Life of the Holy Martyr John the Warrior

What does a saint help with?

John the Warrior, whose life is of interest not only to believers, but also to researchers, has always been considered the protector of the weak.
His contemporaries often turned to him for help in any everyday issues, mental experiences and physical illnesses. Through the power of prayer, John raised seriously ill children and wounded soldiers to their feet. Sacrificing himself for the sake of others, the righteous gave them a huge part of his energy, which God quickly replenished.

Both then and today, many believers turn to John for help in such cases:

• difficult financial situation;
• unfounded accusations of anything;
• suffering for the benefit of your loved ones;
• serious illnesses;
• need for assistance to prisoners.

This is not all that they pray to John for. Authority in the Orthodox world allows the saint to intercede before God for those who ask in any matter.

Often those who have lost loved ones in the war and cannot cope with the loss turn to him. His help is sought after by those in places of hostilities, as well as by those who have been subjected to various types of repression.

Second prayer to the martyr John the Warrior

About the martyr of Christ, John the warrior! Thou art brave in battle, and a chaser of the enemy, and an intercessor for the offended, for all Orthodox Christians. O great intercessor and servant of Christ, John the warrior! Have mercy on us, sinners and unworthy, and intercede in troubles and sorrows, and in sorrows and in every evil adversity, and from every evil and offending person, for you have been given such grace from God to pray for us, sinners, in troubles and besieged those who suffer evil. Deliver us from those who offend and hate, and be a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies. O great champion, John the warrior! Do not forget us, who always pray to you, asking for your help and your endless mercy, and grant us, sinners and unworthy, to receive from God the ineffable goodness that is prepared for those who love Him. For all glory, honor and worship is due to Him, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Martyr John the Warrior

Audio:

Kontakion 1

Let us sing songs of praise to the chosen servant of the Heavenly King, the noble passion-bearer of Christ, John the holy Warrior and wonderworker, as a Christian intercessor, a guardian of chastity, Comforter for the afflicted. You, standing before the Throne of the Holy Trinity, protect with faith and love those who call you from all evils and misfortunes with your prayers:

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Ikos 1

The Archangels and Angels, with love in vain, are in vain for your equal angelic life, John is most wonderful, for you, worrying about the Lord, how to please the Lord, preserved your virginity intact, by fasting and prayer mortifying your flesh day and night. We marvel at such your life, and with tenderness we cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who have preserved the purity of your heart; Rejoice, for for this sake of God you were deemed worthy to see.

Rejoice, you who took the yoke of Christ upon your frame; Rejoice, you who lost your soul for Christ’s sake, in order to save it.

Rejoice, fellow angels; Rejoice, praise be given to virgins.

Rejoice, guardian and teacher of young youths; Rejoice, quick helper to those struggling with passions and lusts.

Rejoice, protector of virgins and widows; Rejoice, denunciation of violators of chastity.

Rejoice, teacher of parents and educators; Rejoice, invisible driver of the orphans.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 2

Seeing Saint John, when he came to Numera Ifal, the Christians were persecuted, not fearing the reproaches of the wicked Julian and saying to them: take courage, be strengthened in the faith, so that you may be worthy to sing To Christ God in the heavenly chambers: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

You had an undoubting mind within you, John, who is worthy of praise, when he despised the glory of this world and was not afraid of the king’s wrath, he confessed to being a Christian, and for this reason, Like a villain, you were imprisoned. I marvel at your boldness in Christ, with the verb:

Rejoice, most excellent confessor of Christ; Rejoice, suffering Christ.

Rejoice, you who expose the charm of idolatry; Rejoice, victorious enemy by the power of the Cross.

Rejoice, for you were deemed worthy to accept bonds and prison for Christ; Rejoice, for you preferred coldness and nakedness for Christ to the glory of sin.

Rejoice, praise to the confessors; Rejoice, joy of the martyrs.

Rejoice, valiant warrior of the Heavenly King among earthly warriors; Rejoice, you who made your robe white in the Blood of Lambs.

Rejoice, defender of the Church of Christ; Rejoice, intercessor of all Orthodox.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 3

With the power girded from above, you were able to defeat the ancient serpent; Gifted with such power, you exude an abundance of miracles to all who call on your name with faith and are grateful for you to those who cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having in your heart a firm faith in Christ and armed with that power, you were not afraid of the wrath of the king and saved the people of Ifal from their tormentors. For this reason, such courage of yours is praiseworthy, we bless you:

Rejoice, adamante of the faith of Christ; Rejoice, pillar of the Church of God.

Rejoice, hope and intercession of the faithful; Rejoice, fear and shame of the unbelievers.

Rejoice, thou who hast acquired the crown of the confessor of Christ; Rejoice, thou who has overthrown the enemy of Christ by the weapon of the Cross.

Rejoice, lover of Christ more than the world; Rejoice, you who laid down your soul for Christians.

Rejoice, dispelling the plans of the godless tormentor; Rejoice, for you visited them in prison and in bonds.

Rejoice, for you yourself were imprisoned for Christ; Rejoice, you who bear the marks of your Lord on your body.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 4

Blessed John was hesitating in a storm of doubtful thoughts when he was quickly sent to Numera Ithal to torment those who believe in Christ. “If,” as the verb goes, “at the command of the Tsar, the imams torture and kill the faithful people, I will be condemned by God, and if I do not go there, in the rank of my army I will find myself disgusted and betrayed by the Tsar.” I will be cruel to death." Both, driven by the fear of God, he preserved the faith of Christ in his heart even to the point of suffering and prison bonds, crying out to Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing the wicked Julian of your mercy towards Christians and deducing that you were a Christian, he became angry with you and ordered you to be brought to Constantinople, as a villain and an enemy of the Tsar. But you, we are strengthened by the grace of God, you endured suffering courageously and you never departed from your faith in Christ. For this reason we call you great:

Rejoice, undaunted confessor of faith in Christ; Rejoice, invincible warrior of Christ.

Rejoice, for with the Archangels of the Heavenly Powers you stand before the Throne of God; Rejoice, quick helper to all who suffer for the truth.

Rejoice, having escaped temptations and enticements from the devil; Rejoice, for you have delivered all those who call you from temptations.

Rejoice, dispelling the plans of the godless tormentor; Rejoice, and help us to escape the snare of the devil.

Rejoice, protecting yourself from the arrows of the evil one with the shield of faith; Rejoice, who also protects us from temptations.

Rejoice, decoration of the Christian race; Rejoice, inhabitant of the heavenly palaces.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 5

You were like a more godly star than John, when, having come to the countries of Ifhal, you exhorted the existing Christians there not to depart from the Sun of the Truth of Christ God, but I will sing to Him: Halleluah ́ia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the saint brought before him, at the command of the Tsar, people faithful to Christ to be tormented for the faith of Christ, with great sorrow for them, be anxious in your heart that He may deliver them from the hand of the tormentor. Such your care for them is commendable, we call to you:

Rejoice, having the love of Christ in your heart; Rejoice, for with this we warm the faithful servants of Christ from the tormentors.

Rejoice, despising the commands of the wicked; Rejoice, thou who has kept the commandments of Christ.

Rejoice, friends of the faithful servants of Christ; Rejoice, Christian intercessor.

Rejoice, O comforter who is in prison and in bonds; Rejoice, feeder of the poor.

Rejoice, strange driver; Rejoice, doctor of the infirm.

Rejoice, protector of the orphans; Rejoice, comforter of those who mourn.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 6

By fasting and prayer you enslaved your flesh to the spirit and lived for the glory of God to the spirit; For this reason, now I stand before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, singing the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

You shone, like a new light in the firmament of heaven, to the entire Christian race, when by God’s will your incorruptible body was found, exuding an abundance of miracles with faith towards you for the intercession of those who come and cry out to you in prayer:

Rejoice, you have pleased God with your life; Rejoice, for this reason you received glorification from Him.

Rejoice, you who despise the vanity and charm of this world; Rejoice, having received the reward of Heaven.

Rejoice, for thou hast appeared faithfully for a little while; Rejoice, for you have been deemed worthy to receive the abundance of God’s grace.

Rejoice, for in this life you selflessly loved your neighbor; Rejoice, for in sorrows and adversities you were the intercessor of all.

