1861/3 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[9] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 3. 1859-1860 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-3-1859-1860/2 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[10] Ibid.

[11]John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 15. 1870-1871 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-15-1870-1871-gg/10 (access date: 06/18/2018).

[12]Ibid.

[13]John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 2. 1867-1868 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-2-1857-1858/2 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[14] John of Kronstadt, right

. Pre-death diary // URL: https://predanie.ru/ioann-kronshtadtskiy-pravednyy/book/72161-predsmertnyy-dnevnik/ (access date: 06/18/2018).

[15] Salvation of the soul // Symphony based on the works of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/simfonija-po-tvorenijam-svjatogo-pravednogo-ioanna-kronshtadtskogo/256 (access date: 18.06 .2018).

[16] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 5. 1862 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-5-1862/3 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[17] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 4. 1860-1861 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-4-1860-1861/3 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[18] John of Kronstadt, right.

Diaries. - T. 3. 1859-1860 // URL: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ioann_Kronshtadtskij/dnevnik-tom-3-1859-1860/2 (access date: 06.18.2018).

[19] Ibid.

The priestly feat of Father John of Kronstadt

In 1855, John graduated from the academy with a candidate's degree in theology. Due to the fact that he united himself in marriage with the daughter of Archpriest K. Nesvitsky, who served in the Kronstadt St. Andrew's Cathedral, he was invited to take the place of a clergyman in the same church. On December 10, 1855, John was ordained a deacon, and already on December 12, the same year, a priest. Having visited the cathedral for the first time, he recognized it as the one he had seen in his dream.

The pastoral life of Father John took place during a difficult time for the country, marked by a massive weakening of faith, the beginning of rebellious sentiments, and the fermentation of revolutionary ideas. The city of Kronstadt served at that time as a concentration place for people expelled from the capital. Vagrancy, idle wandering, constant drunkenness, begging, extreme poverty - these are just a few aspects of the social stratum that made up a significant part of his flock and needed special attention and care. Great were the difficulties that lay before the shepherd, but great was also the sense of pastoral duty, great love for God, mercy and compassion for others.

The married life of Father John developed like this: having announced to his wife his desire to preserve virginity and by agreement with her, he lived with Elizabeth as brother and sister. Until the end of his life, John maintained chaste purity.

Initially, many did not understand and did not even accept the impulses of the extraordinary shepherd. But over time, seeing his kindness and patience, seeing his diligence and, not least, the material assistance that he provided to those in need, people began to realize: God had given them a kind and heartfelt mentor, a sensitive, responsive, wise trustee. They say that while visiting dugouts, huts and poor apartments, the monk distributed his salary, nursed children while mothers did housework, looked after the sick, could give boots and clothes to the poor, and at the same time prayed, exhorted, encouraged, and consoled.

The selflessness and mercy of Father John reached the point that he himself was left without funds. Seeing such an unprecedented state of affairs, many, some out of envy, some out of stupidity or hardness of heart, reproached the saint for insincerity, pandering to parasites and deceivers, slandered, scolded, mocked, not only verbally, but also through the press. Due to the striking dissimilarity of John of Kronstadt to many other shepherds of the Church, he was, among other things, accused of foolishness.

With the support of the diocesan authorities, his colleagues ensured that the priest’s salary was received by his wife. But the Wise Lord did not leave him without the opportunity to help the hunger. He kept the payment he received for teaching the Law of God at the local Kronstadt Real School to himself, and donated it to those whom he considered necessary.

Over time, the rumor about the great lamp spread so much that huge crowds of people began to flock to it, and so many messages and telegrams came to its address that the Kronstadt post office was forced to organize a special department to process its correspondence. They wrote to John not only from different parts of the state, but also from abroad. In order to carefully analyze all these messages, he was forced to resort to the help of secretaries.

Along with those seeking soul-saving benefits, material resources also flocked to John. One can only guess about the size of the sums of money at his disposal: he immediately donated them to charity and distributed them to the poor. They say that it happened when they handed him an envelope, he immediately, without opening it, gave it to someone.

During all the years of his priestly service, Fr. John celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral almost every day, and in the last 35 years of his life he served daily (last time - December 10, 1908).

Father John got up very early. Having gotten up, he began to prepare for the Divine Liturgy. When he went to the temple, he was met by crowds of believers eager to receive the blessing. There were also beggars present, whom he gave alms to.

