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In difficult moments, every person remembers the church and the saints who help to survive the difficult moments of life. By coming to them with prayer, they help us find lost faith, be cured of serious illnesses, etc. One of the saints that many people go to is the icon of John of Kronstadt.
Life of John of Kronstadt
Saint John of Kronstadt was born on October 19, 1829. There were many priests in his family. It is worth noting that John’s family did not have much wealth. But she was distinguished by her zealous faith in God. His father served in the church as a psalm-reader. And the mother was distinguished by her simplicity of character and deep faith.
- John was born a sickly and weak boy. He was so weak that his parents tried to baptize him as quickly as possible. After the baptism ceremony, the boy gradually began to recover and get stronger.
- Many note that even in his youth he witnessed a miracle. One day, John in the upper room saw a luminous angel who saw a confused child, calmed him down and said that he was a Guardian Angel and that he would protect him until the end of his life on earth.
- At the age of six, thanks to the teaching of his parents, the boy began to read, and when he became a little older, he independently began to study the sacred scriptures. With great difficulty, his parents collected the required amount to send him to study at the Arkhangelsk Parish School, upon successful completion of which he was transferred to the seminary, and upon graduation in 1851, John entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and studied at public expense.
- In 1855, I. Kronstadtsky graduated from the Academy with a candidate of theology degree and, due to the fact that he married Elizaveta Nesvitskaya, he was invited to become a priest in the Kronstadt St. Andrew's Cathedral. He was later ordained a deacon.
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It must be said that the pastoral life of the Saint of Kronstadt fell at a difficult time for the country. After all, it was at this time that there was a massive weakening of faith. There was devastation all around, fermentation of revolutionary ideas, vagrancy, drunkenness and poverty flourished.
As for his family life, it must be said that it was also not full for him. His wife announced that she wanted to keep her virginity. Therefore, he and Elizabeth lived like sister and brother. Until the end of his life, John maintained chaste purity.
Throughout his time as a clergyman. The time of his death was revealed to him in advance. He began to get sick and began to weaken. In December 1908, he celebrated his last Liturgy, and 10 days after it he died.
Monastery opening hours
The monastery doors are open every day - from 7:45 to 19:30
You can get to the temple-burial vault after the Liturgy - from 9:30 to 16:30 on weekdays, from 11:30 on Sundays and holidays (on Sunday, during a prayer service with the reading of the akathist - until 15:30)
The tomb is closed:
• on weekdays of Lent, during the First Week
• on Maundy Thursday, Maundy Friday, Holy Saturday, Holy Week
History of the monastery and its founder
The wonderworker and righteous man John was born on October 19, 1829 (on the day of his patron saint John of Rylsky) in the Arkhangelsk province (the village of Sura). His father was a clergyman, and his paternal grandfather, like most of his ancestors for more than three centuries, was a priest.
After graduating from the theological academy in St. Petersburg, John planned to become a monk and devote his life to missionary work. But as they say: “man proposes, but the Lord disposes.” Following God's providence, he became a faithful shepherd of the flock of Christ.
“If the Church is our best, most tender spiritual mother,” then “the priest must be the bearer and exponent of the spirit of her mother’s love for the laity.”
(Right. John of Kronstadt)
John began his service as a clergyman during a difficult period for Russia. Faith weakened, revolutionary views and ideas flourished in society. He quickly realized that a huge space was open before him for the work of a shepherd. Unreliable people, thieves, murderers and other criminals were exiled to Kronstadt. Drunkenness, poverty, fights, and vagrancy flourished. With special attention and care, the priest looked after these people. As strong as his love for God was, his love for people was just as strong.
Among the people, the priest was known as unselfish, merciful, sensitive, warm-hearted, sympathetic and wise. There were situations when he gave every last penny of his salary to those in need. His heart was so full of love for people that he did not shy away from taking off his boots or clothes and giving them to the poor.
Moreover, he always prayed for the poor, encouraged and consoled them. Sometimes in the evening Father John was penniless, and the next morning, like manna from heaven, money appeared from nowhere. And again they did not linger in their hands; the merciful benefactor immediately distributed them to the poor.
Society "Guardianship of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called".
For more fruitful help to all those in need, Father John organized the Christian society “Guardianship of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.” Many responded to his calls for help and donated substantial sums. The priest helped in the construction of churches and monasteries.
He supported, blessed and facilitated the entry of nuns into some monasteries. In his small homeland, he created the Sursky St. John the Theological Convent. In 1900, Emperor Nicholas II approved the project (proposed by Father John) for the construction of a monastery in St. Petersburg.
This happened after the merchant Simeon Ramensky gave the respected priest a plot of land, which was used in the most gracious way, for the glory of God. Initially, the priest planned to create there a courtyard of the Surskaya monastery, which he built in his native village. But with God’s blessing, a monastery grew up there in honor of St. John of Rila, the patron saint of the saint of God John.
The project was implemented by N.N. Nikonov, a famous architect. When designing the main temple and the facades of the residential premises, the emphasis was on the Byzantine style. The sophistication of the main building, as befits the idea, was different from other buildings. All structures were connected to each other and turned into a single living organism.
St. John's Convent
Father took a direct part in the construction, monitored the completion of the work and prayed to the Lord for the successful completion of the plan. Thanks to the great sincere love for Father John, gratitude for his mercy and help, deep faith and tireless care for his spiritual children, all kinds of spiritual and financial forces were involved during the construction of the monastery.
Interesting fact
Three years later, already in 1903, the majestic Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles stood out, its two chapels were consecrated with the direct participation of Father John.
The preacher and favorite of the people, John of Kronstadt, blessed the monastery with a prayer speech:
“I thank the Lord for the joy of consecrating my magnificent temple, which He gave me to build and decorate in the capital of Russia - St. Petersburg... may the Name of the Lord be glorified here until the end of time.”