Rejoice, you who laid down your soul for others; Rejoice, warm intercessor for us with the King of Heaven.

Rejoice, thou who saved Christians from the tormenting wrath; Rejoice, for today you are concerned about our salvation.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 7

Although I want you to depart from this world, we urge you with humility; you commanded a certain person to lay your body in a house where the stranger and the poor were buried. The Lord, who exalts the humble, deigns to preserve it incorruptible and emanating miracles to all who flow in faith for your intercession and cry out to God for you: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

A new show of mercy to His servant, the Lover of mankind, the Lord, has always deigned to glorify you and show His miracle-working grace in you. We rejoice and cry out with gratitude to such providence of God:

Rejoice, receptacle of God’s grace; Rejoice, chosen vessel of God.

Rejoice, wonderful miracle worker; Rejoice, give quick help to those who come to you with faith.

Rejoice, healer of our mental and physical ailments; Rejoice, you who drive out demons in the name of Christ.

Rejoice, the wickedness of the enemy of man is a accuser; Rejoice, guardian of chastity.

Rejoice, invisible fence of pious marriages from every devilish deception; Rejoice, quick to accuse of theft and robbery.

Rejoice, you who have turned aside to the path of truth to the guide; Rejoice, fulfill our petitions for good.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 8

Your strange and wondrous appearance through a dream vision to a certain woman who reverently saw and recognized the new wonderworker and saint of God in you, the people of Constantinople were moved and cried out to God: Halleluah ia.

Ikos 8

Full of virtues in this life, illuminated by the glory of God after death, you incline your ear to the prayers of those who honor you, from them you hear the titanic:

Rejoice, imitator of the mercy of the Heavenly Father; Rejoice, you who hunger for the nourisher.

Rejoice, invisible companion of the strange; Rejoice, patron of the orphans.

Rejoice, comforter of the embittered; Rejoice, for those who endure and strengthen the truth.

Rejoice, you who give relief to those who are sick and give healing; Rejoice, intercessor in these troubles.

Rejoice, beloved poor one; Rejoice, for you did not want to be separated from them in body even after departing from this world.

Rejoice, for you bequeathed your body to be buried in the house of the poor; Rejoice, for your humility you have been crowned with a crown from God.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 9

All the angelic host rejoiced, seeing you, the warrior of the King of Heaven, invincible, having defeated the ruler of the darkness and the delights of this age, and they also sang to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The poets of many things will not be able to adequately praise your sufferings, endured for Christ, and your deeds of mercy and chastity. We marvel at such people, and in our little weakness we bring you this praise:

Rejoice, loving Christ with all your heart; Rejoice, you who suffered freely for His Name.

Rejoice, jealous of God the Almighty; Rejoice, martyr's crown of acquisition.

Rejoice, rule of faith and abstinence to the teacher; Rejoice, thou who manifested spiritual poverty.

Rejoice, through your humility you have subdued the spirit of pride; Rejoice, thou who has acquired the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Rejoice, thou who has made an abode for oneself in the house of the Heavenly Father; Rejoice, for you always intercede for our salvation.

Rejoice, give quick help to those who ask; Rejoice, for you endlessly pray for Christ God for us.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 10

Although you wanted to save your soul, you despised the commands of the tormentor, and were careless about your body; you joyfully accepted the iron bonds and the sorrow of prison, John, the Warrior of Christ, singing praises to him who strengthened you To God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

You are a wall and a strong refuge for all who come running to you in prayer, miracle worker John, for this reason we call to you:

Rejoice, quick obedient to all who call upon you; Rejoice, for God has pleased your honest power to glorify miracles.

Rejoice, for from your icons the grace of God is given to those who look at them with faith; Rejoice, for you dwell invisibly in the temples created for the glorification of your name.

Rejoice, for no one there who prays in faith goes away empty-handed and unheard; Rejoice, for with your prayers you strengthen our prayers, ascending to the Throne of the Almighty.

Rejoice, for you labored before every request; Rejoice, for you give admonition to those who walk along the obstinate path of sin.

Rejoice, for you show quick help to those who are tempted by the devil; Rejoice, for you are guiding everyone to follow the path of salvation.

Rejoice, for you instruct sinners to repentance; Rejoice, saint of Christ and favored prayer for us.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 11

We bring you a song of praise, Martyr of Christ John, accepting it with love, pray to the Lord to deliver us from troubles and sorrows, especially at the hour of our death, precede your intercession, so that we may not We are unrepentant, but in the heavenly villages we will be worthy to sing to God with you: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

You are lights in the Church of Christ, burning with the immaterial light of God’s grace and illuminating the darkness of our foolishness, blessed John. For this reason we pray to you: enlighten us, darkened by sin, let us sing to you:

Rejoice, you who carry the light of Divine teaching in your heart; Rejoice, for by this we enlighten, you have exposed the darkness of idolatry.

Rejoice, for we too strive to be enlightened by the same light; Rejoice, for you see the glory of the Trisian Divinity face to face.

Rejoice, ray of God’s grace, kindled from the Sun of Truth; Rejoice, illuminating the darkness of our ignorance with the light of Christ’s commandments.

Rejoice, guiding star to all those seeking salvation; Rejoice, for you instruct us in every good work.

Rejoice, for you put a good thought in our hearts in good time; Rejoice, for you show the image of a good warrior in yourself to the military rank.

Rejoice, having illuminated the universe with the light of your virtues; Rejoice, for, seeing your good deeds, people glorify the Heavenly Father.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 12

Grace has been given to you from God to guide you to salvation and to save those who honor your memory from troubles; for this reason, with your prayers, protect the Church and the Russian country from all evil, the faithful are all in virtue Let us prosper, let us all sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing to God, who is wondrous in His saints, we praise you, Christ’s confessor, warrior and wonderworker with the praises of chic:

Rejoice, decoration of the Church of God; Rejoice, thou who art numbered among the Heavenly host.

Rejoice, you who have received the whole armor of God; Rejoice, having overcome all the machinations of the enemy.

Rejoice, thou clothed with the armor of righteousness; Rejoice, overshadowed by the shield of faith.

Rejoice, you who have acquired the helmet of salvation; Rejoice, sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, beloved of all weapons.

Rejoice, girded by God with righteousness and truth about your limbs; Rejoice, for you are numbered among those invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Rejoice, for there you were deemed worthy to sing a new song before His Throne; Rejoice, in Heaven now you may partake of Christ more truly than sometimes on earth.

Rejoice, John, holy Warrior and glorious miracle worker.

Kontakion 13

O holy servant of Christ and miracle worker John the Warrior! Accept this our praise and prayers offered to you, and with your favorable prayers to God, deliver us from all evils and circumstances, mental and physical illnesses, and from eternal torment through your intercession, save us and We beseech you that we are worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may be worthy to sing to God in the heavenly villages: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion.

Prayer

Oh, martyr of Christ, John the warrior! Thou art brave in battle, and a chaser of the enemy, and an intercessor to the offended, to all Orthodox Christians. Oh, great intercessor and servant of Christ, John the warrior! Have mercy on us, sinners and unworthy, and intercede in troubles and sorrows, and in sorrows, and in every evil adversity, and from every evil and offending person, for you have been given such grace from God, e Let us pray for us sinners in troubles and misfortunes of those who suffer evil. Deliver us from those who offend and hate, and be a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies. Oh, great champion of John the warrior! Do not forget us, who always pray to you, asking for your help and your endless mercy, and grant us, sinners and unworthy, to receive from God the ineffable goodness that is prepared for those who love Him. For due to Him is all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Strong icon of John the Warrior

Saint John the Warrior is considered a particularly revered image among the saints who patronize Orthodox Christians who dedicated their lives to defending the Motherland, or people in dangerous professions. Christian women who send their sons to military service try to buy an icon of John the Warrior in an online store and give it as a talisman against misfortune and death. During the war with the Swedish troops, Peter the Great prayed to the icon of John the Warrior, considering him his protector and patron. Currently, people resort to this warrior saint asking for protection from offenders. They pray in front of the revered icon of John the Warrior and for those who are in captivity or imprisonment. John the Warrior is revered as the protector and comforter of all those who mourn. Prayers to John the Warrior help find lost or stolen things. In the old days it was believed that if you served a prayer service to this saint, then the thing could be found. The meaning of the name John means the gift of God, the grace of God. The celebration in honor of the icon of John the Warrior takes place on August 12.