During the morning service, Father John himself read the canon, carefully and attentively, attaching high importance to this reading. Before the start of the Liturgy, Confession took place. Over time, due to the huge crowd of people, both local and pilgrims, who certainly wanted to confess to John of Kronstadt, he was forced to introduce general confession into his practice (according to various estimates, St. Andrew’s Cathedral accommodated 5-7 thousand people). They say that this sacred rite made an indelible impression on participants and eyewitnesses. Inspired, shocked by the pastor's word and jealousy, people loudly shouted out their sins, including the most vile ones, and repented out loud, as if not ashamed of the witnesses crowding them on all sides. It is said that as a result, believers actually experienced a sense of liberation from the burden of sin. The service was characterized by a single, fiery, prayerful impulse.

After about seventeen years of pastoral service, the Lord vouchsafed Father John to organize a special institution in Kronstadt - the “House of Diligence.” On this occasion, he addressed the people with an appeal, proposing to carry out this godly deed through joint efforts. The appeal was published. The response was sincere and widespread. The foundation stone for the building took place on August 23, 1881, and the opening took place on October 12, 1882. Gradually, the activities of the House of Industriousness developed, positively affecting the interests of different social groups and strata. At the House of Industriousness there were workshops, a public canteen, a school, shelters, a library, and a reading room.

The role of John of Kronstadt in relation to women's hermitages and monasteries is also worthy of admiration. In particular, with his direct participation, a convent for women was founded in his native village, as well as in St. Petersburg on Karpovka. He supported many monasteries, contributing to their expansion, blessing the entry of sisters into them, and serving in the monastery churches.

Due to the nature of his pastoral activity and at the call of his Christian heart, Father John regularly visited St. Petersburg, visiting those in need of care and the sick. In order to carry out his service to God, he traveled to remote corners of the Russian Empire. Contemporaries noted the special healing power of his prayers for the sick, his healing gift. In addition, John was awarded by God the gift of miracles and clairvoyance.

Tens of thousands with reverence and fear of God waited for their beloved priest in various places of his probable appearance. When he rode in a carriage, people were ready to rush towards him right as he went. Even the fear of being broken or maimed did not stop them. When Father John was traveling on a ship, the believers ran after the ship along the shore, many knelt down. In addition, the saint found respect at the royal court. Another would seem to have broken down and become proud under the onslaught of collapsing glory. But not Father John, a true warrior of Christ, a lover of God. Just as the temptations of attacks and slander could not break his steadfastness, so the temptation of fame could not blacken his meek, humble attitude.

Charity on an especially large scale

Kronstadt.
The men's gymnasium, where St. taught the law for 25 years. right John of Kronstadt. Photo from the site hamburg-hram.de Soon all believers in Russia flocked to the great wonderworker. The second period of his life had begun. First Fr. John himself went to the people, and now all of Russia was coming to him. Thousands of people came to Kronstadt every day, wanting to see Fr. John and get help from him. He received an even greater number of letters and telegrams:

Kronstadt post office for correspondence about. Joanna was supposed to open a special department.

Together with letters and telegrams they came to Fr. John and huge sums of money for charity. Their size can only be judged approximately, because when receiving money, Fr. John immediately distributed everything.

According to the most minimal calculation, at least one million rubles passed through his hands a year (a huge amount at that time)!

With this money Fr. John fed a thousand beggars every day, built a “House of Hard Work” in Kronstadt with a school, a church, workshops and a shelter, founded a convent in his native village and erected a large stone church, and in St. Petersburg he built a convent on Karpovka, in which he was buried at his death.

Having achieved a high degree of dispassion, Fr. John calmly accepted the rich clothes presented to him by his admirers and dressed himself in them. He needed this to hide his exploits.

He gave away all the donations he received, down to the last penny.

So, having once received a package from the hands of a merchant in front of a huge crowd of people, Fr. John immediately handed it over to the poor man’s outstretched hand, without opening the package. The merchant got excited: “Father, there are a thousand rubles!” “His happiness,” Fr. calmly answered. John.

Personal carriage of John of Kronstadt, donated to the priest by his admirers. Kronstadt, 1898. Photo from the site: mir.zavantag.com

Sometimes, however, he refused to accept donations from certain people. There is a known case when he did not accept 30 thousand rubles from one rich lady. In this case, the foresight of Fr. John, for this lady did not receive the money in a clean way, for which she repented.

To the general regret of the residents of Kronstadt, in the second period of his life, Fr. John had to leave teaching the Law of God at the Kronstadt City School and at the Kronstadt Classical Gymnasium, where he taught for over 25 years.

