Memorial Day of St. John of Kronstadt (02/01)

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt was born in 1829 in the family of the poor clergyman Ilya Mikhailovich and Feodora Vlasyevna Sergiev, in the village of Sura, Pinezhsky district, Arkhangelsk province. The grandfather and other ancestors in his father's family were priests for 350 years. The boy was in poor health and was often ill. The mother prayed for her son for a long time, and Vanya, seeing the mother praying, himself learned deep, heartfelt prayer.

From early childhood, his father constantly took him to church and instilled in him a special love for worship. John's school affairs were going badly. He prayed a lot for the gift of reason to him to comprehend the teaching, and the Lord heard his prayer. After the parish school, he graduated first in academic performance from the Arkhangelsk Theological Seminary and the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Married the daughter of Archpriest Konstantin Nesvitsky — Elizabeth. The couple took upon themselves the feat of virginity.

The young priest was appointed clerk of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt. At that time, the government exiled murderers, thieves and other criminals to Kronstadt. The young Kronstadt priest drew attention to these people who were rejected by everyone. Every day he came to their dugouts and basements not for 10—15 minutes to fulfill any demand and leave; he went to a living priceless soul, to his brothers and sisters, stayed there for hours, talked, exhorted, consoled, cared for the sick, cried and rejoiced with them.

He himself went to the grocery store, to the pharmacy to buy medicine, to get a doctor, and gave all his money, clothes and shoes to the poor. He left there joyfully, hoping that the Lord would send funds for further good deeds. Kronstadt residents saw him returning home barefoot and without a cassock and bringing his mother shoes, saying: «Your gave yours to someone, will come barefoot».

By distributing all his funds to the poor, Father John soon became convinced that such charity was not enough to satisfy all those in need. He called on the residents of Kronstadt to help the homeless poor. People actively responded to the shepherd’s request. Through the efforts of Father John, a House of Hard Work was built in Kronstadt with workshops, a school, a kindergarten, a shelter, a canteen, a library, a free hospital, a shelter and a hospice. Father John's charitable activities amounted to millions of rubles a year.

On December 10 (new style — on December 23), 1908, Father John celebrated his last Liturgy, and on the morning of December 20 (January 2, new style) he quietly betrayed his spirit to God. He was buried in the lower church of the St. John's Convent, which he founded in December 1902, on the Karpovka River in St. Petersburg.

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt was glorified by the 1990 Cathedral.

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