Icon of the life of St. John the Warrior

John the Warrior was a Slav by origin. In 361-363 he served with the Roman Emperor Julian, referred to as the Apostate, who, having accepted the Christian faith, soon abandoned it. Julian made him captain of a thousand, trusting that he would help him in the persecution of Christians. The icon depicts John the Warrior in military uniform with a sword and cross. Despite the fact that he commanded a punitive detachment, John warned the Orthodox about the raids, sought shelter for them and helped them in every way he could. Having learned about this, Julian ordered John to be put in prison and not fed. John was ready to come to terms with the fact that he was awaiting a demonstration execution, but the Lord gave him life. In the battle with the Persians, Julian was killed. John was released from prison, and he devoted his entire life to helping the needy, the sick and the weak. Living in complete self-sacrifice, he remained a kind and philanthropic Christian. John died a very old man. He was buried in Constantinople. Many miraculous healings occurred from the holy relics of John the Warrior, but he showed special help to the offended and grieving. Icons of John the Warrior decorate many Orthodox churches not only in Russia, but also in other countries.

Icon of John the Warrior, embroidered with beads

A wonderful gift for a man with the name Ivan or a person in the military profession will be an Orthodox icon of John the Warrior; you can buy it in an online store, embroidered with beads. Decorated in the best iconographic traditions, inlaid with precious stones and complemented with jewelry materials, the icon of John the Warrior can not only decorate any home, but also become a good gift for many generations.

Icon of John the Warrior

John the Warrior is a highly revered saint both in the Russian Orthodox Church and abroad. The image of John in your home can protect your family from enemies, danger and the envy of ill-wishers.

History of the icon

Saint John was born into a family of pious Christians in 1690. This time was marked by persecution of the Orthodox, and John was one of the soldiers in the army of the ruler Julian. The saint was supposed to kill believers in God, but instead he warned his fellow believers about the danger that threatened them, helped them get out of captivity and avoid a terrible fate.

Julian, having learned about the deeds of Saint John, threw him into prison, where the young man remained for several long years. They did not have time to execute the saint: Julian was killed during the battle, and John was freed and dedicated his life to the Lord. The saint died at an old age and was buried with all honors.

Where is the miraculous image located?

After the death of John the Warrior, his incorruptible relics and the painted image were placed in the temple of the city of Constantinople, from where they disappeared several decades later. Currently, the whereabouts of the first icon are unknown.

Description of the icon

In the holy image, John the Warrior is depicted in the very prime of his godly deeds. The saint is dressed in military armor, symbolizing his life path. In one hand John holds a spear, and in the other a sword, blade down.

This image reminds every believer of the price that Saint John paid in the name of faith and salvation of people walking the righteous path.

How does a miraculous image help?

John the Warrior is considered the patron saint of all those unjustly offended, persecuted and oppressed. Since ancient times, people have turned to the image of this saint in prayer, asking:

• about restoring justice;
• about uncovering theft and other evils;
• about finding the right path in life;
• about strengthening faith in the Lord.

Prayers before the icon of John the Warrior

“Saint John, who went with a sword into the house of the Orthodox in order to protect and save the true believers, I humbly ask you: do not be deaf to my prayers, protect and accompany me along the path of true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen".

This prayer must be read before any undertaking that is important to you.

“Saint John, bearer of the will of God, protector of the weak, savior of the persecuted, we pray to you with tears: do not abandon the humble servants of God in a moment of sorrow, help us to see and overcome enemies and those who want all evil. May we not disgrace the will of our Lord with unworthy groaning and may we rejoice in His justice. Amen".

This prayer in front of the icon of John the Warrior can help you overcome any obstacles and prevent ill-wishers from destroying your life.

It is possible to cleanse your soul and change your life for the better with the help of sincere prayer for the forgiveness of sins.

Iconography

Images of the great martyr were practically unknown in Byzantine realities and in the art of Rus'. Apart from Russia, icons of this saint are not found anywhere even today:

• More often, John is depicted in the garb of a Byzantine warrior.
• His curls are dark in color, and his face is framed by a thick but short beard.
• In the right hand of the martyr there is a cross, symbolizing the unshakable faith, which the saint did not change until his death. Sometimes his attribute is a spear, reminiscent of divine power in the fight against paganism.
• There are options where the great martyr is depicted from the waist up. Here he holds a sacred spear and makes a blessing gesture.
• Early icons show a Warrior mounted on a white horse, holding a large sword.
• Saint John was often depicted in the garb of a patrician. Here he is presented in a cloak, which is worn over a chiton.
• Numerous images are monotonous. 18th-century art is dominated by frontal images of the saint, dressed in a red cloak and rich armor. The filling is a landscape background, revealing a wide panorama, and a weapon lies on the ground.

  Icon of the Holy Martyr John the Warrior

• A rare type of iconographic display is the image of John the Warrior praying. This image is accompanied by text glorifying the mission of intercession. To the left of the central figure is a procession with the burial of his remains. Here he holds a spear in one right hand (hand) along with a palm branch.
• There is a rare specimen in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Here John the Warrior is presented half-turned towards the contemplating viewer. The great martyr has already grown old, in one right hand he holds a cross, symbolizing religious service, and the second hand is blessedly raised to an invisible interlocutor. This icon confirms the opinion that the saint left his body in harmony with his environment.

Read about the saint:

• Akathist to the Holy Martyr John the Warrior
• Prayers to John the Warrior
• Life of the Holy Martyr John the Warrior

Interesting! During the invasion of the Tatar army into Rus', a miraculous event took place in the Serpukhov monastery. In a fit of rage, one of the barbarians began to chop the icon with the face of St. John, blood flowed from the wounds. Before the eyes of those present, the sacred image was restored, and the invader believed in the Son of the Lord.

Childhood and youth

John the Warrior was born in the 4th century. Unfortunately, the exact date of his birth is unknown. There is very little information about his life; he is rarely mentioned in chronicles. The man was originally from Constantinople.

The name John has Hebrew roots. It means “gift of God.”

John the Warrior in armor

Images of the saint were not common either in Byzantium or in the art of Rus'. Today, except for Russia, icons of John the Warrior are not found anywhere.

John is mostly depicted in armor, his hair is dark, and his face is framed by a beard. In his right hand he holds a cross - a sign of unshakable faith. A spear, a symbol of the fight against paganism, becomes a frequent attribute of the saint.

Holy Martyr John

When the emperor learned what John the Warrior was doing, he was thrown into prison. He gained freedom only after the death of Julian the Apostate. “Cleansed” by suffering, the martyr devoted his life to serving the Lord and helping ordinary people. He was greatly loved by the poor for his mercy and support. The saint gave everything he had to people who needed it.

John lived to a ripe old age. The exact year of his death is not known, and besides, he was buried in an unnamed cemetery. The holy relics of the martyr were found thanks to a woman to whom the saint appeared in a dream. They were found incorrupt and taken to the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Constantinople. The Lord endowed them with grace-filled power, so that they became famous for their miracles. The body was August 12 is considered the saint's feast day.

Christians venerate John the Warrior as a helper in sorrows, and those believers who have experienced severe mental suffering and are often offended often resort to his intercession. It is believed that the holiness of John the Warrior was also deserved by the fact that he lived sinlessly and pleasing to God, despite the continuous decline of morals around him.

Today, all believers can receive consolation by praying to John the Warrior, and the Orthodox Church considers him a great helper in all kinds of sorrows that happen in people’s lives.

The Story of Saint John the Warrior

Saint John lived in the 4th century and served as a military commander under the Byzantine Emperor Julian the Apostate (reigned 361-363). Julian was nicknamed the apostate because he retreated from the true God and wanted to spread paganism in his state, unlike his predecessor, Emperor Constantine the Great. After 40 years of prosperity, Christians again began to be persecuted for their faith.

John was a secret Christian. One day, the emperor sent his military commander to exterminate Christians, but John, instead of pursuing them, helped them: “... He notified some before they were captured so that they could escape, and released others after they were captured. . He showed mercy not only to persecuted Christians, but also to those who asked him for help, giving them everything they needed,” St. Demetrius of Rostov describes the life of John the Warrior.