Teacher Fr. John was also wonderful: he never resorted to either excessive severity or moral humiliation of the incapable.

U o. John, the measures of encouragement were not marks, the measures of intimidation were not punishment. His success was born of his warm, kind attitude both towards the teaching itself and towards his students. Therefore, Father John had no “incapable” people. In his lessons, everyone, without exception, listened to his every word. They were waiting for his lesson. It was a lively conversation, an attention-grabbing story.

There were often cases when Fr. John, having interceded for some lazy student sentenced to expulsion, himself began to correct him. Several years passed, and from a child who seemed to show no hope, a kind man grew up. The special significance of Fr. John gave the reading of the lives of saints - real, living evidence of faith and deed.

And this work of teaching Fr. John had to leave for all-Russian counseling.

The illness and last days of the earthly life of Father John of Kronstadt

The time of death was revealed to Father John in advance. Towards the end of his earthly life he was susceptible to bodily illnesses and began to weaken. He was tormented by severe pain, which sometimes subsided during the service of the Liturgy. On December 10, 1908, Father John, having gathered his will and strength, celebrated the last Liturgy. In the last period of his earthly life, he received communion every day at home. On December 20, 1908, at 7:40 a.m., the saint’s heart stopped, he rested peacefully in the Lord and joined eternity.

Discovery of the gift of miracles

Soon the wondrous gift of miracles was revealed in Father John, which glorified him throughout Russia and even far beyond its borders. There is no way to list all the miracles performed by Father John. Our unbelieving intelligentsia and its press deliberately suppressed these countless manifestations of the power of God.

Through the prayers of John of Kronstadt and the laying on of his hands, the most serious illnesses were cured, when medicine was lost in its helplessness. Healings were performed both in private and in front of a large crowd of people, and very often in absentia. Sometimes it was enough to write a letter to Father John or send a telegram for the miracle of healing to happen.

has been preserved.

A particularly remarkable miracle happened in front of everyone in the village of Konchanskoye (Suvorovskoye), described by chance by the Suvorov commission of military academy professors that was then there (in 1901). A woman who had suffered from demonic possession for many years and was brought to Father John in an insensible state, after a few moments was completely healed by him and brought back to the normal state of a completely healthy person.

The artist Zhivotovsky described the miraculous shedding of rain in an area that was suffering from drought and threatened by a forest fire, after Father John offered his prayer there.

Many miracles were performed through the prayers of the gracious shepherd. Father John especially pitied those susceptible to the passion of drinking wine and healed many from it.

Father John healed with the power of his prayer not only Russian Orthodox people, but also Muslims, Jews, and foreigners who turned to him from abroad. This great gift of miracles was naturally a reward to Father John for his great deeds - prayerful works, fasting and selfless deeds of love for God and his neighbors.

Spiritual heritage of a shepherd

During his priestly ministry, Father John delivered an innumerable number of sermons and left many written instructions. He is rightfully considered one of the best church writers.

Within the framework of moral writings, Father John assures us of the need for sincere faith, love for God and neighbor, arranging life in accordance with the way of life of Christ, a constant spiritual struggle against sinful passions and vices (see on this subject: My life in Christ; Conversations on Beatitudes of the Gospel). Father John confirmed the truth of the moral teaching taught to us by his life, the feat of pastoral and general Christian work.

The theological works of John of Kronstadt reveal a wide variety of themes in the doctrine of the Church: about God; about the salvation of man; about the veneration of the Cross (see: On the Cross of Christ), the Most Holy Theotokos and the saints; about repentance and prayer (see: Prayers of our holy righteous father John of Kronstadt the Wonderworker); about the Church; about the fate of the world and the last times (see: The beginning and end of our earthly world).

Books by John of Kronstadt

During his long life, John of Kronstadt wrote many spiritual works, which rightfully became part of the literary treasury of the Russian Orthodox Church. The most famous work of John of Kronstadt is “My Life in Christ.” As the author himself said about the book, everything that is contained in it is a gracious illumination of the soul in attention and self-examination, and especially in prayer. The book contains a record of beneficial thoughts and feelings collected over many years. The book turned out to be so popular and in demand that it was republished in the form of a collection that included selected extracts - this book was called “Thoughts of a Christian.” The interesting thing about this book is that it originally appeared in English, and only then was translated into Russian. It was thanks to this book that John of Kronstadt became known far abroad.