Father John devoted a lot of time and effort both to the monastery itself and to the spiritual growth of the sisters. Coming here tired and exhausted, he found a place of rest here and felt at home. Construction and finishing work continued for 8 years.
The following were lined up:
- monastic cells;
- premises for pilgrims;
- sewing workshops;
- minihospital;
- prosphora with two stoves;
- garden.
350 nuns lived here.
The saint of God chose his own monastery, close to his soul, for his peace of mind several years before his death, having agreed on the decision with the metropolitan.
In which Moscow temple is a particle of the saint’s relics kept?
The icon of John of Kronstadt with a piece of his holy relics (with a lock of hair) is located in the capital, in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Life-Giving Trinity) in Rogozhskaya Sloboda (Nikoloyamskaya Street, 57/59)
Nearest metro stations:
- Ilyich Square (796 meters);
- Marxist (976 meters);
- Rimskaya (890 meters);
- Taganskaya (1129 meters);
- Chkalovskaya (1172 meters).
Prophecies of John of Kronstadt
Saint John was a prophet. He began to pronounce his prophecies shortly before his death. At that time, most intellectuals began to move away from the Orthodox faith. Trying to get the entire Russian people to follow their opinion. The saint called on all the people to repent.
He warned of the approach of a terrible and dangerous time. John said that if the people do not repent in time, then the Lord will take away the Tsar of Russia from them and give it cruel rulers. They will flood the entire Russian land with blood. Such prophecies were made more than a hundred years ago, but they have already begun to come true today.
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During his life, he not only prophesied, but also healed people from many ailments. Therefore, to this day, a huge number of people come to his relics to pray for help and healing.
How does John of Kronstadt protect and help?
Prayer in front of this icon protects against loss of moral guidelines and harmful temptations, and helps maintain mental health and the strength of marriage. During his lifetime, John of Kronstadt always prayed for those who were prone to drunkenness, and today both the repentant drunkards themselves and their relatives and friends turn to him with a prayer for deliverance from this vice.
They pray in front of the icon of John of Kronstadt for many things: for spiritual harmony in the family, for healing from physical and mental illnesses; young people pray for successful studies, old people - for maintaining spiritual and physical health. Such a prayer will help strengthen the soul in faith, bring peace and confidence into it, and guide it in following the righteous path.
Where are the relics of John of Kronstadt
There are many different conversations going on around the tomb of this saint. There is even an opinion that there are none at all. However, there is no documentary evidence to support such claims. After his death, he was buried at the church in the name of the saints Prophet Elijah and Queen Theodora.
More than 80 bishops prayed over his grave every day. Healings took place at the relics of John. In 1909 alone, 12 healings were recorded. But in 1923, according to a secret decree, the monastery had to be closed. And the building of the monastery was ordered to be given over to public needs.
Many events took place over his coffin. They tried more than once to rebury and remove the relics of John of Kronstadt. But one thing is certain: at the beginning of June 1926, John’s relics were in a galvanized coffin, hidden at a depth of 0.8-1.6 meters, and the floor was concreted.
At the Council of Bishops, which was held in 1990, John was canonized. And his remains, which are buried under cover in the Ioannovsky Monastery he founded, are considered saints. It must be said that John himself prophesied during his lifetime that his relics would be lost, but in difficult times for the Russian people they would be rediscovered.
What distinguishes the icon of John of Kronstadt?
Most of the saints lived in such ancient times that painters depicted their images on icons mainly in accordance with the traditions of icon painting. Icon of St. John of Kronstadt differs from them in that in the era when he lived, photography already existed, and many photographs of the saint during his lifetime have reached us. Thanks to this, we have an idea of his physical appearance, which icon painters also convey in icons.
John of Kronstadt, whose icon bears a portrait resemblance, looks like a man of deep intelligence and strong will; you can even feel the grace emanating from him. On the icons he looks like a living person, despite the halo around his head; it seems that he understands all the sorrows of the person praying and pours into him strength for a righteous life and resistance to evil.
How does prayer to John of Kronstadt help?
During his lifetime, the holy prophet healed many sick people. Such healings often occurred through the rite of communion. Those who could not visit the saint received blessings for healing from a distance, through letters, phone calls, etc.
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The prophet healed through prayer, which produced an incredible effect. Today people go to the Kronstadt icon with prayer asking for healing of such ailments as:
- Severe incurable diseases,
- From bad habits (alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction),
- From mental anguish.
For healing, it is recommended to read the following prayer to the saint:
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
The Lord is always with you!
Lifetime miracles performed through the prayer of a priest
Divine love and kindness covered the atmosphere of the space when Saint John of Kronstadt appeared in it.
Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt
Gifted with a miraculous gift during his lifetime, Father John did not refuse the laying on of hands to anyone. Those who could not get to a personal meeting wrote letters and received God’s answer to their request through the prayer of the righteous man.
Read about the saint:
- Icon of the Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt
- Prayer to John of Kronstadt for drunkenness
- Church of Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt in Zhulebin
According to the testimony of a commission of professors from the military academy, they accidentally ended up in the village of Konchakovskaya in 1901 and watched as a demon-possessed woman was brought to priest John. It took the saint literally a few minutes for an absolutely healthy woman to come out to her family.
The artist Zhivotovsky in his memoirs describes a case when their area suffered from heat, drought and fires. The priest invited by the laity read a prayer and the blessed, long-awaited rain began to fall.
Important! As a gift for his selfless life in love for God, the holy father was endowed with special power to heal all people, regardless of religion, for which he was popularly called the All-Russian priest.
After the death of the rector of St. Andrew's Cathedral, his relics became a Russian shrine, to which the flow of pilgrims never disappears.