In Rus', I.V. (Warrior) became a highly revered saint. A temple is dedicated to him in Moscow on the street. B. Yakimanka. The first mention of this church dates back to 1625. Then it was located on the bank of the river. Moscow, closer to modern times. Crimean bridge. I.V. was the patron saint of the archers, who lived there since the 50s. XVI century by order of Tsar John IV Vasilyevich. After the suppression of the Streltsy uprising, the temple fell into disrepair, and in 1708 it was flooded during a flood. According to legend, Peter I ordered the restoration of the temple in honor of the victory in the Battle of Poltava, considering I.V. the patron saint of the Russians. armies. The consecration of the temple on June 12, 1717 was performed by the Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan. Ryazansky and Muromsky Stefan (Yavorsky). In 1812, the temple was desecrated by the French, then consecrated again. During Soviet times, the temple was not closed. In 1922, the rector of the temple, Fr. Christopher (Nadezhdin), in 2000 canonized as the holy new martyrs and confessors of Russia.

We know very little about the life of the holy martyr. Let's try to supplement his life with real events of a later period of history. Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets gives a very clear example, explaining how one can be a secret Christian and not renounce the faith: “In one Turkish village there were many secret Christians, and the elder was a priest... One day the Turks came to him and reported that in a certain place Christians are hiding in the catacombs. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll go have a look.” He took his people, went to these catacombs and found all the Christians there gathered together. Then he goes to the royal doors, takes the stole off the hook, puts it on and serves Vespers! “Take appropriate measures,” he told them later, and the Turk reassured: “There is no one there, these are false rumors.” Such people are not apostates. However, from the moment they begin to suspect a Christian and say to him, “We saw you being baptized! You are a Christian,” and he answers, “No, I am a Muslim,” he becomes an apostate...”

When the emperor was informed that John was a Christian, Julian the Apostate was very angry. John was shackled and taken away for trial. On the road to Constantinople, the saint humbly endured the torment and bullying of the guards. At this time, the emperor was not in the city: Julian went on a campaign against the Persians and John the Warrior was thrown into prison, where he suffered terrible hardships and torments. On top of everything else, the saint was tormented by doubts whether it would be better to become a pagan. But still he continued to trust in God’s help and prayed: “Lord, you see how weak and weak I am; my mind wavers with doubt; support me, strengthen me in the fulfillment of Your commandments. I will fall if You do not come to my aid,” John prayed.

Emperor Julian died in a campaign against the Persians, and his place was taken by the zealous Christian Jovinus. Christians, including John, were released.

“Suffering cleansed, strengthened, and elevated his soul, and in the remaining years of his life he was a true Christian. He spent all his wealth on the poor, diligently visited the sick and suffering,” writes New Martyr Evgeniy Poselyanin about John the Warrior.

John became famous for his works of mercy. The poor people loved him very much. When John died, all the poor people of Constantinople gathered for the funeral. John bequeathed to bury himself in an unnamed cemetery where tramps were buried. Even in death, the saint wanted to remain with the outcasts of society. John was remembered after his death, they did not stop praying to him, but they forgot where the saint’s body was buried. Several centuries later, the martyr John the warrior appeared in a dream to a pious woman and told him where he was buried. This is how the incorruptible relics of the saint were found. The relics were displayed for the veneration of believers in a precious shrine in Constantinople.

If a person was a friend of the Lord during his lifetime, then all his requests to the Lord are fulfilled. Moreover, the Lord fulfills the requests of those who were righteous during life and have died. Through prayers to Saint John, numerous miracles were revealed.

The people believe that the holiness of John the Warrior is also deserved by the fact that the saint lived righteously and pleasing to God, despite the general decline of morals around him. When sin reigns all around and violation of commandments is commonplace, it is very difficult to resist and not succumb to temptation...

They pray to John the Warrior to find what was lost and to expose theft. The saint is considered a helper to all the offended, all poor, unfortunate people, helping to return what was stolen. If the missing thing is very dear to a person, you need to pray to John the Warrior, and he will definitely help you return it.

Not long ago a wonderful thing happened. A parishioner of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Logoisk lost her wedding ring, consecrated in Jerusalem. It was so dear to her that the woman began to read an akathist to John the Warrior every day. A month later the ring was returned...

Several years ago there was another case of the saint’s intercession. A woman came to the Holy Trinity Izmailovsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg and asked to serve a prayer service in front of the icon of the saint from the iconostasis of the chapel of John the Warrior. After this, the woman reported about a miracle that happened to her. She worked for six months, they refused to pay her and kicked her out. The woman had children, a family, and she really needed money. She told her friends about her grief, and she was advised to turn to the martyr John the Warrior, who helped in a similar situation. This was the case. A family heirloom was stolen - a Persian carpet brought by an ancestor 150 years ago, and the whole family read an akathist to John the Warrior for almost a month. A thief came, returned the stolen goods and asked the offended “to make sure that the man in military uniform no longer appears to him at night.” After listening to this story, the woman, left without wages, also began to pray to John the Warrior. Less than a month has passed since she began reading the akathist daily, her former boss calls, puts an envelope with her salary in front of this woman and says: “Take it, don’t ask anything, and leave.” The envelope contained six months' salary, although this man refused to pay other people...

This is how the martyr John the Warrior helps. We will turn to him in difficult situations.

God wished that no details were preserved about the life of John the Warrior. And most likely, John the Warrior himself would like that on the day of his memory people would show mercy to each other, to those who are weaker, poorer, and more unprotected. Helping your neighbor illuminates life, makes it meaningful and whole. Disappointment, despondency, emptiness go away when a person begins to help someone who really needs help.

The Orthodox Church honors the memory of the martyr John the Warrior on July 30 / August 12

PRAYER TO JOHN THE WARRIOR

Oh, great martyr of Christ John, champion of the faithful, chaser of enemies and intercessor of the offended! Hear us in troubles and sorrows, praying to you, for you have been given grace from God to comfort the sad, to help the weak, to deliver the innocent from vain death, and to pray for all those who suffer evil. Be therefore a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies, for with your help and fight all those who show us evil will be put to shame. Pray to our Lord, that He may grant us His sinful and unworthy servants to receive from Him the ineffable good that is prepared for those who love Him, in the Trinity of the Holy Ones, glorified by God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Saint John the Martyr

The most important fact of the life of this biblical character is that he was a soldier in the army of Emperor Julian the Apostate. There is information that his duties included not only the persecution of Christians, but also their extermination. But this was only a cover. In fact, he provided help to those who needed it. He warned of danger, freed people from captivity, and organized escapes. Also in our time, many send their petitions to him. Prayer in front of the icon of St. John the Warrior will help you find comfort in grief and be healed from various diseases.

But such help from the saint could not remain secret for a long time. The emperor found out about this and ordered him to be imprisoned. But just at that time there were military actions in Persia, during which the ruler was killed. The emperor's follower was a fan of Orthodoxy and released the prisoner. After this, John decided to devote the rest of his life to serving the Lord and helping those in need.

No one can say the exact date of his death. However, what is known is that he was already quite old. After his burial, the place was forgotten. The appearance of the Saint himself to one Christian woman helped her remember him, during which he pointed to that place. Immediately the relics were transferred to the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Constantinople. It was noted that various miracles, and more specifically healings, occurred.

What John the Warrior helps with is known to many. Basically, it is about finding comfort not only for those who are hurt, but also for those grieving for loved ones. In addition, it helps to survive and cope with various adversities and sorrows. Memorial Day is celebrated on August 12. Since this saint helps to survive the most terrible and difficult moments of life. Making a sincere request will provide you with the peace of mind that you have been dreaming of for a long time. On this date, many Orthodox Christians come to venerate the miraculous icon of the martyr John the Warrior.

Orthodox Life

On August 12, the Orthodox Church celebrates the day of remembrance of the holy martyr John the Warrior. The veneration of this saint is quite widespread among the Eastern Slavs and, in general, among Orthodox Christians.

In my opinion, this is also due to the fact that the holy martyr John the Warrior is in some ways similar to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker: he loves God and people very much and quickly comes to the rescue. And it was so before his death, and it is so after his death. Mercy is the distinguishing feature of the holy martyr John the Warrior.

His life is quite short, but still amazing.