In the book of John of Kronstadt “In the World of Prayer” you can read about the memories of people who were closely acquainted with the all-Russian preacher and miracle worker - they learned from their personal experience how powerful prayer can be. You can also get acquainted with the sermons delivered by Russian hierarchs in connection with the death and canonization of Father John.

Another famous work of John of Kronstadt is called “Great Lent.” It is interesting to note that this book was first published more than a century ago, and since that time this work has not been reprinted. In the new, modern edition, the text of the original book is completely preserved, all quotations are additionally verified. The saint is very widely known for his diaries - there are many volumes of them, and they are a true spiritual wealth, answering many spiritual questions. Until now, not all notebooks have been published in books, but everything basic can already be found in the printed version.

The works of John of Kronstadt will help every Christian strengthen his faith and find answers to many questions that the soul asks in its search for the Truth.

Prayer to Saint Righteous John, Presbyter of Kronstadt, Wonderworker

O great wonderworker and wonderful servant of God, God-bearing Father John! Look at us and listen compassionately to our prayer, for the Lord has vouchsafed you great gifts, so that you may become an intercessor and constant prayer-book for us. Behold, we are overwhelmed by sinful passions and consumed by malice, we have neglected the commandments of God, we have not brought heartfelt repentance and tears of sighing, for this reason we are worthy of appearing through many sorrows and sorrows. But you, righteous father, having great boldness towards the Lord and compassion for your neighbors, beg the All-Bountiful Lord of the world to add His mercy to us and tolerate our unrighteousness, not to destroy us for our sin, but to mercifully grant us time for repentance. O Saint of God, help us to immaculately observe the Orthodox faith and piously preserve the commandments of God, so that all iniquity may not possess us, the Truth of God will be put to shame in our untruths, but may we be honored to achieve a Christian death, painless, shameless, peaceful and partakers of the Mysteries of God. We also pray to you, righteous father, for our Holy Church to be strengthened until the end of time, and for our fatherland, seek peace and prosperity in the Truth of God and save us from all evils, so that our people, preserved by God, are in unanimity of faith and in all piety and In purity, in the beauty of spiritual brotherhood, sobriety and harmony, they testify: that God is with us! In Nemzhe we live, and we move, and we are, and we will abide forever. Amen.

Socio-political position

Having developed the very image of meekness and humility, love for every person, regardless of nationality and religion, John of Kronstadt treated with great indignation all those godless, materialistic and free-thinking liberal movements that undermined the faith of the Russian people and undermined the thousand-year-old state system of Russia.

Revolutionary cataclysms, including in Kronstadt, John of Kronstadt perceived as demonic demons, asserting that “if things go like this in Russia, and the atheists and anarchist madmen will not be subject to the righteous punishment of the law, and if Russia is not cleansed of many chaff, then it will be desolate, like the ancient kingdoms and cities.”

of particular concern for John of Kronstadt was the activities of the revolutionary anti-church intelligentsia. He considered the main reason for the revolutionary ferment in Russia to be the falling away of people from the Church.

From the early 1890s, he sharply criticized the popular and influential writer Count Leo Tolstoy. He criticized that the latter “perverted the whole meaning of Christianity”, “set out to... take everyone away from faith in God and from the Church”, “mockers at the Holy Scriptures”, “mocks the Church with satanic laughter”, “perishes along with his followers.” He believed that Tolstoy’s teachings intensified the “corruption of morals” of society, that his writings “poisoned many young men and women,” that Tolstoy’s “subverted Russia and prepared its political destruction.”

After 1905 and the subsequent liberalization of censorship, the Russian press began to publish negative articles and cartoons about John of Kronstadt, sometimes of an obscene and mocking nature. He was criticized for speaking out against Tolstoy, for his strong opposition to the revolutionary movement and for his support of the autocratic form of government. The newspapers wrote that John of Kronstadt surrounded himself with unworthy people who stole a significant part of the donations, who controlled the communication of pilgrims with him, admitting mainly those from whom they could get a bribe; that a special source of income was the distribution of prayers allegedly composed by John of Kronstadt, crosses and other objects “consecrated” by him.

most notable anti-church work was Nikolai Leskov’s story “Midnight Office” (1890). Much of the story critically illuminates the activities of John of Kronstadt. The shepherd was depicted as a pseudo-healer, and his supporters as sectarians.