To begin with, according to the account of his life by Saint Demetrius of Rostov, it is quite possible that the holy martyr John the Warrior was a Slav by nationality. This is not a proven fact, but a completely possible assumption, since ancient church sources say that John was a warrior in a regiment consisting of soldiers of the Scythian Taifal tribe. Some church historians speculate about its Slavic origin. For the Byzantine Empire this was not surprising. Hellenic culture served in it as something like glue, a connecting mental substance for so many nations and peoples.

Martyr John the Warrior suffered during the last agony of paganism during the time of Emperor Julian the Apostate (mid-4th century after the Nativity of Christ). This emperor was called an apostate because he was a fanatical pagan who tried to revive cult paganism and at the same time became a persecutor of Christians.

Martyr John the Warrior was a commander whom Julian sent to the Ifal province in order to eradicate Christianity. John the Warrior should have put believers in Christ in prison and executed them, but instead he chose a different path, being a Christian. The saint secretly helped Christians. With God's help he saved some from prison, warned others ahead of time about arrest, and helped others escape. In this way John saved many lives.

Julian the Apostate found out about this and imprisoned the saint in Constantinople, wanting to carry out an exemplary execution of a Christian in front of the people to intimidate him. While imprisoned, the martyr was starved to death, but he survived. The Lord delivered His saint from the tormentor. In 363, Julian was killed in war by the Persians. And the new emperor was a Christian. John the Warrior was released from prison and his estate was returned to him.

He is one of the few martyrs who lived to a ripe old age and died a natural death, while continuing to help suffering people, and not only Christians. John fed the homeless, took care of the poor, prisoners, and helped the sick. He led a godly Christian life.

He died at an old age and was buried in an unmarked grave in a cemetery for the poor. Such a humble man was the holy martyr John the Warrior.

It seemed that this was the end of his earthly life. But the Lord, decades later, decided to glorify His saint, who carried out His Most Holy will in life. A pious widow lived near the poor peasants' cemetery. And then she saw a light above one grave. At night, the holy martyr John the Warrior himself appeared to her, who told the woman about his life and told her his name. The widow told the priests everything and pointed out the grave over which she had seen the light. Thus the relics of the saint were discovered. They were transferred to the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Constantinople. In the temple in honor of the apostle of love, the relics of the saint were buried, who was also a conductor of Divine love and mercy in this world.

Now about the gift of the holy martyr John the Warrior to help, with God’s help, find lost or stolen things...

Of course, you can pray for these needs to different saints. We are Christians and cannot treat our saints as some kind of pagan gods in charge of certain elements. Our saints are conductors of Divine light. They are people who, by the will of God, achieved holiness.

But it cannot be denied that some saints begged God for certain gifts to help people. For example, the holy great martyr Barbara begged God for the gift of helping people die piously, in a Christian way, let’s say, i.e. having confessed and received the Body and Blood of Christ. That is why in iconography she is depicted with a Chalice (Chalice).

There is also a similar fact in the life of the holy martyr John the Warrior. Thieves got into the widow to whom he appeared and with whose help his relics were found. They saw a certain warrior in ancient armor. He scared them terribly, and they ran away. And later, with repentance, the thieves returned to the widow and, seeing the icon of the holy martyr John the Warrior, said that it was this man who forestalled the theft.

This is how the church tradition of praying to the saint for the recovery of stolen and lost things arose.

I would also like to share stories about the miraculous help of the holy martyr John the Warrior, which I witnessed.

One elderly woman invited me to her home. She was getting ready to go on a very long journey and wanted parting words, words of encouragement from me. I was in a hurry for Vespers, but still stopped by to see her. I rang the doorbell of the apartment. The neighbor opened the door, and the woman was sitting in a chair and crying bitterly. It turns out that on the eve of departure she lost her bag with documents and tickets.

What was to be done? I suggested reading the troparion, kontakion and prayer to the holy martyr John the Warrior. We read together. Then I left. After Vespers, this woman calls me and joyfully tells me: as soon as you left, an hour later a man calls me and says that he found my purse with documents and tickets on a bench at a minibus stop. He's coming to give it to me.

The same thing happened in our family. Mother and I lost a bunch of very important keys. And they didn’t remember where. They looked wherever they could, but they didn’t find it. My mother said it looked like it was at some gas station. We prayed to the holy martyr John the Warrior. A few days later the landlady brings our set of keys. He asks: “Didn’t you lose it?” We were very happy, and she said that an unfamiliar man came and brought a bunch of keys.

This, of course, is only a miracle and the gracious help of the holy martyr John the Warrior. How did this man find the keys? Where? And if I found it, how did I know that they were ours and where we live? Wonderful are Your works, O Lord!

They also pray to the Holy Martyr John the Warrior for deliverance from prison, for prisoners and soldiers. He is considered the patron saint of warriors and law enforcement officers, which is quite logical.

But most importantly, we need, with God’s help, to learn from him to also be conductors of Divine love and mercy in this world and do good for the sake of God and for people, as the holy martyr John the Warrior did and continues to do.

Holy Martyr John the Warrior, pray to God for us!

Priest Andrey Chizhenko

Temples and icons of St. John the Warrior

There are churches in the name of St. John the Warrior in Russia - in Moscow, Krasnodar, Rostov. It is easy to recognize the icon of the martyr:

the saint is depicted as dark-haired, with his head uncovered;

can sit on a horse or stand at full height;

dressed in military uniform with a raincoat thrown over his shoulder.

A martyr can hold a cross in his hands. This is a symbol of how faith was the motivating force in his life. The spear means the power that the Lord sends to the righteous so that they overcome unbelief and the enemies of Christ. The shield symbolizes the protection that saints gain through prayer. Although the martyr died at an old age, most icon painters depict him in the prime of his life. Church tradition says that after the resurrection people will appear before God in the same form as they had in their youth.

• Prayer to John of Sochavsky for trade
• Prayer to the Apostle John the Theologian - see here
• Prayer to John Chrysostom for help - https://bogolub.info/molitva-ioannu-zlatoustu-o-pomoshhi/

However, there is a rare icon that depicts St. John in the form of an old man. On it he appears in a headdress resembling a miter. He raised the cross of Christ high in front of him, as if showing that he had brought his whole life to the feet of Jesus. The image is located in the Kyiv Lavra, in one of the caves.

Life of John the Warrior

The holy martyr served in the troops of Emperor Julian the Apostate in the period from 361-363. Compared to other warriors, his goal was not only to persecute, but also to kill Orthodox Christians. However, he remained a persecutor only on the outside, but in reality, Saint John the Warrior himself provided assistance, warning the expelled Orthodox Christians about the dangers that threatened them, and he freed those who were in captivity, and also facilitated their escape.

The mercy of the Wonderworker condescended to both Christian believers and all those suffering and in need of help, comforting those who are in sorrow or have health problems.

But as soon as the emperor learned about the actions of the Saint, he immediately sent him to prison. After which, in 363, the persecutor himself was killed during the Persian War, and the warrior was freed, began to live in purity and holiness and dedicated his entire life for the good of his neighbors.

The Wonderworker died at an advanced age, but the exact date of his death is not known, and the burial place itself became forgotten after a while, but one day the Saint appeared to a pious Christian woman and indicated the place where he was buried.

The relics of the warrior were transferred to Constantinople to the temple of the Apostle John the Theologian, which, by the will of God, were endowed with grace-filled power capable of healing. And reading prayers addressed to the Wonderworker will help to find comfort not only for people who are consumed by resentment, but also for those who are consumed by grief for a loved one.

In Orthodox churches, this Warrior is sacredly revered as a great protector who protects and helps to cope with sorrows and adversity.

When is Saint Saint's Day celebrated?

The Orthodox Church has established a day of remembrance of the Saint, which is celebrated annually on August 12 according to the new style (July 30 according to the old style).

Martyr John the Warrior

Brief life of the holy martyr John, warrior and wonderworker.

memory of the saint July 30/August 12
The Holy Martyr John the Warrior lived in the 4th century. He served in the army of the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate (361 - 363). Some sources report that Saint John was a warrior in the regiment of the Taifals, a Scythian tribe, therefore he could be a Slav. One day, the emperor sent a detachment of soldiers led by Saint John to the city of Numera Ifalskie to pursue and persecute Christians. Saint John was a secret Christian and, taking advantage of his position, provided all possible assistance to the persecuted: he warned of danger, provided shelter, arranged escapes, visited prisons and consoled the suffering, and helped with money. When Julian the Apostate learned about the activities of the saint, he ordered him to be immediately brought to Constantinople. Along the way, the guards treated Saint John as a state criminal, beating him and starving him. When the saint was brought to the capital, Julian the Apostate was on a campaign against the Persians, and Saint John was imprisoned until his return. For several months he was shackled in heavy chains and suffered many hardships. Sometimes the martyr was exhausted in soul, and he was overcome by doubts: is it worth exchanging a quiet life for such suffering. But in the inevitable temptation, in the struggle of flesh and spirit, Saint John found support in prayer. The Lord strengthened the holy martyr, and he joyfully glorified the mercy of the Creator.

After the death of Julian the Apostate, who was killed during the campaign, the holy martyr John the Warrior was released by order of the new Christian emperor Jovian (363-364). Tested by sorrows and purified by them, like gold in a crucible, he devoted the rest of his life to serving God and people. He used all his property for the benefit of the poor, sick and suffering, who found in Saint John a true comforter and helper. In purity and holiness, the martyr John lived to a ripe old age and peacefully departed to the Lord. He bequeathed that his body should be buried in the place where wanderers and beggars, who had always been close to his soul, were buried.

Over time, the burial place of the holy martyr John the Warrior was forgotten. One day he appeared in a dream vision to a pious woman and pointed out where his grave was. The holy relics of the martyr were found incorrupt. The Lord glorified them with miracles. Later, the honorable relics of the martyr John the Warrior were placed in the Constantinople church in the name of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

In Rus', the name of the holy martyr John the Warrior has been known for a long time. He is revered as the protector of the offended, the suffering and the patron of warriors. Through the prayers of the saint, thieves are also exposed and stolen and lost things are found. In many places of our Fatherland, churches were built in the name of the martyr John the Warrior. In the 18th century there was also a temple named after him in Moscow. This temple, located on the low bank of the Moscow River, was flooded with water during the flood. In 1709, by order of Peter I, construction began on a new temple in the name of the martyr John the Warrior. The new temple, built on an elevated site, was consecrated in 1713. It was located on Bolshaya Yakimanka and at that time was the third high-rise building in Moscow (after the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Sukharev Tower). Nowadays the Church of the Holy Martyr John the Warrior is one of the most beautiful churches in Moscow; it houses the revered icon of the holy martyr.

Temple address:

117049, Moscow, st. B. Yakimanka, 46

tel. 283-20-56

m. "Oktyabrskaya"

When did John the Warrior live?

This emperor was called an apostate because he betrayed faith in the one living God and tried to instill in the inhabitants of his empire a love for the pagan cult. In this regard, debauchery and chaos began to reign throughout the cities; people forgot the laws of the Lord and indulged in pleasures in the arms of other people's wives and husbands, robbed the weak and mocked the sick.

It was during this period that Christians had a very difficult time: on the orders of the despot-emperor, Christian families were destroyed, children were killed and believing men were sent to prison. Their wives, left without means of subsistence, were forced to leave their places of settlement and go on wanderings. Such people most of all needed the support and protection of a strong Roman warrior, who was forced to serve under the command of despots, but always remained with God in his soul.

In those days, serving in the Roman army was difficult and dangerous. Only a fearless man, strong both morally and physically, could become a real warrior. It is easier to spread the word of God if you are a family man and a calm person, but from his youth, John realized that he would be more useful as a soldier.

Carrying out the orders of Julian, the future saint actually pursued noble goals, almost always managing to warn Christians about the impending persecution.

So the righteous man helped his fellow believers for many years, until the evil emperor learned about the true activities of the Christian and ordered John to be thrown into prison.

Even while in prison, God's servant John never grumbled against his Father, but only asked him for help and intercession for those whom he himself did not have time to help.

After the Roman emperor died in battle, the dictatorship in the country was replaced by a democratic regime, and the imprisoned believers were released. After his imprisonment, John the Warrior continued to serve God, but he acted openly, without hiding from state guards. Until the end of his days, the preacher carried the word of God to the people, for which he was generously rewarded with the Lord's love.

After this, the resting place was quickly found and a memorial symbol was placed there. Subsequently, several centuries later, the relics were transferred to the Church of Constantinople, where they are now in a precious shrine. Every year a huge number of people who believe in the miracle of healing make a pilgrimage to them.

Veneration of the relics

Martyr John the Warrior reached a respectable old age in purity and God-fearing humility. His death was calm and peaceful. The saint wanted to be buried where wanderers, the poor and the suffering found their last refuge. When this holy man left the world, all the poor people of Constantinople came to the farewell procession.

John the Warrior was sacredly revered and remembered after his death; a huge number of people flocked to his relics to humbly ask for help. However, people soon forgot where his burial place was.

The relics of the saint were found several centuries later. John personally came in a dream to a God-fearing woman, revealing the place of his burial. The incorrupt remains were exhibited in the Church of Constantinople for public worship, placing them in a precious shrine.

Read about the relics of other righteous people:

• Relics of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze
• Relics of Saint Ambrose of Optina
• Relics of Saint Elijah of Muromets

The holy remains of John performed many miracles, because the monk was a friend of the Most High during his lifetime and sought to serve His Will. The religious greatness of the martyr is deserved by his righteousness and humility, despite the critical decline in morality around him. John the Warrior withstood numerous temptations and did not succumb to insidious temptations.

On a note! The Almighty decreed that the biography of this saint is shrouded in fog, and practically nothing is known about him. There is an assumption that the martyr himself wanted that on the day of remembrance of his name (July 30) all people would show mercy and compassion towards those around them. Asceticism conquers the emptiness and disappointment of this world.

Prayers for help

Many people know how Saint John the Warrior helps, but not everyone has an idea of ​​how to pray correctly. People who do not attend church often and turn to God only in extremely difficult cases generally have little idea of ​​what prayer should be like. In fact, there is nothing complicated. In order for a saint to hear you and help you, it is not at all necessary to memorize complex texts and pronounce words, half of which you do not understand.

“Holy Servant John, you see my needs and my open heart. I ask you to help me in my affairs and save me from the problems that I, a servant of God, have brought upon myself out of ignorance. Help me get rid of the sin I have committed and have the strength to refuse temptation. I will faithfully walk in your paths and serve the Lord, preaching his wonders. I believe that my prayer will be heard. Amen!".

You can also find the troparion to John the Warrior and memorize the text, pronouncing it in any difficult life situation. You can only ask for help if you are not trying to hide sin in your heart and fully repent of previous actions that provoked a difficult conflict situation.

In the age of information technology, finding the right prayer is not at all difficult. Just enter keywords in the search bar, and you will see many options for addressing the saint. There are the following types of prayers:

• morning;
• evening;
• prayers for all occasions and for every day.

If the text of the prayer found on the Internet suits you, you can safely use it. But if, after re-reading informational articles and options for addressing the holy image, you have not found a text suitable for memorization, you can turn to St. John in your own words.

A good option is to go to church and talk with the temple minister about this topic. If you are not sure that you are doing everything right in your appeal to the saint or feel some discomfort, be sure to communicate with the priest.

Help from shrines and correct petition

A saint who dedicated his own life to selfless service to the Lord and all his creations is especially revered in the Orthodox tradition.

• During the times of serfdom, the common people sincerely believed that turning to the image of a saint made it possible to find a robber, return stolen property and a hidden servant. A large amount of evidence of these miracles is found in the chronicles.
• A prayer service addressed to the Warrior-Martyr resolves various financial troubles.
• Many thieves, out of fear of miracles, themselves admitted to what they had done.
• Mothers accompanying their sons to war said prayers and asked for protection from death and injury.
• People in captivity turn to images of John the Warrior.
• A warrior-martyr is able to reduce the impact of the onset of sorrows and eliminate apathy.

When turning to the patron saint, you should choose a specific prayer service suitable for a particular occasion. However, first you need to find peace of mind and concentrate on a successful outcome of the matter. Often the Warrior is addressed through an akathist (thanksgiving chant), consisting of large and small stanzas.

Churches of the martyr are located in Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Leningrad region, Stavropol, Bryansk, Krasnodar, etc.