In the 1880s, a group of fanatical admirers emerged from among his admirers, receiving the name Ioannites , who revered him as the reincarnated Christ (which was regarded as a type of Khlysty sect; they were recognized by the Holy Synod as a sect on April 12, 1912); Father John himself rejected and condemned them, but its very presence created a scandalous reputation in certain circles.

Second prayer

Oh, holy and righteous Father John, All-Russian lamp and wonderful miracle worker! From your infancy you were chosen by God and, with a fiery spirit, like a true shepherd, you served the people in your life, in your words, in your love, in your faith, in your purity. For this reason, we pray to you, righteous father: pray to God, the Lover of Mankind, to protect the holy Church with peace and silence, to preserve the Russian land in prosperity, to fill the shepherds of grace and truth abundantly, to make the authorities wise, to strengthen the Orthodox army, to heal the weak, to correct the corrupt, to educate the young, the elders and widows to console us all in the Kingdom of Heaven to be honored with all the saints to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Death of John of Kronshadt

In addition to the difficult feat of serving people in the last years of John of Kronstadt’s life, he suffered a painful personal illness - an illness that he meekly and patiently endured, never complaining to anyone. He decisively rejected the instructions of the famous doctors who used him - to maintain his strength with modest food. Here are his words: “I thank my Lord for the suffering sent down to me to purify my sinful soul. Revives - Holy Communion."

Although the illness caused a lot of suffering, Father did not change his rule - he performed divine services every day, partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Only in the last days of his life was he unable to perform liturgy and received communion at home. For the last time he served the liturgy in St. Andrew's Cathedral on December 9.

Father John accurately predicted the day of his death. On December 18, as if having forgotten himself, he asked Abbess Angelina: “What date is today?” She replied: “The eighteenth.” “So, two more days,” Father said thoughtfully. Shortly before his death, he sent out Christmas cards to all postmen, delivery boys, etc., who carried out his instructions. “Or else they won’t get it at all,” he added.

The Ser-Russian shepherd died on December 20 (old style) 1908 at the 80th year of his life and was buried in the Ioannovsky Monastery on Karpovka in St. Petersburg.

at the burial of John of Kronstadt, and many miracles were performed at his tomb both then and in subsequent times.

an extraordinary funeral! The coffin with the body of John of Kronstadt was exhibited in St. Andrew's Cathedral for farewell. People continuously went to the temple all night from December 21 to 22. Throughout the entire space from Kronstadt to Oranienbaum and from the Baltic Station in St. Petersburg to the Ioannovsky Monastery on Karpovka there were huge crowds of crying people. Until that time, such a number of people had not been at any funeral - this was a completely unprecedented event in Russia.

The funeral procession was accompanied by troops with banners, military bands performed “How Glorious is How Glorious,” and troops lined trellises along the entire road through the city. The funeral service was performed by St. Petersburg Metropolitan Anthony, at the head of a host of bishops and numerous clergy. Those who kissed the hand of the deceased testify that the hand remained neither cold nor numb. Funeral services were accompanied by general sobs of people who felt orphaned. Exclams were heard: “Our sun has set! To whom did my dear father leave us? Who will come to the aid of us now, the orphans and the weak?” But there was nothing mournful in the funeral service: it rather resembled a bright Easter matins, and the further the service went, the more festive the mood among the worshipers grew and increased. It was felt that some kind of gracious power was emanating from the coffin and filling the hearts of those present with some kind of unearthly joy. It was clear to everyone that a saint, a righteous man, was lying in the coffin, and his spirit was hovering invisibly in the temple, enveloping with his love and affection all those gathered to pay his last debt to him.

Hearse with the coffin of John of Kronstadt near St. Andrew's Cathedral

Funeral procession with the coffin of John of Kronstadt on the ice of the Gulf of Finland

As a widow, Elizaveta Konstantinovna survived Father John by only a few months, and was buried on May 24, 1909 in the cemetery near St. Andrew's Cathedral (at the end of her life, Elizaveta Konstantinovna underwent a serious operation, after which she lost her legs).