On a note! In the northern and northeastern regions of Rus', the saint was considered a great patron of the military and an assistant in the fight for the Fatherland. Ivan the Terrible addressed the icon, who built a wooden church in his honor in Moscow. Peter the Great carried with him the icon of the Warrior-Martyr throughout the Northern War against enemies from Sweden.

The Holy Martyr John the Warrior is remembered as a Christian who sought to alleviate suffering and warn the unfortunate poor and beggars about impending disasters. Having experienced many shocks in prison, he only strengthened in his selfless desire to serve the Lord.

People who turn to his image and relics can find lost wealth and ask for protection from misfortunes.

Watch the video about John the Warrior

Miracles before the icon and remains

In the Orthodox tradition, this saint and great martyr is extremely revered. It is called a helper in emotional sorrows and difficult circumstances.

• They pray to John the Warrior to find lost or stolen property. Currently, there has been an episode of the miraculous return of a precious item to its owner. The latter lost the ring illuminated in Jerusalem. Her sincere prayers reached John, who helped in the discovery of the relic.
• The petitions of one woman before the remains of the saint were heard. The unfortunate woman complained about the deception of her employers, who kicked her out of her place of work and did not pay her due compensation. The patron saint had a miraculous influence and helped restore justice.
• One family's Persian carpet, which is more than 150 years old, was stolen. Unfairly deprived people began to read the sacred akathist to John the Warrior himself. Soon the one who had illegally appropriated the precious item came to them, gave the carpet and asked that the man in military uniform no longer come to him in his dreams.
• Reading the akathist to John helped one woman restore justice and regain her honestly earned money. The boss personally called her, came to the meeting, handed her an envelope with the required amount of money and asked her not to ask anything. This greedy and cunning man refused to pay other people.
• The chronicles state: during the Tatar invasion of the Serpukhov convent, a certain barbarian began to saw off the holy image of John. Blood appeared from the board, but the criminal did not stop and tried to make several more cuts. Before the eyes of those present, the icon was miraculously restored, and the Tatar found faith in Christ. Dried blood and places where the cuts were made were still visible afterwards.
• In Christian legends, a special prayer was intended for this saint, helping to find stolen things and return runaway servants.

John the Warrior. Church of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia

short biography

John was born in the 4th century and served as a military leader at the court of the Byzantine Emperor Julian. The latter was called the Apostate, since he betrayed faith in the Almighty and sought to spread the pagan worldview in the country. The Emperor gave instructions to John the Warrior to exterminate all Christians on the territory of Constantinople. However, the great martyr did not kill any of them, but tried to notify the believers of the impending threat and freed them from captivity, giving them a chance to escape. By this, the holy Warrior earned enormous respect from Christians and ordinary people suffering from deprivation and persecution.

Having learned about the arbitrariness of his subordinate, the Apostate ordered the commander-in-chief to be arrested and brought to Constantinople. On the way to the capital, John experienced beatings and hunger, and was treated as hated Christians. The Great Martyr was placed in prison, where he had to fight temptations and defend his own faith in the Lord.

Three months later he was released by the new Byzantine emperor, preaching Christianity. Coming out of captivity, John became stronger emotionally and wished to devote the rest of his life to selfless service. He left his military post and lived a quiet life in the capital of Byzantium. The Great Martyr strove to mercifully help the poor, living in complete renunciation and self-sacrifice. He divided all his property among people from the common people.

The saint died at an advanced age, but the exact date of death is unknown. A huge number of poor people came to his burial place and asked for help. After some time, the holy and incorruptible remains of the Warrior were transferred to the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Constantinople. The relics performed miracles: they cured illnesses, returned stolen goods and relieved sorrows.

Important! By his actions during his life, the great martyr proved his devotion and love to the Almighty and all people. The saint managed to avoid the bloodshed of his brothers while on duty and saved hundreds of lives

Many suffering and sick people pray to his remains and icons, which are of great importance in the Orthodox tradition. The holy face heals, returns valuable relics and punishes robbers.

Icon of the martyr Saint John the Warrior

Saint John lived a long and eventful life. As a minister of the Roman Empire during the persecution of Christians, this man managed to preserve and carry through dark times real faith, which sowed hope for the best in the hearts of persecuted people. Always supportive of the weak, sympathetic and ready to help - this is exactly what John the Warrior was like.

Christian feat

In those years, the ruler was Julian the Apostate. He was a cruel persecutor of Christians and dreamed of reviving paganism. Before him, his uncle Constantine the Great was in power; during the 40 years of his reign, not a single pagan temple remained in Constantinople. Therefore, Julian faced a very difficult task. Already in the first week after becoming sovereign, he decided to make a sacrifice in the Christian church in order to show the seriousness of his intentions.

Flavius ​​Claudius Julian (Julian the Apostate)

That's when he received the nickname "Renegade." That’s what the blind old man called him; he said that Julian was an atheist, an apostate and a man without faith. But the ruler was adamant. He soon gathered numerous troops to expel the Christians.

He sent soldiers to all corners of the vast Roman Empire, giving them one single order: to destroy as many Christians as possible. John was one of Emperor Julian's soldiers. He was brave and courageous, and he was appointed to command the detachment. However, in his soul John remained a true Christian; the last thing he wanted was to cause pain and suffering to innocent people.

Icons of John the Warrior

Secretly, he warned Christian settlements about the movements of his troops. And most of them managed to escape at the time of his arrival. In the event that the soldiers did find someone in the village, John found an excuse to let the person go. Sometimes he even helped captured people escape from captivity.

Of course, this couldn't go on for long. John's detachment was dissatisfied with this behavior of the commander, so soon one of them reported to the emperor about his strange actions.

John the Warrior

When Julian found out about this, he ordered John to be brought to him. On the way, the soldiers mocked the man. They beat him and did not give him food or water. And when they entered the city, it turned out that the ruler had set out on a military campaign against the Persians. John was put in prison, where he had to await Julian's decision.

Shackled in iron, deprived of sunlight, John awaited his own execution. More than once he was overcome by doubts, but he was saved by prayer. In her he found support from God. Despite everything, the saint managed to avoid the bloodshed of his brothers while on duty and saved hundreds of lives.

One day, while praying, he heard the rattle of a lock. Of course, his first thought was that his time had come. But upon entering, the guard informed him that from now on he was free.

New Emperor Jovian

Julian the Apostate was mortally wounded during a military campaign, and the new emperor himself was a Christian and did not intend to kill his fellow believers. Thus, Julian became the last pagan emperor of Rome.

John believed that he was delivered through his tireless prayers to the Lord. For the rest of his life after his release, he helped the disadvantaged, outcasts of society. He tried to instill faith and hope in people. He shared both shelter and food with the poor.

John the Warrior, Courageous Defender of the Faith

Not much is known from the biography of the saint, but enough to arouse respect and remain in the memory of many generations of believers. It is not clear how the Slav ended up in the Roman army; the exact dates of birth and death are unknown. The church holiday was established on the day of the transfer of the relics.

It is not for nothing that they pray to John the Warrior when protection is needed. Although he was obliged by duty to kill followers of Christ, the courageous Christian did his best to help his brothers in faith avoid reprisals. He warned them when raids were being prepared. Not everyone was saved; many ended up in prison. The saint consoled such people as best he could:

supported morally;

brought food;

clothed those who needed it;

organized escapes.

His mercy extended not only to Christians, but also to pagans. He also protected them from offenders. Many of them, thanks to this, thought about how great the one God is. And today, in prayers to John the warrior, people seek protection.

What do they pray to John the Warrior for?

However, such activity could not go unnoticed. After all, John the warrior went against the direct order of the emperor. He was put under arrest. There, the former commander of a thousand was supposed to die of hunger. The saint prayed, preparing for death. But the Lord prepared a different fate for him - the cruel emperor himself died. Then the saint was released. He ended his days in Constantinople, surrounded by brothers in faith.

The burial place of John the warrior is unknown; over time, he was wiped off the face of the earth. But the relics were found miraculously. He appeared to a woman in a dream. The saint's body turned out to be untouched by decay. Today it is located in the Church of the Apostle John. Near the tomb of the saint they pray for a variety of needs:

about the return of lost things;

for the debtor to return the money;

about finding lost people.

The people firmly believed that a prayer service to John the warrior would help find what was stolen. It even happened that during the prayer service the thieves themselves confessed to what they had done - they were so afraid of the saint’s righteous anger. Many miracles happened through prayers at the holy relics, and the poet’s fame as a defender of the oppressed only increased.

Death

The exact date of death of John the Warrior is unknown, but he died at a very old age. The man ordered to be buried in a cemetery for tramps. On the day of the burial, all the local poor came to say goodbye to the saint.

Over time, the burial site was forgotten. And then the holy martyr John himself appeared in a dream to one pious widow and told where his body rested. The next morning she immediately went there, and his incorrupt remains were found there. The relics were placed in a golden tomb in the Temple of Constantinople.

Church of St. John the Warrior on Yakimanka in Moscow

As the legend goes, shortly after these events, thieves broke into this woman’s house. She was already poor, but these people decided to take all her belongings from her. As they were leaving the house, something suddenly shone behind the men - it was a warrior in luminous armor. He ordered them to return the loot to the unfortunate widow and put everything back in its place.

The robbers were seriously scared, so they did everything as ordered. And the next day they came to this woman to ask for forgiveness for what they had done. The widow received them into the house, listened and forgave them. When they raised their heads, they saw that an icon depicting John the Warrior was hanging on the wall. Just the warrior who stopped them the day before. Since then, they have been praying to John the Warrior for the return of stolen things, and also asking the saint to pardon those who were imprisoned, being innocent and unjustly convicted.

Church of St. John the Warrior in Novokuznetsk

And this is far from the only case when a prayer or akathist to John the Warrior brings a miraculous solution to a problem. One day, a Persian carpet that was over 150 years old was stolen from a family. Frustrated people began to ask the holy martyr John for intercession. Soon a man knocked on their house with their carpet in his hands. He gave back the stolen goods and asked that a man in military uniform no longer come to him in his dreams.

The chronicle also describes the case that during the invasion of the Tatar army into Rus', the Tatars captured the Serpukhov convent. The barbarian, in a fit of anger and rage, began to chop down the icon of John the Warrior. Blood began to ooze from the boards. Before the eyes of those present, the sacred image was restored, and the invader believed in the Son of the Lord.

John the warrior

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IMAGE INFORMATION

The icon “John the Warrior” depicts the holy Christian martyr John, whose memory is celebrated by the Holy Church on August 12. By origin, Saint John the warrior was a Slav. He served in military service under Emperor Julian the Apostate, who was the nephew of Constantine the Great. It is worth noting that although Julian the Apostate was a Christian from childhood, immediately after ascending the imperial throne he renounced the true faith and converted to the pagan faith. All the actions that Julian the Apostate committed during his short reign were aimed at weakening Christianity and restoring paganism in the territory of the Roman Empire. At first, Julian acted with cunning, but later began to often use violence, although he did not initiate general persecution.

Life of the Righteous John the Warrior

This just righteous man was born in the 4th century. During the reign of Julian, who was called the Apostate (361 - 363), he served as a military leader at the imperial court. The ruler of Byzantium gave orders to his commander-in-chief for the physical elimination of Christian communities.

However, Saint John had opposite views and, being a deeply religious man, helped those whom he had to kill. He sought to notify the unfortunates of the imminent threat in order to give them the opportunity to hide from persecution. The Reverend Warrior freed many after being forcibly captured.

Read about the saint:

• Akathist to the Holy Martyr John the Warrior
• Prayers to Saint John the Warrior
• Icon of the Holy Martyr John the Warrior

On a note!
The Byzantine Emperor Julian was nicknamed the Apostate because this ruler betrayed the true faith in the All-One and Almighty God, wanting to spread the pagan cult throughout the state. Julian was the direct opposite of his predecessor, Constantine the Great, whose wise reign gave Christians 40 years of peaceful prosperity. When Julian the Apostate received information that Saint John the Warrior was refusing to obey the direct orders of the state ruler, he urgently summoned the military leader to his presence. On the way to the capital of Byzantium, the saint experienced cruel treatment: he was considered a political criminal, was not given food and water, and was also mutilated. When the martyr was brought to Constantinople, Emperor Julian was on a campaign against the Persian king, so the saint was put in prison.

The life of Saint John the Warrior confirms that in conditions of cold, hunger and darkness, the saint of God experienced the fear of martyrdom and endured many hardships. He was kept in iron chains for several months. Doubts arose in his mind whether it was necessary to exchange the relatively calm life at court for severe suffering.

In his severe struggle with temptations, John the Warrior was helped by sincere prayer. The Almighty Lord strengthened the saint’s faith and gave him strength.

The Saint was released from prison after the death of the Apostate. Remembering the torment he experienced, John the Warrior, purified by suffering, devoted his future life exclusively to serving the Lord and all people. He distributed his own property to the suffering beggars, who saw him as a protector and comforter.

On a note! The name John has Hebrew roots and means “gift or grace of God.” The Russian modification Ivan appeared in the 14th century.

Icon of John the Martyr

Prayers to the saints against theft

• Prayer to Archangel Michael
  .
  The Church reveres Archangel Michael as a defender of the faith and a fighter against heresies and all evil. On icons he is depicted with a fiery sword in his hand, or with a spear casting down the devil. He is the patron of warriors fighting for a just cause. They pray to him to overcome schisms and heresies, cry out for help in persecutions, for the admonition of schismatics, heretics, sectarians and non-believers, during demonic attacks and temptations. Archangel Michael is also asked for help in protecting home and family from theft and all kinds of misfortunes
• Prayer to Blessed Varvara Skvorchikhinskaya
  .
  With the advent of godless power, a young rural teacher took upon herself the feats of poverty, seclusion, unceasing prayer and fasting. The Lord through her the great power of God, manifested by gifts of clairvoyance and healing, miracles and miraculous signs. Blessed Barbara is asked to help endure severe temptations, persecution and poverty, protection from oppressors and thieves
  , they pray to her for maintaining virginity, for help in ascetic deeds, and healing diseases
• Prayer to the martyr John the Warrior
  .
  Saint John, sent to persecute Christians, instead provided great help to the persecuted. Having openly confessed Christ, he accepted martyrdom. Known for miraculously convicting thieves of theft.
  He is the patron saint of the Christ-loving army; people pray to him for protection from thieves, robbers and offenders, for finding lost or stolen property
• Prayer to Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Trimifuntsky
  .
  Saint Spyridon had such pure and simple faith that the Lord answered all his requests without delay. The entire life of the saint amazes with the amazing simplicity and power of miracles given to him by the Lord. People turn to Saint Spyridon for help in illness, they pray to him in difficulties with housing, in poverty and other everyday troubles, for protection from thieves
  , for the gift of simplicity of heart, for the admonition of the lost who have converted to other faiths, for sectarians and occultists
• Prayer to the blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
  .
  Saint Tamara of Georgia is the mother and heavenly patroness of Georgia, philanthropists, temple builders, judges, soldiers and other sovereign people, as well as the creative intelligentsia. They pray to Queen Tamara to protect home and family from troubles, theft and other misfortunes.
  They turn to her, revered among the myrrh-bearing women, for protection from the destructive vices of themselves and loved ones, from unbelief or doubts in faith, about healing from mental and physical illnesses, about the completeness and depth of repentance and about intercession before the Lord for the salvation of the soul.

Warriors' prayers. During disasters and invasions of enemies, foreigners and people of other faiths:

• Prayers of Orthodox soldiers
  - a collection of prayers for spiritual help and protection of Orthodox soldiers, as well as prayers during disasters and invasions of enemies, foreigners and non-believers...
• Prayer for the salvation of the Russian state and the quenching of discord and disorder in it
  , written by St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
• Prayer of repentance, read in Russian churches during the days of unrest
• Prayer of parents for children serving in the army
• Prayer to the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky
• Prayer to St. Job, abbot and wonderworker of Pochaev
• Warrior's prayer before battle
• Prayer to the Holy Cross
• Prayer against adversaries
• Prayer to the Great Martyr George the Victorious for the protection of the lives of soldiers on the battlefield
• Prayer to Saint Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod for the protection of the lives of soldiers on the battlefield
• Prayer to St. Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh for the protection of the lives of soldiers on the battlefield
• Prayer for the return of peaceful times by St. Ephraim the Syrian