Ioannovsky Monastery on Karpovka

Prayer three

O great servant of Christ, holy and righteous Father John of Kronstadt, wondrous shepherd, quick helper and merciful representative! Raising praise to the Triune God, you prayerfully cried out: Your name is Love: do not reject me, the erring one. Your name is Strength: strengthen me, who is weak and falling. Your name is Light: enlighten my soul, darkened by worldly passions. Your name is Peace: pacify my restless soul. Your name is Mercy: do not cease to have mercy on me. Now, grateful to your intercession, the all-Russian flock prays to you: Christ-named and righteous servant of God! With your love, illumine us, sinners and weaklings, grant us the ability to bear worthy fruits of repentance and to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ without condemnation. By your power, strengthen our faith in us, support us in prayer, heal ailments and illnesses, deliver us from misfortunes, enemies, visible and invisible. With the light of your face, incite the servants and primates of the Altar of Christ to holy deeds of pastoral work, grant education to an infant, instruct youth, support old age, illuminate the shrines of churches and holy abodes! Die, most miraculous and visionary, the peoples of our country, by the grace and gift of the Holy Spirit, deliver from internecine warfare, gather the scattered, deceived converts and unite the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. By your grace, preserve marriage in peace and unanimity, grant prosperity and blessings to monastics in good deeds, give comfort to the faint-hearted, freedom to those suffering from unclean spirits, have mercy in the needs and circumstances of our lives, and guide us all on the path of salvation. In Christ living, our Father John, lead us to the Everlasting Light of eternal life, so that with you we may be worthy of eternal bliss, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

Beginning of ministry

One day, thinking about his upcoming service to the Church of Christ during a solitary walk through the academic garden, he returned home, fell asleep and in a dream saw himself as a priest serving in the Kronstadt St. Andrew's Cathedral, which in reality he had never been to before. He took this as an order from above. Soon the dream came true with literal accuracy.

After completing his theological education in 1855, he became a priest of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt, where he served for 53 years.

He married the daughter of the archpriest of the same church, Konstantin Novitsky, Elizabeth, but had no children. The couple “took upon themselves the feat of virginity.” His marriage, which was required by the customs of our Church for a priest serving in the world, was only fictitious, necessary to cover up his selfless pastoral deeds. In reality, he lived with his wife like brother and sister.

John of Kronstadt with his wife

12 On December 1855, he was ordained to the priesthood. When he first entered the Kronstadt St. Andrew's Cathedral, he stopped almost in horror at its threshold: this was exactly the temple that had long before appeared to him in his childhood visions. The rest of life is about. John and his pastoral activities took place in Kronstadt, which is why many forgot even his last name “Sergiev” and called him “Kronstadtsky”, and he himself often signed his name that way.

In December 1931, St. Andrew's Cathedral was closed. In the second half of 1931, the premises of the cathedral housed a warehouse for a purchasing cooperative. In 1932, the cathedral was dismantled. In 1955, a monument to Lenin was erected in the resulting square. The square was named Leninsky. In 2001, this monument was moved to the Young Leninist square. In 2002, the St. Andrew's Union erected a memorial granite sign with the inscription: “On this place stood the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, in which the Great Prayer Book of the Russian Land, Holy Righteous Father John of Kronstadt, served for 53 years. The cathedral was consecrated in 1817 and destroyed in 1932. Let this stone cry out to our hearts for the restoration of the desecrated shrine.”

Situated on the island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland, 46 versts from St. Petersburg, Kronstadt of those times was not an ordinary city. On the one hand, there is a powerful naval fortress, a parking lot and a base for the Baltic Navy. On the other hand, it is a place of exile for beggars, vagabonds and people who have done something wrong. There were also many laborers here who worked in the port and factories. These residents huddled around the outskirts of the city. Those who could, built themselves shacks from half-rotten logs and boards. Others dug dugouts. People lived in hopeless need, in cold and hunger. Not only children begged, but also their drinking fathers, and sometimes desperate mothers.

And Father John drew attention to these unfortunate and degraded people, despised by everyone. The young priest began visiting poor neighborhoods.

With his troubles for the Kronstadt “unfortunate tramps,” Father John annoyed many, and especially the authorities and high-ranking officials. Many did not believe in the sincerity of his intentions, mocked him, spread slander and slander about the priest, and called him a holy fool. But no matter what, Father John went his own way.

“ We must love every person both in his sin and in his shame,” said Fr. John, “there is no need to confuse man—this image of God—with the evil that is in him.” With such a consciousness, he went to people, defeating everyone and reviving everyone with the power of his truly pastoral compassionate love.

By admonishing fallen people and praying for them, donating money and things to the poor, Father John also helped the sick. Sometimes he was called to a sick person at night, and without hesitation he went, not afraid of even the most contagious. For his trips to the sick and for prayers for healing, Father John never asked for anything. He only reminded us that we need to thank God for everything.